Toyota AE86

The AE86 generation of the Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno is a small, lightweight coupe introduced by Toyota in 1983 as part of the fifth generation Toyota Corolla line-up. For the purpose of brevity, the insider-chassis code of "AE86" is used to describe the whole range. In classic Toyota code, the "A" represents the engine that came in the car (the 3A and 4A) and the E86 represents the 6th revision of the fifth generation (E80 series) of the E model which is the Corolla. The visual difference between the Levin and Trueno is that the former has fixed-headlights and the latter has retractable headlights. The export model name Corolla covers both variations. The AE86 (along with the lower spec 1,452cubic centimetres (1.452L) AE85 and 1587cc SR5 versions) was rear wheel drive (unlike the front wheel drive CE80, EE80 and AE82 models), and is among the last rear-drive cars of its type, at a time when most passenger cars were being switched to front-drive. The AE86 was replaced in 1987 by the front wheel drive AE92 Corolla/Sprinter range. The AE86 was also known as the Hachi-Roku (ハチロク, Hachi-Roku?) (after the numbers eight (ハチ, hachi?) and six (ロク, roku?) in Japanese).[citation needed]

Engine/technical

The AE86 was available with a fuel-injected 4-cylinder twin-cam 1587cc 4A-GE engine in Japan and Europe which was also used in the first-generation Toyota MR2 (AW11). This engine had a maximum power output of 130 PS (97kW) and 103ft·lbf (140nm) of torque in standard form.[1] The AE86 came with a 5-speed manual gearbox, and later came with the option of an automatic. The 4A-GE engines used in the AE86 and AW11 were equipped with T-VIS (Toyota Variable Intake System). The AE86 had an optional Limited Slip Differential (LSD).[1]

In North America, a modified 4A-GEC engine was used to comply with California emissions regulations. Power was rated at 112bhp (84kW), and 100ft·lbf (136nm) of torque.[1] It should be noted however that the cost of these emission regulations in a tendency to burn oil, especially when dealing with a older vehicle that has had 2 or more owners.