No more boring Toyotas. That's not our statement, it's from Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, who seems to be taking the goal of making the Japanese brand more emotional very seriously.
After Corolla and RAV4, now it's time for the new Toyota Yaris adopt the latest stylistic language of the brand. And the truth is, whatever your point of view, the Japanese SUV has never looked so good.
We went to Amsterdam, Netherlands, for the model's world unveiling, and these are our first impressions.
Who saw you and who sees you
It's always a somewhat subjective field, but it seems unanimous that this new generation of the Toyota Yaris is the best achieved ever.
For the first time, the front of the Toyota Yaris took on a more dynamic stance. The rounded lines of previous generations gave way to more dramatic shapes, but above all, to better proportions.
Thanks to the adoption of the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, its more compact version debuting here, GA-B , the new Toyota Yaris abandons the proportions of "almost minivan" that it had, to assume a true hatchback.
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It's lower, it's wider and it's also shorter. More dynamic proportions that together with the more aggressive style completely change the identity of this model, first launched in 1999.
The new Toyota Yaris is the only car in the segment below four meters in length.
New Toyota Yaris inside
Despite the loss of exterior dimensions, the Toyota Yaris continues to offer sufficient interior space, both in the rear and in the front seats.
The big news lies above all in the on-board technology, in new materials, and in the completely revised driving position. Unlike the previous model, in this new Yaris, we are sitting much closer to the ground, which should substantially improve driving comfort.
In terms of materials, it is noted that there was an attempt by the Japanese brand to level the perceptual quality of the materials, with the recognized intrinsic quality of the Yaris. We have new textures and new materials that add a more sophisticated touch to the Toyota Yaris interior.
In the more equipped versions we will have a Toyota Touch central screen, a TFT multi-information screen on the instrument panel and a 10″ head-up display. In addition, the new Yaris can be equipped with other high-tech convenience features such as a wireless charger, a heated steering wheel and special lighting around the driver's cockpit.
GA-B platform debut
According to Toyota, the development of the GA-B will provide the new Yaris with a better compromise between comfort, safety and dynamics.The GA-B platform allows the driver's seat to be lowered and further back (+60mm compared to current Yaris) towards the center of the car, helping to reduce the vehicle's center of gravity. It also creates a more immersive driving position, with improved ergonomics and greater adjustability. The steering wheel is closer to the driver, with a six-degree increase in lean angle.
As with all TNGA based models, the center of gravity is lower. In the case of the Yaris, about 15 mm shorter than the current model. The torsional rigidity was also reinforced by 35%, to the point of Toyota claiming that this is the model with the highest torsional rigidity in the segment.
Objective? May the new Toyota Yaris be the safest model in the segment.
Remember that the Toyota Yaris 2005 (2nd generation) was the first B-segment car to achieve five stars in the Euro NCAP tests. In this new generation, the Yaris wants to repeat the feat and, therefore, in addition to the automatic braking system, the roadway maintenance system and other technologies that make up the Toyota Safety Sense, this model will also be the first model in the segment to use to central airbags.
Evolution in hybrid motorization
The new Toyota Yaris will be available in combination with two engines. A 1.0 Turbo engine and a 1.5 Hybrid engine, which will be the «star of the company».
Introduced in 2012, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid was the first “full-hybrid” B-segment model. more than 500 000 Yaris with hybrid engines were sold in Europe , establishing it as a key product in the Toyota range.
With this new Yaris comes the 4th generation of Toyota's hybrid system. This 1.5 Hybrid Dynamic Force system is directly derived from the larger 2.0 and 2.5L hybrid systems that were introduced in the new Corolla, RAV4 and Camry models.
The hybrid system debuts the new Atkinson cycle three-cylinder 1.5 gasoline engine with variable valve timing. As with the equivalent 2.0 and 2.5 l four-cylinder engines, this new engine benefits from specific measures to reduce internal friction and mechanical losses, and optimize combustion performance. There is also an additional second oil pump to improve the lubrication of the different components.
As a result, this new hybrid engine achieves 40% thermal efficiency, superior to typical diesel engines, helping to ensure a more than 20% improvement in the Yaris' fuel economy and CO2 emissions. At the same time, system power was increased by 15% and delivery was also optimized.
According to Toyota, in town, the new Yaris can run in 100% electric mode up to 80% of the time.
In turn, the hybrid component was completely redesigned, adopting a new double-axle structure that makes it more compact (9%). The system also adopts a new lithium-ion hybrid battery, 27% lighter than the nickel metal hydride battery that replaces the previous model.
When will the new Yaris arrive in Portugal
The wait will still be long. It is estimated that the first Toyota Yaris units will only arrive in Portugal at the beginning of the second half of 2020.
Remember that since 2000, the Toyota Yaris has sold four million units in Europe. Of these, 500 000 units are hybrid versions.
Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, wants no more boring cars