Toyota Vitz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Toyota Vitz | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Production | 1999–present |
| Assembly | Toyota City, Japan |
| Predecessor | Toyota Starlet |
| Class | Subcompact |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Similar | Honda Fit Hyundai Getz Nissan Micra |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Also called | Toyota Echo Toyota Yaris |
| Production | 1999–2005 |
| Engine | 1.0L I4 1.3L I4 1.4L I4 1.5L I4 |
| Related | Scion xA Scion xB Toyota Platz |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also called | Toyota Yaris |
| Production | 2005–present |
| Engine | 1.5L 79 kW (106 hp) I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2460 mm (96.9 in) |
| Length | 3810 mm (150 in) |
| Width | 1690 mm (66.7 in) |
| Height | 1520 mm (60 in) |
| Related | Scion xD Toyota Belta |
The Toyota Vitz, Toyota Yaris liftback, and Toyota Echo hatchback are all models of a small subcompact car first launched by Toyota in 1999, designed by Sotiris Kovos. The Vitz is a 3 and 5 door hatchback automobile. In Europe, the Americas, Australia and South Africa, it is sold as the Yaris liftback (or simply Yaris). The vehicle was known as the Echo hatchback up to 2005 in Canada and Australia.
The name Vitz came from German word witz, which means "wit," "witticism," or "gag" in English. The name Yaris combines the German expression "ja," which is similar in meaning to "yes," with Charis, a Greek goddess who symbolized beauty and elegance.[citation needed] Coincidentally, the chief designer for the Yaris is Greek.
(This vehicle is referred to as the "Vitz" throughout this article for consistency.)
Contents |
[edit] First generation (1999–2005)
[edit] Europe
The Toyota Yaris went on sale in Europe early in 1999. After the freshening of the European Yaris hatchback in February 2003, a slightly modified version went on sale in Canada for the 2004 model year as the Echo hatchback, but not in the United States, where the Toyota Echo sedan was the lone model. The Yaris was voted European Car of the Year in 2000.
Instead of conventional instruments, the Yaris and Echo hatchbacks utilized digital instruments which were mounted in the center of the dashboard. The Canadian Echo hatchback (and the Yaris T Sport) had a conventional speedometer but it was still mounted in the center of the dashboard.
The European Yaris was initially available with two gasoline–powered 4-cylinder 1.0l and 1.3l engines with Toyota's VVT-i technology, with the "warm hatch" 1.5l T Sport following in 2001. After the 2003 facelift, a 1.4l D4-D diesel engine offering 75hp (56 kW) was also included in the lineup. This diesel engine is also licensed to BMW for use in their MINI One D model.
[edit] Japan
The Japanese Vitz RS (European Yaris T-Sport) was introduced in 2001, powered by a 1.5l engine, shared with the Echo, Vios, as well as the Scion xA. The 1.5l T Sport was marketed as more fun to drive than the base models because of a sportier suspension and extra power compared to the 1.3l model.
[edit] North America
The Echo sold in very high volumes in Canada, where smaller cars are much more popular than in the US. Sales were so high that Toyota introduced the 3 and 5-door hatchback models to the Canadian Toyota lineup for the 2004 model year. They were sold as the Echo hatchback and look almost identical to the European Yaris, but with such changes as larger bumpers to meet Canadian safety requirements.
[edit] Australia
The Echo was also very popular in Australia. First introduced in late 1999 to replace the aging Starlet, the Echo was available as a 3 or 5 door hatchback, fitted only with the 1.3l VVT-i engine. An Echo Sportivo variant, fitted with the 1.5l VVT-i engine, was made available for a limited time in Australia. The Sportivo was very similar to the European Yaris T-Sport.
[edit] Other Information
An interesting addition to the Yaris range came in 2000 with the Yaris Verso, a small MPV which used the same running gear as the conventional hatchback, but was designed to have an even more practical interior. In Japan, the model bore the name of Fun Cargo. The model was replaced by the Ractis in 2004.
