However, the name that actually uses "?SUPRA" directly without any other elaboration is actually quite late - it can even be said that it is later than "SUPRA". The name is well known to car fans in Europe, America, Japan and other places. Time - an earlier era, she was a derivative of the Toyota SPORTS?CARS car series "CELICA" that was born earlier and was more famous.
In the late 1960s, Nissan, also a Japanese car manufacturer, accurately captured local demand and launched the first generation Fairlady Z (called in North America according to the year and specifications: "Datsun 240Z" ""Datsun? 260Z" "Datsun? 280Z"), this car model was launched in the vast markets mainly in North America and Japan after its release in 1969. With its specifications and performance, it can compete with European brand cars (such as Jaguar) that are several times the price of itself. E-Type or Porsche 911), and at the same time possessing the exotic styling characteristics of European brand cars, they were widely welcomed in a product cycle of nearly 10 years (1969-1978) and sold An astonishing approximately 550,000 units (of which approximately 80,000 were sold in the Japanese market, and most of the rest were sold in the North American market).
Toyota "CAL-1" concept car
Feeling this, Toyota had no reason to sit back and ignore it, so it began to promote the development of similar models of its own since the mid-1970s.
In 1977, at the 22nd Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo Motor Show), the results of related development were unveiled to the world for the first time. A concept car called "Toyota CAL-1" was demonstrated for the first time on the above occasion.
Toyota "CAL-1" concept car
The "Toyota CAL-1" concept car is based on a second-generation CELICA and precedes the mass production of the second-generation CELICA The car adopts the design of four square headlights (this design was carried out with the Minor Change of the second-generation CELICA in August 1979, and the later model was born, and was just introduced into the ordinary second-generation CELICA).
Moreover, the air intake grille uses a styling design similar to that of the previous Toyota and Japan's first mass-produced supercar "2000GT": the chrome-plated part on the air intake grille clearly forms a "T" ", symbolizing the initials of "TOYOTA".
Toyota "CAL-1" concept car
The Nissan Fairlady Z, which was later regarded more as a pure "SPORTS CAR", is obviously different from "GT" and "premium". Class words don't have much to do with each other. Completely different from it is the "Toyota CAL-1" on display at this time. The unique interior of the car uses different shades of brown as the main color, and the two-color painting of the car's exterior uses white and brown as the main tones, revealing the future. It has a sexy transparent glass roof, the rear surface of the car body is paved with high-quality wood like a yacht deck, and there are also colorful polyurethane plastic front and rear bumpers that were quite popular on vehicles of that era (most of the colors are painted with the lower part of the car body) Decorated in the same brown color), almost every detail demonstrates its high-end attributes. This also shows that Toyota's product planners are trying to avoid a head-on confrontation with Nissan's "Fairlady Z", which already has a first-mover advantage in the market segment, and seek new markets.
In addition to these parts that can be regarded as decoration, compared with the standard second-generation CELICA, the length of the "CAL-1" concept car from the engine compartment firewall to the front axle has also been extended by about 13cm , to accommodate the Toyota M series inline six-cylinder engine with larger length and displacement-the ordinary second-generation CELICA versions have only provided inline four-cylinder engines of various specifications from beginning to end.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA?XX"
Early model, 2.6L car
In April 1978, an advanced derivative version of the "CELICA" car series " CELICA?XX" was officially released in the Japanese market Note 1.
Obviously, many details of "CELICA?XX" are the same or similar to the "CAL-1" concept car previously displayed at the 22nd Tokyo Motor Show, such as the T-shape imitating the "2000GT" Front grille design, 13cm longer wheelbase than the ordinary CELICA (the extension is between the front axle and the engine compartment firewall), colored polyurethane plastic front and rear bumpers, etc. (On the single-color painted version, the main part is colored The painting color is the same as the overall body of the car. On the two-color painting version, the color of the main part is the same as the upper and lower parts of the car body, but different from the middle part of the car body).
Note 1 The second-generation CELICA can be called the generation with the most derivatives of this car series?——?Of course, although "CELICA" itself is independent in name, it is different from the previous first-generation and The subsequent third to seventh generations have always been derivatives of the CARINA/CORONA series of the same period - the derivative models include "CELICA?XX"/"CELICA?SUPRA" as advanced derivatives and the 1980 The 4-door version "CELICA CAMRY" just came out in January. What’s interesting is that the names CELICA and even the CARINA/CORONA on which it was based have long since disappeared from Toyota’s product lines over time, but “SUPRA” and “CAMRY” originally appeared as the names of derivative cars. The name still exists in the automobile market in most parts of the world, including the Japanese market itself.
