Driftworks' latest creation is the stunning Toyota Corolla AE86 drift car, built to the legendary Hachiroku canons.

The name Driftworks is familiar to the vast majority of tuning fans. The founders of this business are two British partners - Phil Morrison and James Robinson. Their business was so successful that just ten years after the creation of Driftworks received worldwide recognition.

When Phil saw an ASCAR racing car for sale at a very cheap price, he immediately jumped at the opportunity. The ASCAR European Series was an attempt to copy the North American racing style of NASCAR. More and more series of racing cars were produced, and the old ones went to the secondary market in search of their next home.

Phil and many other drifting enthusiasts drew their inspiration from the Japanese manga series "Initial D" and the iconic AE86 Trueno. By the time ASCAR appeared on the horizon, there was a prepped but not original Trueno in the corner of Driftworks. So, the question is from the category of “what if?” hovered in the air and waited in the wings.

Since Driftworks had experience with the S chassis, components from both the S14 and AE86 were selected for tuning. Some of this had to be modified, but the fender liner and chassis cross members still belong to a mid-80s Toyota. Some changes had to be made to the chassis design, the 86 was fitted with 17x9-inch CCW front wheels. Specially to order, Magic Aero made Kevlar wing arch extensions.

Since this drift car is designed for speeds of 160 km / h and above, and has a super powerful engine, the 30-year-old car's body needed to be seriously strengthened. For this purpose, Phil used elements prepared by Dyno Torque and Nickson Motorsport. The safety cage turned out to be very similar to NASCAR. The Cobra Seats sports chairs have added embroidery and Driftworks' signature orange color.

Dyno Torque's Driftworks Nardi steering wheel has been redesigned with tricky Cartek wireless control buttons. A large hose feeds filtered fresh air into the driver's helmet. This saves those moments when too much smoke is generated. A separate exhaust is designed to remove exhaust gases.

The original ASCAR engine was badly worn, so it was replaced with a custom built 454ci LSx. Two Jenvey throttle bodies deliver 646 horsepower. to the rear wheels. The maximum torque reaches 867 Nm, which is more than enough to drift a sports car weighing 1243 kg. This is the so-called curb weight, which also includes 28kg/28L of Evans anhydrous refrigerant for the DW86.

Specifications Driftworks V8 Toyota Corolla AE86

Engine

Engine power 646 hp, torque 867 Nm, curb weight 1243 kg, 50.4% of the weight falls on the front of the car.

GM 454ci LSx V8, Manley springs, titanium poppet set, Jenvey independent throttle bodies, dry sump and A.R.E air/oil separator, Driftworks 350Z radiator, Davies Craig water pump, custom Dynotorque exhaust manifold and stainless steel split exhaust system with low profile Magnaflow boxes, Driftworks engine cooling and power steering, Evans Powercool anhydrous coolant, ATE gas tank, Emerald trip computer.

Transmission

Jerico 4-speed Dog Box, 7.25" Superclutch 3-plate clutch, custom 14kg flywheel, Wilwood brake valve, custom Dave Mack 108 driveshaft.

Chassis

Dyno Torque Manufacturing: Intermittent Roll Welding and Significant All Over Chassis Reinforcement, Larger Front and Rear Fender Flares, Prefabricated Driveshaft Tunnel, Engine and Gearbox Mounts, Air Jack Stops, All Custom Brackets and Fittings. Nickson Motorsport production: T45 roll cage, NASCAR style door frame, top and bottom pillar reinforcement and protection.

Suspension/brakes

• Driftworks CS2 suspension with adjustable dampers - Nissan S14 (front) and AE86 (rear);
• Dyno Torque cross member for Nissan S14 steering rack;
• Driftworks Geomaster front suspension knuckles and hub;
• Driftworks S14 adjustable lower arms;
• Driftworks S14/AE86 Geomaster rods;
• Howe Racing rear 4-point leveling arms;
• Dyno Torque lower intermediate links;
• front anti-roll bar Ultra Racing AE86;
• NASCAR rear adjustable anti-roll bar;
• front 6-piston and rear 4-piston disc brakes and NASCAR AP Racing calipers;
• Driftworks Masterbrite brake pads;
• Wilwood pedal set
• Driftworks hydraulic handbrake with Knuckleduster handle.

