Toyota Sprinter

The Toyota Sprinter (Japanese: トヨタ・スプリンター, Toyota Supurintā) is a compact car manufactured by Toyota as a variant of the Toyota Corolla. Exclusively sold in the Japanese domestic market, the Sprinter was aimed to be sportier than its Corolla sibling and also using different sheet metal mostly on the C-pillar. The Sprinter and various body styles were exclusive to Toyota Auto Store until 1977 when the Toyota Chaser took the top position. The Corolla is similarly unique to Toyota Corolla Store until the Toyota Celica was offered in 1970, which took the top position. In 1998 Toyota Auto Store and Toyota Vista Store were both replaced by Netz Store.

The Sprinter is notable for being used as the base vehicle for two joint projects between Toyota and General Motors in the United States, known under GM as the S-car. From 1984 to 1997, variants of the Sprinter were manufactured by NUMMI in Fremont, California, known as the Chevrolet Nova (1984–1988) and Geo Prizm (1988–1997).

Each generation of the Corolla had a corresponding Sprinter sibling, until the introduction of the E120-series Corolla in 2000. The Sprinter was indirectly replaced by a rebadged Corolla hatchback called Allex, which also sold at the Netz Store dealer network, and commercial Sprinter wagons were replaced by Probox.

The first generation Sprinter was introduced in April 1968, thirteen months after the introduction of the regular first generation Corolla (E10). The car was marketed as a fastback coupé version of the Corolla and sold at Japanese dealership sales channel called Toyota Auto Store. and Corolla was sold at a different dealership in Japan called Toyota Corolla Store. This was the only version to include the word "Corolla" in its name.

In Japan, the coupé was offered in three trim levels; Standard, Deluxe and SL. The Standard and Deluxe trims differed in equipment options such as radio, boot mat and metallic body paint. The SL trim, based on the Deluxe trim, added front disc brake, tachometer, console box, bullet-shaped wing mirrors and SL badge on the front grille.

Like the rest of the E10 Corolla range, the coupé was originally powered by a 1077 cc K engine, producing 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp). The sporty SL trim was equipped with more powerful high compression dual carburetors K-B engine, producing 73 PS (54 kW; 72 hp). The K engine was paired with either 4-speed manual (column or floor shift) or a 2-speed "Toyoglide" automatic transmission, while the K-B engine in the SL trim was only available with floor shift manual transmission.

In February 1969, a minor facelift was introduced with larger amber front turn signals, a standard front 3-point seatbelt, headrest, interior improvement and a new SL emblem design. Another improvement occurred in September 1969 with a bigger 1166 cc 3K engine with output 68 PS (50 kW; 67 hp), while the SL trim was also upgraded with 3K-B high compression dual carburetors engine, generating 78 PS (57 kW; 77 hp). The "Corolla" name was also dropped from the brochure, but the Corolla emblems on the grille and front wings were retained. This new model with 1.2 L engine now bearing KE17 code.

The Corolla Sprinter was also sold in Europe and North America as a part of Corolla's range.