Starion

Introduced in May 1982, this wedge-shaped turbo coupe was the brand’s fourth sports model and was positioned as a stylish, high-performance grand touring car rather than a stripped-out racer. Its early design emphasized a low, sharp nose, a short rear deck, and a clean two-door profile that made it stand out from the company’s more mainstream passenger cars of the era. Over its life, the nameplate evolved through several notable updates, including an intercooler-equipped turbo version in 1983, a higher-output engine variant in 1984, and a broad-shouldered export body style for the North American market in 1987. For Japan, a larger 2.6-liter engine arrived in 1988 as the series moved toward its later form. The car also earned a strong enthusiast following through motorsport involvement and prototype four-wheel-drive development, which helped cement its reputation as one of the marque’s more memorable 1980s performance coupes. Production ended after the 1989 model year.