The Toyota Yaris is back in town. UMW Toyota Motor has announced the confirmed price and order taking of the Toyota Yaris Improvement effective on March 21, 2014 with an on-the road (OTR) price of RM101,700.00.
The third generation Toyota Yaris inherits all the clever packaging DNA of these previous generations, while the exterior showcases the greater appeal of a bolder, more dynamic and elegant design execution befitting a European compact car. Equipped with a 1,329cc DOHC Dual VVT-i engine, this new Yaris produces 98 bhp and a decent 125Nm of torque with a 7-speed CVT gearbox working smoothly.
Overall vehicle length is now 3,885 mm, a limited increase of just 100 mm. With an average car length of 4 meters in the B-segment, the new Yaris remains one of the most compact vehicles in its class. This is reflected in a class-leading turning circle as of just 4.7 metres, which makes the new Toyota Yaris particularly agile during city driving.
The width of the new Yaris remains the same at 1,695 mm, while its height has decreased by 20 mm to 1,510 mm, giving the car a lower centre of gravity and a more sporting stance. Within its well proportioned form, the wheelbase has been extended by 50 mm, and the design’s short front and rear overhangs and prominent wheel arches express stability, agility and dynamism.
The bold frontal treatment identifies the Toyota Yaris as the first vehicle to feature the new face of the next generation Toyota family. Key to the new frontal styling is a change in the proportions of the upper and lower grilles, with the emphasis now placed on enlarging the latter.
Elegantly sculpted to highlight the Toyota badge, a full-width concave shaped upper grille is flanked by new, horizontal ‘long eye’-look headlights. Their slim design incorporates dual lamps and, on some grades, smoke-plated ‘eyebrows’ to emphasise the new Yaris’ bolder, more horizontal front styling.
Within the lower bumper, a strong, protruding centre section houses a large air intake to focus attention on the bottom half of the vehicle, reinforcing the low centre of gravity and giving the Toyota Yaris a more ground-hugging appearance.
Whilst maintaining the model’s classic ‘Y’ pattern graphic, these new frontal styling elements give the Toyota Yaris a bolder, more masculine appearance.
In profile, the dynamism of the vehicle is reinforced by the more prominent design of the steeply sloped beltline which has been a key styling cue for each generation of Yaris.
The base of the A pillar has been moved forwards to strengthen the Toyota Yaris’ stylish, cab-forward silhouette. The resultant increase in windscreen rake helps improve the vehicle’s drag coefficient to a class-leading Cd 0.287. Both front and rear three-quarter visibility have been improved though a larger front quarterlight and the elimination of the rear glazing division bar, the latter giving a more dynamic look to the rear glazing.
A flowing, door cill character line and front and rear aero corner treatments further emphasise the new Yaris’ low centre of gravity and elegant, long wheelbase profile. Allied to numerous underbody airflow rectification components, these styling elements also improve aerodynamic performance for enhanced fuel efficiency.
To the rear, the detailing of the lamp clusters, top-hinged tailgate inset into the bumper and lower bumper treatment are visually interlinked, once again maintaining the model’s classic, “Y” pattern graphic. And the higher relocation of the license plate beneath a chrome bar garnish within the tailgate brings a more premium quality image to the design execution.
The key interior design goal for the new Toyota Yaris was to create a more driver-focused cockpit with a symmetrical layout. The driver’s and front passenger’s spaces are clearly divided, emphasising a new focus on the driver ergonomics.
Incorporating strong horizontal lines to create a feeling of width, the dashboard is dominated by a sculpted, soft-padded section which flows away from the driver’s space into matching, upper door panel pads, heightening the sense of interior spaciousness.
Dashboard and door pad colour is matched to seat upholstery inserts according to the grade structure, reinforcing the highquality feel of the interior.
Perceptions of sensory quality are further enhanced through highly tactile, premium quality detailing. The driver’s instruments, Multimedia touch screen and air vents are trimmed with gun metal finish, concave cross-sectioned rings. And all controls and switchgear feature chrome plated convex cross-sections.
Unlike previous Yaris generations, the instrument binnacle is now positioned central to the steering wheel, with all driverfocused controls and switchgear ergonomically located for high visibility and ease of use. A new, easy-to-read, amber/red backlit combination meter features a large diameter central speedometer.
Further enhancing driver comfort, the three-spoke, stitched leather steering wheel has a new, more comfortable grip crosssection, the steering column rake has been lowered by 3 degrees to deliver a more engaging driver position, and driver’s seat vertical adjustability has been increased by 15 mm to a maximum 60 mm. A driver’s seat armrest is also available for greater comfort.
The front seats themselves feature an entirely new framework offering improved body-holding performance and excellent ride comfort. The width of the seat cushion has been increased and the side sections raised for improved holding. And the seating surface area has been increased and the front edge of the seat cushion raised to help reduce long-distance fatigue.
Despite its compact exterior dimensions, passenger accommodation aboard the new Toyota Yaris has not been compromised. Wheelbase length has been increased by 50 mm and interior width by 30 mm. This, allied to the incremental saving of space through careful detailing throughout the interior, makes the new Yaris one of the roomiest vehicles in its segment.
Without compromise to either comfort or safety, both front and rear seatbacks, as well as the tailgate, have been thinned to maximise roominess throughout. This increases rear passenger knee clearance by 35 mm to a class-leading 645 mm, and loadspace depth by 145 mm to a class-leading 710 mm.
Overall luggage capacity within the two-tier loadspace has been raised to 286 litres, rising to 12 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded flat at 768 litres. And the tailgate opening has been widened by 20 mm for greater convenience.
The spaciousness and high sensory quality of the new interior is further reinforced through the Toyota Yaris’ large, all-glass panoramic sunroof. The structure is separated into front and rear sections allowing more flexibility for front and rear occupant to open or close, each fitted with a 20% light transmittance roller shade.
More information on the 2014 Toyota Yaris Improvement specifications and colours availability, customers may visit any Toyota sales outlets or contact Toyota Malaysia’s free phone line 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682) / www.toyota.com.my for further information or assistance.
