Toyota’s sporty saloon of the 2000s concludes its 28th anniversary of no-show in Horizon Festival’s car roster! Fast? No, but furious? F#&% yes…
Your highness, it is here. While thy altezza wasn’t able to make the cut for the better part of 21 years since its presence in the Motorsport (2005) segment of Horizon, the sporty Toyota has finally marked its first venture into the hands of wristband holders (and hooligans) running up the streets of lively Tokyo.
With hope and photogenic promises that the festival is introducing refreshed enthusiast machines, the Altezza is the beginning of expectations for the veteran wristband holders, so how does it fare?
Mean, lean and keen
On first sight, the angry-styled nose, chrome grille and foglights push a narrative that this is simultaneously a premium saloon and a spiteful pitbull. This is no competitor to the BMW 5-Series for the seasoned businessman. No, this is here to take buyers from the 3-Series, and its out for quota.
Horizon Festival has allowed the Altezza to be entered with a few body kits, most notably Toyota Racing Development (TRD) extravaganza complete with the front lip, sideskirts and rear end as presented here. The Z Edition trim comes factory with foglights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and 17-inch 5-spoke alloys plus CD player – the final two inevitable to be ripped out by festival drivers as soon as the keys land in their hands.
Sold in the USA under the Lexus marque without the same powertrain but available with the Supra-famous 3-litre 2JZ inline-6 heart, the Toyota Altezza saloon has a more tax-friendly 2-litre 3S-GE “BEAMS” four-cylinder (the 2JZ was available JDM only under the “Gita” wagon body). In some use-cases, this BEAMS (short-form Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System) motor ought to be a successor to the beloved 1.6-litre 4A-GE family of engines.
Instrumental prowess
This inline-four mirrors the other Toyota-coined 2ZZ 1.8-litre four-cylinder at a surface level – brash and high-revving beasts with power to match. The 3S-GE was not only tuned by Yamaha – the same company successful with instruments – the Altezza as a platform was designed by the same engineer, Nobuaki Katayama, who also led the AE86 platform. The 3S-GE in the Altezza crystallizes 210 horsepower at 7,600RPM and 217Nm of torque at 6,400RPM, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. An optional 5-speed automatic was also available.
Cabin styling
Comfort remains divided but to start with pros, the cloth-leather-mix seats remain sufficient for Horizon Festival’s speed-focused synopsis and comfort. However, rear seating space will prove cramped for taller occupants with lacking rear space. Its similar to a coupe-derived saloon – rear seating is compromised while front seating remains the most desirable spot.
Additionally, watch enthusiasts may add the young and hip saloon to their collection, the Altezza featuring a unique chronograph instrument cluster (and matching watch) exclusive only to the Altezza and its dissimilarly-badged brethrens.
For an upmarket saloon looking to duke with the fabled 3-Series, the Altezza is well-equipped to snag some sales from German heavyweights.
Clocking performance
Young Horizon Festival entrees (otherwise kids) will scoff at the performance of the Altezza, which slides in the C-class performance segment with a slowww 0-100km/h sprint of 8.5 seconds, but seasoned drivers and petrolheads with credible automotive passion will appreciate the package of the Altezza.
Its no Italian V12 or German straight-six that woos the impressionable crowd, but with Yamaha’s touch, the melody of the 3S-GE is literally an acoustical masterpiece for the appreciative bunch. Its a buzzy and throaty soundtrack, the former waking up beyond seven grand in the rev range as the engine buzzes to its maximum output and trailing off at a 8,200RPM cutoff. The orchestra doesn’t sprint where the modern-day BMW M2 would triumph, but it holds its own for the mountain and Touge events where fun should be considered.
On straights, it noticeably struggles to reach speeds upwards of 200km/h, and the top-end peak power and torque does work against the Altezza, especially for drift zones and events. But given it is the Horizon Festival – all cars under wristband holders will immediately receive triple the factory output as fast as a tuned BMW Isetta can run the quarter mile – so power won’t be a problem.
Sprinter, true, no?
Unlike luxury and cushy saloons with big power, small agility, the Altezza has big power and large agility. Twists and bends not akin to an airport quarter mile and the Altezza stretches its legs, displaying an exceptional balance of power and grip – a high bar for cornering stability that few cars old and new, slow and fast, can match. Turn-ins are agile and engaging, easily scoring the Altezza a pin of desirability as the next car for drivers to reuse for humble fun.
Perfect? Fu- Hell yes. Safe to say, the chassis development for the Altezza has paid off when its only a little more loose yet equally fun than an equivalent BMW M3, for a fraction of the price.
As the product of the same engineer who led the beloved AE86, the Altezza serves as a newer and sexier option for the old Corolla, especially in the world synonymous with it – drifting. Power on through the middle of a corner and the rear will kick out rather than understeer, more often than not is it controllable and inoffensive to initiate. Power isn’t Italian-supercar levels of death-defying physics, but power upgrades will be enough for powering through corners with hardcore angles.
Real world al(tezz)a
But let’s slow down for a sec and test in the real world. (cue tyre-screeching in the background) Outside of the usual festival events, two rear doors are better than non, but rear legroom is not won. Its a sporty saloon that you will have to compromise for, to say “Its good, but ignore x and y”, which your passengers will ask, “why?”. Its too bad that a package this good has to compromise in its liveability, which is understandable in a two-door but hard to swallow as a four-door. Boot space is fine as a compact saloon – practicality will never match a no-thrills SUV – a Toyota Harrier would fulfill that requirement (but at the cost of all else thrilling).
In context of the Horizon Festival, the Altezza will remain a rare car throughout festivities in Japan. Wristband holders may (currently) only redeem one for their collection courtesy of a now-concluded Festival Playlist. Fret not, as the sporty Japanese saloon can still be acquired through the auction house… eventually. Otherwise, stick to your BMW M3s or S2-class hypercars. The latter is probably what the majority of wristband holders will prefer, anyways.
~Efini
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