Front disc brakes were standardised across the range, and Starlet became the first Toyota passenger car to employ highly responsive rack-and-pinion steering. The front suspension inherited the predecessor’s MacPherson strut and coil spring setup, while the rigid rear suspension was switched from leaf springs to a four-link coil spring system. Transmission choices remained the same as before.
Just one 1.3-litre engine was available in Japan, but in other markets the range also included 1.0-litre and 1.1-litre options from the same K-series family.
Like most competitors it was available in three- and five-door body styles, but the Toyota Starlet differentiated itself in a key way by retaining a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The new Starlet (frequently identified as the 60-series from its KP60 chassis code) became Toyota’s entry-level model, following the two-box hatchback design that had become the global standard for compact cars at the time. This evolution from trim level to standalone model set a precedent that was later copied in the transformation of the Celica Supra into the Supra sports car. In February 1978 the Publica and Publica Starlet lines were consolidated into the new Toyota Starlet range, and while the longstanding Publica name was now discontinued its legacy continued with a ‘P’ designation in the chassis code.
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