The Toyota Curren was a sport compact coupe built from 1994 to 1998 on the T200-series Celica chassis. It shared the Celica coupe’s interior and rear end but used rectangular headlamps instead of four round units, which allowed Toyota to sell it through Vista Store dealers while the Celica stayed exclusive to Corolla Store.
Toyota Curren at a glance
| Maker | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Production | 1994–1998 |
| Based on | Toyota Celica (T200) |
| Class | Sport compact coupe |
| Engines | 1.8-litre 4S-FE; 2.0-litre 3S-FE and 3S-GE |
| Power | 125–179 PS |
| Drive | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Special version | TRD Sports, 300 cars |
| Sold through | Toyota Vista Store, Japan |
| Replaced | Corona Coupe |
| Total built | 42,000 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Toyota Curren.
History of the Toyota Curren
Origins and range
The Curren replaced the T160 Corona Coupe and went on sale in 1994 in ST206 and ST207 forms. The ST206 came in four trims: FS and XS with the 2.0-litre 3S-FE of 140 PS, and ZS and ZS Sport Selection with the 3S-GE of 170–179 PS; the ZS Sport Selection added a limited-slip differential and a leather steering wheel. The ST207 was offered only as the XS Touring Selection, with four-wheel steering and Toyota’s active suspension system TACS, an evolution of TEMS. In 1995 the XS and ZS S-Package added a rear spoiler, rear wiper, alloy wheels and slightly more power for the ZS.
Later models
A base ST208 joined the range with the 1.8-litre 4S-FE of 125 PS in TS and TS Private Selection trims, the latter with a rear wiper and spoiler. The 1996 facelift brought a redesigned front bumper and grille, clear front indicators and darker taillights with clear indicators. The four-wheel-steering ST207 was dropped in 1997, and the rest of the range continued unchanged until production ended in July 1998, with sales finishing in September 1998 after 42,000 cars.
TRD Sports
In late 1995 Toyota added the Curren TRD Sports, based on the ZS Sport Selection and fitted with a TRD exhaust, rear wing, front bumper, leather shift knob and a TRD Sports steering wheel. Inside there was carbon-fibre-look trim and a grey instrument cluster with orange backlighting. It came with a five-speed manual and helical limited-slip differential or a four-speed automatic, and was limited to 300 cars for Japan. The Curren’s role in Toyota’s range was simple: it gave Vista dealers a coupe of their own without competing directly with the Celica next door.
Design and features
- Celica underneath: the T200 chassis, interior and rear end of the Celica coupe.
- Rectangular headlamps: the visual change that let Toyota sell it at Vista Store.
- Four-wheel steering: the ST207 with TACS active suspension.
- TRD Sports: a 300-car limited edition with TRD parts and a limited-slip differential.
Toyota Curren versions
- ST206 (1994): FS, XS, ZS and ZS Sport Selection trims.
- ST207 (1994): four-wheel steering and TACS active suspension.
- S-Package (1995): spoiler, rear wiper and alloy wheels.
- ST208 (1995): 1.8-litre 4S-FE base model.
- TRD Sports (1995): 300 cars with TRD equipment.
- 1996 facelift: new bumper, grille and clear indicators.
The Curren was a Celica under the skin and replaced the Corona Coupe. Its sister cars are covered with the Sprinter, and more cars are in the Toyota collection.
Sources
- Toyota Curren, English Wikipedia: models, engines, TRD version
