Chassis Code Explained
| Segment | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| SXE10 | RS200 sedan | 3S-GE four-cylinder, 1998 to 2005 |
| GXE10 | AS200 sedan | 1G-FE six-cylinder, rear-wheel drive |
| GXE10W | AS200 Gita wagon | 1G-FE, rear-wheel drive, from July 2001 |
| GXE15W | AS200 Gita wagon, AWD | 1G-FE, full-time AWD, from December 2001 |
| JCE10W | AS300 Gita wagon | 2JZ-GE, rear-wheel drive, from July 2001 |
| JCE15W | AS300 Gita wagon, AWD | 2JZ-GE, full-time AWD, from July 2001 |
Toyota's catalogue pages add a type-approval prefix that changes by period, for example GF-SXE10 in 1998 and GH-SXE10 in 2004. Digits and letters are listed as published; no character-by-character meaning is claimed.
Editorial notes
Key Takeaways
Dates are Toyota's Japanese release dates. The last build date is not established; the catalogue range ends July 2005.
- RS200 is the four-cylinder. SXE10 uses the 3S-GE: 210 PS with the six-speed manual, 200 PS with the five-speed automatic.
- AS200 is a six-cylinder car. GXE10 uses the 1G-FE at 160 PS; a six-speed manual arrived on 11 May 2000.
- The Gita wagon is six-cylinder only. AS200 (1G-FE) or AS300 (2JZ-GE, 220 PS); Toyota lists no 3S-GE Gita.
- Dates change the details. Toyota revised the range in May 2001, August 2002 and August 2003; RS200 manual final drive went from 4.100 to 4.300.
- A Z Edition is an equipment grade. Toyota's launch list names fog lamps, 17-inch alloys and audio.
- US eligibility follows the manufacture month, not the model year; check each car's build date.
Background
Platform and build
Toyota's history page says the sedan uses the Progrès platform with the wheelbase cut by 110 mm and the tracks widened by 20 mm front and 25 mm rear. The engine is mounted front-mid-ship, with heavy parts such as the battery and fuel tank moved toward the centre. Kanto Auto Works built it at its Iwate plant, and it won 1998-1999 Japan Car of the Year.
Codes and engines
SXE10 is the RS200 sedan with the 3S-GE four: 210 PS with the six-speed manual, 200 PS with the five-speed automatic. GXE10 is the AS200 sedan with the 1G-FE six at 160 PS. The Gita adds GXE10W and GXE15W (AS200) and JCE10W and JCE15W (AS300, 2JZ-GE, 220 PS); Toyota says its lineup has no four-cylinder. Toyota's catalogue entries list no turbo or supercharger. TOM'S records a separate 100-car Altezza 280T programme whose specification is not established here.
Gearbox, LSD and drivetrain
TRD lists the factory six-speed as the J160 for both SXE10 and GXE10 manuals; the SXE10 final drive was 4.100 until May 2001 and 4.300 after. Toyota's October 1998 catalogue lists a Torsen LSD as standard on the RS200 six-speed and optional on the automatic, and its May 2000 catalogue lists an LSD as standard on the AS200 L Edition six-speed. The Gita AWD cars use a full-time system with a centre differential and an electronically controlled wet multiplate clutch; the AWD Gitas we checked have a four-speed automatic.
Grades and special editions
Treat grade names as equipment lists. At launch a Z Edition meant fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped wheel and six-speaker audio. The L Edition began on 11 May 1999 and became a regular grade in May 2000. RS200 LIMITED followed in August 2002 and LIMITED II in August 2003, and Wise Selection editions ran in December 2001, August 2002 and August 2003. The Toyota releases we read give no production count for any of them.
Technical Specifications
Figures are Toyota catalogue ratings in PS and kW for the grade shown. The sedan and the Gita are listed separately where they differ.
Engine Options
-
SXE10 RS200 six-speed Sedan, manual
3S-GE- Displacement
- 1,998 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 210 PS (154 kW) @ 7,600 rpm
- Torque
- 216 Nm @ 6,400 rpm
- Transmission
- 6-speed manual
RS200 six-speed. Inline-four, 86.0 x 86.0 mm, 11.5:1, premium unleaded.
