Geo/Chevrolet Prizm
Overview
ManufacturerNew United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.
Also calledGeo Prizm (1990–1997)
Chevrolet Prizm (1998–2002)
Production1988–2001
Model years1989–2002
AssemblyFremont, California (NUMMI)
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact car (1989–1992)
Compact car (1993–2002)
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
PlatformToyota E90, E100, E110 platforms (known within GM as the S platform)
Chronology
PredecessorChevrolet Nova
SuccessorPontiac Vibe
Chevrolet Cobalt

The Geo Prizm and Chevrolet Prizm were compact cars that were rebadged versions of the Toyota Sprinter, a vehicle that the Japanese automaker Toyota never directly sold in the North American market. The Sprinter itself was derived from the Toyota Corolla. The Prizm was marketed under the Geo nameplate until it was discontinued after the 1997 model year. After that, the vehicle was marketed under the Chevrolet nameplate. General Motors (GM) referred to this and other Toyota Corolla derived vehicles as the GM S platform. The cars were produced from 1988–2002 alongside the Corolla at NUMMI, an assembly plant operated as a joint venture of GM and Toyota. The Prizm was sold exclusively in the United States and succeeded the 1985–1988 Chevrolet Nova, which was also derived from the Sprinter and produced at NUMMI.

Production

All Prizms were built at NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.), a joint venture company between Toyota and General Motors in Fremont, California. The NUMMI plant at Fremont had manufactured the Prizm's predecessor, the Chevrolet Nova, and would later manufacture the Pontiac Vibe, one of its replacements.

Production of the newly-rebadged Chevrolet Prizm began in late 1997 as the Geo brand was phased out, alongside the newest North American generation of the Toyota Corolla. The last Prizm was built on December 13, 2001, resulting in a brief 2002 model year.

First generation (E90)

First generation (E90)
Overview
Also calledToyota Sprinter
Production1989–1992
Model years1990–1992
DesignerHiroshi Kawahara (1985)
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
5-door hatchback
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase95.7 in (2,431 mm)
Length170.7 in (4,336 mm)
Width65.2 in (1,656 mm)
Height52.4 in (1,331 mm)

The Prizm was introduced in February 1989 for GM's then-new Geo brand of import cars, for the 1990 model year.[1] The hatchback version sold through 1991 was a rebadged version of the Toyota Sprinter Cielo, although unlike the Sprinter (and Corolla liftback) it received the same front clip as the sedan. The sporty GSi model of 1990–1992 was notable for its 130 hp (97 kW) twin-cam engine, sport suspension, disc brakes, and 14-inch wheels, which made it as a spiritual successor to the 1988 Chevrolet Nova twin-cam but less of a limited edition, available in both body styles and a full array of colors in contrast to the earlier model's black color and sedan model only. They were the only four-door models offered with the 4A-GE engine in America, no other Toyota models ever offered that combination there. The regular engine offered 102 hp (76 kW).[1] In addition to the base and the GSi, there was also a better equipped standard-engine LSi model. In addition to more equipment, the LSi also received body colored bumpers.

In 1991, the lettering of the car's name was changed, and the B-pillar and door frames on base models were body-colored instead of black. The Prizm was not sold In Canada, with GM offering a sedan version of the Geo Metro instead. The Geo Metro sedan was not available from Chevrolet dealers in the United States until 1995, although a Suzuki Swift-branded version was on sale from 1990. Design patents were filed by the Toyota Motor Corporation on December 6, 1985, using a final design 1:1 representation, under application number 1985-051078 and registered on July 13, 1988, under registration number 0718088-005.

Trims & options

  • Sedan:
    • base • 1990-1992
    • GSi • 1990-1992
    • LSi • 1990-1992
  • Hatchback:
    • base • 1990-1992
    • GSi • 1990-1992
    • LSi • 1990-1992

Second generation (E100)

Second generation (E100)
Overview
Also calledToyota Sprinter
Production1992–1997
Model years1993–1997
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
RelatedToyota Corolla (E100)
Toyota Sprinter
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission5-speed C50 manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase97.0 in (2,464 mm)
Length173.0 in (4,394 mm)
Width66.3 in (1,684 mm)
Height53.3 in (1,354 mm)

The Prizm's second generation, and the last under the Geo brand name, debuted in 1992 for the 1993 model year. The Prizm gained more room (resulting in an upgrade to United States Environmental Protection Agency "compact" car status), a driver's-side airbag, and a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine optional on LSi trim. With the larger engine came a rear stabilizer bar, wider tires, and an optional automatic transmission with four speeds instead of three. A second airbag became standard in 1993 for the 1994 model year; leather seats were an option on the LSi of this generation. In contrast with the Sprinters sold in Japan, this generation Prizm lacked a front stabilizer bar in its suspension.

