Toyota Sera

Last updated

Toyota Sera (EXY10)
Toyota SERA (EXY10) front.JPG
Overview
Manufacturer Toyota
ProductionFebruary 1990 December 1995 [1]
AssemblyJapan: Sagamihara, Kanagawa (Central Motors)
Body and chassis
Class Sport car
Body style 3-door hatchback coupe
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Doors Butterfly doors
Related
Powertrain
Engine 1.5L 5E-FHE I4
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,300 mm (90.6 in)
Length3,860 mm (152.0 in)
Width1,650 mm (65.0 in)
Height1,265 mm (49.8 in)
Curb weight 930 kg (2,050 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Toyota AXV-II Concept

The Toyota Sera (model designation EXY10) is a 3-door 2+2 hatchback coupe manufactured and marketed by Toyota from 1990 to 1996. It was only officially sold in Japan.

Contents

The Sera debuted in 1988 as the Toyota AXV-II concept car in a near production-ready form, and is noted for its mostly glass roof canopy and its butterfly doors, which tilt up and forward when open. Just a year later, at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, the production-version Sera was presented. A vertically-positioned and electrically-automated model was also shown to demonstrate the butterfly doors and rear hatch in action.

Overview

Toyota Sera with one of the butterfly doors open Toyota Sera AMI.JPG
Toyota Sera with one of the butterfly doors open
The distinctive glass roof "bubble" canopy provides a clear and wide opening view. SERA glass canopy.jpg
The distinctive glass roof "bubble" canopy provides a clear and wide opening view.

Released in a single engine configuration and body style, the Sera featured optional configurations for its transmission, brakes, cold climate and sound-system. Toyota marketed three trim versions, marketed as Phases, over its production and marketed the Sera exclusively in Japanese Toyota retail sales channels Toyota Corolla Store as an alternative to the Toyota MR2, which was exclusive to Toyota Vista Store.

A total of 15,941 were built between February 1990 and December 1995. [1] 15,852 units were registered in Japan. Approx. 30 pre-production cars were used for development purposes.

Mechanical

The Sera came with the 1.5 L (1496 cc) inline 4 5E-FHE unleaded petrol engine, the largest capacity version of Toyota's E series of engines included in the Paseo and the Starlet. It produced 78 kW (104 hp) and 132 N⋅m (97 lb⋅ft) of torque. This was installed in a front-mount, front wheel drive transverse configuration with electronic fuel injection. All versions came with power assisted rack and pinion steering and either the Toyota A242L 4-speed automatic or the Toyota C155 5-speed manual transmission. The brakes were vented discs at the front and drums at the rear, unless fitted with the optional Anti-Lock Braking system which had vented discs all round.

Mechanically the car is related to both the Paseo and the Starlet, sharing similar floorpans, suspension, steering and brakes.

Design

Body

A closer side view on the butterfly door Toyota Sera butterfly doors.jpg
A closer side view on the butterfly door
Rear view with one butterfly door opened up Sera rear view.jpg
Rear view with one butterfly door opened up
Sera with the optional Super-Live Sound System in "Casual Mode" Sera SLSS Casual Mode.jpg
Sera with the optional Super-Live Sound System in "Casual Mode"

The Toyota Sera is a 3-door hatchback coupe of monocoque steel construction. The Sera's butterfly doors are hinged at the top center of the windscreen, and bottom of the A pillar and open forward and up in a manner similar to the McLaren F1 and Saleen S7 - the McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray cited the Sera as the inspiration of the F1's door arrangement. [2] The weight of each door is primarily supported by a thick gas strut and counterbalanced by a smaller secondary strut inside the door.

Unlike conventional hinged side-opening doors, the butterfly doors can be opened fully in a fairly confined space, requiring only 43 cm (17 in) of lateral clearance. The Sera features windows that curve upward into the 'glass roof' section of the vehicle.

The rear hatch is constructed of a single piece of glass without a supporting steel frame. This, in combination with a steeply sloping front windscreen and glass upper-door/roof panels (a total of six separate glass pieces overall), gives the Sera its distinctive canopy and provides expansive visibility, although the thick B-pillar create a significant blind spot, especially on the driver's side. To deal with its high solar load, air-conditioning and twin removable interior roof panels are standard.