-
SXE10 RS200 automatic Sedan, steering-shift automatic
3S-GE- Displacement
- 1,998 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 200 PS (147 kW) @ 7,000 rpm
- Torque
- 216 Nm @ 4,800 rpm
- Transmission
- 5-speed automatic
RS200 steering-shift automatic. Same bore, stroke and 11.5:1; premium unleaded.
-
GXE10 AS200 Sedan and Gita wagon
1G-FE- Displacement
- 1,988 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 160 PS (118 kW) @ 6,200 rpm
- Torque
- 200 Nm @ 4,400 rpm
- Transmission
- Sedan: 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual from May 2000; RWD Gita: 4-speed automatic or early 6-speed manual; AWD Gita: 4-speed automatic.
AS200 sedan and Gita wagon. Inline-six, 75.0 x 75.0 mm, 10.0:1, regular unleaded. Toyota's detailed catalogue lists 1,988 cc; its sedan heritage table instead lists 1,998 cc for the launch AS200.
-
JCE10W/JCE15W AS300 Gita wagon only, from July 2001
2JZ-GE- Displacement
- 2,997 cc
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 220 PS (162 kW) @ 5,800 rpm
- Torque
- 294 Nm @ 3,800 rpm
- Transmission
- 5-speed automatic (RWD); 4-speed automatic (AWD)
AS300, Gita wagon only. Inline-six, 86.0 x 86.0 mm, 10.5:1, premium unleaded.
Transmission Options
| Type | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6-speed manual (J160) | RS200 from October 1998; AS200 sedan from 11 May 2000; early AS200 RWD Gita | TRD lists the factory J160 for both SXE10 and GXE10 manuals. SXE10 final drive: 4.100 from October 1998 to May 2001, 4.300 from May 2001. Factory gear ratios: 3.874 / 2.175 / 1.484 / 1.223 / 1.000 / 0.869. |
| 5-speed automatic (A650E) | RS200 (SXE10) | Steering-wheel shift buttons. Rated 200 PS. |
| 4-speed automatic (A47DE) | AS200 sedan (GXE10) | TRD gives A47DE for the GXE10. Gita four-speeds are ECT-iE or ECT-i; their codes are not established. |
| 5-speed automatic | AS300 Gita RWD (JCE10W) | Toyota's heritage page lists AS300 with a five-speed automatic; the code is not established. |
| Full-time AWD (Gita) | JCE15W, GXE15W | Centre differential plus an electronically controlled wet multiplate clutch. No torque split is published in our sources. |
| Torsen LSD | RS200 six-speed (standard); RS200 automatic (optional); AS200 L Edition six-speed (standard) | October 1998 range. The 2002 LIMITED and 2003 LIMITED II repeat it: standard on the manual, optional with the five-speed automatic. Toyota's May 2000 catalogue also lists an LSD as standard on the AS200 L Edition six-speed. |
NHTSA's safety exemption starts 25 years from each car's manufacture date under 49 CFR 591.5(i). EPA's separate age provision requires the original engine configuration or an eligible EPA-certified replacement engine and emissions system. State registration rules vary. Canada counts its 15-year federal age exemption by manufacture month and year. Check the car's documents before shipping. Calculate import costs →
Sources: 49 CFR 591.5 (eCFR) ; EPA: learn about importing vehicles and engines ; EPA: importing vehicles and engines guidance (NEPIS) ; CBSA Memorandum D9-1-11
Variants & Trims
Grades are shown with the date Toyota introduced them. Equipment varied by grade and month within each row.