The number of versions of the second-generation CELICA itself is also the largest among all previous generations of CELICA, and even among all Toyota mass-produced cars. There have been about 70 different equipment versions.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA?XX"
Early model, 2.6L car
These details are unique to "CELICA?XX" and are different from The first-generation CELICA XX/CELICA SUPRA, the lifeback car of the same period that was cheaper and only had an inline 4-cylinder engine available, did not offer both coupe and CELICA like the CELICA of the same period during its short life cycle. The liftback version was only available in the liftback body version which was particularly popular during that period.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA?XX"
Early model, 2.6L car
However, as a mass-produced car, "CELICA?XX" has different interior colors It does not focus on the brown tone used on the "Toyota CAL-1" concept car, but focuses on the unique burgundy red Note 2. This interior color was later adopted by the high-end of the three sisters of the first generation MARK II/CHASER/CRESTA. version, the first-generation SOARER and other Toyota high-end car models, and became a major feature of the so-called "Hardcore" Note 3 from the 1980s to the early 1990s. In the final analysis, this is the original design from "CELICA?XX" .
Note 2 Of course, the first-generation "CELICA?XX"/"CELICA?SUPRA" also has a brown-yellow interior version for customers to choose from. The color used is the same as that of the "Toyota CAL-1" concept car are slightly different.
Note 3 "ハイソカー" is an abbreviation of the Japanese word "High Society Car", which basically refers to the "Road Traffic Act" of some sizes in Japan from the 1980s to the early 1990s. 》Classified as a "small passenger car" category, Toyota Motor Corporation is a high-end car using a Hard Top body produced in Japan and sold for the Japanese market.
The mass-produced first-generation "CELICA?XX"/CELICA?SUPRA" also has a brown-yellow interior color version similar to the "CAL-1" concept car, but the specific colors are slightly different
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"CELICA?XX" for the Japanese market initially provides 2.0L cars (Toyota M-EU type 2.0L inline 6-cylinder SOHC electronic fuel injection engine, maximum output 125ps, maximum torque 166.6N·m) and 2.6L car (Toyota 4M-EU inline 6-cylinder SOHC electronic fuel injection engine, maximum output 140ps, maximum torque 207N·m). According to the equipment level and price level, the former is divided into three versions from low to high: "L", "S", and "G", while the latter is divided into two versions: "S" and "G" from low to high.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA?XX"
Early model, 2.6L car
The optional transmission is basically the same as that of the same period, which was very popular in the Japanese market. The well-received fifth-generation Toyota CROWN (1974-1979) has basically the same in-line 6-cylinder engine, including 5MT (Toyota W50 transmission) and 4AT (Toyota A40 transmission). Among them, the 5th gear of the W50 5MT is an overdrive gear, and the 4th gear of the A40 4AT is an overdrive gear. In addition, unlike the related display logic of many cars equipped with AT-type transmissions in the 1990s and thereafter, the first-generation "CELICA?XX" (and "CELICA?SUPRA") AT cars, like CROWN and other Toyota cars of the same period, are When the O/D function is enabled on the vehicle and the overdrive gear is allowed to be entered, the relevant logo will light up on the instrument panel, instead of being displayed only when the O/D function is turned off and the transmission is prohibited from entering the overdrive gear as on more recent AT cars.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA?XX"
Early model, 2.6L car
The braking system is a four-wheel disc brake regardless of the version - this Today it is a standard feature of passenger cars that are not too low-end, but at that time it was still one of the hallmarks of premium/high-performance cars.
The vehicle model-specific logo installed on the front of the hood of Toyota "CELICA?XX"
In January 1979, "CELICA?XX" was exported for the first time and landed in the North American market. , because the capital "X" was widely known as the prefix for adults-specific movie ratings in the American film ratings at that time, Toyota decided to give this new car a new name that would not give rise to misunderstandings - — "CELICA? SUPRA". This was also the first time that the word "SUPRA" appeared in the history of automobiles.
Toyota’s first-generation “CELICA SUPRA” for markets outside Japan was only offered with one displacement engine at the same time, so there was no longer a displacement mark on the front grille. The logo was changed to "EFI" to indicate the use of an electronically controlled fuel injection engine, which was relatively rare at the time.
Therefore, only the version for the Japanese market adopts the double "X" intertwined style of the front/rear logos and other logos. Models for other regions use SUPRA on the front, steering wheel and other positions. Logo, "TOYOTA" in large capital letters is used on the rear of the car, and the words on the large decorative panel of the B-pillar have also been changed from the "XX" intertwined logo at the top and "CELICA" in capital letters at the bottom. It is the "SUPRA" logo, and immediately below it is the smaller "CELICA" in capital letters. The bottom is equivalent to the place where "CELICA" is painted in capital letters on the body of "CELICA?XX", and is the word "SUPRA" in capital letters.
