| Manufacturer: | Toyota |
| Model Code: | AE85 |
| Production: | May 1983[1] – Feb. 1987 |
| Class: | Subcompact car |
| Body Style: | 2-door coupé 3-door liftback |
| Platform: | E70 |
| Related: | Toyota AE86 Toyota Corolla (E70) Toyota Sprinter (E70) Daihatsu Charmant |
| Layout: | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine: | 1.5 L 3A-U I4 |
| Powerout: | NaN0NaN0 |
| Transmission: | K50 5-speed manual A41 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 2400mm |
| Length: | Corolla Levin: 4185abbr=onNaNabbr=on (1983–1985)[2] 4200abbr=onNaNabbr=on (1985–1987)[3] Sprinter Trueno: 4205abbr=onNaNabbr=on (1983–1985)[4] 4215abbr=onNaNabbr=on (1985–1987)[5] |
| Width: | 1625mm |
| Height: | 1335mm |
| Weight: | NaNkg (-2,147,483,648lb) |
| Sp: | us |
| Predecessor: | Toyota Corolla/Sprinter SR coupé (AE70) |
| Successor: | Toyota Corolla Levin Zi/Sprinter Trueno Xi (AE91) |
The AE85 series of the Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno are small, front-engine/rear-wheel-drive compact cars within the front-engine/front-wheel-drive fifth-generation Corolla (E80) range —manufactured by Toyota from 1983 to 1987 in coupé and liftback configurations.
The AE85 shares its chassis and basic design with the famous AE86, however the AE85 was designed for economy and mainly differs in its engine, whereas the AE86 was designed for performance. It was only sold in Japan and was not sold in North America or other regions. The leading characters in the VIN do not always use the same characters as the chassis code, so some less powerful variants of the AE86 (with the 1.6 L 4A engine) were sold there with an AE86 chassis code on the build plate in the engine bay but with AE85 in the VIN.[6]
The car is known colloquially in Japan as the, meaning "Eight-Five". The word "trueno" is Spanish for thunder, and "levin" is Old English for "lightning". The Corolla Levin was sold at Toyota Corolla Store locations, whereas the Sprinter Trueno was sold at Toyota Auto Store locations.
The chassis code "AE85" is used to describe the 1500 cc RWD model from the range. In classic Toyota code, the "A" represents the engine that came in the car (3A series), "E" represents the Corolla, "8" represents the fifth generation (E80 series) and "5" represents the variation within this generation.
Pre-facelift models from 1983–1985 were known as "zenki" (前期, lit. early period), while the facelift 1985–1987 models were known as "kouki" (後期, lit. latter period).
The AE85 was available with a carburetor-equipped 3A-U 14521NaN1 inline-four engine, an SOHC (Single overhead cam) two-valve-per-cylinder motor, which at the time was nothing new; the previous fourth generation Toyota Corollas and Sprinters such as the AE70 featured the same engine. Toyota opted to use the older, less powerful engine in the AE85 to keep costs down, while still providing enough power for an economy-class car. This decision led the AE85 to be outclassed in horsepower by not only the stronger AE86, but most other options at the time. However, it was rated by the Japanese Ministry of Transport to have a fuel economy of 26.4 km/L (62.1 mi/gal) when running at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37.28 mph) which was drastically better than most other cars of its class.
The AE85 featured solid disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the back, rack and pinion steering, and a K50 cable-clutch manual transmission (an optional automatic transmission was available).[7] It did not incorporate a limited-slip differential (LSD) or ventilated disc brakes in the front and rear of the higher-performing AE86.
The AE85 and AE86 was available in multiple body variations, with the Levin and Trueno featuring fixed-headlights and retractable pop-up headlights respectively. Because of their identical outward appearance, the variants can sometimes be mistaken. All AE85 variants have 1.5 L engines, and are nearly identical in form to their 1.6 L counterparts found in the AE86. The AE85 (as well as the AE86) was rear-wheel drive, built on the E70 Corolla platform (same wheelbase length, interchangeable parts, etc.), unlike the front wheel drive E80 models in the same range.
The AE85 SR and SE came in both Levin or Trueno versions, the former being a 3-door liftback, and the latter being the 2-door coupé.
Both of these models were low grade versions that were less expensive. The XL model is a 2-door Trueno, and the GL is a 2-door Levin.
The Lissé and Lime were luxury variants of the XL and GL models respectively, marketed heavily towards women in Japan.[8] They featured an automatic transmission (with the option for a factory manual) and power steering as standard, and had unique upholstery in the interior. The Lissé is a 2-door Trueno, and the Lime is a 2-door Levin.
While both the AE85 and AE86 are nearly identical to each other by exterior alone, there are several differences within the AE85 that sets it apart from the sportier and more upmarket AE86.
Privateer racing teams in Japan would take an AE85 and convert it to an AE86 since it is much cheaper by performing an engine swap. Using modifications such as a bolt-on turbocharger or supercharger, racers can strengthen their vehicle while keeping the light weight of the AE85 body.[12]
In the Initial D anime and manga, side character and Takumi Fujiwara's friend, Itsuki Takeuchi, mistakenly purchases an AE85 Levin SR liftback thinking it was an AE86 Levin GT-APEX liftback, which led to him being initially ridiculed by his co-workers (except for Takumi) and several other street racers in the process. Itsuki would then later put a turbocharger in his AE85 for more power, testing it out on the touge (mountain pass).
The Toyota AE85 (as well as the AE86) was built in either the Kanto Higashi-Fuji plant, or the Takaoka plant.
AE85s built at the (now-closed) Kanto Higashi-Fuji plant came with a "5" designation at the beginning of the serial number. Their plant codes were "M21" and "M22". Only 28% of AE85s were produced at this plant.
AE85s built at the Takaoka plant came with a "0" designation at the beginning of the serial number. Their plant codes were "A54" and "A52". The majority of AE85s were produced at this plant, as it was the original plant where the Toyota Corolla and Sprinter are manufactured.
In both cases, the AE85 never had any export models made from these plants; that would handled by its more sportier and upmarket version, the AE86.