Dec. 20, 1996

Toyota Debuts Corona with 2.0-Liter D-4 Direct-Injection EngineSpecial-Edition Model Marks Corona's 40th Anniversary

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) today launched a special-edition Corona equipped with a D-4 direct-injection engine to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the model's debut. The new car is on sale at Toyopet dealerships nationwide and at Osaka Toyota dealerships.

Launched in 1957 as a medium-sized sedan, the Corona played a major role in advancing Japan's motorization. Including the Premio, the 11^th Corona series unveiled in January, over 5.24 million units^*1 have been sold in Japan.

The Corona Premio was developed emphasizing safety and environmental friendliness, which is reflected in its design and equipment. With its new Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) collision-safety body and fuel-efficient 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter lean-burn engines, the Premio has been highly praised for its aggressive approach to these two concerns.

The special-edition model takes the Corona Premio concept a step further: the new car has a Premio G base with the newly developed high-output 2.0-liter direct-injection Toyota D-4 gasoline engine, which simultaneously improves road performance and enhances fuel efficiency. Additional features include an ECT-E flex-lockup automatic transmission, genuine-leather-covered seats, artificial-leather-covered steering wheel, aluminum wheels, and a two-tone exterior finish.

The new D-4 engine, the BEAMS^*2 3S-FSE, uses a system that directly injects fuel into the cylinders near the spark plugs for ultra-lean combustion―the key to its low fuel consumption. Combining this with other advanced technologies achieves higher output and quicker response.

^*1May 1957 through November 1996

^*2Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System

Major Engine Features

Low fuel consumption

The ultra-lean air-fuel ratio of 50:1^*3 improves fuel consumption by more than 30% (10·15 mode test) over a car with a conventional (3S-SE) engine. Its fuel consumption of 17.4km/L is the world's best for a 2.0-liter gasoline engine used with an automatic transmission on a production car.

^*3Includes exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).

High output, quick response

Torque in the low- to mid-rpm ranges is 10% higher than the 3S-FE engine. This is made possible by the high compression ratio of 10:1, and is achieved with regular unleaded gasoline. Direct fuel injection also provides quicker response than that found in conventional engines.

Low emissions

Precise control of the large-capacity EGR system suppresses NOx generation―normally a problem in lean combustion―by enabling combustion at a lower temperature. The three-way Nox storage/reduction catalyst further reduces NOx levels. Carbon dioxide emissions have also been reduced by over 30% compared to a conventional engine.