The first version of the Toyota Estima was introduced in 1990. It was sold under the Toyota Previa name in North America, and the Toyota Tarago in Australia. The Estima is a multi passenger MPV (multi purpose vehicle) also know better as a mini van through out North America.
The first generation of the Estima had just one sliding door to enter and exit for the back seat passengers. It was available with an in-line 4 cylinder gasoline powered engine which cranked out a decent 135 horsepower. the mid engine design platform made it somewhat easy to access things like the sparkplugs. Available in a four speed automatic as well as a five speed manual transmission, the Estima offered seating for seven or eight, while only the seven passenger seating arrangement was offered to the North American market.
The next evolution in the Toyota Estima model line came in 2000 with the second generation. With a slightly longer wheel base, it was also shorter and narrower then the first generation. I was also finally produced with sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle. Even though it came 6 years after Dodge had originally done it, it was a welcome new design feature for the Estima. It was powered with either a gasoline or diesel powered engine, with the diesel producing 116 horsepower and the gas engine turning out 156hp.
Toyota introduced the third generation of the Estima in 2006. Featuring a Hybrid Synergy Drive, auto parallel and also back in parking assistance. This generation of Estima was noticeably absent over in the European market due to the fact that it showed poor sales when compared it’s the competitors.
The fourth generation is scheduled to be released in 2012 into the Japanese and Korean markets. It carries the name of the Toyota Estima-X. It will also bring with it some exciting new design features. Built on a totally new platform, the Estima-X will use carbon fiber in its framework, and aluminum for its chassis. The i-AUTO (intelligent automatic driving) technology will be introduced in the Estima-X. This allows for numerous memory sensors that will remember the driving patterns of the pilot and mimic them while traveling on the same route.
With its first launch in April 1973, the Toyota Starlet was introduced as the Publica Starlet 40 series. It had a similar shape to it Corolla sibling, and fell into the “Crown’ luxury category. Toyota Starlet production was halted in 1999. In October of 1973, a 4 door version became obtainable.
1978 saw the launch of the second generation of the Starlet 60 series. This was the first Starlet that would be specifically designed and manufactured to be sold outside its native Japan. Just like the first generation, the Starlet 60 series was offered in a three door or five door hatchbacks.
Toyota did a complete redesign on the starlet in 1980. Giving it some very unique square headlights. 1983 saw more design changes adding a neat looking slanted front end and a lower back hatch opening.
The 70 series Toyota Starlet was released in October 1984, and became the fourth generation. In December 1989 Toyota unveiled the 80 series Starlet. And seven years later, 1996, Toyota rolled out the fifth generation of the Starlet. Production of the Starlet stopped completely in 1999.
Toyota realized tremendous success with everyone of the five generations of the Starlet. They continue to be a very popular choice because of their over all driving performance and reliability.