THE FIRST CAR WITH A TOYOTA 2JZ ENGINE WASN'T EVEN VAGUELY SPORTY

The Toyota 2JZ straight-six engine is one of the most revered performance engines across the automotive landscape, mainly due to its use in the A80 Supra coupe and the Altezza sedan. The latter was sold as the first-generation Lexus IS in the US. While capable of making a huge amount of power, the unit was also bulletproof, which allowed it to be upgraded significantly without the worry of it dismantling itself.

Having graced the Japanese manufacturer's vehicles for nearly two decades, it remains loved in the JDM community. Interestingly, it made its debut in a vehicle with little in the way of sporting pretensions, rather than a performance legend like the Supra. CarBuzz decided to shine a light on the first car to be fitted with the 2JZ.

The 2JZ Made Its Debut In A Domestic JDM Luxury Car

By 1991, Toyota was looking to expand its luxury car line-up. The inauguration of its Lexus brand in 1989 saw the introduction of the LS model, which was designed to be the most luxurious Toyota product available internationally. Below it, at least in the Japanese market, sat the Toyota Crown, which wasn't quite as plush as the LS, but wasn't far off. Both of these cars were ideal to be driven around in, but Toyota wanted to offer a top-end luxury car that drivers could enjoy for themselves.

As a result, the Aristo was designed based on the underpinnings of the Crown. It was afforded a similarly upmarket cabin to the Crown, but was more commanding from a performance aspect. Calling it sporty would be a bit of a push, but it was certainly meant to be a more engaging version of the Crown. This is reflected in its name, which means 'best' in Greek. Aside from the mechanical differences from the Toyota Crown, the Aristo was also given a more angular body. The real stand-out feature of the Aristo was the selection of powerplants slotted under its long hood, which had been freshly developed by Toyota.

The Aristo Could Really Shift

The 2JZ straight-six was introduced along with the Aristo in 1991, and was an enlarged version of the durable 2.5-liter 1JZ engine. With a displacement of 3.0 liters, which was achieved by increasing the stroke of the 1JZ from 2.81 inches to 3.3 inches, there were two different variants upon release. The 2JZ-GE was naturally aspirated and produced 226 hp when placed in the Aristo, while the 2JZ-GTE was graced with a pair of turbochargers.

Grunt was boosted to 276 hp in Japan as a result, although it had well over 300 hp in some other markets. This ensured it was considerably quicker than the Crown it was based on. The best part was that the engine was durable too, so owners of the Aristo could give their new pride and joy a good thrashing, whether they opted for the standard variant or the GTE. The 2JZ utilized a robust iron block, as well as forged pistons and a forged steel crankshaft, which all worked together to ensure the engine could take a ton of punishment. In the Aristo, the engines were combined with a four-speed automatic transmission only, reflecting its luxury focus.

Toyota Made Sure The Aristo Could Make Use Of Its Commanding Engine

Rather than simply equip the Aristo with a pair of powerful engines and twin them with old-fashioned suspension that was as soft as treacle, Toyota pulled out all the stops to ensure it could handle itself. Advanced double-wishbone was utilized in all four corners, which helped enhance body control and allow the tires to make use of their grip.

A torque-sensing limited-slip differential was included in the deal, which helped keep the 2JZs might under control when accelerating. The power was sent to the rear wheels in the Aristo, which could cause problems for less experienced drivers, especially those opting for the 2JZ-GTE powerplant. The combination of the powerful 2JZ engines with the luxurious sedan frame proved successful in Japan, so Toyota decided that the rest of the world would benefit from getting a slice of the action too.

The Aristo Was Made Available Globally In 1993

Feeling the Aristo would be successful in more than just its local market, Toyota decided to sell it under its Lexus brand around the world, including the USA. It was named the GS, and became the third model offered by the marque after the full-size LS and mid-size ES. It slotted in neatly between the two, being less luxurious than the LS and bigger and more upmarket than the ES.

Sadly for the international audience though, the GS was only available in 300 form, which meant it didn't get the twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE as an option. This meant the 2JZ-GE was the only variant of the unit, though a larger 1UZ 4.0-liter V8 engine was on the menu for drivers looking for extra power. Like its fellow Lexus models, the GS came with touches like leather seating, and wood trim, as well as the option of all-wheel-drive.

The Aristo Was The Last Road Car To Feature The 2JZ-GTE

Even though Toyota continued to use the 2JZ until 2007, it was replaced in the Aristo/GS range upon the dawn of the third-generation model that was released in 2005. The model is notable for being the last vehicle to ever feature the mighty twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE though, as it remained available in the JDM Aristo until it was replaced in 2005. It therefore outlived even the legendary A80 Supra, which was culled in 2002.

The First-Gen GS300 Is A Used Bargain In 2024

The GS300 wasn't exactly a cheap car when it launched back in 1993, with its MSRP of $40,000 translating to around $87,000 today with inflation taken into account. The specter of depreciation has well and truly worked its magic on the highly modifiable GS300 though, and today you can pick them up for just a fraction of the price. Kelley Blue Book reports that a debut-year 1993 GS300 can be had in good condition for around $2,500.

For a car with as much luxury and performance as the GS300, it's a truly tempting prospect. This deal gets even more intriguing when the site's 4.8/5-star reliability ranking is considered, while RepairPal estimates it should only cost around $434 a year to keep singing the right tune. According to the outlet, the most common ailment that can affect the model is a clunking sound coming from the front suspension, which was caused by a faulty top mount.

As a cheap bargain, the GS300 makes a lot of sense. It comes with one of the most durable and legendary performance engines ever made, it has a luxurious cabin and is even dependable and cheap to maintain. Finding one in good condition and that has been looked after is key to ensuring it remains durable for years to come, but do your homework, and you'll get a true bargain luxury barge with a bit of bite.

Sources: Toyota, RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book.

2025-01-15T06:29:17Z