Toyota Altezza
Despite sifting through Japanese auction listings every day for the past year, coming across a clean Toyota Altezza never fails to make me smile. It delivers what I like to call the JDM trifecta: affordability, reliability, and of course – ’90s nostalgia.
Here’s why I believe the Toyota Altezza deserves a top spot among all the import-eligible JDM dream machines.
The height of JDM
The year was 1998, and Toyota was on a mission to create a sportier, more agile addition to it’s existing lineup of sedans. Inspired by the Italian word for “highness”, or “height” – the Altezza targeted a younger audience. The vision was to achieve European-inspired performance ,without sacrificing Toyota’s hard-earned reputation for reliability.
The mission was a success, and when the Altezza finally reached the United States in the year 2000 – it became the Lexus IS.
While the American IS models came equipped with larger, more powerful engines – the Japanese Altezza models were fitted with smaller, but by no means less capable displacement options. Produced partly due to Japanese tax incentives, engines like the 2.0-liter inline-four “Blacktop” BEAMS would go on to become as legendary as the cars they were mounted in.
The Japanese Altezza also featured distinct sportier styling elements and a slightly stiffer suspension setup. This was to create a sharper, more performance-oriented vehicle – perfect for Japan’s winding mountain roads. A slight, but noteworthy contrast to the Lexus IS – which offered a softer ride for cruising long stretches of American highways.
The Toyota Altezza is not to be slept on
I became a JDM exporter just prior to the R34 GT-R bubble.
For months, if it wasn’t a Skyline, Silvia, or Supra – it wasn’t really being talked about. But it was greed – not passion, which drove the JDM market into such a silly place to begin with.
It wasn’t until I started talking with more genuine enthusiasts, that a kind of JDM sweet spot started to appear: something rare enough to be unique, but affordable enough realistically buy. As much we all love talking about Midnight Purple V-Specs, most of us don’t have a couple hundred grand to throw away on one.
The Toyota Altezza fits very snugly into that JDM sweet spot. There’s not a ton of competition at auction, and a modest budget can win you something very cool.
For buyers in the U.S., where the Altezza is essentially unknown outside of Lexus enthusiast circles, the Altezza comes with a strong resale potential.
Altezza Aesthetics
Perhaps the most iconic elements of the Toyota Altezza is its distinctive rear taillights, now known to some as simply “Altezza lights.”
The clear-lens, chrome-backed lights were a hit in the late ’90s, inspiring countless aftermarket versions for other cars and helping to define the era’s aesthetic.
Inside, the Altezza is a visual time capsule. The car is filled with quirky, nostalgic touches – like the chronograph-style instrument cluster, and patterned floor mats that make you feel like you’ve just stepped inside the lobby of a laser tag arena.
The Altezza Driving Experience
Even if you don’t live along the winding backroads of Japan’s mountain villages, driving the Toyota Altezza is worth experiencing.
The suspension is stiff – yet balanced, allowing you to hug corners and a feel an instant response to your input – a feeling that’s only amplified by a rear-wheel-drive configuration.
The 6-speed manual transmission in the RS200 model is an absolute pleasure. With smooth, short-throw shifts that let you feel every gear change – Altezza drivers often report feeling a kind of harmony, or psychic bond between driver and car.
The precise steering feedback gives you complete confidence as you carve through turns, and the brakes provide solid stopping power- should you ever need it.
The Toyota Altezza delivers a particularly unique driving experience, an experience not found in other sedans of its time.
The “Black Top” BEAMS 3S-GE Engine
The Toyota Altezza RS200 variant stands out due to its unique “Black Top” BEAMS 3S-GE engine.
Toyota developed this version specifically for the Japanese Altezza, with some engineering help from Yamaha.
This 2.0-liter, inline-four engine features a dual VVT-i system that adjusts both intake and exhaust camshafts, creating a responsive and smooth power delivery across a broad RPM range. That responsiveness, combined with a high 11.5:1 compression ratio, lightened rods and pistons, and titanium intake and exhaust valves, allows the engine to hit a high 7,600 rpm redline in the manual version.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the technical specs, here’s what this all means:
The Toyota Altezza RS200 offers a 210 PS output and 207 horsepower at high RPMs, giving drivers an exciting, yet balanced experience behind the wheel.
An Altezza of your own
If you’re as captivated by the Toyota Altezza as I am – and ready to experience the fun of owning one yourself, I’d love to help make that happen.
Importing an Altezza brings a piece of authentic JDM history into your hands, and I’m here to handle all the headache – from sourcing the perfect model to navigating both the Japanese and American logistics.
Reach out to me today, and I’ll walk you through the entire buying and exporting process – as well as answer any questions you might have.
I hope to hear from you soon!