Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno was the most popular drifting cars in the underground scenario of touge (mountain pass) driving. It was the former racing driver Keiichi_Tsuchiya who promoted the unique type of motorsport, as the competition is not based on speed but on the most controlled drifting around corners instead. His role in popularising drifting as a motorsport as well as the non-traditional use of drifting in non-drifting racing events has earned him the nickname of "Drift King".
"I drift not because it is a quicker way around a corner, but the most exciting way." Other quotes by him on the car that catapults his fame the Toyota AE86;
"This is fun! I wish that Toyota could make cars like this again!"
AE86 chassis was derived from the notorious last rear wheel driven Corolla known as DX (E70) introduced in 1979. Suspension technology is best described as antiquated non adjustable toe and camber along the configuration of its upfront MacPherson strut to the solid live axle with four unequal-length lateral links at rear, combined with a Panhard rod that constraints movement solely to vertical motion.
Such rear arrangement has good ability to comply with huge generated torque, a popular choice for even today generation of muscle car. Though it’s nimble and balance under normal circumstances yet most car racing enthusiasts need to upgrade the standard antiquated suspension to the latest advanced technology on both springing and dampening rate for optimal tyre grip. As well as pillowball adjustable camber and caster plates fitted onto the front shock upper mount housing where as at the back a pair of coil over shock is deployed.
A typical racing set up would undoubtedly have jarring ride; unlike a well-tuned street car, the old reliable 1985 Corolla AE86 has transformed into a capable all wheel drive WRX chaser at consistent 0.91G of slalom test. The spring rate was set at 6kg/mm (335lb/in) and 4kg/mm (220lb/in) on front and rear, respectively.
Its stock fuel injected twin cam the jewel 4A-GE produced a healthy 129hp and was the successor of another legendary Toyota engine 2T-G. The 4A-GE was a smooth balance high revving engine but fortunately did not pass the California emissions regulations; to comply the stringent regulations a special version 4A-GEC at 112hp was produced for the market instead. Unfortunately the detuned version was not as durable as its stock brother and had a tendency to burn oil, especially in poorly-maintained vehicles.
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