Mar. 08, 1990
TOYOTA SERA MAKES DEBUT: NEW CHALLENGE FOR 1990S
New Compact Vehicle with Gull-Wing Doors
Toyota City―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION today announced that it is marketing nationwide a new passenger car dubbed the Toyota Sera. "Sera" is the future tense of the French word "etre" (to be); it has been chosen for the new Toyota model to signify a dream-like car that takes us to the future.
The Toyota Sera has the following main features:
- Gull-wing doors with glass wrapped around to the roof
The Toyota Sera is the first Japanese mass-production car featuring gull-wing doors with glass that stretches all the way to the roof.The gull-wing doors incorporate a number of features designed to make door operation extremely easy. Among them is a new mechanism that keeps the door-operating effort constant regardless of changes in temperature.
- Unique spherical body and stylish passenger compartment design
The Toyota Sera has a compact body and a unique curvaceous exterior styling.The all-glass compartment, or "glassy cabin," has a completely open feeling. All interior units, ranging from switches in the instrument panel to handles embedded in the doors, and even the speakers, are carefully arranged in the most reasonable positions for novelty and stylish design.
- Powered by second-generation high-efficiency engine series
The Toyota Sera is powered by the four cylinder 16-valve 1496cc 5E-FHE engine, a newly-developed second-generation high-efficiency model. It simultaneously implements, at sophisticated levels, the high fuel efficiency and high torque in low to medium speeds originally belonging to high-efficiency twin-cam engines, and the high power output and quick response that are the realm of sports-type twin-cam engines.
- Chassis that implements sharp and swift driving
The Toyota Sera has newly designed suspension and a wide track of 1,405mm (both front and rear) to implement sharp and swift driving, fully maximizing the car's excellent power performance.In addition, the Toyota Sera carries high-performance tires with asymmetrical and uni-directional tread patterns. Power steering is standard equipment, and a four-wheel anti-lock brake system is optional. All of these features are combined to implement outstanding driveability, running stability, and riding comfort.
- Generous cabin features
Optional features include the Sera Super Live Sound System consisting of a 10-speaker system equipped with acoustic resonance woofers (ARWs) and a newly developed digital signal processor (DSP).In addition, automatic air conditioning and power windows are standard features on all models.