Which Toyota Celsior version to choose
Every Celsior in this catalogue is a Sedan, RWD, Automatic, Gasoline, 8-cylinder V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, engine Front, longitudinal, injection Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95. Choice is therefore gears, litres, mass, and the one generation that published a sprint figure.
Every Celsior in this catalogue is a Sedan, RWD, Automatic, Gasoline, 8-cylinder V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, engine Front, longitudinal, injection Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95. Choice is therefore gears, litres, mass, and the one generation that published a sprint figure.
| Version (as in data) | Years | hp / kW @ rpm | Nm @ rpm | cc | Gears | Kerb kg | kg/hp | hp per litre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 AT (1 generation) | 1989-10–1992-09 | 260 / 191 @ 5400 | 353 @ 4600 | 3968 | 4 | 1690 | 6.50 | 65.5 |
| 4.0 AT (1 generation, restyling) | 1992-10–1994-09 | 260 / 191 @ 5400 | 353 @ 4600 | 3968 | 4 | 1830 | 7.04 | 65.5 |
| 4.0 AT (2 generation) | 1994-10–1997-07 | 265 / 195 @ 5400 | 362 @ 4600 | 3968 | 4 | 1710 | 6.45 | 66.8 |
| 4.0 AT (2 generation, restyling) | 1997-08–2000-07 | 280 / 206 @ 6000 | 402 @ 4000 | 3968 | 5 | 1800 | 6.43 | 70.6 |
| 4.3 AT (3 generation) | 2000-08–2003-07 | 280 / 206 @ 5600 | 430 @ 3400 | 4292 | 5 | 1840 | 6.57 | 65.2 |
| 4.3 AT (3 generation, restyling) | 2003-08–2006-05 | 280 / 206 @ 5600 | 430 @ 3400 | 4292 | 6 | 1870 | 6.68 | 65.2 |
Power per litre is displacement in litres from the given cc (3968 → 3.968 L, 4292 → 4.292 L). Weight per horsepower is kerb mass divided by hp.
Toyota Celsior specs by generation (what actually changed)
1 generation (October 1989–September 1994), one version family: 4.0 AT. Launch 4.0 AT is the lightest Celsior here at 1690 kg, ground clearance 140 mm, tank 85 L, compression 10, bore × stroke 87.5 × 82.5, independent spring front and rear. Restyling keeps 260 hp / 191 kW at 5400 rpm and 353 Nm at 4600 rpm but raises kerb weight by 140 kg to 1830 kg and clearance by 10 mm to 150 mm. Same 4-speed Automatic. The restyle is the worst kg/hp in the line (7.04). If the search is “Toyota Celsior 1990”, that is this 4.0 AT at 1690 kg, not the heavier 1992–1994 car.
2 generation (October 1994–July 2000), still 4.0 AT, two calibrations. Launch 4.0 AT adds 5 hp and 9 Nm versus first-generation 4.0 AT (265 vs 260 hp, 362 vs 353 Nm), compression 10.4 vs 10, kerb 1710 kg vs 1690 kg (+20 kg). Gross weight is measured only here: 2185 kg. Rear suspension becomes Independent, pneumatic; front stays Independent, spring. This is the only Celsior with 0–100 7.5 s and top speed 250 km/h. Restyling (August 1997–July 2000 — the “1997 / 1998 / 1999 Celsior”) keeps 3968 cc but raises output to 280 hp / 206 kW at 6000 rpm and 402 Nm at 4000 rpm, compression 10.5, and a 5-speed Automatic. Peak power arrives 600 rpm later; peak torque 600 rpm earlier. Kerb 1800 kg is 90 kg more than the 1994–1997 4.0 AT. 0–100 and top speed for the restyle: not measured. Best specific output in the catalogue: 70.6 hp/L. Best kg/hp: 6.43.
3 generation (August 2000–May 2006), the only 4.3 AT. Displacement 4292 cc (+324 cc vs 3968), bore 91 vs 87.5, stroke still 82.5. 280 hp / 206 kW at 5600 rpm — same headline horsepower as restyled 2 generation 4.0 AT, 400 rpm earlier. Torque 430 Nm at 3400 rpm: +28 Nm vs restyled 2 gen, +77 Nm vs first 4.0 AT, and peak 600 rpm earlier than restyled 2 gen (4000). Launch 3 generation 4.3 AT is 5-speed, tank 85 L, kerb 1840 kg, rear back to Independent, spring. Restyling (August 2003–May 2006 — “2004 / 2006 Celsior”) is the only 6-speed; tank 84 L (−1 L); kerb 1870 kg (+30 kg vs 2000–2003, +180 kg vs original 1 generation). Same 280 hp and 430 Nm. 0–100, top speed, fuel use: not measured. Specific output 65.2 hp/L is the lowest, because litres grew and horsepower did not.
Toyota Celsior engine: size, horsepower, type
Engine type is the same family on paper: Gasoline, 8, V-shaped, 4 valves, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95.
Engine size options are two: 3968 cc on every 4.0 AT, 4292 cc on every 4.3 AT. There is no third engine in these data.
