Toyota Altezza For Sale

Toyota Altezza For Sale

Hang on…doesn’t this one look familiar? Why it’s the Lexus IS, a car that was sold as the Toyota Altezza in Japan. This type of renaming is fairly common, as Lexus was primarily designed for the United States market until around the mid-2000s. So, it’s not uncommon to find older Lexus models with Toyota badges in Japan and elsewhere around the world. Back to the Altezza, it created a cult hero with its clear taillamps that spawned an aftermarket generation of “Altezza Lights” for many other vehicles. 

The Altezza was introduced in 1998, right alongside its Lexus IS sibling. It came in two forms, namely the Altezza AS200 and AS300. These correspond to the Lexus IS200 and IS300, using 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engines, respectively. The AS200 could provide 153 horsepower while the AS300 made 217 horsepower. AS200 buyers got a choice between a 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, and could opt for a sedan or station wagon body style. AS300 buyers had to settle for a 5-speed automatic transmission and a station wagon body style. 

Meanwhile, Toyota also offered a variant called the RS200 that used a high-revving 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that made 207 horsepower. This variant was only offered as a sedan. It could be specified with a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard for any Toyota Altezza, as with the Lexus IS range.

The Toyota Altezza (and first-generation Lexus IS) is famous for its gauge cluster. Inspired by a chronograph watch, enthusiasts covet this unique layout. Surprisingly, the cluster is easy to read even though it appears quite busy at first glance. Toyota gave the line-up a minor facelift in 2003. Sadly, with the introduction of the second-generation Lexus IS in 2005, the Altezza name died, since Toyota chose to market it as a Lexus from that point onwards.

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