EPBIBLE

The Toyota Starlet was a small automobile manufactured by Toyota from 1973 to 1999, replacing the Toyota Publica (and retaining the Publica's "P" code and generation numbering). The Publica name was still used on some export models for a time however.

Initially launched in 1973 as the 40 series, the Toyota Starlet was offered with 1000 and 1200 cc engines. Generally the car looked like a shortened Toyota Corolla. Variants available were 2-door sedan and 3-door wagon.

The 60 series, introduced 1978 was better known, being the first to be extensively sold outside Japan, and offered with 1000, 1200 and 1300 cc engines. 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks were offered in export markets, although a distinctive 5-door wagon variant was sold on the Japanese domestic market. In 1980 the car was facelifted to include square headlights, and again was facelifted in 1983 to incorporate a slant nose frontend.

The 70 series in 1984 saw the Toyota Starlet finally switch to front wheel drive. 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks were offered. The very wide Japanese line up consists of Standard, Soleil, XL, XL Lisse, SE, Si, Si Limited, Ri, Turbo R, and Turbo S. Engine for turbo models is 2E-TELU. For export market, the Toyota Starlet 70 series were offered as 1.0 Standard, 1.0 DX, 1.0 XL, 1.0 XL Lisse, 1.3 XL, 1.3 S, 1.3 SE, and 1.5 Diesel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Starlet 80 series was new for 1990. It features more rounded body style and interior. Japanese models received new Twincam engines: 4E-F, 4E-FE, and 4E-FTE. Export models retained the 1E and 2E engine. The Toyota Starlet for Japan and Indonesia have rear center garnish, therefore the license plate is mounted lower, while cars for other destination the plate is on the center panel. In Japan, the Toyota Starlet was offered in wide range: Soleil, Soleil L, S, X, X Limited, Si, Canvas Top, and the sports model Gi and GT Turbo. Minor change was given in January 1992, and all models have fuel injection. The X was discontinued. New front bumper and revised interior were for all models. The S, X Limited, Gi, and GT also got new rear center garnish. The second minor change was in May 1994 with new front end and tail lights. The Gi and GT now feature twin round headlights and mesh grille. However the minor changes were for Asia and New Zealand only.

The Starlet 90 series of 1996 retained the same idea of a three/five-door hatchback. The Japanese versions were divided into 3 models:  Toyota Reflet (normal), Toyota Glanza (sports), and Toyota Carat (classic). The Toyota Reflet (Base, f, and x), and the Toyota Carat are powered by 4E-FE engine. The Base model was also offered with 1N Diesel engine. There are 2 Toyota Glanza models: Toyota Glanza S, and the 4E-FTE powered Toyota Glanza V Turbo.

Normally, Toyota Starlets were known for being dependable but dull automobiles, but there were exceptions. The Toyota Sera, made in the early 1990s and officially sold only in Japan, was the same car with a sports body and gull-wing doors. Only about 16,000 were ever produced due to their poor performance in frontal-impact crash tests.

Several turbocharged sport versions of the Toyota Starlet were also sold in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), including the EP71 Toyota Starlet Turbo S (1986-1989), EP82 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo (1990-1995) and the EP91 Toyota Starlet Glanza V (1996-1999). These have become quite popular in recent years in other right-hand drive regions such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand as used imports.

The Toyota Starlet was briefly exported to North America from 1981 to 1984, when it was replaced by the Toyota Tercel in Toyota's North American lineup.

The range was replaced by the Toyota Vitz/Toyota Platz/Toyota Echo/ Toyota Yaris range in 1999.

 

Info courtesy of the Toyota Starlet Wiki