When the Japanese automobile industry was at its peak, Toyota designed the Sera, a supermini-sized coupe that was produced from 1990 to 1995 for the home market. Compared to its rivals, the Sera's clear canopy and expressive gull-wing doors made it appear extremely advanced. The Toyota AXV-II concept automobile is to blame for this.

It all started in 1987 when Toyota developed eleven unique show cars for the Tokyo Motor Show, including the AXV-II model, which was nearly ready to go into production. The AXV-II entered production a little more than two years later, with the first units reaching potential customers in March 1990. In the title Sera, which is derived from the future tense of the French verb "etre" (to be), Toyota expresses the car's futuristic aspect. According to the official press release, the name was picked to symbolize an automobile that propels us into the future.

Remarkably, the new Toyota Sera provided more than simply a futuristic look, as it also brought innovative Toyota Production System methods. Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty.

Related: 10 Reasons Why We Actually Like The Weird And Wonderful Toyota Sera

Toyota Sera Ushered Forth A New Age Of Automotive Innovation

Toyota Sera
Via: Pinterest

In the case of the front wing, for instance, an innovative flexible press technology intended for low-volume production was used. Toyota was able to minimize the five traditional panel forming procedures (drawing, trimming, bending, cam trimming, and cam flanging) to only three using this method. An incredible breakthrough in press production generated body panels that were better in quality and precision thanks to this radical simplification approach.

Several mechanical parts of the new Toyota Sera, which was also known internally by the chassis number EXY10, were shared with the strongly linked Starlet vehicle. Nonetheless, a slew of unique characteristics set it apart, the most notable of which was the aforementioned doors.

Japanese automobiles have never before seen this type of design, and even more, it may have influenced Gordon Murray's creation of the McLaren F1 supercar. Each door had two hinges: one above the windshield and one at the foot of the A-pillar. As a result of the shape, it could completely open in a smaller space than a standard side hinge design. The doors were fitted with dual, asymmetric gas struts to provide constant operation independent of external temperature variations.

Toyota Sera
Via: Reddit

The Sera's all-glass cabin offered passengers the impression of vastness, even with closed doors. Additionally, Toyota's Super Live Sound System is one of its most unique audio systems ever. The factory-installed equipment had ten speakers, as well as a newly created three-mode digital signal processor and an acoustic resonance woofer in the boot. The back deck speakers may also be rotated to reflect sound off the glass and produce a different auditory picture.

Under the hood, the Sera was equipped with a 1.5-liter inline 4 5E-FHE unleaded petrol motor, which was the biggest of Toyota's E series of motors, which also powered the Paseo and Starlet. The 5E-FHE was a freshly built, second-generation engine with a 1,496 cc displacement, a twin-cam, 16-valve layout, high compression pistons, and a redline of 7,900 rpm.

The engine generated 104 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. This was fitted with electronic fuel injection in a front-mount, front-wheel-drive transverse arrangement.

Power-assisted rack and pinion steering were standard on all models, and the Toyota A242L 4-speed automatic or Toyota C155 5-speed manual gearbox was available. Additionally, a redesigned suspension system and a broad wheel track provided the responsiveness and comfort that customers would seek in a car. All Toyota Sera versions came standard with asymmetrical patterns on their high-performance tires.

Related: The History Of JDM's Gentle, Luxury Giant: The Toyota Century

The Toyota Sera's Cabin Was Fairly Roomy

Toyota Sera
Via: Pinterest

Inside, the front bucket seats are equipped with three-point seatbelts and may be adjusted to provide access to the back. The rear bench seat had a permanent central armrest as well as two- or three-point seatbelts. Furthermore, both the parcel compartment and the back partition panel may be totally eliminated, thereby converting the whole back half of the car into a cargo space. As a result, the Toyota Sera boasts a lot of storage capacity for a car of its size.

The Sera earned the coveted 1991 Torino-Piemonte Car Design Award for production automobiles, which is widely considered the greatest award in auto design, almost a year after it went into production. All eleven jurors gave the Sera great scores, praising it for its blend of high-tech elegance and functionality, which helped the car become such a favorite.

Since manufacturing began in February 1990, Toyota Sera models have been created for the Japanese market alone, with a little under 16,000 being produced. 15,852 automobiles have been registered, and around 30 pre-production models have been utilized for testing. Three-quarters of the vehicles were manufactured and sold during the first phase of construction, with the two succeeding stages focusing on modest aesthetic tweaks to make the Sera look modern.

Toyota Sera
Via: Pinterest

Unfortunately, the Japanese economy was already in freefall by the time phase two began in 1991, and phase three came about when the market collapsed in 1992. Consequently, the manufacture of the revolutionary Toyota Sera was halted in December 1995 due to a lack of hope. Firstly, in right-hand drive countries like the UK, the Sera has remained a favorite among importers ever since. Subsequently, the Sera has grown popular in North America, where cars can easily be imported and registered after they hit the age of 15–25.

After all, Toyota Sera was more than just a car; it was also a movie star. From January 1991 to January 1992, the Sera was featured in the Japanese television series Super Rescue Solbrain. In addition, the Sera appeared in Episode 33 of the first season of the anime television series Patlabor, which premiered in 1990. Also, the Sera appears in the Gran Turismo video game as a "standard car," which refers to automobiles with lower-quality graphics from PS2-era games.