U.S. Electricar used the Prizm as the basis for an electric vehicle conversion that replaced the gasoline drivetrain with an electric traction motor and high-voltage lead-acid storage battery. It was marketed in 1994.[2][3]

Trims & options

  • Sedan:
    • base • 1993-1997
    • LSi • 1993-1997
1996 Geo Prizm rear

Third generation (E110)

Third generation (E110)
Overview
Also calledChevrolet Prizm
Production1997–2001
Model years1998–2002
Body and chassis
Body style4-door sedan
RelatedToyota Corolla (E110)
Toyota Sprinter
Powertrain
Engine1.8 L 1ZZ-FE (LV6) I4 (gasoline)
Transmission5-speed C59 manual
3-speed MX1 automatic
4-speed MS7 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase97.1 in (2,466 mm)
Length174.2 in (4,425 mm)
Width66.7 in (1,694 mm)
Height53.7 in (1,364 mm)
Rear view

The Prizm's 1998 redesign coincided with the conversion of all remaining Geo models into Chevrolets, as General Motors made the decision to discontinue the Geo brand entirely after 1997.

The most notable change was the new 1.8-liter engine, which was now all-aluminum, driven by a timing chain (instead of a timing belt), and making more power (with the same fuel economy) than the engines from the Geo era. The new all-aluminum engine known as the 1ZZ-FE powered all Corollas, Sprinters, and Prizms, making this generation lighter than its predecessor. This new engine incorporated laser etched valve guides directly in the block, rather than the old shrink-to-fit valve guides in the preceding Corolla motors (4A-FE & 7A-FE). This prevents oil burning and valve guide failure in the future. Although these efforts theoretically would have decreased oil burn, a flawed piston ring design affected all engines without VVT-i. This poor design caused oil burning in higher mileage examples.[4]

The Prizm, alongside the Corolla, became the first car in the compact class to offer optional side airbags. All 1998 Prizms without the LSi's optional handling package (containing a front stabilizer bar) were singled out by Consumer Reports for having sloppy emergency handling; Toyota addressed the problem for 1999 by making the handling package standard. For 2000, the engine gained variable valve timing (VVT-i) for a slight increase in power (up to 125 hp). The then-recently introduced VVT-i optimizes cam and valve timing to reduce emissions, and the addition of individual coils for each cylinder helped control spark timing to each individual cylinder.

Due to decreased sales, low popularity, and being in competition with the Chevrolet Cavalier and GM's more direct competitor to the Corolla the Saturn S-series, the Prizm was replaced by the Pontiac Vibe starting in 2003. The Vibe was also made in tandem with a Toyota model, the Toyota Matrix, at the NUMMI plant.

The Prizm along with its Geo siblings suffered severe sales loss when the brand denomination changed from Geo to Chevrolet in 1998. The Geo models outsold the rebadged Chevrolets three to one.

Trims & options

  • Sedan:
    • base • 1998-2002
    • LSi • 1998-2002

Comparison to Toyota Corolla

In all three generations, the Prizm was virtually the same car as the Toyota Corolla. It has more similarities with other Toyotas during the time period it was produced than it does to other cars from Geo and Chevrolet.

Its distinctions from the Corolla came down to minor cosmetic differences, a GM Delco radio after 1992, the non-availability of a wagon in all three generations, and the availability of a hatchback for the 1989-1992 model years (the Corolla was not offered as a hatchback in North America during those years).

The third generation Prizm also featured a Delphi air conditioning system instead of the Corolla's Denso air conditioning system. The Prizms also used the contemporary Sprinter front end to differentiate them from their Corolla counterparts. The third-generation Prizm headlight, front turn signal, and taillight assemblies were also different, making them notable exceptions in a car that shared almost all of its parts with the Toyota Corolla through each of its model years.

Engines

All Prizms are powered by engines from their contemporary Toyota Corolla models:

  • 1990–1992 Geo Prizms are powered by a 4A-FE or optional 4A-GE engine
  • 1993–1997 Geo Prizms are powered by a 4A-FE or optional 7A-FE engine
  • 1998–2002 Chevrolet Prizms are equipped with Toyota's 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE inline-four engine; 2000–2002 models include VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence).

See also

Bibliography

  • Geo Prizm Sales Brochure (1990-1997) by Geo
  • Chevrolet Prizm Sales Brochure (1998-2002) by Chevrolet
  • 1989 New Car Buying Guide (1989) by Guy Henle & Consumer Reports
  • 1990 New Car Buying Guide (1990) by Consumer Reports
  • 1993 New Car Buying Guide (1993-1997) by Bill Hartford & Consumer Reports
  • 1998 New Car Buying Guide (1998-2002) by Consumer Reports
  • Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide (1997-2002) by Consumer Reports

References

  1. 1 2 Kowalke, Ron, ed. (1999). Standard Catalog of Independents: The Struggle to Survive Among Giants. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, Inc. p. 267. ISBN 0-87341-569-8.
  2. ↑ "U. S. Electricar Sedan" (PDF). Idaho National Laboratory. 1994. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Richardson, R.A.; Yarger, E.J.; Cole, G.H. (April 1996). Dynamometer testing of U.S. Electricar Geo Prizm conversion electric vehicle (PDF) (Report). Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. p. 1. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ Njoki, Dennis Kariuki (2023-05-02). "5 Most Unreliable Engines Toyota Ever Made (5 From Honda)". HotCars. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
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