Wheels/tires

• CCW Classic - 17x9-inch - 15 (front), 18x10.5-inch - 15 (rear);
• tires Achilles 123S - 255/35R17 (front), 265/35R18 (rear).

Exterior

Magic Aero Driftworks wide front fenders and Kevlar rear fender flares, fiberglass Magic Aero hood, custom front bumper and stock rear, fiberglass doors, fiberglass trunk lid with integrated TRD N2 style spoiler, polycarbonate windows and NACA pipes.

Interior

• Cobra Sebring Pro Driftworks Edition chairs with signature tuning shop embroidery;
• a special steering wheel of the Nardi Driftworks series with custom spokes;
• TRS Pro 5-point harness;
• built-in automatic fire extinguisher SPA;
• manual fire extinguisher, helmet with air supply for the driver;
• custom wire insulation from Dyno Torque;
• information display Race Technologies Dash2 in the instrument panel;
• wireless steering wheel controls Cartek;
• Perspex Dyno Torque “firewall” back wall.

Video of what a very powerful drift car is capable of:

Other photos of tuned Toyota Corolla AE86 (Driftworks V8):

Toyota Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno (AE86)

Toyota AE86, also known as Toyota Corolla Levin And Toyota Sprinter Trueno, is a light (923 kg) hatchback or coupe car produced from 1983 to 1987 by Toyota. For brevity, the chassis code " AE86” denotes a 1600 cc rear wheel drive model.

When Toyota AE86 just came into being, no one expected that the car would become a legend and remain a serious Japanese classic even the day after tomorrow. Toyota Corolla Levin AE86 marketed as an affordable, lightweight, and reliable entry-level machine, and was available both in the Japanese market (JDM) and in other countries. The uniqueness of the car was in its rear-wheel drive, because by that time most car models had been transferred to front-wheel drive. RWD did AE86 the perfect machine for enthusiast racers.
Corolla AE86 in action

Series engines 4A used in car AE86, were also highly valued for their excellent technical characteristics - a long engine resource, its simple design and ease of modification. If you dive into the technical details of the model, Corolla AE86 equipped with a four-cylinder 1587 cc engine 4A-GE, issuing 130 hp and 150 Nm (JDM version). The same motor was used in the first generation of the roadster. Toyota MR2(AW11). As far as transmission is concerned, AE86 was available with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic, at the request of the buyer, an LSD (limited slip differential) could be installed in the manual transmission.

Because the AE86 had a sporty character, ventilated brake discs were installed on the car. The car's suspension was independent with McPherson struts and anti-roll bars at both ends.
Corolla AE86 owners club meeting


Although Toyota AE86 was popular among rally drivers, but its true purpose, thanks to its power and weight distribution, was to glide through corners and corners in the drift discipline. Let there be many sports cars in the world today, but AE86 will always be popular with car enthusiasts.

After the end of production Toyota AE86, only a few Toyota models have been able to attract as much attention and become as popular as this iconic and legendary car.

Drift on Corolla AE86

Interesting Facts:
1 One of the design engineers Nobaki Katayama(Nobuaki Katayama), later head of Toyota's motorsport department. He also became the chief engineer of the Toyota Altezza car, which was released in the next decade. CAR magazine says that Nobaki had a photo of the AE86 hanging in his office.
2 AE86- these 4 characters of the factory code carry useful information. For example, A is the designation of the engine model (motors of the 4A series); E - indicates the Corolla model; number 8 - fifth generation (body series E80); 6 - variation with 1.6 engines within a generation.
3 Many confuse and argue about the differences Levin And Trueno- bodies with classic headlights were called Levin, and with blind headlights were called Trueno. You can read more about the difference between Levin and Trueno here.

"HACHIROKA". It was this nickname that this small but nimble car, officially called the Toyota Corolla Levin AE 86, received in its homeland, in the Land of the Rising Sun. Actually, hachiroku in translation means only “eight six”. It was notable for rear-wheel drive, weight, weight distribution, rear disc brakes (on later versions), 4A-GE (U) engine and, most importantly, crazy potential. At one time, the great, without exaggeration, Dori King Keiichi Tsuchia used it for his studies.

Birth of a legend

In the automotive market, "eighty-sixth" appeared in 1983. It was created as a model of the fifth generation Toyota Corolla, which can be a worthy addition to the lineup. Needless to say, the engineers ended up doing even more than they had planned. Chip, this model was rear-wheel drive, while all the many others were transferred to the front. The car was appreciated not only at home in Japan, but also abroad.