The decorative panel on the wide B-pillar inherited from the second-generation "CELICA", on the first-generation "CELICA? SUPRA", no longer has the "XX" graphic logo and "CELICA" below it. " is replaced by a smaller car model-specific logo, the capital CELICA word immediately below it, and the capital "SURPA" in a larger and more conspicuous font below.
Obviously, unlike the Japanese market, in North America in the late 1970s where a large number of ordinary family cars were equipped with large-displacement inline 6-cylinder engines, the displacement of 2.0L seemed too small, and the displacement of 2.6L was too small. It is a "decent" and "appropriate" displacement for vehicles that emphasize high-end or high performance. Therefore, the first-generation "CELICA? SUPRA" used for output only retains the larger displacement version. That is to say, in the early stage, there were only 2.6L cars powered by Toyota's 4M-EU engine.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA? SUPRA"
At that time, various Japanese automobile manufacturers in California, one of the most important markets in North America, were authorized by the United States to adopt and implement different The entire federal government has separate, more stringent regulations related to automobile exhaust emissions. "CELICA? SUPRA" exported to all parts of North America has to install an exhaust system that complies with local regulations in California and has a greater impact on the engine's operating efficiency. The early version of the first-generation "CELICA SUPRA" sold from about January 1979 to August 1980 only had a maximum output of 112ps and a maximum torque of 184N·m. The performance is significantly inferior to the "CELICA XX" that also uses the 5M-EU engine for the Japanese market.
Toyota's first generation "CELICA SUPRA"
In August 1980, the first generation "CELICA XX" ushered in the only Minor Change (mid-term refresh) in its short life cycle. payment). From this point on, the rear suspension was changed from a four-link axle suspension (coil spring) to a semi-trailing arm suspension (coil spring), which is a type of independent suspension that can better maintain rear wheel grip in corners. ——This is also one of the changes that follow all second-generation "CELICA" liftback vehicles. In addition, starting from this time, the 2.8L car (equipped with Toyota 5M-EU engine, with a maximum output of 145ps and a maximum torque of 231N·m) replaced the 2.6L car in the product line, and the "CELICA?XX" car series was changed to provide 2.0L and 2.8L cars.
In terms of versions with different equipment levels, the 2.8L car of the late-model "CELICA?XX" only provides the most popular and highest equipment level version "G". The 2.0L car continues to be available in "L" and "S" versions.
In terms of interior decoration, the shape of the center console of the mid-term facelift "CELICA?XX" has been changed, and the middle part has been changed to a standardized DIN audio equipment size, providing 2DIN space.
Cross-sectional view of Toyota’s first-generation “CELICA?SUPRA”
The “CELICA?SUPRA” for overseas markets naturally also underwent a mid-term facelift, and the changes were similar to those of the “CELICA?XX” Condition. As with the previous early-generation "CELICA SUPRA", the 2.0L displacement version is not available, so the only displacement version of the later-generation first-generation "CELICA SUPRA" is 2.8L. However, due to the same reasons as the earlier models mentioned above, the output and torque peaks of the later-generation first-generation "CELICA? SUPRA" are also much lower than those of the later-generation first-generation "CELICA?XX", with a maximum output of 118ps and a maximum torque of 197N·m.
In the summer of 1981, the production of the first-generation "CELICA?XX"/"CELICA?SUPRA" was stopped with the start of production of the successor car at Toyota's Tawara Plant.
In July of the same year, in the Japanese automobile market, which is dominated by directly-operated sales stores and therefore can obtain relatively accurate statistical data, the late-model first-generation "CELICA XX" was discontinued due to the announcement of the successor car, and the cumulative number of units produced was 3. 9,082 units. Overseas (mainly the North American market) the sales volume is more than double.
Toyota’s first generation “CELICA?XX”, cross-section view. Another difference in styling between it and the "CELICA? SUPRA" for overseas markets is the use of more traditional exterior rearview mirrors on the front fenders instead of door mirrors - the "CELICA?XX" modification for the Japanese market The standard equipment of door mirrors was not until August 1983, when the second generation "CELICA?XX" late model was born.
Obviously, although this value is not as high as the sales volume of the first-generation Nissan Fairlady Z in the Japanese market of more than 80,000 units and the global market of more than 550,000 units, considering the sales volume of the first-generation "CELICA SUPRA" The product life cycle is only more than 3 years, which is far less than the nearly 10 years of Nissan's first-generation Fairlady Z. For Toyota, a latecomer, it is already a good enough achievement to be proud of. ,
The second-generation "CELICA?XX"/"CELICA?SUPRA" that will succeed the car will break away from the high-end style of the first generation and completely become a "SPORTS?CAR".
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.