Soarer 2.5GT-T

The JZZ30 Soarer 2.5GT-T

The third-generation Soarer went on sale in May 1991, a two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe styled at Toyota's Calty studio in California. Abroad it was the Lexus SC, but the turbocharged 2.5 stayed in Japan. At launch it was the 2.5GT Twin Turbo, with the 1JZ-GTE: a 2,491 cc straight-six with two intercooled turbos, 280 PS at 6,200 rpm and 363 Nm at 4,800 rpm. It became the 2.5GT-T in January 1994, when a Torsen limited-slip differential was made optional. A five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic drives the rear wheels.

In August 1996 the engine changed to VVT-i and a single turbo, with the same power and 378 Nm from 2,400 rpm, and ABS and airbags became standard. The 2.5GT-T was listed until the end of 2000. The Z40 that replaced the Soarer in April 2001 had a V8 only, so the JZZ30 is the last turbo Soarer.

What Soarer owners upgrade

Soarer owners spend first on the drivetrain: clutch kits, many of them ORC, and limited-slip differentials from OS Giken and others, since most cars left the factory without one. Baffled oil pans from the oil and fuel range, engine and gearbox mounts from the engine range and engine electronics come next.

For more power, owners fit exhaust systems, pod and replacement filters for the intake and intercooler kits, with HKS, GReddy, Tomei, Kakimoto Racing and TRD among the names they choose. Project Mu pads and rotors handle the stopping on a coupe of over 1.5 tonnes.

Genuine parts

Rust is the first thing to check, around the window openings, the lower door skins, the boot lid and the boot floor. Power steering parts leak with age, and sunroofs can let water in. The 1JZ's factory engine computer is a known weak point, with capacitors that leak and damage the board. Our genuine Toyota parts catalogue lists the JZZ30's parts.

Wheels

The 2.5GT-T came on 16x7 +50 wheels, on a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with M12 x 1.5 nuts. Other sizes are listed under wheels that fit the Soarer 2.5GT-T.