Ceres/Marino Hardtop 1500 F (5A-FE)

STORY

Toyota launched the Corolla Ceres in May 1992 as a four-door pillarless hardtop based on the AE100 Corolla chassis, built by Kanto Auto Works in Yokosuka and sold only through Toyota Corolla Store locations. It was a lightly restyled twin of the Sprinter Marino, sold by Toyota Vista Store. Engines were the 1.5 litre 5A-FE and the 1.6 litre 4A-FE, plus the 4A-GE twin-cam, which made 160 PS as the Silver Top and 165 PS as the Black Top after May 1995. A facelift came in May 1994. Both cars were discontinued in June 1998 amid cost cutting after the Japanese recession.