It was 1998, and Toyota unveiled the Altezza to the likes of young enthusiasts who fancied on the simple but effective nature of front-engine, rear wheel drive automobiles, which by that time was as close to the word extinct as the Dinosaurs could have ever been. Faced to be the eternal rival of the iconic 3-series BMWs, it became the first of many Japanese compact saloons that took Japan by storm in the late 1990s. However, what Toyota expected to be well wishes and excellent enthusiasm turned out to be bittersweet complaints and somewhat lackluster reviews filled with lukewarm reception. Some people lashed about the lack of "umph" factor on Toyota's was-to-be AE86 successor for the turn of the millennia, and some were left dissatisfied with the monotone, in fact slightly lazy perhaps, handling that felt like one was to drive a de-tuned Crown Royal Saloon (which to be quite fair, it literally is one). Even it's amazingly engineered twincam four pot was unfortunately left in favor of the torque-plenty six-cylinders of BMW's 3-series lineups.
Toyota, well, they almost did not took the news well. Feeling that their customers could deserve a well better successor than the one they had thus far, and the fact that they had to to better than BMW's flagship model, the company decided to ring up one of their, so called "associates", one that has been working quite close with Toyota in the tuning industry, and that was none other than TOM'S (I do apologize if you thought it was TRD however). Tasked with the objective to create an Altezza the masses would surely prefer, the lads quickly went into strict business. First up, the engine. Addressing the lack of "go juice" produced by the Yamaha-made two-liter four pot, TOM'S decided to yeet common sense out of the equation and shoehorned in a specifically designed IHI turbocharger into the once naturally aspirated 3S-GE. Other supporting modifications would include their in-house developed TEC II ECU ROM hooked up with 280T specific tuning programs. Thicker head gaskets retires the standard engine's piece. Fully dedicated SUS304 stainless steel front and downpipes. Aluminum inlet pipe. Stainless steel exhaust. Custom 280T-only intercooler. Beefier injectors. Heavy duty flywheel. Twin-plate clutch. And as a finishing touch, a high-pressure TOM'S radiator cap. All this which is estimated to punch up 280PS and 30 kg-m worth of torque.
As classic as it gets with Japanese tuning. Power never could be the answer to all their problems. Special attention was given once again to the car's undersides. Suspension, brakes, body, and even the wheels were optimized to support the tremendous 70PS gain from the stock motor. Special TOM'S Advox coilover suspension system ensured optimum road holding capability and performance, while their PFC brake pads and braided stainless steel mesh brake lines took charge of stopping power that improves upon even the sport-oriented Altezza RS200 Z Edition. A three-point strut brace locks itself into the rear quarters of the engine bay, connecting the suspension towers to the rear firewall and improving the body's level of rigidity that could still be street. Specially picked OZ TOM'S Crono wheels replaced the original 5 spoke wheels, increasing an inch over OEM with 18x7.5 sizing. Tires were also beefed up too to cope with the extra "umph". Wider size Michelin Sport 225-section, 40-aspect ratio tires offers excellent traction and grip that would put the Altezza almost equal with sport European coupes such as BMW's E46 330Ci or maybe even Mercedes' CLK 500 luxury tourer. Just lacking the cozy comforts.
Speaking of which, a couple of additional accessories have been added to the 280T just so the owner would have just a slight touch of that special feeling, knowing that he (or possibly even she) owns one of the rarest Altezzas known in Altezza history (we'll get to this later). 280T special bodykits stretching from the front bumper back decorated the car with a very 2000s-esque fashion. Keeping the era original theme with flowing front lip kits and staggered side skirts with smooth, but nonetheless thick rear bumpers. Interior was also left untouched too. A few dollops of sportiness into the mix by courtesy of Sparco Star semi bucket seats and a special TOM'S made shiftknob. Trust me, if you're getting your hands on one of these, you are in for a special, special treat, and by special, I mean 100 units kind of special. Yes, you heard me correct, good sir. Only 100 of these turbocharged brutes were put up for sale in 9 specific Toyota Netz dealers all over Japan, each fetching a price tag ¥1,000,000 heftier than the top-of-the-line RS200 Z Edition, and each having their own designated 280T plaque with special serial numbering on each car.
Of course. This is not the kind of vehicle that you will find out of the blue (even if there is the slightest of possibilities). The TOM'S 280T is not a car that you'll find, but, with the right mindset, time, and most definitely money, it's a car that will find you on its own. Although I have not seen any being put up for sale at this point, but rest assured that perhaps one of these improved SXE10s will pop up by itself someday, waiting for its next owner to enjoy it for years to come. The 280T, in lack of better wording, is an Altezza done proper. Fast. Quick. Improvised. Improved. Unorthodox. Just right. Not too ballsy like the other 2JZ-GTE swapped IS300s with big slicks and ear-deafening exhausts, nor is it too reserved and useless like those slammed-to-the-ground Toyota Tezzas which appears as if they have permanently broken wheel axles. Would you like a taste of one of these? I sure would, as I would have love to experience what is essentially THE Altezza everybody wished happened in the first place, better yet own.
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TOM'S 280T (SXE10) Spec Sheet:
ENGINE:
TOM'S 280T turbocharger, produced by IHI
Upsized injectors, size unspecified
TOM'S 280T intercooler
TOM'S SUS304 stainless steel frontpipe, downpipe, exhaust system
TOM'S aluminum inlet pipe
TOM'S twin-plate clutch and lightweight flywheel
TOM'S high pressure radiator cap
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
TOM'S Advox coilover suspension system
TOM'S PFC brake pads
TOM'S steel braided brake lines
WHEELS & TIRES:
OZ TOM'S Crono 18x7.5JJ
*Optional: TOM'S New Sports II 18x7.5JJ
Michelin Sport 225/40/R17
CHASSIS:
TOM'S 3-point front strut bar
ACCESSORIES:
TOM'S 280T bodykit package (front under lip spoiler, side skirt kit, rear bumper kit, trunk mid-level spoiler kit)
TOM'S shift knob
Sparco Star semi-bucket seats
PERFORMANCE FIGURES:
Power: 280PS/7600RPM
Torque: 30.0 kg-m (300 N-m)/3600RPM
Top Speed: --
Acceleration: --
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