Interior

Front bucket seats feature three point seatbelts and can tilt and slide forward to give access to the rear. The rear bench seat features a fixed central arm rest and either two or three point seatbelts.

In its normal interior configuration (with the back seats up and the parcel shelf in place) the rear cargo area does have a noticeably small opening (52 cm by 82 cm) and an elevated lip necessitating the lifting of luggage quite high before it can be placed inside. However the boot (trunk) is relatively deep and spacious. In addition the rear seats fold down and both the parcel shelf and the rear divider panel (usually in place behind the back seats) can be completely removed, in essence turning the entire rear half of the car into a cargo area. As such the Toyota Sera has a large amount of available storage space for its size. The space-saving spare tire and changing kit are contained in a small compartment below the boot floor.

Other features

The Sera/EXY-10 was one of the first cars to feature projector headlights (though the 1988 AXV-II concept model featured conventional headlights).

Phases

Toyota produced the Sera in three distinct trim variants, with either manual or automatic transmission, standard or ABS brakes and regular stereo or Super-Live Sound System ("SLSS") forming the three major choices for buyers. There were also a large number of additional factory options available across the entire production run.

Phase I (March 1990 – May 1991)

The initial build and the majority of the Sera's total production (around 12,000 of the 15,852 or so cars produced) featured:

Phase II (May 1991 – June 1992)

Around 2,300 cars of this second trim were produced featuring:

Phase III (June 1992 – December 1995)

1,550 of the final version of the Sera were manufactured, featuring:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Celica</span> Automobile

The Toyota Celica is an automobile produced by Toyota from 1970 until 2006. The Celica name derives from the Latin word coelica meaning heavenly or celestial. In Japan, the Celica was exclusive to the Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain. Produced across seven generations, the Celica was powered by various four-cylinder engines, and bodystyles included convertibles, liftbacks, coupés and notchback coupés.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Matrix</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Matrix, officially named Toyota Corolla Matrix, is a compact hatchback manufactured by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Cambridge, Ontario and derived from the Corolla. Introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, the Matrix was the result of a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, with the GM version being the Pontiac Vibe, which was assembled by New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) in Fremont, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota AE86</span> Motor vehicle

The AE86 series of the Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno are small, front-engine/rear-wheel-drive models within the front-engine/front-wheel-drive fifth generation Corolla (E80) range—marketed by Toyota from 1983 to 1987 in coupé and liftback configurations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Skyhawk</span> American automobile built by Buick from 1974 to 1989

The Buick Skyhawk is an automobile produced by Buick in two generations for the 1975 through 1989 model years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Capri</span> Motor vehicle

Capri is a nameplate marketed by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company over three generations between 1970 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Soarer</span> Personal luxury car/grand tourer made by Toyota

The Toyota Soarer is a personal luxury GT coupé produced from 1981 to 2005 by Toyota and sold in Japan. It was available at both Japanese Toyota dealerships called Toyota Store and Toyopet Store, and it debuted with the Z10 series, replacing the Toyopet Store exclusive Mark II coupé, the Toyota Auto Store exclusive Chaser coupé, and both the Toyota Store exclusive Crown coupé and Carina coupé.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Prairie</span> Motor vehicle

The Nissan Prairie is an automobile manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1981 to 2004. Considered a mini MPV or a compact MPV. It was also marketed as the Multi in Canada and the Stanza Wagon in the United States. In Japan, it was exclusive to Nissan Bluebird Store locations, then later at Nissan Blue Stage sales channels. The Prairie had a very flexible seating capability and sliding rear doors on both sides of the vehicle, with a liftgate in the back. The name "prairie" was derived from French which means an extensive area of relatively flat grassland, similar to "steppe" or "savanna".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Previa</span> Multi-purpose vehicle (MPV)

The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima in Japan, and Toyota Tarago in Australia, is a minivan that was produced by Toyota from 1990 until October 2019 across three generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Kijang</span> Pickup truck / station wagon model from Toyota

The Toyota Kijang is a series of pickup trucks, station wagons and light commercial vehicles produced and marketed mainly in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India and South Africa by Toyota between 1976 and 2007 under various other names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Tercel</span> Japanese subcompact car

