GT5 Transcripts/Toyota AE111

A full model change to the Levin/Trueno in May 1995 marked the arrival of the seventh-generation version, also known as the AE111. The AE111 was the complete opposite of its predecessor, the AE101, because it did away with the luxuries that defined the previous car, partly because Toyota wanted to reestablish the model as a sporty brand. As a result, the AE111 became a lighter car, thoroughly trimmed down, 70 kg lighter than before.

There were obvious deletions in the lineup as well. The supercharged engine that graced the model's top lines, such as the BZ-G, was gone, replaced by the naturally-aspirated 5-valve-per-cylinder 4A-GE. But Toyota tuned this inline-4 to produce 163/119.3 ft-lb of torque, essentially matching the output of the previous supercharged engine.

The suspension system remained basically the same as the AE101, with a helical LSD dramatically improving the car's turning abilities. In 1997, the BZ-G was renamed the BZ-R and received a 6-speed manual transmission. The car became a bit heavier at this point because of the implementation of an airbag and other safety equipment required by law. As a result, the car lost its luster among young enthusiasts, many of whom were beginning to trade in their sports coupes for small SUVs and wagons. In 2000, the Levin/Trueno was removed from the Corolla lineup, marking an end to this affordable enthusiast-oriented model.