By Dillon Taylor
Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
How do you replace an icon? This was the challenge Toyota faced in the mid-1980s when considering an update for its AE86 generation of Corolla coupes. Even in its own day, the AE86 Corolla was well-regarded due to its combination of rear wheel drive, light weight, low cost, and high-revving, DOHC 4A-GZE engine. This setup would make the AE86 cars legendary with budget racer circles, the emerging drifting sport, and even in pop culture (at least in Japan).
By the mid-1980s, Toyota sought to complete moving all of its regular-sized passenger cars to front wheel drive. Consequently, the AE86 replacement, known as the AE92, would not be RWD. Although the AE92 platform which followed did not share the AE86’s rear-drive layout, the AE92 did have an updated version of prior car’s 4A-GZE engine. The new cars were also more refined and fuel efficient than the cars they replaced (both important factors for economy car shoppers).
Introduced in 1988 in Japan, the new car was branded as two different models that were available from two different Toyota dealer networks. (During the postwar period, a number of different Toyota dealer networks evolved that sold similar Toyota products). Sold at the Toyota Corolla Store, the AE92 Corolla Levin models had fixed rectangular headlamps. Marketed through the sportier and more “upmarket” Toyota Vista Store, the Sprinter Trueno version of the AE92 had a slanted front fascia with retractable popup headlights.
In North America, the AE92 was branded as a Corolla, and was available in SR5 and GT-S trim levels. The North American cars shared most of the Levin’s trimmings with the exception of Trueno front end with popup headlamps.
Toyota sold the AE92 generation of cars through the 1991 model year. While the AE92 sold in respectable numbers during is production run, this generation never attained the legendary level of respect of its RWD predecessor. However, as is becoming true of many sporty Japanese cars from the 1980s and 1990s, the AE92 has started to develop a cult following. Only time will tell if the AE92 ever reaches the status of the AE86.
If proof was needed of the AE92’s growing popularity, observe that Mark43 produced this AE92 Trueno in 1:43. The larger, more rounded driving lamps below the popup headlamps mark this 1:43 as a facelifted Trueno from 1990 through 1991. (North American 1:1 cars never received these larger driving lamps). Like most Mark43s, all the details are well-rendered on this scale model, including the “aftermarket” style wheels. This particular Mark43 Trueno appears to be based on a well-known tuner version of the 1:1 car.
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