The Toyota Trueno AE-86, also known as the Toyota Corolla Levin, is a popular sports car that was first introduced in 1983. It gained a significant following among car enthusiasts, particularly in the drifting community, due to its lightweight design, rear-wheel drive, and nimble handling.
The AE-86 was part of Toyota’s fifth generation Corolla lineup and was initially designed as a compact sports car for the Japanese domestic market. The car was powered by a 1.6-litre 4A-GE engine, which was capable of producing up to 130 horsepower. It was available in two body styles: the two-door coupe and the three-door hatchback.
The 4A-GE is a four-cylinder engine produced by Toyota from 1983 to 1998. It was an advanced engine for its time, featuring a dual overhead cam (DOHC) configuration, four valves per cylinder, and Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology.
The first generation 4A-GE engine, which was used in the AE-86 Trueno, had a displacement of 1.6 liters and was capable of producing up to 130 horsepower at 7,400 RPM. It featured a forged steel crankshaft, aluminum pistons, and a high compression ratio of 9.4:1.
The engine’s DOHC design allowed for improved airflow and higher RPMs, while the VVT technology provided variable valve timing and lift for improved power and torque throughout the engine’s RPM range. The engine was also equipped with a Toyota-patented T-VIS (Toyota Variable Induction System), which varied the length of the intake runners for improved low-end torque.
The 4A-GE engine was paired with a five-speed manual transmission and was capable of propelling the lightweight AE-86 Trueno to 60 mph in around 8 seconds. The engine’s high-revving nature and responsive throttle made it a favorite among driving enthusiasts, particularly in the drifting community.
Over the years, the 4A-GE engine was updated with improvements to its design and performance. Later versions of the engine featured a blacktop cylinder head, individual throttle bodies, and an increased displacement of up to 1.8 litres. The engine was used in a variety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, including the MR2, Celica, and Corolla, and has become a popular choice for engine swaps in custom-built sports cars and racing applications.
What makes the 4A-GE engine popular with car enthusiasts?
- High-revving performance: The 4A-GE engine is known for its high-revving performance, capable of producing high horsepower and torque outputs at high RPMs. This makes it a favorite among driving enthusiasts, particularly in the drifting community, where responsive throttle and high-revving power are essential.
- Advanced technology: The 4A-GE engine was advanced for its time, featuring a DOHC configuration, VVT technology, and Toyota’s Variable Induction System (T-VIS), which varied the length of the intake runners for improved low-end torque.
- Lightweight design: The 4A-GE engine is a compact and lightweight engine, making it ideal for sports cars and racing applications. Its lightweight design also contributes to the car’s overall performance and handling.
- Durability: The 4A-GE engine is known for its durability, with many engines lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance.
- Availability of parts: As the 4A-GE engine was used in a variety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and aftermarket upgrades are readily available, making it easy to maintain and modify.
Overall, the 4A-GE engine’s combination of high-revving performance, advanced technology, lightweight design, durability, and availability of parts makes it a popular choice among driving enthusiasts and racers.
The AE-86 gained widespread popularity outside of Japan due to its appearance in the Japanese manga and anime series “Initial D”. The show’s protagonist, Takumi Fujiwara, drove a modified AE-86, which further popularized the car among car enthusiasts and racing enthusiasts.
Despite its popularity, the AE-86 was discontinued in 1987 and was replaced by the Toyota Sprinter Trueno, which featured a new body style and a more powerful engine. However, the AE-86 continued to be popular among car enthusiasts, and many of these cars have been preserved or modified over the years.
Today, the Toyota Trueno AE-86 is considered a classic sports car and is highly sought after by car collectors and enthusiasts. Its timeless design and reputation for excellent handling make it a popular choice for drifting competitions and amateur racing events. Some of the reasons why it is popular are:
- Lightweight design: The AE86 has a lightweight design, which contributes to its nimble handling and quick acceleration.
- Rear-wheel drive: The AE86 is a rear-wheel drive car, which provides excellent handling and balance. Rear-wheel drive cars are popular among driving enthusiasts for their ability to drift and slide around corners.
- Affordable: The AE86 is relatively affordable compared to other sports cars, making it accessible to a wider range of car enthusiasts and hobbyists.
- Racing heritage: The AE86 has a rich racing heritage, particularly in the Japanese motorsports scene, where it was used in touring car racing and drifting competitions.
- Pop culture references: The AE86 gained significant popularity outside of Japan through its appearance in the popular Japanese manga and anime series “Initial D“. The show’s protagonist, Takumi Fujiwara, drove a modified AE86, which further popularised the car among car enthusiasts and racing enthusiasts.
- Customisation: The AE86 has a large aftermarket community, with a variety of aftermarket parts and modifications available. This allows owners to personalise and modify their cars to their own liking, further contributing to the car’s popularity.
Overall, the Toyota AE86’s combination of lightweight design, rear-wheel drive, affordability, racing heritage, pop culture references, and customisation options has made it a popular car among driving enthusiasts and car enthusiasts alike.
Kris is the founder of 86modified.com and has a love for cars and modifying them. He has owned many different Japanese cars and has enjoyed installing modifications to get more power or fitting body parts to change the aesthetics.
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