The 2,492 cc (2.5 L; 152.1 cu in) 1JZ version was produced from 1990 to 2007 (last sold in the Mark II Blit Wagon and Crown Athlete).

The first generation 1JZ-GTE employs twin CT12A turbochargers arranged in parallel and blowing through a side-mount or front mount air-to-air intercooler.

The ceramic turbine wheels are prone to delamination in the setting of high impeller rpm and local temperature conditions, usually a result of higher boost.

On the exhaust side, a decent amount of oil vapor flows into the turbos causing premature wear on the seals.

The single turbo is in part made more efficient by the use of smaller exhaust ports in the head, this allows the escaping exhaust gasses to have more velocity as they exit the head, which in turn, spools the turbo faster and at lower RPM.The adoption of VVT-i and the improved cylinder cooling allowed the compression ratio to be increased from 8.5:1 to 9.0:1.

The adoption of VVTi, a much higher efficiency single turbocharger than the twins as well as different manifold and exhaust ports were responsible for most of the 50% torque increase at low engine speeds.

This engine was used primarily in Toyota's X chassis cars (Chaser, Mark II, Cresta, Verossa, Blit), the Crown Athlete V (JZS171) and in the later JZZ30 Soarer, as the JZA70 Supra had long been discontinued at this time.

Around 2000, Toyota introduced what are quite probably the least-recognized members of the JZ engine family: the FSE direct injection variants.

The ‘D4’ FSE employs a relatively narrow angle cylinder head with swirl control valves that serve to improve combustion efficiency.

Applications: The 2JZ-GTE is an inline-layout, six-cylinder, belt-driven dual overhead camshaft, air-intercooled, twin-turbocharged, cast-iron block, aluminium cylinder head engine designed and manufactured by Toyota that was produced from 1991 to 2002 in Japan.

The engine block, crankshaft, and connecting rods of the Supra's 2JZ-GE and 2JZ-GTE are the same, with notable differences being that the 2JZ-GTE has recessed piston tops (giving a lower compression ratio), oil spray nozzles to aid in cooling the pistons and a different head (redesigned inlet/exhaust ports, cams and valves).

The later 2JZ-GE VVT-i equipped models (Aristo, Altezza and Mark II) shared a different part number for weaker connecting rods.

Engine power in the North American and European markets, as documented by Toyota, was increased to 320 hp (239 kW; 324 PS) at 6000 rpm.

This engine features narrow angle cylinder heads with swirl control valves improving combustion efficiency (similar to the 1JZ-FSE) and weighs about 200 kg (440 lb).