For some countries where the model was sold, there were special modifications. So in Australia there was a basic Corolla Levin hatchback, sold under the name Toyota Sprinter. In America, these were the Corolla GTS and Corolla SR5 hatchbacks or coupes with the Trueno Sprinter body. In Europe, the GT and SR5 models were also based on a variety of equipment options. Even a few strange car names have successfully taken root in other countries. The power and maneuverability of the cars really resembled "thunder" with "lightning", and this is how their names are translated - Trueno and Levin.

First of all, motorists appreciated the AE86 for its affordable price, lightness, but at the same time reliability on the road. The car became a real outlet for those who already at that time loved to drive along deserted streets and roads, but did not have enough money to buy an expensive sports car. So the AE86 Trueno and Levin became the ideal for thousands of enthusiastic racers.

Design

The car was produced in different bodies (including a three-door hatchback), but it was the coupe that received the greatest popularity. The car has a harmonious appearance. The design is typical for the 80s - chopped shapes, square headlights and a minimum of exotic. This is the simplest and most affordable car. By the way, some versions had "blind" optics. The bumpers were not painted from the factory, however, fashionable body kits and a “lip” are often installed on the Toyota AE86, making it even more aerodynamic. Wheel arches allow you to fit any wheels. And after playing with the collapse, you can join the ranks of "stan" machines. This car looks very impressive on classic wheels.

Dimensions, ground clearance

The machine is quite compact. The length of the body is 4.28 meters, width - 1.62 meters, height - 1.33 meters. Small here and clearance - only 14 centimeters. The car swallows bumps very hard. Plus, there is a risk of hooking them on the bottom. Therefore, it is recommended to use the car mainly on smooth asphalt.

Characteristics

Due to its sporty nature, the Hachiroka Sprinter Trueno and Levin received the legendary 4A series engines - 16-valve engines capable of power up to 97 kW, i.e. 130 horsepower, with such important technical characteristics as a long resource, ease of conversion and design. Not all cars had such advantages. In addition, these engines also sounded nice. So the success was well deserved.

The AE86 was produced in two-door and three-door body styles. The coupe weighed 950 kg, while the hatchback weighed 970 kg. Thanks to the difference in weight and greater rigidity in motorsport, it was the coupe that gained popularity. Both the coupe and the hatchback came in both the Corolla Levin version with rectangular headlights and the Sprinter Trueno version with "blind" headlights that could be removed under the hood.

In 1986, the design of the "eighty-sixth" was rebooted, after which some changes were made to the rear optics, bumper design, colors and interior. But the technical part is almost not touched. Cars of a redesigned design began to be called "Kouki" ("Kouki"), and classic ones - "Zenki" or "Zenki", which means "early". Both Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno have undergone modifications.

Interior

Salon "Toyota AE86" - a classic of the 80s. The Japanese love to use velor. It is everywhere here - from rugs, finishing door cards and rear shelf. However, this material is very durable. The steering wheel is on the right. The instrument panel has two main scales - a speedometer and a tachometer. On versions with automatic transmission, the mode was also duplicated (drive, parking, etc.). The car is devoid of any comfort - it is a pure ring car. There are no climate controls, power windows and other “bells and whistles”. For this, Toyota AE86 drifters love it. After all, with minimal alterations, it can be turned into a real "cramps".

Equipment

The most popular configurations with a 4A engine were called GT, GT APEX, GTS and GTV. The latter, among other things, had a rigid suspension, a short steering rack and a differential lock. By the way, the GT APEX package was painted in two colors, usually black and white. Therefore, she was given the cute nickname "corolla panda."

Such a special car very soon became a regular participant in sports competitions. Incredibly good Toyota trueno 86 was drifting. All characteristics, all features like rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, optimal power-to-weight ratio of the model, were perfect for fast driving not only on Japanese mountain serpentines, but also on sports tracks around the world. The AE86, along with models similar to it, has become not only a symbol, but also the reason for the emergence and development of such a spectacular sport as drifting.

In addition to drifting, toyota ae86 raised the Japanese circuit championship to a new level. On the basis of this model, excellent fireballs were created. The car also performed well in other speed competitions, such as when two cars start on a winding road until one of the rivals is ahead of the other.

