Yaris Sedan Launch :)

[Mac]

Dunno if you guys read this before... anyway I think it looks quite good :)

Read more about it here :

Light Sedans In Battle of The Bulge

04 March 2006

Mark Hinchliffe

Toyota acknowledged the Queensland motoring public by launching their Yaris sedan at the Brisbane International Motor Show yesterday.

The national launch of the Echo replacement brought in media from around the country to witness what is becoming a battle of the boot bulge in the light car class.

It follows GM Holden's recent launch of the sedan version of its Korean-built Barina. The only other light car sedan is the Kia Rio, also from South Korea. All will be on show in Brisbane.

The first body blow in the battle was felt by Barina which scored a poor crash-test rating this week for its European equivalent — the Chevrolet Aveo — in the European New Car Assessment Program. Holden disagrees with the testing procedure and has asked for the car to be retested. Meanwhile, the Japanese-built Yaris received a maximum five-star occupant rating in the same tests.

Barina delivered a counter blow, coming in at $14,490 for the five-speed manual and $16,490 for the four-speed auto, which undercuts the Rio at $15,990 (manual) and $17,990 (auto).

Yaris will cost $17,690, up $1200 on the Echo manual sedan, and $19,190 for the auto, an extra $1400, but still under the $20,000 barrier.

It now includes a host of standard safety features such as ABS, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, while Barina features ABS as part of an $1190 option pack which also includes 15-inch alloys. Rio does not have ABS.

Yaris, Barina and Rio sedans come with dual airbags standard, but Yaris has optional front side airbags and full-length curtain shield airbags for an extra $750.

Barina features the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine as the hatch with 76kW of power, the Kia also has a 1.6-litre engine with 82kW, while the smaller 1.5-litre Yaris engine produces a comparable 80kW. The 1.3-litre VVT-i engine option is only available on the Yaris three-door hatch.

The Yaris sedan is in a different league with its high level of standard specification that includes electronic throttle, electric power-assisted steering, and tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel.

There is a host of accessories, including touch-screen satellite navigation, a six or four-disc MP3-capable CD changer, parking sensors and 15-inch sports wheels.

Yaris sedan is longer and wider than the Echo sedan, but with the same turning circle of 9.8m and a lower roof. Toyota claims it is now a roomier car for passengers as well as cargo with a 475-litre boot, up nine litres on Echo.

The chassis has been made more rigid to match the larger footprint on the road with a substantial front cross member and a series of body braces and reinforcing panels. The more rigid chassis also contributes to lower cabin noise which is further reduced by an aluminium cylinder block, a fully balanced crankshaft and an aerodynamic body.

Suspension also has been beefed up with multi-leaf control valve dampers to reduce body roll as well as soak up bumps in the road.

The new sedan is one of the first developed under Toyota's Eco-Vehicle Assessment System which measures the environmental impact from its production to its use and even to its eventual disposal.

Environmental impact is reduced through use of water-based paint, elimination of PVC, fuel-efficient engine, power-saving air-conditioning and easier dismantling for recycling.

Yaris sedan comes in nine colours; six are new and three are shared with the hatchback. Inside, Toyota introduces a new colour option they call "grege", a combination of grey and beige.

Toyota executive director of sales and marketing David Buttner says the sedan bridges the gap between the hatch and the Corolla "without disadvantaging any model".

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384...5002940,00.html

Edited March 7, 2006 by Mac

[BigBum]

Got to agree with you there. Deffinately looks quite good... much better than the echo sedan.

[eggbert_99]

I like the front ... the butt is saggy though .... like nipple down to the knees saggy :) ... its aiight i guess ... I rate the front though

[kelvin33]

This sedan is definitely 100% better looking than the predecessor :)

Thumbs up!!! :P

[DHC09]

!!! its a mini-camry!!!

[leasaunce]

!!! its a mini-camry!!!

<_< 100% WITH YOU!

[BigBum]

!!! its a mini-camry!!!

After a second look... yeah you're deffinately right

[leasaunce]

how's the performance-wise??? i heard it struggles going up hill with full load...

[Scandrew]

Saw a white Yaris sedan at Peter Warren motors. At first when I saw it from the front I thought it was a Mazda sp23 because of the similar grill. This sedan already had a set of aftermarket 17" chromies on it, lol.

[Hsien]

definitely look better proportioned than the echo sedan..