The running gear was shared with the Toyota bB and Ist, sold in the United States as the Scion xA and xB, and with the Japan-only Toyota Will Vi. The same CP platform is the base for the Japanese-only Probox and Succeed wagons.
The Yaris was manufactured in Japan (early models and T-sport) and France.
[edit] Second generation (2005–)
Toyota redesigned the Vitz in early 2005, immediately going on sale in Japan, while the Fun Cargo was replaced by the Ractis in October 2005.
The European, Australasian, Canadian, and Mexican markets saw the second generation Vitz near the end of 2005. In the Australian and North American markets, the car was sold as the "Yaris" for the first time. The production North American 2007 Toyota Yaris was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006.
The 4-cylinder 1.0 VVT-i engine was replaced by the 3-cylinder engine, also found in the Toyota Aygo and Daihatsu Sirion. The 1.3 L was revised to offer slightly more power, and the 1.4 D-4D got a 15 PS boost to 90 PS (66 kW). The Yaris became the first car in its sector to offer nine airbags.
The Canadian Yaris hatchback is available in 3 and 5-door models, running on a 1.5 L 4 cylinder VVT-i engine rated 106 hp (79 kW) and 103 ft·lbs (140 Nm) torque. 3-door CE and 5-door LE versions come with 14-inch wheels, while RS models are equipped with 15-inch alloys with standard anti-lock braking system and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).
The USA Yaris is similar to the Canadian variant. In the US, the Yaris is sold as the Liftback, Sedan, and Sedan S. The Liftback is the three door (two door with hatch) model. The 3-door model is called the Yaris Liftback, while the 5-door model is not sold in the United States, as the Scion xD has the same features and therefore serves a similar purpose. The US Yaris comes standard with the 1.5 liter VVT-i engine and five speed manual transmission, the four speed automatic ECT being optional. The USA models have optional ABS and optional side and head airbags. The CE, LE, and RS packages in the Canadian hatchback are replaced by the more modular convenience, power, and all-weather guard packages.
In Canada and Mexico the Yaris sells the "RS" packages.
The Toyota Yaris T Sport will be launched in 2007. Seen originally at the Geneva Motor Show and powered by the new 130bhp (97 kW) 1.8-litre dual VVT-i petrol engine, that is good for 100 km/h in under 10 seconds. The T-Sport features 17 inch alloy wheels. a mesh grille at the front, a redesigned bumper at the rear and deep side skirts and a tail spoiler. It also features redesigned headlights and taillights, As in the previous T-sport, there are extra rear lights on the bumper.
The 2006 Yaris can achieve fuel economy ratings of 40 miles per gallon (6 l/100 km) during highway driving and 34 MPG (7 l/100 km) during city driving.
The New Yaris is designed in France and built in both Japan and France.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official American site
- Official Canadian site
- Official Mexican Site
- Official Australian site
- Official Venezuelan Site
- Official European site
- Toyota Yaris Verso at the official Toyota Europe website
- (Japanese) Official Japanese site
- OzEcho.com - Australia's Online Toyota Echo & Yaris Community
- YarisWorld.com - Toyota Yaris Forums and Enthusiast website - Largest community for new Yaris
- Yarii.com: Toyota Yaris Forum with Free Stuff
- Toyota's press release of the Vitz
- Yarisowners.com: Toyota Yaris Forums
- 2007 Toyota Yaris - Sedan and Hatchback
- BBC - Toyota recalls over 180 Million defective vehicles
- Toyota Vitz Specifications English language website
[edit] Advertisements
- Online Toyota Yaris ad: Street Racer from Current TV and Your Media Coverage
- Online Toyota Yaris ad: Stranded from Current TV and Your Media Coverage
- Online Toyota Yaris ad: Shoes from Current TV and Your Media Coverage
- Online Toyota Yaris ad: Digging for Oil from Current TV and Your Media Coverage
- bestadsonTV:"Towies" produced for the New Zealand market in 2006
| Preceded by ?? |
Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2000 |
Succeeded by Opel Corsa |
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