1987 Toyota AXV-II

On Toyota’s stand at the 1987 Tokyo show was a dream car that made it to production. The little gullwing AXV-II reappeared two years later as the Sera. It may only have been a Starlet underneath, but its character was made stimulating by its expansive glass bubble top — the glass in the doors curved round to form part of tile roof.

The AXV-II was a concept vehicle by Toyota that was first shown at the October 1987 Tokyo Motor Show.

The two doors pivoted up and to the front to allow passengers to exit from the car in places that ordinary swing-out doors can not handle. Gas filled struts kept the door in place when open. The doors covered the roof of the car as well as the sides, with the door glass forming part of the roof.

The hatchback was made entirely from glass that included the rear sides of the vehicle in a similar manner to the early Mazda RX-7.

Mechanical components (engine, gearbox, suspension) were the same as those in the Starlet.

В 1983 году компанией Тойота в составе Токийского офиса была организована новая проектная команда. "Студия Арго", созданная для того, чтобы разработать молодежный автомобиль-хит, сама была командой молодых специалистов со средним возрастом 28,2 года.

Первый проект "Palette" (Y-1) был чистой пробой пера новой студии.

Второй концепт (Y-2) был показан на Tokyo Motor Show в 1987 году, под названием "AXV-II".

Третий (Y-3), в 1990 году превратился в серийную Toyota Sera.