New Toyota Vitz / Yaris officially launched

Following a series of leaked and teaser images, the new Toyota Vitz / Yaris has been officially launched today. The Vitz is a core model for Toyota and since the launch of the first-gen model back in 1999, more than 3.5 million units have been sold worldwide (more than 1.4 million have been sold in Japan alone).

The third-gen Vitz has a different design approach compared to the past two generations with a sharper styling. Special attention has been paid in aerodynamics and thus, the new Vitz has a coefficient drag value of 0.285 resulting in high fuel efficiency and stable high-speed cruising.

Overall length is 3,885 mm, enabling a turning radius of 4.5 m, and of course Toyota claims that has improved comfort and space inside, with the interior length extended by 35 mm to 1,915 mm.

As reported before, the new model achieves a fuel efficiency of 26.5 km/L, equipped with the 1.3 L engine and Toyota's Stop & Start idling-stop system, in the 10-15 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The specific engine coupled to the Super CVT-i gearbox achieves a fuel efficiency of 24.0 km/L.

The new Vitz will be available in four grades (F, U, Jewela and RS), 17 body colors and 4 interior colors available. The monthly sales target for Japan is 10,000 units.

In terms of engine specs, the 1.0 L engine with three cylinders (1KR-FE) produces 69 PS and 92 Nm of torque at 3,600 r.p.m, while the 1.3 L engine (1NR-FE) has a maximum power of 95 PS and a torque of 121 Nm at 4,000 r.p.m. The 1.5 L engine (1NZ-FE), available in grades U and RS, has a power output of 109 PS and 138 Nm of torque at 4,400 r.p.m.

Prices start from 1,060,000 ¥ for the F grade with the 1.0 L engine, and the top RS version coming with the 1.5 L engine costs 1,720,000 ¥ (1,790,000 ¥ with the Super CVT-i gearbox).

New Vitz (Yaris) coming tomorrow...just a reminder!

All-new Toyota Vitz (aka Yaris) will be launched tomorrow December 22. Stay tuned for all the latest info and photos!!!

New Toyota Vitz's front-door glass cuts UV by approximately 99%

Toyota announced today that it will begin using - as a world's first - car front-door glass that reduces ultraviolet (UV) penetration by approximately 99%. The new glass will be used in the new "Vitz" scheduled for launch at the end of this year.

Windshields, which use laminated glass, can be given approximately 99% UV-reduction performance by inserting a UV-blocking film between two sheets of glass in the laminating process. Car-door windows, on the other hand, generally use single-piece tempered glass that is often imbued with a UV-absorbing material to achieve approximately 89% UV protection. Getting the UV-reduction performance of door-window glass closer to 100% requires the use of UV absorption technologies. Thus, the interior side of the door-window glass to be used in the new Vitz has been surfaced with a high-performance UV-absorbing film to achieve approximately 99% UV-reduction performance.

New Toyota Vitz's CM!!!

Toyota teases with more Vitz / Yaris images

OK, we have seen the actual car, we know that it will be introduced on December 22 in Japan, how much it will cost (earlier post) and the fact that it is going to be Japan's most fuel efficient car (earlier post). Back in October, Toyota launched a flash microsite with some teasing images (earlier post) and now, more have been added. If you want to visit the microsite, just click here.

New 2011 Toyota Vitz / Yaris to get Japan's best fuel efficiency

Toyota announced today that the JDM version of the redesigned Vitz (aka Yaris), which will be equipped with a 1.3L petrol engine and a Stop & Start system, will achieve Japan's best fuel efficiency.

The new Vitz, scheduled for launch in Japan at the end of this year, will have a fuel efficiency of 26.5 km/L under the 10-15 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), thus exceeding by more than 25% the mandatory level required under the 2010 national standards.  Also, under MLIT's newer JC08 test cycle, the vehicle will have a fuel efficiency of 21.8 km/L.

Pricing of new 2011 Vitz / Yaris in Japan (新型ヴィッツ価格情報)

Those are the prices of the new Toyota Vitz, going on sale in December in Japan.

1.0 F M-Package 105.8万円 *
1.0 F 111.8万円
1.3 F 128.8万円
1.3 F SMART STOP Package 134.8万円

1.3 U 149.8万円
1.5 U 159.8万円

1.0 Jewela 125.8万円
1.3 Jewela 135.8万円

1.5 RS C-Package 159.8万円
1.5 RS CVT 178.8万円
1.5 RS 5MT 171.8万円

* 万円 means million in Japanese

[Source: LoVitz]

Modellista interior selections for new Vitz / Yaris

 

Here are some low-res images showing Modellista interior selections for the new Toyota Vitz / Yaris.

Leaked images showing new 2011 Vitz / Yaris (exterior and interior)!!!

So, the mystery is over! This is the new Toyota Vitz / Yaris and also the RS version is shown, which looks mean (in a good way). Although I am not really impressed, I am glad that the "oval" shape of the previous one is gone and at last, the instrument panel has moved from the centre.

Although seeing the car in flesh will give a better feel in terms of the design, I think Toyota should start adding some character to its cars... I am really fed up with all those bland looking designs.

Toyota launches teasing flash microsite about new Vitz / Yaris

Best Car magazine has already revealed an illustration of the new Vitz / Yaris (earlier post) and now, Toyota has launched a smart looking flash mircosite showing a few details. You can see the headlight design (indicating that the illustration is very close to the actual product), the instrument panel and the steering wheel. Also, the new Vitz will be equipped with Smart Stop, which is a stop/start system, and it will be also wider in terms of dimensions.

New Toyota Vitz / Yaris to be introduced in December

According to Japanese magazine Best Car, the third generation Vitz / Yaris will be introduced in December in Japan. The illustration above shows how it's going to look like.

[Source: Best Car magazine]