Toyota Chaser (JZX100): specs, 1JZ-GTE engine and what owners say

Toyota Chaser (JZX100) in pearl white, AI illustration

Chaser Tourer V X100 (JZX100) · 1996–2001

276horsepower

2.5-liter single-turbo 1JZ-GTE, 280 PS (276 hp), 5-speed manual or automatic, rear-wheel drive. Japan only.

Why it's famous

D1 Grand Prix championDrifting
Daigo Saito won the 2016 D1 Grand Prix title in a JZX100 Chaser. His first D1 title, in 2008, came in the Mark II version of the same car.
The drift sedanDrifting
Wikipedia says the Chaser became famous in drifting, mostly because it is front-engined with rear-wheel drive, and many X90 and X100 cars were built into drift cars. Jalopnik says the drift crowd took to it for its JZ engine and rear-wheel drive.
Japanese touring car championRacing
X100 Chasers raced in the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1997 and 1998. In 1998 the car won the title with Masanori Sekiya and the TOM’S team.
Mark II and Cresta’s sisterName
The Chaser, Mark II and Cresta were the same car with different badges, sold through different Toyota dealer chains. Toyota says the Chaser’s overhangs were 45 mm shorter than the Mark II’s.
Tuner favoriteTuning
Car Throttle says it is easy to get a lot more power out of the Tourer V’s 1JZ. Jalopnik says the Chaser ranks seventh on JDMBUYSELL’s list of its 10 most-watched JDM cars.

Never sold new in the US. Never sold new in the US. JZX100 Chasers began to become legal to import under the 25-year rule in 2021, each car once it is 25 years old by its month of build.

On this site: The bigger JZ engine, the 3.0-liter 2JZ · Toyota Supra Mk4 (2JZ-GTE)

Plain text from the sources listed: no race photos, anime stills, logos or likenesses. Items marked "Not fully confirmed" rest on one weaker source. Every JDM car

Sources

X100 (JZX100) Chaser · 1996–2001

How fast is the Chaser?

Four-door hardtop sedan, 1996–2001. 0–60 times are magazine tests where we have one, otherwise the maker's figure.

Chaser Tourer V

1996–2001

276 hp280 PS at 6,200 rpm, Japan’s gentlemen’s agreement figure (JDM)

The sporty top trim. The previous Tourer V’s twin turbos gave way to one turbo with VVT-i. Output stayed at 280 PS, and peak torque came much lower in the rev range.

Torque: 280 lb-ftat 2,400 rpm (379 Nm per Wikipedia; Toyota’s catalog says 377.6 Nm, per JDMBUYSELL)
Gearbox: 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveR154 manual; ECT-iE automatic. JDMBUYSELL says manual cars had a standard limited-slip differential.
Weight: 1,470 kg (3,241 lb)manual, Toyota catalog figure via JDMBUYSELL; 1,480 kg with the automatic

Sources

Chaser Tourer S

1996–2001

197 hp200 PS at 6,000 rpm (Toyota); Wikipedia gives 197 bhp

The sporty look without the turbo: the 2.5-liter 1JZ-GE with VVT-i.

Torque: 185 lb-ftat 4,000 rpm (251 Nm per Wikipedia; Toyota’s catalog says 255 Nm, per JDMBUYSELL)
Gearbox: 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveno manual; JDMBUYSELL says a 5-speed automatic came in August 1998
Weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)Toyota figure

Sources

The engine: Toyota 1JZ-GTE

2.5-liter inline-6, turbo

LayoutInline-6, DOHC 24-valve, two belt-driven cams

Output280 PS (276 hp) at 6,200 rpm, 379 Nm (280 lb-ft) at 2,400 rpm in the VVT-i single-turbo version

Bore x stroke86 x 71.5 mm, 2,492 cc

TurbosTwo CT12A turbos at launch in 1990; one CT15B turbo with VVT-i from about 1996, as in the JZX100

