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The “Soarer” was a Toyota coupe available in Japan from 1981-2010. Originally on the Supra’s chassis, it was Toyota’s take on the personal luxury GT car, stuffed with the luxury features ahead of its time. To be honest, it likely only remained in production for so long because Toyota didn’t introduce the Lexus brand at home in Japan until 2010. Later Soarer coupes were just rebadged Lexus SC cars.

Automotive photographer Larry Chen summarized the Toyota Soarer as a “two door luxo barge that came with a Supra heart, but businessman looks.” It attempted to hit a sweet spot between the tradition of “Grand Tourers” built in Europe (think: Aston Martin DB5 and Ferrari coupes), and the “personal luxury” coupes built in the U.S. (think: original Ford Thunderbird)–updated for the 1980s.

The Toyota Soarer was a bit of a unicorn in the automotive world. It was a sleek coupe with rear-wheel drive, sharing its underpinnings with the Toyota Supra, but aiming for luxury instead of outright performance. The Soarer came with engines ranging from a twin-turbo inline-six to a buttery-smooth V8, depending on the model year. It wasn’t just fast; it was refined, with adjustable suspension modes like “Sport” and “Comfort” that let you fine-tune the ride for either spirited driving or cushy commutes. The Soarer wasn’t just about getting there—it was about getting there in style.

The truly unique Toyota Soarer: ahead of its time

Where the Soarer really flexed its muscles was in the tech department. This car was decades ahead of its time. The Z20 generation introduced features like digital dashboards and an optional CRT touch display—a legit TV in your dashboard—back in the late ’80s. By the 1990s, the Z30 Soarer added an in-car navigation system, air purification, power-folding mirrors, and even adjustable door hinges to make parking-lot exits smoother. Oh, and did we mention it had a backup camera as early as 1991? That’s nearly three decades before the tech became a U.S. safety mandate. Toyota packed more futuristic gadgets into the Soarer than most of its competitors could dream of.

While Buick pioneered the first backup camera in its 1956 “Centurion” concept car, the Soarer earns a special place in automotive history as the first production car to feature a backup camera. The 1991 Soarer’s camera displayed a live feed on the dashboard, making it easier to maneuver in tight spaces—a practical and groundbreaking innovation. While its high-tech features and forward-thinking design might have seemed like overkill at the time, today they highlight how far ahead of the curve Toyota was. The Soarer didn’t just drive into the future–it brought the future to the driver.

Want to see one of these rolling record-holders in action? Check out automotive photographer Larry Chen’s YouTube feature on a 1988 Toyota Soarer embedded below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.