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| XE10 (1998–2005) | RS200 (SXE10) | 3S-GE | October 1998 launch. Six-speed manual with Torsen LSD and sport-type suspension standard, or steering-shift five-speed automatic with LSD optional. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | RS200 Z Edition (SXE10) | 3S-GE | Launch Z Edition adds fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped wheel and six-speaker audio. An equipment grade, not proof of a body kit. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | AS200 (GXE10) | 1G-FE | Launched with a four-speed automatic only. Toyota added a six-speed manual on 11 May 2000, including Z and L Editions. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | L Edition, RS200 and AS200 | 3S-GE / 1G-FE | Began 11 May 1999 as a Japan Car of the Year special edition: leather and Ecsaine seats, front power seats, side airbags, Lexus IS200 gauge colours. A regular grade from May 2000. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | AS200 i Edition (GXE10) | 1G-FE | Special edition introduced 4 August 2000 and sold through Netz Toyota dealers. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | RS200 LIMITED and LIMITED II | 3S-GE | August 2002 LIMITED: 17-inch wheels, aluminium pedals, projector fog lamps, Torsen LSD on the manual. August 2003 LIMITED II adds the Gita grille and silver-themed instruments. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | AS200 Wise Selection, Wise Selection II and III | 1G-FE | Dated AS200 special editions (Dec 2001, Aug 2002, Aug 2003): 15-inch wheels (16-inch on the AWD Gita III), leather-wrapped controls; navigation packages offered on II and III. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | Gita AS200 RWD (GXE10W) | 1G-FE | From 2 July 2001, five-door wagon. Six-speed manual listed in the August 2002 range, absent from August 2003; four-speed automatic also offered. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | Gita AS200 AWD (GXE15W) | 1G-FE | Added 13 December 2001. Full-time AWD, four-speed automatic; Toyota lists 1,460 kg for the base grade. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | Gita AS300 RWD (JCE10W) | 2JZ-GE | From 2 July 2001, 220 PS, five-speed automatic. Toyota lists 1,470 kg. |
| XE10 (1998–2005) | Gita AS300 AWD (JCE15W) | 2JZ-GE | Full-time AWD, four-speed automatic; Toyota lists 1,530 kg for the base grade. A simply equipped N Edition appears in the launch range. |
Should You Buy a Toyota Altezza XE10?
Strengths come from Toyota documents; the cautions are Toyota's campaign and one buying guide, not failure rates.
Why You'll Love It
- Dated factory documentation Toyota's releases and catalogues give the month of each change, so a car can be matched to a specific specification.
- Double-wishbone suspension all round Toyota's catalogues list double-wishbone coil springs front and rear, with sport-type suspension standard on the launch RS200 six-speed.
- Factory Torsen LSD on the RS200 manual Standard on the RS200 six-speed at launch and optional on the automatic.
- Range of bodies and drivetrains Sedan or Gita wagon, a 2.0-litre four, a 2.0-litre six or a 3.0-litre six, and full-time AWD on the Gita.
- Weight placed toward the centre Toyota says the engine sits front-mid-ship and heavy parts such as the battery and fuel tank were moved toward the car's centre.
Why You Might Not
- Easy to buy the wrong specification Six chassis codes and a long list of dated special editions mean a badge alone does not identify the engine or gearbox.
- RS200 needs premium petrol Toyota's catalogue lists unleaded premium for the RS200 3S-GE and the AS300; the AS200 takes regular.
- Period TRD parts are discontinued TRD's archived transmission page marks the close-ratio shafts and first and third gears as discontinued.
- No failure-rate data Our sources give one Toyota service campaign and one buying guide's advice, not measured failure rates or repair costs.
- No production split by grade The Toyota Databooks cited here combine sedan and Gita registrations and provide no breakdown by grade.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Anyone expecting a factory turbo or a 1JZ-GTE: the Toyota catalogue entries we checked list no turbo or supercharger.
- Anyone who wants RS200 power in a wagon: the Gita range uses six-cylinder engines only.
- Anyone buying a Z Edition for a body kit: Toyota's launch list is fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped wheel and six-speaker audio.
- Anyone planning an engine swap before a US import without checking EPA eligibility: its 21-year guidance specifies original engine configuration, while its import manual permits certain EPA-certified replacements.
Common Issues & Solutions
One item is a Toyota service campaign. Timing-belt, ball-joint and oil-leak prompts come from a single buying guide and sit in the checklist below, not here, because no cost or failure rate is published.
| Issue | Cause | Solution | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior door-lever plating | Toyota's 5 December 2002 service campaign: plating on the interior left door lever could crack and peel, and rarely scratch fingertips. Covered GXE10 and SXE10 cars built 14 October 1998 to 31 July 2000. | Check the chassis number with Toyota's lookup or a dealer; the campaign replaced levers showing cracks or peeling. | Campaign repair was free (2002) |
Differences between JDM & USDM
This page covers Japanese-market Altezzas only. Toyota's 1999 release names the export Lexus IS200 as the source of the L Edition's gauge colouring and some equipment, and its history page records the move to the Lexus-brand IS in August 2005. We do not quote export power, gearbox or brake figures here: use the chassis codes and Toyota catalogue values on this page, and the FAQ for import rules.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Check the code and build month first, then paperwork, then condition.
