Why has the Toyota AE86 such a cult status?

Posted on 14-03-2016 at 22:59 by Dizono – 30 Comments”

Anyone who is even a little engrossed in the Japanese tuning or driftscene or Need For Speed and other racing games has played it, knows this angular coupeetje. But, why just this car such a cult status?

Before we answer that question, it is good to first in the history of the AE86 diving. That code is not the type of car, but the internal chassiscode of Toyota. The car is called Corolla Levin or Sprinter Trueno, with eertstgenoemde conventional headlights and the Sprinter Trueno klapkoplampen. Incidentally, have the less potent versions of the Levin and Trueno the chassiscode AE85.

Both models were in 1983 is presented as sporty cars in the Corolla line-up. Where this also in 83 presented Corolla E80 was provided with front-wheel drive, loved Toyota for the AE85 and AE86 stuck with the older platform with rear-wheel drive. This was one of the last achterwielaandrijvers in their class, from the years ’70 and ’80’s rap is dominated by voorwielaandrijvers. Both the Trueno as the Levin came by the way, one coupé as well as the better-known driedeurs hatchback.

Initially, the AE86 is especially popular in the sport. The easy-to-energize motor code 44A-F) in combination with rear-wheel drive, low weight and a great chassis prove to be a recipe for success. In 1986 took a AE86 part in the European Touring Car Championchip, where the 150 hp strong coupé include the BMW 635 M CSi, BMW 325i, Volvo 240 Turbo, Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 and Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo fast was finished and became champion.

The potential of the AE86 was also the hashiriya, Japanese street racers, not escaped. The Toyota lent itself perfectly to the winding mountain roads where they have their illegal races held. In particular, in the descent turned out to be the AE86 is almost impossible to beat, not even by larger and more powerful cars. Among the Toyota drivers also have the legendary Keiichi Tsuchiya aka the Drift King. Affectionately they call their cars hachi roku Japanese for eight six.

Outside the scene get the AE85 particular attention as he has, since 1995, plays a leading role in the Japanese manga series Initial D. This strip is about the hashiriya and protagonist, Takumi Fujiwara, drive in a Sprinter Trueno. Yep, a white driedeurs with klapkoplampen and Japanese characters on the door. A lot of people due to the popularity of the AE86 to this series, though that’s only partly true. Within the scene had the Toyota is, after all, have long been proven, Initial D made that for the outside world visible. That car then also in a variety of popular games to drive was, as in Forza (screenshot above), Gran Turismo and Need For Speed, has only further contributed to that.

Gallery: Toyota AE86

”

“