In May 1983, Toyota's mainstream car, the Corolla/Sprinter, underwent a full model change and became an FF vehicle. However, as a special exception, the sport model continued to be an FR; this was the AE86 Corolla Levin/Sprinter Trueno, nicknamed the 'Hachi-Roku', meaning eight-six in Japanese.

The 86 immediately became popular as the last lightweight FR. There were two body types: a 3-door hatchback and a 2-door notchback. The main difference between the Corolla Levin and the Sprinter Trueno was the front end; where the Corolla Levin had a horizontal grille and square headlights, the Sprinter Trueno had no grille and was fitted with retractable headlights.

The engine was the newly developed 1.6L 4A-GEU, a DOHC inline-4. To make the most of the DOHC, the airflow meter was removed in favour of the EFI-D (Electronic Fuel Injection-Druck) system, which calculates the amount of fuel injection required using a pressure sensor. Additionally, it was equipped with the T-VIS (Toyota Variable Induction System) at the inlet port, reaching a maximum output of 128.2 BHP and maximum torque of 15.2 kgfm.

The pickup of the light engine combined with the sharp, responsive steering provided an incredible driving feel, even though engine performance was not all that amazing when actually driving. Its handling was not very stable, either; however, it was possible to use this instability to change the orientation of the car at the driver's will. It was a true FR, where the driver could feel at one with the car.

During its time, there were rival cars with similar specs, but the 86 was loved by many car fans who appreciated the fun of driving and the exhilarating feeling it gave them. There were many cars which came later boasting higher performance, but it is hard to find a car that is loved by as many as the 86.

The most appealing feature of the AE86 is simply the feeling of being behind the wheel. It's a rear wheel drive coupé that offers a lot of control, and gives people a great deal of joy. In the well-known Japanese comic series, 'Initial D', the sister model, the Trueno, is the star. But many people actually prefer the Levin. The reason for that is its weight. The Levin, with its fixed headlights, is actually a full 5 kg lighter than the Trueno version. It's safe to say that an extra 5 kg on the nose of a car this light can make a pretty big difference.

The AE86 Corolla Levin is a compact FR masterpiece of Toyota engineering that is getting more popular every year. Despite a modest 128.2 BHP output, its naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine can hit 7,000 rpm! What's more, the body's nice and light, and the rear-wheel drive makes it just the thing for tearing round a circuit. With the right tuning, the Levin can compete in all sorts of races, so there's no harm in having one in your garage!