[3] Toyota was able to save development and tooling costs by building a family sedan and a sports car on the same platform and in the same factory.

Features included reclining seats with built-in head restraints, radio, clock, reversing lights and servo-assistance on the brakes.

[4] In 1971, the Carina 1600GT coupe was introduced as an alternative to the Corona 1600GT, using a 2T-G type 1600 DOHC engine shared with the Celica GT.

In late October 1975 (on sale 1 November), the Carina received a new front and rear-end styling, dual-line braking system with servo, and a repositioned handbrake and gear lever in a modified dashboard.

[8] Some chassis codes were accordingly changed, and the Japanese market cars received a plethora of altered engines, ranging from 1.4 to 2.0 litres.

[9] Vehicles installed with engines with displacement at 1.5 litres or larger obligated Japanese owners to pay more annual road tax, and were considered top trim level packaged cars.

The Carina Van also received a very unusual opera-style side window in the cargo area, and was available with the 1400 or 1600 T-J/2T-J engines with 80 or 93 PS (59 or 68 kW).

[15] An estate car model was introduced to export markets for the first time, with the same heavy-duty leaf-spring rear suspension that had been seen on the late appearing first generation Carina Van, as it was intended for commercial use in Japan.

The following year, saloon and coupé models (but not the estate) were fitted with five-speed gearboxes as standard, still with optional automatic transmissions.

In September 1978, the 3T-EU engine (1,770 cc OHV EFI) was installed in the ST-EFI and SR-EFI models, initially only with a five-speed manual.

In August 1979, the front of the vehicle received a major change that now included four headlamp lights rather than the previous setup, with the Van remaining with four round lamps.

The 1600 Van received the 12T-J engine and the option of an automatic transmission, along with a chassis code now in line with the remainder of the Carina range (TA49V).

From August 1980, the Celica Camry also went on sale through Toyota's recently introduced Vista dealership chain.

[1][21] The car followed its predecessors in retaining a front-engine rear-wheel-drive configuration even though by then competitor manufacturers were following a trend of switching to front-wheel drive in this class.

[22] More precise rack and pinion steering replaced the recirculating ball used in previous generations; the A60 Carina used a MacPherson struts up front and a five-link, solid rear axle – except for the more powerful, fuel injected versions which have independent (semi-trailing arm) suspension at the rear.

The Carina was famously used by private teams racing for Japan in the Dakar Rally in the two-wheel-drive class for both 1981 and 1982.

In February 1982, a five-door wagon series based on the Van was added, marketed as the "Carina Surf" (SA60G) in Japan.

This 1839 cc unit had a claimed output of 65 PS (48 kW) at 4500 rpm and was offered in markets where fuel pricing and availability rendered it appropriate.

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Carinas continued to be produced alongside the new T150 series until May 1988 in Surf, van, and sedan models.

[5] Starting from the fourth generation, the Carina shared the Corona's front-wheel drive platform for four-door sedans, differing only in having more angular sheet metal.

Between the Carina and Corona lines, Toyota expected a three-to-two proportion of front-wheel-drive to rear-wheel-drive models.

Its design sought to emulate the hardtop styling of large American and European sedans, resulting in a small, low cabin with longer front and rear ends.

The exterior sheet metal received rounded contours, as was in line with the fashionable design of products at that time.

The Surf (wagon) and Van versions also underwent a full model change to bring them in line with their siblings.

[28] In December 1988, a full-time All-Trac AWD system with a center differential was added to the sedan (chassis code AT175).

[citation needed] For the European market, the T170-series Corona continued to be sold as the Toyota Carina II.

Four-wheel steering appeared on the top level offering and styling was updated more closely resemble the Corona EXiV.

The sixth-generation Carina appeared in August 1992 and was only available with a four-door sedan body style, while the five-door van/wagon models were replaced by the new Caldina.

[30] In 1996, along with the base "Ti" model (1500 cc-2200 cc), a sports "GT" version was introduced with the 5 valves per cylinder 4A-GE 'black top' engine and 5-speed C56 manual transmission.

The engine was shared with the top-of-the-line AE111 Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno (a high-revving 4A-GE producing 165 PS and red-lining at 8000 rpm, known as the "black top").