Toyota of Orlando

Go back and take a look at the Orlando Toyota Solara

Here at Toyota of Orlando, we’ve seen quite a few Toyota models come and go. Some of them stick around for a while, while some of them are only around for a short time before being retired. We love taking a look back at the Orlando Toyota models that were most popular; for example, you may have seen earlier blogs about best-sellers like the Toyota Celica or Toyota 2000GT! This week, we’re going to take a long hard look at one of our best-selling open-top models – the Toyota Solara! 

Orlando Toyota Solara was a sleek and sophisticated open-top

The Orlando Toyota Solara was around for over ten years; it hit the market in 1998, and Toyota finally put it into retirement in 2009, disappointing many drivers who loved the sleek and stylish coupe. We’re going to take a look back at some of the highlights of this popular Toyota – did you know that it was actually based on the Toyota Camry in Orlando? Toyota wanted to create a sportier coupe version of the best-seller, and this car was actually referred to as the Toyota Camry Solara for a short time. Let’s look at some other highlights! 
  • The Toyota Solara was introduced back in 1998, like we said. However, it was merely a coupe at first – the open-top version didn't hit the market until 2000. The initial model was still pretty sporty, though – it had a leather-trimmed interior, JBL entertainment, and alloy wheels for some serious flash. 
  • Toyota took things up another notch when the open-top Toyota Solara hit the market – our Orlando Toyota dealership saw upgrades like a 6-disc CD changer for maximum entertainment! We also saw a slight bump in engine power; the 2.2L 4-cylinder was swapped out for a 2.4L 4-cylinder, and VVT-i (Toyota's special technology that enhances fuel efficiency and power) was thrown into the mix. 
  • The second generation was introduced to the world in 2004, and drivers fell in love with it. It was sleeker, had more pronounced lines and curves, and was still available in the iconic open-top design. It also offered a V6 engine for the first time, as well as navigation and Satellite Radio capabilities. Two years later, performance was bumped yet again; Toyota added a 5-speed automatic transmission to the model! 
  • There was another slight redesign a year after that in 2007; this model of the Toyota Solara saw a standard rear spoiler and fog lights to take appearance up a notch, as well as MP3 playback and Bluetooth wireless streaming for phone calls and music to keep things convenient. 

Will we see this new Toyota coupe again? 

Sadly, Toyota decided to retire the fan favorite in 2009, much to our disappointment. We’ve heard rumors here and there that it may make a triumphant return at some point, but we’re holding out for the new open-top Scion FR-S in the meantime! 

Want more info on the Toyota Camry, or any of our other new Toyota in Orlando? Give us a shout today at (888) 725-3520 – we’re open seven days a week for your convenience! See you soon! 
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