Sep. 07, 1981

TOYOTA CARINA UNDERGOES FULL MODEL CHANGE

Outstanding Driving Performance with Toyota's New Generation LASRE Engines

Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. have jointly announced a full model change in the popular Carina passenger car series, to go on sale nationwide today.

Carina is highly regarded both at home in Japan and overseas as a sporty family car with superior driving performance. The new Carina offers even better driving performance, together with a roomier interior and improved fuel efficiency. In the new model, the Carina is reborn as a new type of sporty sedan superior in every respect to its well-known predecessor.

The Carina series now includes a new model―an exciting but thoroughly practical 3-door hatchback combining some of the best features of the 2-door sedan and hardtop models in the old series.

The main features of the new Toyota Carina are the following

Sporty, Modern Styling Emphasizing Clean, Straight Lines
The straight-line profile of the low front nose and the sharp sidelines give the new Carina a sporty, modern look―and outstanding aerodynamic characteristics for a family car of this class.
A Substantially Roomier Interior
The cabin length has been increased by 115 mm, and this together with increases in cabin width and height, giving the new Carina a more spacious interior. The belt line and instrument panel have been lowered as much as possible, and semi-concealed wipers adopted. The result is improved visibility and a bright, open feeling interior.
Six Different Engines to Meet Consumer Demands for Top Performance and Superior Fuel Efficiency
The new Carina features the totally new LASRE 1S (1S-U, 4-cylinder, 1832 cc) and LASRE 3A-II (3A-U, 4-cylinder, 1452 cc) engines―pathbreaking lightweight, compact power plants with a wide range of technological innovations including a new air/fuel ratio control system that helps to ensure top performance and excellent fuel efficiency. Also available are models equipped with the high-performance, 4-cylinder, EFI-equipped Twin-Cam 18R-GEU (1968 cc), Twin-Cam 2T-GEU (1588 cc) or OHV 3T-EU (1770 cc) engines. Van-type models are equipped with the 4-cylinder 12T-J (1588 cc) engine. There are in all six different engines, designed to satisfy users' specific needs.
Major Improvements in Driving Stability and Quietness
The following features enhance the new Carina's straight-line driving at high speeds, its cross-wind stability, cornering performance, quietness and overall ridability

Note

The models described in this release are available only in Japan.
1. Newly designed front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering―standard on all passenger car models.
2. A stronger and more rigid body.
3. Expanded utilization of 4-wheel independent suspension for EFI-equipped models.
Wide Selection of New Features and Equipment Make Driving Enjoyable and Comfortable
The new Carina series is equipped with the following new features. Specifics vary depending on type and grade.
1. Electronic display meters on the instrument panel, completely eliminating needle- type indicators.
2. Electric heaters, in cushion and back of driver's seat.
3. Three-level reclining rear seats.
4. 7-way parcel tray (in coupe), which helps to improve use of space.
5. Deluxe audio system including woofers in its speaker system to provide a broader and more exciting range of sound.
6. Microcomputer-controlled autodrive which makes it possible to set desired speeds. The autodrive returns automatically to the pre-set speed following acceleration or deceleration.
7. Twin trip meters handy for a wide variety of uses.
8. Heater which permits control of left-to-right distribution of warm air.
9. Quiet, high-performance air conditioner.
10. Door-activated seatbelts minimize the sense of constriction while in use, and are placed so as not to catch in the door as it closes.
11. Lightweight, plastic head lamp, the first ever developed in Japan, provides unsurpassed light distribution.

The new Carina is available in three basic types―sedan, coupe and van. Counting the various engines, transmissions and vehicle grades available, a grand total of 36 versions are now on sale in Japan―17 sedans, 13 coupes and six vans.

Model Line-Up

Fuel Efficiency Data

CARINA SEDAN

CARINA COUPE

CARINA VAN

Note: ^*indicates that overall height for models fitted with radial tires is 1,415 mm.