The Toyota Tercel is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1978 until 1999 across five generations, in five body configurations sized between the Corolla and the Starlet. Manufactured at the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Japan, and sharing its platform with the Cynos and the Starlet, the Tercel was marketed variously as the Toyota Corolla II — sold at Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyota Corolla Stores — and was replaced by the Platz in 1999. It was also known as the Toyota Corsa and sold at Toyopet Store locations. Starting with the second generation, the Tercel dealership network was changed to Vista Store, as its badge engineered sibling, the Corolla II, was exclusive to Corolla Store locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Belta</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Belta, referred to in North American and Australian markets as the Yaris and in Asian markets as the Vios, is a subcompact sedan manufactured by Toyota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancia Lybra</span> Motor vehicle

The Lancia Lybra is a compact executive car manufactured and marketed by Fiat's premium division, Lancia between 1998 and 2005, based on the Alfa Romeo 156 floorpan, and replacing the Dedra in Lancia's range. Like the Dedra, the Lybra was available as a Berlina (saloon) or a Station Wagon (estate). A total of 164,660 were made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renault Mégane RS</span> High performance version of the Renault Mégane

The Renault Mégane Renault Sport is a series of high-performance hatchback models based on the Renault Mégane, produced since 2004 by the high-performance subsidiary company Renault Sport for its parent company Alpine, a subsidiary of Renault. The Mégane RS won awards such as "Best hot hatch" from What car? (2010–2014), "Highest placed non-supercar" in Evo's annual Car of the Year test 2011 and "Best hot hatch" from Top Gear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clio Renault Sport</span> Hot hatch produced since 1998 by Renault Sport

The Clio Renault Sport is a hot hatch produced by Renault Sport since 1998, the high-performance division of French automaker, Renault. It is based on the Clio supermini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Auris</span> Compact car model from Toyota

The Toyota Auris is a compact car derived from the Corolla, manufactured and sold by Toyota. Introduced in 2006, the first generation three/five-door hatchback shared the platform with the E150 series Corolla, while the second generation five-door hatchback and station wagon called "Touring Sports" uses the E180 platform. The "Auris" name is based on the Latin word for "gold", "aurum".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Civic (sixth generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The sixth-generation Honda Civic is an automobile produced by Honda from 1995 until 2000. It was introduced in 1995 with 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan and 2-door coupe body styles, replicating its predecessor's lineup. The sixth-generation Civic offered two new 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engines and a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) on the HX model. The coupe and sedan are 2.3 in (58 mm) longer and the hatchback is 4.3 in (109 mm) longer than the previous-generation Civic. This was the last generation of Civic to have front double-wishbone suspension, as the succeeding seventh generation would change the front suspension to a MacPherson strut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Vigor</span> Motor vehicle

The Honda Vigor is a premium sedan that was derived from the Honda Accord. It was sold in Japan through the Honda Verno dealer network from 1981 until 1995, and sold in North America from June 1991 until 1994 as the Acura Vigor. Early Vigors were more upmarket versions of the Accord, and served as Honda's flagship until the arrival of the Honda Legend. In 1989, the Vigor would differentiate itself further from the Accord with unique styling and an available longitudinal five-cylinder engine, and a twin to the Vigor was introduced with the Honda Inspire, available at Honda Clio dealerships.

Toyota Concept Vehicles produced between 1980 and 1989 include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota 86</span> Japanese sports car

The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are 2+2 sports cars jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, manufactured at Subaru's Gunma assembly plant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Mondeo (first generation)</span> Mid-size sedan produced by Ford

The Ford Mondeo I (first generation) is a mid-size car that was produced by Ford, beginning on 23 November 1992, with sales beginning on 22 March 1993. It is also known as the Mk I Mondeo; the 1996 facelift versions are usually designated Mk II. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk. In December 1992, Autocar published a section on the Mondeo, and how it would conquer rivals.

References

  1. 1 2 "Affiliates (Toyota wholly-owned subsidiaries)-Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc". Toyota Motor Corporation. 2012. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  2. Pollard, Tim (2012-07-06). "Twelve things you may not know about the McLaren F1". Car Magazine. Lynchwood, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK: Bauer Media Limited. Retrieved 2012-08-11.