Critical Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
Generation History
XE10 Altezza sales span (Japan, catalogue dates) (1998–2005)
- Sales began 30 October 1998; Toyota's catalogue range ends July 2005. These are sales and catalogue dates, not a production span.
- Toyota's history page records the move to the Lexus-brand IS in August 2005; exact final build dates are not established.
Sedan launch (30 October 1998)
- RS200 six-speed manual or five-speed automatic; AS200 four-speed automatic.
- Toyota's representative launch sedan is 4,400 x 1,720 x 1,410 mm on a 2,670 mm wheelbase, 1,310 to 1,340 kg.
L Edition (11 May 1999)
- Japan Car of the Year commemorative edition for RS200 and AS200.
AS200 six-speed manual (11 May 2000)
- Six-speed manual added to the 1G-FE cars; Super White Pearl Mica added to all grades.
AS200 i Edition (4 August 2000)
- Special edition on sale through Netz Toyota dealers.
Minor change (May 2001)
- Larger-emblem grille, HID headlamps, optional rear spoiler with LED stop lamp; RS200 manual steering and rear differential ratios revised.
Altezza Gita wagon (2 July 2001)
- Five-door wagon; Toyota's representative rear-drive launch grades measure 4,505 x 1,725 x 1,420 mm. AS200 and AS300 only, with no four-cylinder.
AS200 AWD Gita (13 December 2001)
- 2.0-litre all-wheel-drive Gita added, with the Wise Selection special edition.
August 2002 update (19 August 2002)
- Auto-levelling discharge headlamps and front armrests extended; RS200 LIMITED and Wise Selection II launched.
August 2003 update (1 August 2003)
- Discharge headlamps and projector fog lamps standard on base grades; smoked lamp extensions; LIMITED II and Wise Selection III.
Market Data
Grades are shown with the date Toyota introduced them. Equipment varied by grade and month within each row.
Reported Counts & Rarity
| Generation | Years | Reported Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| XE10 sedan and Gita, Japanese registrations | 1998–2005 | 111,470 registered in Japan to end of 2005 | Toyota Databook count; includes the Gita; registrations, not production. The 2008 Databook gives 111,473 to end of 2007. |
| TOM'S Altezza 280T | 1999 | 100 (limited production) | Specialist programme commissioned by Team Netz; engine and output not established. |
Motorsport Heritage
| Series | Years | Result | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netz Cup, Altezza series | 2000–2002 | Announced in November 1999 for the following year. Toyota's 2002 plan lists a national Altezza series of ten races, with about 600 Altezza-series entrants to date. | Altezza one-make race car |
Sources: Toyota newsroom, 1999 and 2002
In Pictures
The Buyer's Read
Start with the chassis code, then the month. SXE10 is the RS200 four; GXE10 is the AS200 six; the wagons carry a W (GXE10W, GXE15W, JCE10W, JCE15W). Toyota changed the range in May 2001, August 2002 and August 2003, so equipment depends on the date as much as the badge.
Treat grade names as equipment lists. At launch a Z Edition meant fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped wheel and six-speaker audio. L Edition added leather and Ecsaine seats, power seats and side airbags. LIMITED, LIMITED II and the Wise Selection editions were dated packages, and none of the Toyota releases we read gives a production count for them. Ask for the paperwork behind any claimed edition.
On the mechanical side, our sources point to a short list: Toyota's door-lever campaign for early cars, a buying guide's warnings about front lower ball joints, timing-belt history and oil leaks. None gives failure rates or repair costs, so we give none. Many period TRD gearbox parts are listed as discontinued. Work out US eligibility from the manufacture month, not the model year.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between the AS200 and the RS200?
