FAST

FACTS

The GT-S was the hottest Corolla you could buy, sporting the 4A-GE Twin Cam engine. Made famous in the AE86 Corolla and shared with the MR2, the 4A-GE continued into the AE92 generation (shown here) albeit with front wheel drive and more power. This is the first generation of Corolla to utilize front-wheel drive across the entire range (even the 4WD model was FWD based)
A 10.3:1 compression ratio and 8,000 rpm redline helped the 4A-GE extract an output of 72 hp per liter – one of the highest outputs per liter for a production car at the time. Four valve twin cam technology was only expected in cars made by Ferrari, Lotus etc (Quattrovalve) – it was wild to see it under the hood of a Corolla. This was the first mass-produced 4 valve engine in the world
These engines feature Toyota’s T-VIS (Toyota Variable Induction System) that routes air through different length runners depending on RPM. It shuts off airflow to one pair of valves on each cylinder until the engine reaches 4300 RPM, at which point it fully opens up until redline. This technology was crucial in allowing tiny N/A high-RPM engines to produce enough torque down low
A curb weight of only 2,372 lbs helped it achieve 26/31 mpg
Besides the bespoke exterior and upgraded engine, GT-S models get sportier interior and can only be had with the 5 speed manual. The GT-S (and SR5) was also the only Corolla trim to feature pop-up headlights
Developing a durable, high-strung twin-cam engine required out-of-the-box thinking from Toyota engineers. Conventional DOHC engines of the time relied on timing belts to drive both camshafts, but in the 4A-GE, only one camshaft is driven by the belt, while the other is driven by a scissor gear. The design proved durable enough to withstand repeated tests lasting several hundred hours at 6,000rpm (!)

Key Model Year Changes:

1988

The AE92 was introduced in the US in 1988 and remained until 1991

T-VIS variable induction system was only found on '88 and '89 models

No notable changes occurred for 1989 models

1990

Minor cosmetic updates occur

Cylinder head is updated, as well as new intake manifold. Combined with a slightly higher compression, power is bumped to 118 hp

1991

New tail lights (now entirely red)

seat belts are now mounted to the door

Specs:

1.6L Twin Cam Inline-Four (4AGE)	5spd manual
115 hp @ 6600 RPM	100 lb/ft torque @ 4800 RPM
0-60 MPH: 9.5 seconds	Top Speed: 115 MPH
Base Price in 1989:	$13,928