ProfileMain Features of the Carina

Clean Straight-Line Styling with a Sporty, Modern Feeling
1. The low, downward sloping hood, large-size air-cut flap and sharp sidelines give the new Carina's styling a sporty, modern feeling and aerodynamic excellence too. Aerodynamic performance is outstanding for a family car of this class―with a drag coefficient (Cd) of only 0.37 for coupes and 0.41 for sedans.
2. The exciting but practical 3-door hatchback coupes incorporate the strong points of earlier 2-door sedans and hardtops.
A More Spacious Interior
1. The cabin length, width and height were expanded by 115 mm, 35 mm and 5 mm respectively, compared to previous models, creating a substantially roomier interior.
2. The interior is brighter and more spacious feeling as result of lowering the belt line and using semi-concealed wipers. Gauges and meters in the instrument panel are laid out for maximum viewing ease, and switches and knobs for air conditioning and audio controls are placed in a handy central control box.
Six High-Performance, Fuel-Efficient Engines Satisfy Every Customer's Needs
1. Two All-New LASRE Engines
  The newly developed LASRE 1S engine, mounted on the Carina series, is a lightweight, compact, 4-cylinder, 1832 cc, OHC engine, with high power performance and excellent fuel efficiency. Maximum power output is 100 ps (at 5,400 rpm) and maximum torque is 15.5 kg·m (at 3,400 rpm). 10-mode fuel efficiency is 13.5 km/liter (certified by the Ministry of Transport: 1,800 SG; 4- or 5-speed manual transmission models).
  This engine has the following special features: 1) combustion efficiency has been improved by utilizing an innovative air/fuel ratio control system with an electronic air control valve (EACV); 2) flat torque characteristics have been achieved by making the piston stroke longer, for easier driving even at low speeds; 3) excellent driveability has been achieved, through weight reduction, improving the responsiveness of the engine, and the utilization of new technologies, such as a sintered cam with a hollow camshaft, sintered connecting rods and a hollow crankshaft; and 4) maintenance requirements and noise have both been reduced by adopting a hydraulic valve lash adjuster, vibration-resistant air filter and mass-damper equipped engine mountings.
  The LASRE 3A-II (4-cylinder, OHC, 1452 cc), like the LASRE 1S, utilizes a new air/fuel ratio control system. This engine is lightweight and compact with lighter-weight revolving and reciprocating parts (pistons, connecting rods, etc.). It offers outstanding power performance, including maximum output of 83 ps (at 5,600 rpm) and maximum torque of 12.0 kg·m (at 3,600 rpm), while at the same time providing fuel efficiency of 14.0 km/L in 10-mode tests (Ministry of Transport inspection values, for models with 4- and 5-speed manual transmissions).
2. High-performance twin-cam engines
  Models of the new Carina can be mounted with either of two twin-cam engines, both given high marks in Japan and overseas for their excellent performance characteristics: one is the 18R-GEU type―4-cylinder, DOHC, 1968 cc, with EFI, maximum output of 135 ps (at 5,800 rpm) and maximum torque of 17.5 kg·m (at 4,800 rpm); the other is the 2T-GEU type engine―4-cylinder, DOHC, 1588 cc, with EFI, maximum output of 115 hp (at 6,000 rpm) and maximum torque of 15.0 kg·m (at 4,800 rpm).
3. The Carina user can also select either of two additional engines: the 3T-EU type engine―a highly regarded engine with a proven history of high performance on previous Carinas―a 4-cylinder, OHV, 1770 cc engine with EFI, maximum output of 105 ps (at 5,400 rpm) and maximum torque of 16.5 kg·m (at 3,600 rpm); and for Van models the 4-cylinder, OHV, 1588 cc, 12T-J type engine with maximum output of 86 ps (at 5,600 rpm) and maximum torque of 13.1 kg·m (at 3,400 rpm).
4. Expanded Application of 4-Speed Automatic Transmission With Overdrive The Carina series extends the application of the unique Toyota-developed 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. This outstanding transmission offers a finely tuned balance of performance characteristics and fuel efficiency, with quieter operation than ever before.
Tremendously Improved Driveability/Stability, and Quietness
1. The new Carina's broad array of new features combine to improve driveability and stability tremendously, including straight-line driving at high speeds, cross-wind stability and cornering characteristics. In the suspension system, for example, the front tread has been widened (40 mm), the king pin offset and caster angle have been optimized, and greater use made of the rear stabilizer. Models with EFI are equipped with four-wheel independent suspension. In the steering system, rack-and-pinion steering is standard for all passenger car models, and the power steering system adjusts automatically to engine rpm.
2. The new Carina's ride is quieter than ever before thanks to a newly designed front suspension, better soundproofing material in the dashboard and cowl sections, improved door-stripping and the use of pillar-to-pillar pipe to strengthen the body.
Diverse Selection of New Mechanisms and Equipment Add Extra Comfort and Ridability
1. Electronic display meters
  Electronic display meters designed on the basis of thorough human engineering studies to provide maximum visibility include the digital speedometer using fluorescent indicating tubes, the continuous graph tachometer using luminous diodes, and fuel and water temperature indicators with segment indication by use of fluorescent tubes (standard equipment in SE extra editions).
2. Electric Heaters
  The driver's seat is equipped with electric heaters in the cushion and the back which provide comfortable, direct heating during cold weather. The heaters offer a selection of two temperature levels while double circuits ensure safety (standard equipment in SE extra editions).
3. Reclining Rear Seats
  The three-level reclining back of the rear seats enhances passenger riding comfort (standard equipment in the sedan SE and higher-class models).
4. 7-Way Parcel Tray
  The luggage room of the coupe version is long and wide enough for four golf bags laid sideways. And Japan's first 7-Way Parcel Tray (standard equipment for coupe SE and higher-class models) provides seven different configurations for trunk use―by placing the front half of the tray upright, for example, the front half may be used as a baggage compartment inside the car, and the rear half as a trunk.
5. Deluxe Audio System Including Woofers
  A deluxe audio system including woofers installed in the front deck provides a broad and exciting range of sound (standard equipment in ST and higher models except the 1500 series; SE and SE extra models have a 5-speaker system including two in the back).
6. Microcomputer-Controlled Autodrive
  This device makes it possible to set desired speeds. The autodrive returns automatically to the pre-set speed following acceleration or deceleration (optional equipment for SE or higher-class models except 1600 GT).
7. Twin Trip Meters
  Two trip meters have been provided. These can be used, for example, for fuel efficiency computation or for measuring driving distance to destination (standard equipment for ST or higher models except those with digital meters).
8. Left-to-Right Heater Output Adjustment
  This allows both the direction and volume of air flow from left and right outlets to be fine-tuned for optimum comfort (standard equipment for all models).
9. Quiet, High-Performance Air Conditioner
  The automatic air conditioner's sensors detect both inside and outside temperatures and also changes in sunlight causing adjustments in the pre-set temperature to ensure maximum comfort. And a newly developed 10-cylinder cooler compressor is luxuriously quiet while offering improved cooling performance (optional equipment for all models except 1500 series and vans).
10. Door-Activated Seatbelts
  With these seatbelts, belt tension is reduced while the door is closed to minimize the sense of constriction, but when the door opens for the passenger to leave the car, it automatically increases, preventing the belt from being caught in the door (standard equipment for all models).
11. Plastic Head Lamps
  Japan's first plastic head lamp lenses are light-weight, and superior in light distribution and durability (optional equipment for halogen lamps in SE and ST coupes).