Horsepower by year people search:
- 1990 / first 4.0 AT: 260 hp (191 kW) at 5400 rpm
- 1995 / 1996 / launch 2 generation 4.0 AT: 265 hp (195 kW) at 5400 rpm
- 1997 restyle through 2000 4.0 AT: 280 hp (206 kW) at 6000 rpm
- 2001 / 2004 4.3 AT: 280 hp (206 kW) at 5600 rpm
Engine oil capacity: not measured. Engine bay layout beyond Front, longitudinal: not measured.
The extra 324 cc of 4.3 AT does not buy extra horsepower versus restyled 2 generation 4.0 AT (280 = 280). It buys 28 Nm more and a 600 rpm earlier torque peak. Versus launch 2 generation 4.0 AT, 4.3 AT is +15 hp and +68 Nm. Versus first 4.0 AT, +20 hp and +77 Nm.
Performance, mpg, top speed
0–100 km/h: only 2 generation 4.0 AT (1994-10–1997-07) is measured: 7.5 s. All other versions: not measured.
Top speed: only that same 4.0 AT: 250 km/h. Others: not measured.
Fuel consumption city / highway / combined: not measured on every version. Eco class and CO2: not measured. Wheel sizes: not measured. Interior dimensions: not measured. Overall length/width/height: not measured.
What can be compared without those figures: mass. Heavier cars with the same 280 hp are the 3 generation 4.3 AT cars (1840 and 1870 kg) versus restyled 2 generation 4.0 AT (1800 kg). The lightest 280 hp Celsior is still that restyled 4.0 AT. The lightest Celsior overall is 1 generation 4.0 AT at 1690 kg, but with 20 hp less than the 2 generation launch car.
Toyota Celsior weight, tank, clearance
| Version | Kerb | Gross | Clearance | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 AT 1 gen | 1690 | not measured | 140 | 85 |
| 4.0 AT 1 gen restyling | 1830 | not measured | 150 | 85 |
| 4.0 AT 2 gen | 1710 | 2185 | 150 | 85 |
| 4.0 AT 2 gen restyling | 1800 | not measured | 150 | 85 |
| 4.3 AT 3 gen | 1840 | not measured | 150 | 85 |
| 4.3 AT 3 gen restyling | 1870 | not measured | 150 | 84 |
Gross payload arithmetic only where both masses exist: 2 generation 4.0 AT 2185 − 1710 = 475 kg. Other versions: gross not measured.
From first 4.0 AT to last 4.3 AT, kerb rose 180 kg. Clearance is 140 mm only on 1989–1992 4.0 AT; every later car is 150 mm.
Which version to buy, by job
Want the only measured sprint and the only measured top speed: 2 generation 4.0 AT (1994-10–1997-07), 265 hp, 1710 kg, 7.5 s, 250 km/h, 4-speed, rear Independent, pneumatic. Searches for 1995 Celsior specs / horsepower / weight point here: 265 hp, 1710 kg.
Want peak horsepower on the smaller engine (best hp/L): 2 generation restyling 4.0 AT (1997-08–2000-07), 280 hp from 3968 cc, 5-speed, 1800 kg, 6.43 kg/hp. 1997 / 1998 / 1999 Celsior specs are this car. 0–100 and top speed: not measured, so it is not proven faster than the 7.5 s 4.0 AT.
Want maximum torque and a later torque peak in rpm terms (lower rpm): either 3 generation 4.3 AT. 430 Nm at 3400 rpm. 2000–2003: 5-speed, 1840 kg, tank 85 L. 2003–2006: 6-speed, 1870 kg, tank 84 L. Same 280 hp as restyled 4.0 AT. 2001 / 2004 horsepower is 280. Extra over restyled 4.0 AT: 28 Nm, +40 / +70 kg, +324 cc, and (on restyle only) one extra gear. Specific power is worse (65.2 vs 70.6 hp/L).
Want the lightest Celsior: 1 generation 4.0 AT (1989-10–1992-09), 1690 kg, 260 hp, 140 mm clearance. 1990 Celsior is this. It is 20 kg lighter than the 1994 4.0 AT but 5 hp down and has no measured 0–100.
Avoid if the goal is power-to-weight: 1 generation restyling 4.0 AT (1992-10–1994-09) — same 260 hp, 1830 kg, 7.04 kg/hp, still 4-speed. It is 140 kg heavier than the pre-restyle 4.0 AT with no extra horsepower.
Spec C: not measured / not a version name in this data. Version names in the data are only 4.0 AT and 4.3 AT. Distinguish same names by generation and by hp: 4.0 AT is 260, 265, or 280 hp depending on generation; 4.3 AT is always 280 hp.
Price and for-sale listings: not measured in this dataset — this article does not invent them.
Short buy line: measured performance and the second-best kg/hp → 2 generation 4.0 AT 265 hp. Highest hp per litre and a fifth gear without extra litres → restyled 2 generation 4.0 AT 280 hp. Lowest-rpm 430 Nm and the only six-speed → restyled 3 generation 4.3 AT. Lightest kerb → first 4.0 AT 1690 kg.