Dynamics

It would seem, what can be a drift on 103 horses? But she manages to enter turns sideways very easily. And all thanks to the low curb weight. The weight of the Toyota Corolla AE86 Trueno is 850 kilograms. Therefore, acceleration to hundreds took only 8 and a half seconds. And this is in 82! The maximum speed was 193 kilometers per hour. The Japanese managed to achieve simply unrealistic performance indicators. It was the fastest Toyota among all that is in the lineup. The car created high competition for German cars.

Transmission

Two types of transmissions were installed on the "hachiroku". It was a five-speed manual or a four-band automatic. The latter, by the way, was not very fond of drifters. After all, this machine had a low efficiency and responded late to the gas pedal. Some make a "swap" on the mechanics and drive without problems. Although both boxes are quite reliable and do not cause problems for the car owner.

Chassis

The front of the car was equipped with MacPherson struts. A four-link independent suspension was installed at the rear. At the front, the Hachiroku has ventilated disc brakes. Behind are the classic "drums". Although the racers immediately finalize the brake system and install disks instead of “drums”. Additionally, the machine is equipped with two anti-roll bars. Optionally, the Toyota Corolla AE86 was equipped with a self-locking differential. The drive was carried out only on the rear axle. For better grip, wide tires are installed here on a low profile. Due to its light weight and proper weight distribution, this car confidently enters turns. Even on standard rubber, it cannot be called a roll. The car is simply made for circuit racing. Toyota is controlled very easily (despite the lack of power steering) and very predictable.

Interesting Facts:
1 One of the design engineers Nobaki Katayama(Nobuaki Katayama), later head of Toyota's motorsport department. He also became the chief engineer of the Toyota Altezza car, which was released in the next decade. CAR magazine says that Nobaki had a photo of the AE86 hanging in his office.
2 AE86- these 4 characters of the factory code carry useful information. For example, A is the designation of the engine model (motors of the 4A series); E - indicates the Corolla model; number 8 - fifth generation (body series E80); 6 - variation with 1.6 engines within a generation.
3 Many confuse and argue about the differences Levin And Trueno- bodies with classic headlights were called Levin, and with blind headlights were called Trueno.
4 AE86 And AE85 became the last rear-wheel drive cars of their type, because at that time most cars were becoming front-wheel drive.
5 AE86 became the inspiration for the modern sports car Toyota 86(GT86, Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ):
Toyota AE86 became the favorite car of the legendary drifter Keichi Tsuchiya:

Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86)

Toyota Corolla Levin AE86 (Sprinter Trueno) "Hachiroku" is the fifth generation of the Corolla and the fourth version of the Levin modification, which appeared in 1983. This rear-wheel drive car has gained serious popularity among racers, especially among drifters. The reasons for this phenomenon were the excellent handling, balance and tendency of the AE86 to tuning. Toyota AE86 main competitors: Nissan Silvia S12/Skyline R30, Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi Starion and other cars. The Levin AE86 was discontinued in 1987 when it was replaced by the Levin AE92. One of the successors of the AE86 was the 2012 Toyota GT86.

AE86 engines are ordinary in-line fours with a working volume of 1.6 liters, of various modifications. All these power units belong to the 4A engine family, which has become quite widespread on various Toyota models. Carburetor versions are nothing special, while the fuel-injected 4A-GE model is a much sportier engine with a different piston, intake, exhaust, camshafts and more. All this is easily modified in various ways and the power increases to 200+ hp.

When buying the legendary Toyota AE86 it is important to choose the right engine and WikiMotors will help you do that. It is here that you will find all the technical characteristics of AE86 engines, tuning, modifications, problems of these engines, repairs, oil and much more.

For as long as I can remember I have always played video games and in any of the games at the very beginning we start our racing career with only one old iron horse in the garage and a couple of bucks in our pocket. And gradually, with overcoming new tracks and increasing our rating, more and more new cars become available to us. However, along with the mega advanced Pagani Zonda and Audi R8, we are often offered to buy very old cars, such as AE86. Here is NFS:Shift, which is no exception to the rule - it also has a Toyota Corolla AE86 available.

I never thought about it, why almost all games have AE86, but when I got carried away with cars, I began to read a lot and watch movies about cars, I accidentally stumbled upon the Initial D anime series, which just tells about the AE86 driver. Here it became interesting for me to find out what kind of apparatus this is, which is given so much attention in knowledgeable circles.

