Toyota Soarer (Z10) 1981-1985

[kombota]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf693rI66_A

The Toyota Soarer was a personal luxury GT coupé sold by Toyota in Japan from 1981 to 2004. The Soarer débuted in 1981 with the Z10 series, replacing the Toyota Crown Coupe, which took the form of an angular two-door coupé. In 1986, a more rounded Soarer was launched (the Z20 series). In 1991, the third generation (Z30 series) Toyota Soarer premiered in Japan. The Z30 series Soarers were also known as the Lexus SC 300/400, a luxury coupe Toyota had commissioned for its new upscale Lexus division outside Japan. While sharing the same body style and multiple components as the first Lexus SC, the Z30 series Soarer lineup offered different powertrain specifications and multiple unique vehicle configurations.

The Soarer was a competitor to the Nissan Leopard coupe. All versions of the Soarer used a Griffin as the logo throughout the vehicle.

In 2001, Toyota introduced a convertible successor which appeared in Japan as the fourth generation (40 series) Toyota Soarer, and elsewhere as the Lexus SC 430. In contrast to previous versions, the fourth generation Soarer and Lexus SC models were largely equivalent. In 2005, following the introduction of Lexus in Japan, sales of the Z40 series Soarer were discontinued and the Lexus SC 430 became available in the Japanese market.

The Soarer was Japan's first high-performance specialty car of the 1980s, and offered 10 new mechanisms and features in a stylish and luxurious package.

The Soarer used a newly developed 6-cylinder 2.8 L DOHC engine, and 4-speed automatic transmission with 2-way overdrive. It had beautiful styling with thoroughly integrated body surfaces that gave it excellent aerodynamic performance. The Soarer also featured an electronic display meter and other advanced electrical functions.

The front, which exuded an air of stability, and the trapezoidal silhouette of the rear combined with side wedge lines that extended straight out from nose to trunk to form the underlying clean-cut 2-door notchback style.

The Soarer made its first appearance at the 1980 Osaka International Motor Show with the name "EX-8", and the Z10 series Toyota Soarer was produced from February 1981 to December 1985, with 2.0L, 2.8L or 3.0L DOHC I-6 variants. The first generation Soarer debuted with a rear-wheel drive configuration [1]. It boasted numerous technological items, such as touchscreen computer controlled air conditioning climate control, digital speed and tachometer display using LED, among other elecronic features.

The suspension utilized Macpherson type front struts with trailing arm type IRS in the rear. The vehicle also came with self-diagnosis maintenance reminders.

There were a number of different engines available.

GZ10=1G-EU or 1G-GEU
MZ10=M-TEU or 5M-GE
MZ11=5M-GE
MZ12=6M-GE

Early MZ10s were differnent in some regards to later MZ10s. Some of the difference are listed below.

Later MZ10s had a water to air intercooler
Later MZ10s had an oil and water cooled turbo (as opposed to the oil cooled only turbo in the early MZ10s)
The Z1 series Toyota Soarer was honored as Japan's Car of the Year for the 1981-1982 model years.

The MZ12 was equipped with the following features:

ABS
Cruise Control
7 way adjustable (driver only) leather seats
Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension (TEMS)
Digital Automatic climate control
Electro multivision display (CRT type display), GT LTD Only

Storage location : TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM (41-100, Yokomichi, Nagakute, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-ken 480-1131)

Year manufactured : 1981

Manufacturer : Toyota Motor Corporation

Classification : Mass-production vehicle

Current status : In storage: not open to the public
   
Vehicle name : Toyota Soarer

Company name : Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Vehicle type/usage : Small passenger car

Location of actual vehicle/replica : Toyota Automobile Museum
   
Model / Weight     
Style : Sedan

Number of doors : 2

Passenger capacity : 5

Vehicle weight : 1305 kg

Body / Size     
Structure : Unit body construction

Bumpers : Urethane

Step : None

Overall length : 4655 mm

Overall width : 1695 mm

Overall height : 1360 mm

Tire size : 195/70HR14

Features : Drag coefficient (CD): 0.36 Electronic display meter
   
Body / Axle / Driving / Others     
Frame : None

Front axle : MacPherson strut

Rear axle : Semi-trailing arm type

Wheelbase : 2660 mm

Front tread x rear tread : 1425×1435 mm

Vehicle height adjustment : None

Steering : Rack and pinion type power steering (tiltable)

Dampers : High-pressure gas charged De Carbon type

Stabilizer : Provided (front/rear)

Driving stability devices : Provided (opt.)

Engine / Size / Power     
Cooling/cylinder arrangement : Water-cooled/inline 6-cylinder (5M-GEU type)

Valve train : DOHC

Bore x stroke : 83.0×85.0 mm

Displacement : 2759 cc

Ignition system : Full transistor

Max. power/r.p.m. : 170 ps/5600 rpm

Max. torque/r.p.m. : 24.0 kgm/4400 rpm

Exhaust emissions treatment : Three-way catalyst

Supercharger : None

Fuel tank capacity : 61 L
      
Hybrid system type : None
      
Transmission : 4AT with 2-way overdrive

Drive system : FR
   
Nelson (kombota)