Hot new hatch Toyota Yaris

AFTER happily announcing its achievement of a Triple Crown victory, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) introduced a new and innovative vehicle that will surely strengthen its leadership in the market.

The presentation of the new vehicle was made during a well-attended thanksgiving party for the members of the media on January 29 at the Bellevue Hotel in Alabang. The Yaris Hatchback, which would surely rattle its rivals, is Toyota’s thrust at strengthening its leadership in the passenger car category.

It was during the speech of TMPC president Hiroshi Ito when Toyota’s fifth consecutive Triple Crown was pronounced. Ito said that the company continued its tradition as a leader in the various divisions such as in the number of passenger cars, in the commercial vehicles, and in the overall sales.

Based on the report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufactures of the Philippines Inc., Toyota sold a total of 38,258 units from January to December last year.  This translates to a 38.4-percent market share, or an eight percent growth compared to the same period last year.

Toyota’s top three selling vehicles last year were the Innova in the multipurpose vehicle, the Vios in the subcompact sedan, and the Fortuner in the sport utility vehicle categories.

“The year 2006 can be remembered as one of the most trying and memorable periods in our history.  Despite all the challenges and difficulties it brought along, it also gave us one of Toyota Motor Philippines’ best achievement to date—our fifth consecutive Triple Crown market victory!” said Ito.

In the passenger car category, Toyota captured a 36.5-percent market share with total PC sales of 13,918 units, composed of the Vios, Altis and Camry.  The Vios is the second best-selling vehicle in the country with 9,406 units sold.  Compared to the same period last year, the Vios registered a 13-percent growth.  The new Camry, introduced in September, has dominated the midsize PC segment with 58-percent market share. 

“But the task of Moving Forward is a never-ending mission.  The year 2007 comes with bigger challenges not only for us, but for the whole automotive industry.  We are expecting a slow to moderate market growth this year, but we hope to be able to surpass, if not sustain, our sales and growth targets.  This year, we are also expanding our model line-up by introducing new models that would further strengthen our passenger car leadership,” Ito announced.

Thus, the early launching of Yaris, the newest passenger car for Toyota aimed to strengthen the company’s leadership in the passenger car category.

The Yaris, which was introduced early this decade in Europe before it made its way to Asia and now in the Philippines, boasts of a modern design, compact size and fuel economy with its 1.5 automatic and manual transmission engines. It will be available in the market by the end of the first quarter of this year.

The first generation of Yaris sold more than 1.4 million in Europe alone from 1999 to 2005 and became the “Car of the Year” in Europe in 2000 and was acknowledged as the safest car in its segment by the EuroNCAP.

The second generation of Yaris rolled out in January of last year and proved to be a global success as it sold 374,000 units up to November 2006, a majority of them also in Europe. A total of 57,000 units have already been sold in Asia for the same period when it was introduced in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Touted as the newest brother of Vios, the Yaris boasts of a modern, trendy and expressive exterior and convenient and comfortable interior, which could easily topple its competitors. The Yaris is more than just a stylish hatchback.  Like the main attraction of small cars, its compact size makes it more apt for the traffic-heavy city highways.  Aside from that, it also boasts of fuel efficiency similar to the Vios, which has won the 2006 Department of Energy Fuel Economy Run. Sharing the same engine and displacement as the 1.5-liter Vios variant, the Yaris is expected to deliver the same, if not surpass, fuel economy as its sedan brother.

The Yaris enjoys a unique, confident approach to everyday driving. With a modern, trendy, and expressive exterior, the Yaris’ modern look begins a refreshing front grill design, which is distinctively different from existing Toyota models.  The sporty shape of the front multi-reflector headlamp increases illumination and communications, while windscreen is combined with arching lines to reduce drag while raising pulses.  Radical styling and increased practicality define the high quality LED brake lights for superior visibility.

With a seating capacity that offers more options and completely controllable air-conditioning, the Yaris envelops its passengers in an environment of extreme driving and riding enjoyment.  The hoodless optitron meter is centrally-positioned which allows for ease of viewing. Vertically aligned air condition control is ergonomic yet stylish, while smoother shifting is provided with a sophisticated gearshift system.  Large, numerous air condition vents keep temperatures down. The interior is fashionably incorporated with subdued black finish, combined with sporty leather steering wheel and shift knob, and fabric seat material.  The rear cargo seats slide forward to create more luggage space that allows for more room through a 60-40 split. 

The Yaris defines a new sense of motion with its powerful 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE 16-valve DOHC VVT-I engine. It gives a maximum output of 109 ps at 6,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 141 nm at 4,200 rpm.  The passengers will enjoy a smoother ride provided by the front McPherson struts and rear torsion beam suspension. And with its compact size and a turning radius of 4.7 meters, maneuverability is increased.

The Yaris is offered in two variants—1.5-liter automatic and manual transmission—at P748,000 and P713,000, respectively.  It comes in four shades—mysterious black, passionate red, elegant white, and chic medium silver.

“This long-awaited compact, stylish and fuel-efficient hatchback PC is positioned as Toyota’s strategic model, targeting the youthful, trendy and upscale market.  The Yaris will be available in the market by March,” said Ito in the end.

THE danger of petroleum resources running out in the next decade or so gave auto manufacturers the opportunity to push products that can travel the farthest with the least consumed fuel. Hybrids, diesel-powered four-wheelers and alternative fuel-powered vehicles aside, these fuel-sippers have generated the most interest among consumers for obvious reasons.

THE recent signing of the biofuels law has boosted the morale, not to mention the earning capacity of one of the smaller players in the oil industry.

IT was very alarming to see that recent news of another vehicle that came tumbling down from one of the elevated highways.

THE previous two phases of Universal Motors Corp.’s (UMC’s) “Ur Van Ur Business (UVUB)” program gave OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), entrepreneurs and microentrepreneurs the opportunity to help themselves by supplementing their current income via the use of the Nissan Urvan. UMC’s (through UVUB) presented its versatile 14- to 18-seater van as a gateway to creating a self-liquidating mobile business venture in a bevy of ways, be it an ambulance, delivery van, shuttle service, school bus, mobile kusina or rental service.

AFTER happily announcing its achievement of a Triple Crown victory, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) introduced a new and innovative vehicle that will surely strengthen its leadership in the market.