Compression8.5:1 twin-turbo; 9.0:1 single-turbo VVT-i

Engine's YouTube owner tone 49/100 (videos about the Toyota 1JZ-GTE in every car that uses it, so it differs from this car's own tone below)

Toyota 1JZ-GTE engine page →

Known issues

Ceramic turbine wheels (early engines)Outlet report
Wikipedia says the first twin-turbo engines use ceramic turbine wheels that can delaminate at high turbo speed and heat. This applies to the early engines, not the single-turbo JZX100 version.
Blow-by valve and turbo seals (early engines)Recall
On early engines a faulty one-way valve on the intake cam cover let blow-by gas into the intake, and oil vapor reaching the turbos wore their seals early. Wikipedia says Toyota recalled these engines in Japan, but exports were not covered.
Fix: Fixed on later engines.
Worn clutch on manual carsOutlet report
JDMBUYSELL’s buyer’s guide quotes Unique Cars: on late five-speed manual Chasers, a hard-driving former owner may have burned out the clutch. Test drive for slip and judder.
RustOutlet report
JDMBUYSELL says Japan salts its roads, so a Japanese car is not proof of a dry one. Check the underbody, sills, arches and floors.

Engine sources

What owners say on YouTube

51This car's YouTube owner tone, out of 100 · videos about this generation only (the engine's tone above covers every car with that engine)

Owners praise

Looks21%

Handling and steering9%

Power and acceleration6%

Everyday comfort6%

Owners complain about

Oil leaks (gaskets, seals, housings)6%

Share of the 172 most-watched Chaser videos that praise or criticize each topic (a praise or trouble word near it in the title or transcript).

Most-watched videos

RARE Toyota Chaser Tourer V Paint Correction and Dry Ice CleaningI AM Detailing · 3.3M views

Toyota Chaser - Everything You Need to Know | Up to SpeedDonut · 2.3M views

Toyota Chaser: 4 Door Supra of Our Dreams ??TheSmokingTire · 1.3M views

Should you buy a Chaser?

YouTube likes the 2001 best (51/100).
Recall: Blow-by valve and turbo seals (early engines). Fixed on later engines.
Repair costs: we don't have owner-reported repair costs for the Chaser yet.
Never sold new in the US, so NHTSA has no owner complaints or recalls for the Chaser. Imports: check the car's history and paperwork before you buy.

All sources (8)

Quick answers

How fast is the Toyota Chaser Tourer V?

The X100 (JZX100) Chaser Tourer V makes 276 hp and 280 lb-ft.

What engine does the Toyota Chaser (JZX100) have?

The X100 (JZX100) Chaser (1996–2001) uses the Toyota 1JZ-GTE, a 2.5-liter inline-6, turbo.

Why is the Chaser famous?

D1 Grand Prix champion: Daigo Saito won the 2016 D1 Grand Prix title in a JZX100 Chaser. His first D1 title, in 2008, came in the Mark II version of the same car. The drift sedan: Wikipedia says the Chaser became famous in drifting, mostly because it is front-engined with rear-wheel drive, and many X90 and X100 cars were built into drift cars. Jalopnik says the drift crowd took to it for its JZ engine and rear-wheel drive. Japanese touring car champion: X100 Chasers raced in the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1997 and 1998. In 1998 the car won the title with Masanori Sekiya and the TOM’S team.

Was the Toyota Chaser (JZX100) sold in the US?

No. Never sold new in the US. JZX100 Chasers began to become legal to import under the 25-year rule in 2021, each car once it is 25 years old by its month of build.

Spot a mistake or have an idea? Tell us

Toyota Chaser (JZX100): specs, 1JZ-GTE engine and what owners say

Why it's famous

How fast is the Chaser?

The engine: Toyota 1JZ-GTE

Known issues

What owners say on YouTube

Owners praise

Owners complain about

Most-watched videos

Should you buy a Chaser?

Quick answers

How fast is the Toyota Chaser Tourer V?

What engine does the Toyota Chaser (JZX100) have?

Why is the Chaser famous?

Was the Toyota Chaser (JZX100) sold in the US?

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