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Toyota AE86

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A Toyota Corolla Levin AE86 drifting on the racetrack
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A Toyota Corolla Levin AE86 drifting on the racetrack

A 1986 Corolla GT-S AE86 2-door Coupe in stock form
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A 1986 Corolla GT-S AE86 2-door Coupe in stock form

The Toyota AE86 is a small, lightweight coupe introduced by Toyota in 1983 as part of the fifth generation Toyota Corolla line-up. The AE86 (along with the lower spec AE85 versions) was rear wheel drive (unlike the front wheel drive AE82 models), and is said to be the last rear-drive car 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 car was also known as the Hachi-Roku (the numbers 'eight'(hachi) and 'six'(roku) in Japanese).

Contents

Engine/Technical

The AE86 was available with a fuel-injected 4-cylinder twin-cam 1587 cc 4A-GEU 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 (97 kW) and 103 ft·lbf (140 N·m) of torque in standard form. 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 Induction System). The AE86 had an optional Limited Slip Differential (LSD).

In North America, a modified 4A-GEC engine was used to comply with California emissions regulations. Power was rated at 112 bhp (84 kW), and 100 ft·lbf (136 N·m) of torque.

The AE86 used ventilated disc brakes. The car was equipped with independent coil spring suspension at the front, and beam-axle coil springs for the rear.

The AE85 models came with a less-powerful 1452 cc SOHC carburettor 3A-U engine without the LSD and was equipped with rear drum brakes. Lower-spec American AE86 SR5 models used the 1587 cc 4A-C SOHC unit, did not have an optional LSD, and had rear drum brakes.

Models equipped with the 4A-GE engine received a 6.7" rear differential, while 3A-U, 4A-U, and 4A-C models received a smaller, weaker, 6.38" rear differential.

In North America the AE86 SR5 (4A-C equipped) had an optional automatic transmission, though the GT-S model (with the 4A-GE DOHC engine) only came with a standard 5-speed manual gearbox.

Bodystyles

Both the Levin and Trueno variants were offered with either a 2-door coupe or 3-door liftback (sometimes called hatchback) body style. Both the Levin and Trueno were generally identical, apart from fixed, rectangular headlights on the Levin and pop-up headlights on the Trueno. Minor bodywork changes were made in 1986 which resulted in different tail lights for both Levin and Trueno models, along with the coupe and hatchback styles. The models sold between 1983-1985 are commonly referred to as "Zenki" and the models sold from 1986-1987 are referred to as "Kouki." Quoted power output 122 bhp.

Models/Specifications

In Japan, the DOHC 4A-GEU AE86 was offered in GT-APEX or GTV trims as the Corolla Levin or Sprinter Trueno, with SOHC 3A-U AE85 version sold in a variety of trims including SR, GT, etc. In America, the top-spec DOHC 4A-GEC AE86 was sold as the Corolla GT-S with the SOHC 4A-C AE86 bearing the Corolla SR5 tag, both versions sold with pop-up headlights only. Euro spec models were sold as the Corolla GT with DOHC engines and fixed Levin-style headlights. The middle east received the same basic model as the North American market, with pop-up headlights and the regulated 5 mph (8 km/h) bumpers.

Due to a light weight of around 940 kg, and over 120 bhp (89 kW) power, the car could reach a top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h), and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds in standard specification.

The AE86 in motorsport

During its production life, the AE86 was a popular choice for showroom stock, Group A and Group N racing, especially in rallying and circuit races, even for privateers teams especially when the car was discountinued, purely for its rear drive configuration and still is a popular choice for rallying and club races. In Group A touring car races, the car either dominated the lower category where eligible or fought it out with Honda Civics or the latter AE92s and AE101s whilst maintaining its competiveness. In Ireland where rallying is considered one of the most popular form of motorsport as organising regulations are more relaxed to that of other countries, entrants had to attain an AE86 mostly in the United Kingdom which has since dried up domestic stock and also led to a huge price rise recently.

The semi-factory supported Kraft team entered a spaceframe Trueno at the JGTC with a 3S-GTE engine that came from a SW20 MR-2 Turbo producing about 300 hp as for the GT300 regulation in 1998. Despite being popular with the racefans, the car had minor success and was abandoned from use at the halfway through the 2001 season for a newly delivered Toyota MR-S.

The rear wheel drive configuration, combined with the AE86's light weight (approximately 2300 lb (1043 kg) curb weight), balance and relatively powerful (and easy to tune) 4A-GEU engine made it popular among the Japanese hashiriyas (street racers), many of whom raced in mountain passes (known as "Touge Battle") where the corners suited the AE86 best, especially on the downhill. Among those who utilized this car was Japanese racing legend Keiichi Tsuchiya, also known as the Dori-Kin (drift king). Tsuchiya helped popularize the sport of drifting, which involves taking a car on a set of controlled slides through corners. The AE86's RWD configuration made it well suited to this kind of cornering and currently, the car is a mainstay of drift shows and competitions.

