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Model dossier · Toyota

Toyota Soarer

1991 to 2001 Combustion engine 2-door coupé
Toyota Soarer, photograph
GPS 56 · CC BY 2.0
01 Overview

Toyota Soarer was built from 1991 to 2001, as a 2-door coupé. Powertrain: 2.5 L 1JZ-GTE turbo/twin-turbo I6 (JZZ30); 3.0 L 2JZ-GE I6 (JZZ31); 4.0 L 1UZ-FE V8 (UZZ30/31/32). Weight: 1540 - 1730 kg.

Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: GPS 56, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.

02 Features and what it can do
Forced induction (turbo or supercharger)

Overview

In 1987, following the design freeze of Lexus division's flagship UCF10 LS 400 (Celsior) sedan due in 1989, Toyota commissioned its California design studio Calty to develop a new luxury coupe. In mid 1991, the vehicle designed by the studio debuted in the U.S. as the Lexus SC 300/400. That same year, Toyota debuted the third-generation Z30 series Soarer in Japan, replacing the Z20 series. The Z30 series Soarer shared the body and key components with the Lexus SC, with different interior features, powertrain configurations, and enhanced performance. The trim packages were the 4.0 GT-Limited, 4.0 GT, 2.5 GT-TwinTurbo-L and the 2.5 GT-TwinTurbo.

Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.

03 Specifications
Built1991 - 2001
Body2-door coupé
Engine2.5 L 1JZ-GTE turbo/twin-turbo I6 (JZZ30); 3.0 L 2JZ-GE I6 (JZZ31); 4.0 L 1UZ-FE V8 (UZZ30/31/32)
Transmission5-speed manual (JZZ30 only); 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase2,690 mm
Weight1540 - 1730 kg
Also sold asLexus SC (Z30)
05 Market price

Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.

04 How it compares

Against the other coupe models in this database (33 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.

Wheelbase2,690 mm
  • about the same as the median of 2,706 mm, and shorter than 54% of the 26 other coupe models in this database.
06 Buyer's guide

Who it suits

  • Drivers buying for enjoyment rather than space: coupes and roadsters trade rear space for style and handling.

Check before you buy

  • Ask for service records: turbocharged engines are sensitive to oil changes and cool-down habits.
  • Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
  • Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
  • Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
  • Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator

General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.

07 Import age windows

Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.

United StatesEligible now (built from 1991, 25-year rule).
CanadaEligible now (built from 1991, 15-year rule).
United KingdomEligible now (built from 1991, 10-year rule).
AustraliaEligible now (built from 1991, 25-year rule).
KenyaAll examples are older than the 8-year cap (newest built 2001).
08 Other generations and models

Other generations of the Soarer

More from Toyota · all Toyota models

09 Questions buyers ask

Can I import a Toyota Soarer from Japan?

By production year alone, Toyota Soarer is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.

What powers the Toyota Soarer?

Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: 2.5 L 1JZ-GTE turbo/twin-turbo I6 (JZZ30); 3.0 L 2JZ-GE I6 (JZZ31); 4.0 L 1UZ-FE V8 (UZZ30/31/32).

Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.

10 Sources

Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.

Work out the landed cost Back to Luxury Database
FLUX · Chief Engineermi · USD