So, Toyota Corolla Levin / Sprinter Trueno AE86 is a small car, in the back of a coupe or a 3-door hatchback, which was produced from 1983 to 1987. The main difference between the Corolla Levin and the Sprinter Trueno is the headlights, on the Levin they are open stationary, on the Trueno they are retractable (“blind car”). AE86 is part of the fifth generation of the Corolla. The name of the body is deciphered as follows: A is a series of engine, which we will talk about a little lower, E86 is related to the E80 series. This car is also called "Hachiroku" (hachiroku), which means 86 in Japanese (hachi - eight, roku - six). Hachiroku became the last rear-wheel drive Corolla, in 1987 it was replaced by the AE92, which was already front-wheel drive.

The Hachiroku was produced with the 4A-GEU engine in Japan and Europe. This is a 4-cylinder engine with 2 overhead camshafts with a capacity of 130 horsepower and a torque of 140 Nm. By the way, the first generation Toyota MR-2 was equipped with the same engine. For the US, the car came with the 4A-GEC engine, which was built to meet California environmental standards, dropped to 112 hp and 136 Nm of torque. The engine had a T-VIS system (Variable Intake System). At first, there were versions only with a manual 5-speed transmission T50, later an option was available as an automatic transmission. For the AE86, an optional self-locking differential was available. The car was equipped with ventilated disc brakes. Suspension front independent type MacPherson, and 4-link rear. Anti-roll bars were installed both front and rear. There were also low-budget versions of this car (in Japan and Europe they had the body name AE85, in the USA - AE86 SR5). These versions were equipped with engines such as 3A-U, 4A-U and 4A-C. These are engines with a single camshaft and a carburetor fuel supply system. The AE85 had drum-type rear brakes, as well as some other technical differences. Due to its low weight (approximately 940 kg), the hachiroku (with 4A-GEU engine) accelerated to 193 km/h, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h took 8.5 seconds.

In Japan, the 4A-GE powered versions were sold under the names GT-APEX and GTV. And versions with a 3A-U engine under the names, SR, GT, etc. In the US, the most expensive and powerful version was sold under the name Corolla GT-S, and the cheaper version, which was equipped with a 4A-C engine, was called the Corolla SR5. Both of these versions were only available with retractable headlights. In Europe, the car was known as the Corolla GT and was equipped with a 4A-GEU engine.

During its production period, the Hachiroku was a popular choice for racers in various series such as Group A, Group H, and various rally and circuit series. Even after this car was discontinued, many private teams continued to race the AE86, and this car remains the choice of many riders today. The secret of this car's success lies in the spoiling overall balance. The rear-wheel drive, light weight, excellent handling and tuning possibilities attracted Japanese street racers (hashiriya), who began to use it in mountain racing (touge). Later, Keiichi Tsuchiya, the founder of drifting as a motorsport, demonstrated the unique competitiveness of this car in the drifting scene. The car becomes the queen of drifts, and perfectly fights such monsters as Nissan Skyline, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Silvia.

The main role in Suichi Sugeno's comic book - Initial D also brings fame and fame to this car, based on which an anime is later created, and then a film is made. This saga tells about the tofu driver Takumi Fujiwara, who is also an excellent racer, and on his AE86 smashes his rivals to the nines on the mountain slopes. The "Fujiwara Tofu" lettering becomes the most popular AE86 modding, and the white color with black moldings on the sides (panda) is the ideal. Even now, this car is one of the most desired and wanted (including in the expanses of the former USSR). Various clubs of fans of this model are created on the Internet and in life. Various companies involved in the production of tuning parts offer more and more spare parts for this particular car. Fans of the model are starting to experiment from the beginning with the 4A-G engine, installing superchargers, multi-throttle intakes on it, and also replacing the electronic injection system with several carburetors. However, soon all ideas become “mainstream” and real hardcore begins. Now in the world you can find AE86 equipped with SR20DET engines from Nissan, F20C from Honda and many, many others, including the 20B-REW 3-section rotary engine from Mazda Cosmo. With the popularization of drifting, the price of this car is only growing, enthusiasts are ready to buy even a bare body without an engine and other units and restore it in their garages for months. And most importantly, it's worth it! There is no other car like it, so if after reading this article you also want to feel the excellent handling of the hachiroku, hurry up, as the demand for it has grown to incredible heights, and the supply is falling.