The AE86 in Popular Culture and Media

The Hachi-Roku has now been immortalized by manga artist Shuichi Shigeno (しげの秀一) in the hit manga/anime series Initial D, and this, in turn, has led to a resurgence of interest in the car. This rise in the popularity of the AE86 has led to a growth in its demand and a subsequent rise in its resale value; what was once a car that was overlooked by many in the US and abroad (during a time when power and 1/4 mile times were focused on, more than cornering ability and balance) is now a hot commodity among auto-enthusiasts. The AE86 has even gained attention from current Western video game publishers, as the car was included in Electronic Arts's racing computer and video game ' (although under the American name Corolla GTS), and Microsoft's Forza Motorsport. The makers of Gran Turismo have also given tribute to Initial D by adding the Shuichi Shigeno edition of the Trueno to ' and Gran Turismo 4. The Shuichi Shigeno version differs in that its max RPM is 11,000 rpm, it has a light weight reduction (carbon fiber hood), and it is somewhat akin to the re-engined AE86 in Initial D 2nd Stage (and the version seen up to 4th Stage). Taito's Battle Gear and Genki's Shutokou Battle (1999) feature the "Tuned" AE86 Trueno, the Trueno GT Apex AE86 of Takumi Fujiwara, who is the protagonist of Initial D.

Three years prior to Initial D, in one of Shigeno's earlier works Tunnel nuketara Sky Blue, the lead character Toshihiko, like Takumi, an 18 year old senior high school student also drives an AE86 Sprinter Trueno.

Dear Boys on episode 14 the main character went on a date with a girl to go watch a movie. They were watching Initial D Fourth Stage where Takumi's Eight-Six overtakes Tohru's Roadster over the gutter at Momiji Lane. Ironically, this 30 second clip was the prototype cel-shading used on Battlestage as 4th Stage anime hasn't been released yet to the public at the time (this series released in 2003 and Fourth Stage in 2004).

School Rumble episode 01, where the Eight-Six is being outrun by the three main characters Tenma, Karasuma, and Harima Kenji riding their schoolbikes through a corner. Rather than having the Eight-Six called "Fujiwara Tofu Ten", in School Rumble it is called "Kobayashi Tofu Ten".

Miami Guns episode 04, of a police car that uses an Eight-Six as the chaser in Miami also with the same Panda coloured pattern.

episode "Game" an episode about a murderer that bases his crimes on video games. The AE86 Corolla is referred to as "black sports car".
Meteor Man the AE86 Corolla is seen in the opening credits to the film.

Capeta episode 01 shows a brief glimps of an Eight-Six. This is an example of how often an Eight-Six is referred. Also, in episode 3, while Capeta's father is working on a Hachi-Roku on the road.

Transformers in one of their animes shows (the Energon series) an Eight-Six is seen from the distance complete with a carbon fibre hood, although it was never specified if this was a transformable autobot since it was getting a carwash from another autobot.

The Jrock group M.O.V.E. (Yuri, Motsu, and T-Kimura) who has always done all the official opening songs and most of the closing songs for Initial D has made a "Initial D" related music video called "Freaky Planet" where T-Kimura is driving through a mountain pass with Yuri in his passnger seat and Motsu sitting at the back, a Eight-Six now with a carbon hood, crosses their paths repeatedly.

Although there are more anime and manga related findings of Initial D, the Eight-Six can be found in other animes. Such titles to name a few include Ex-Driver, Tenjou Tenge, Over Rev, Azumanga Daioh or FLCL.

Beck (manga) features a scene where Saitou is rushing Koyuki to the Airport to see Maho off and Saitou. He is driving extremely fast on the highway and he overtakes the Initial Eight-Six.

An AE86 with typically riced out modifications appears in one of the Poser Mobile's T-Mobile advertising campaign.

These cars have become quite popular as "grey imports" in recent years even though; for example in Ireland, after Vehicle Registration Tax and other costs have been added the cars (as of 2005) sell for around €6,000-8,000 - quite a significant price for a car of this age.

North American AE86 Specifications and Year Changes

There are 3 types of Corolla Sport RWD: DX, SR5, and GT-S, though it seems that DX was more of an internal Toyota designation, as brochures, and the like do not include the DX designation, it was more of an interior trim level, as most everything else is the same as the SR5. It is grouped in with the SR5 in this list, as that is the commonly used name for all North American Corolla Sport models that are not GT-S equipped.

SR5 Specs

GT-S Specs

1984 (08/83 to 07/84)

1985 (08/84 to 07/85)

1986 (08/85 to 07/86)

1987 (08/86 to 07/87)

External links

 

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