A Brief Introduction on Toyota Altezza

A brief introduction on Toyota Altezza

The Toyota Altezza AS 200(Japan only) is a series of entry-level luxury cars / compact executive saloon cars sold by Lexus since 1998 in Japan. The AS 200 was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES in the Lexus line-up (and outside of North America, the Lexus GS).Until the introduction of the Lexus brand and the second generation Lexus IS design in 2006. The AS 200 was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan (the word "Altezza" is Italian for "highness") The Altezza name is still used to refer to chromed car taillights like those fitted to the first generation models, known as 'Altezza lights' or 'Lexus' lights.

Produced as a direct competitor to the luxury sport sedans of the leading European luxury marques, the Toyota Altezza and Lexus IS was designed with a greater performance emphasis than typically seen on prior Japanese luxury vehicles. The engineering work was led by Nobuaki Katayama,the AS200 and AS300 Altezza sedans formed the basis for the Lexus IS 200 and IS 300 models sold in markets outside Japan, primarily North America and Europe. A hatchback-station wagon version was sold in Japan as the "Altezza Gita", and in the US and Europe as the Lexus IS Sport Cross. Overall, three variant were available:

• AS200

(Saloon or Estate) - 2.0-litre 1G-FE inline-six, 160 BHP (118 kW) or 155 PS (114 kW), Rear Wheel Drive or Four Wheel Drive (FWD); sold by Lexus as the IS 200.


• RS200

(Saloon) - 2.0-litre Yamaha-tuned 3S-GE inline-4, 210 BHP (154 kW), Rear Wheel Drive (RWD), not sold outside Japan by Lexus.


• AS300

(Gita Estate) - 3.0-litre 2JZ-GE inline-6, 220 BHP (162 kW) or 215 BHP SAE (160 kW), Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) or Four Wheel Drive (FWD); sold by Lexus (Saloon or Wagon) as the IS 300.

In 2000, a saloon/Estate model, the AS300 (chassis code JCE10), was introduced featuring a 3.0-litre 2JZ-GE inline-six engine. Equipped with Rear- or All-Wheel Drive (JCE10, FR Gita Estate; JCE15, 4WD Gita estate), the AS300 featured a five-speed manual, or five-speed automatic for the FR Gita Estate and a four-speed automatic for the 4WD Gita Estate. The six-cylinder version (2JZ-GE) was only available in Japan on the Gita models. In the US, the IS 300 saloon debuted in 2000 as 2001 model and the Estate debuted in 2001 as a 2002 model with the same 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine (the 2.0-litre six-cylinder was not available), while in Europe, the IS 300 joined the IS 200 in the model line up. All IS 300 models in the US were initially only available with the five-speed automatic transmission; this was also the case in Europe. However, a 5-speed manual was made available in the U.S. in 2002. Cosmetically the exterior of the European IS 200 Sport and 300 were almost identical, the only differences being the boot insignia and the larger engine model initially having clear front indicators (later generalised to IS 200 range).

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