- The RS200 (SXE10) has the 3S-GE 2.0-litre four: 210 PS with the six-speed manual, 200 PS with the five-speed automatic, on premium fuel. The AS200 (GXE10) has the 1G-FE 2.0-litre six at 160 PS on regular fuel, with a four-speed automatic and, from 11 May 2000, a six-speed manual.
- Is the Altezza the same car as the Lexus IS?
- Toyota's history page says the Altezza moved to the Lexus-brand IS in August 2005, and its 1999 L Edition release says that grade took equipment from the export Lexus IS200. This page uses Japanese Toyota specifications only, so do not swap in export power, gearbox or brake figures.
- Which Altezzas have a factory limited-slip differential?
- Toyota's launch catalogue lists a Torsen LSD as standard on RS200 manuals and optional on automatics; the 2002 LIMITED and 2003 LIMITED II repeat this. Toyota also lists an LSD as standard on the May 2000 AS200 L Edition six-speed. Equipment varies by grade and date, so check the individual car.
- Did the Gita come with a manual or all-wheel drive?
- Early AS200 rear-drive Gitas were listed with a six-speed manual in Toyota's August 2002 range but not in August 2003. Full-time AWD came on the AS300 at the July 2001 launch and on the AS200 from 13 December 2001. The AWD Gitas we checked use a four-speed automatic.
- Was there a factory turbo or 2JZ-GTE Altezza?
- Toyota's standard range was naturally aspirated; the AS300 Gita has the 2JZ-GE at 220 PS, and the catalogue entries we checked list no turbo or supercharger. TOM'S records a separate Altezza 280T programme of 100 cars in 1999, but its engine specification is not established here.
- When can an Altezza be imported into the US or Canada?
- The US federal safety exemption (49 CFR 591.5(i)) applies at 25 years, counted from each car's own month and year of manufacture; check the build date on the compliance plate, not the model year or launch date. EPA separately requires the original-design engine or an EPA-certified replacement ([EPA's import manual](https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P10081IS.TXT)), and state rules vary. Canada: 15 years from the manufacture month.
Sources & References
Sources (33)
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- Toyota 75-Year History: Altezza Gita — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota certified used car catalogue: Altezza model history — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza RS200 six-speed manual (April 2004) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza RS200 five-speed automatic (April 2004) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota certified used car catalogue: Altezza Gita model history — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza Gita AS200 Z Edition (July 2001) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza Gita AS300 RWD (July 2001) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza Gita AS300 AWD (July 2001) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza Gita AS200 AWD (December 2001) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota news release: Altezza special editions (11 May 1999) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota news release: Altezza six-speed manual expanded (11 May 2000) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota news release: Altezza AS200 i Edition (4 August 2000) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota news release: Altezza Gita 2.0-litre 4WD (13 December 2001) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota news release: Altezza and Gita update (19 August 2002) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota news release: Altezza and Gita update (1 August 2003) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- TRD: Altezza close-ratio transmission and final gear sets — TRD Verified
- Toyota service campaign: interior door levers (5 December 2002) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota FAQ: checking recall and service-campaign eligibility — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota Databook 2006: domestic registrations by model — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota Databook 2008: domestic registrations by model — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- TOM'S company profile and history — TOM'S Verified
- Toyota: Netz Cup one-make series announced (6 November 1999) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota: 2002 motorsport activities and support programme — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- The definitive guide to getting yourself a Toyota Altezza (The Daily Star SHIFT) — The Daily Star Verified
- NHTSA: list of nonconforming vehicles eligible for importation — NHTSA Verified
- EPA: Learn About Importing Vehicles and Engines — US EPA Verified
- CBSA Memorandum D9-1-11: Importation of used motor vehicles — Canada Border Services Agency Verified
- Wikimedia Commons: Toyota ALTEZZA RS200 (SXE10) front — Wikimedia Commons Verified
- Wikimedia Commons: Toyota ALTEZZA RS200 (SXE10) rear — Wikimedia Commons Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza AS200 L Edition six-speed manual (May 2000) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- Toyota catalogue: Altezza AS200 (October 1998) — Toyota Motor Corporation Verified
- EPA: Imports manual for vehicles and engines (NSCEP) — US EPA Verified
Sources last verified: