| Toyota Vitz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Production | 1999–present |
| Predecessor | Toyota Starlet |
| Class | Subcompact |
| Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
The Toyota Vitz, Toyota Yaris liftback, and Toyota Echo hatchback are all models of a small subcompact car first launched by Toyota in 1999, designed by Sotiris Kovos. The Vitz is a 3 and 5 door hatchback automobile. In Europe, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, it is sold as the Yaris liftback (or simply Yaris). The vehicle was known as the Echo hatchback up to 2005 in Canada, the US, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
First generation (1999–2005)
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also called | Toyota Echo Toyota Yaris |
| Production | 1999–2005 |
| Assembly | Toyota City, Japan Valenciennes, France |
| Engine(s) | 1.0 L I4 50 kW (68 hp) 1.3 L I4 63 kW (86 hp) 1.4 L I4 55 kW (75 hp) diesel 1.5 L I4 78 kW (106 hp) RS: 1.5 L I4 Turbo, 150 hp |
| Wheelbase | 93.3 in (2370 mm) |
| Length | 147.0 in (3734 mm) |
| Width | 65.4 in (1661 mm) |
| Height | 59.1 in (1501 mm) |
| Related | Scion xA Scion xB Toyota Platz |
Europe
The Toyota Yaris went on sale in Europe early in 1999. After the launch of the European Yaris hatchback in February 1999, a slightly modified version went on sale in Canada for the 2004 model year as the Echo hatchback, but not in the United States, where the Toyota Echo sedan was the lone model. The Toyota Yaris was voted European Car of the Year in 2000, defeating the innovative Fiat Multipla by a narrow margin.
Instead of conventional instruments, the Yaris and Echo hatchbacks utilized digital instruments which were mounted in the center of the dashboard. The Canadian Echo hatchback (and the Yaris T Sport) had a conventional speedometer but it was still mounted in the center of the dashboard.
The European Yaris was initially available with gasoline-powered 4-cylinder 1.0 L or 1.3 L engines with Toyota's VVT-i technology, with the "warm hatch" 1.5 L T Sport following in 2001. After the 2003 facelift, a 1.4 L D4-D diesel engine offering 75 hp (56 kW) was also included in the lineup. This diesel engine is also licensed to BMW for use in their MINI One D model.
The Yaris was popular with buyers who wanted an economical and practical small car with a bit more style and innovation than the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, but it failed to match the driver appeal of the Peugeot 206 — except, perhaps, for the T Sport model.[citation needed]
Japan
The Japanese Vitz RS (European Yaris T-Sport) was introduced in 2001 and was powered by a 1.5 L (108 hp) engine, shared with the Echo, Vios, as well as the Scion xA. The 1.5 L T Sport was marketed as 'more fun to drive' than the base models because of a sportier suspension and extra power compared to the 1.3 L (90 hp) model. Later, the Vitz RS was modified by TRD (Toyota Racing Developments), and was fitted with a turbo-charger. A limited run was produced with a power output of around 120 kW (180 bhp) and a 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) time of just 7 seconds.
North America
The Echo sold in very high volumes in Canada, where smaller cars are much more popular than in the US. Sales were so high that Toyota introduced the 3 and 5-door hatchback models to the Canadian Toyota lineup for the 2004 model year. They were sold as the 'Echo hatchback' and look almost identical to the European Yaris, but with minor changes like larger bumpers, to meet Canadian safety requirements.
Australia
The Echo was also very popular in Australia. First introduced in late 1999 to replace the aging Starlet, the Echo was available as a 3 or 5 door hatchback, fitted only with the 1.3l VVT-i engine. An Echo Sportivo variant, fitted with the 1.5l VVT-i engine, was made available for a limited time in Australia. The Sportivo was very similar to the European Yaris T-Sport.
Yaris Verso
An interesting addition to the Yaris range came in 2000 with the Yaris Verso, a small MPV which used the same running gear as the conventional hatchback, but was designed to have an even more practical interior. In Japan, the model bore the name of 'Fun Cargo'. The model was replaced by the Ractis in 2004.
Second generation (2005–)
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also called | Toyota Yaris |
| Production | 2005–present |
| Assembly | Toyota City, Japan Valenciennes, France Bangkok, Thailand |
| Engine(s) | 1.5L 79 kW (106 hp) |
| Wheelbase | 96.9 in (2461 mm) |
| Length | 150.6 in (3825 mm) |
| Width | 66.7 in (1694 mm) |
| Height | 60.0 in (1524 mm) |
| Related | Scion xD Toyota Belta |
Toyota redesigned the Vitz in early 2005, immediately going on sale in Japan. The European, Australian, Canadian, Mexican and Puerto Rican markets saw the second generation Vitz near the end of 2005. In the Australian and North American markets, the car was sold as the "Yaris" for the first time. The production USA 2007 Toyota Yaris was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006. The new Yaris is built in Japan, France and Thailand.
The 4-cylinder 1.0 VVT-i engine was replaced by the 3-cylinder engine, also found in the Toyota Aygo and Daihatsu Sirion. The 1.3 liter engine was revised to offer slightly more power, and the 1.4 D-4D got a 15 PS boost to 90 PS (66 kW). The Yaris became the first car in its class to offer nine airbags.
It has continued to prove popular in Europe, particularly in Britain, where it continues to offer an appealing package for buyers who want something different to the run-of-the-mill Fiestas, Corsas and Clios.
North America
The Canadian Yaris hatchback is available in 3 and 5-door models, running on the Toyota NZ engine, a 1.5 L 4-cylinder VVT-i engine rated 106 hp (79 kW) and 103 ft·lbf (140 nm) torque. The 2006 Yaris with the 1.5 liter engine can achieve fuel economy ratings of 40 miles per gallon (6 l/100 km) during highway driving and 34 MPG (7 l/100 km) during city driving. 3-door CE and 5-door LE versions come with 14-inch wheels, while RS models are equipped with 15-inch alloys with standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).
The US Yaris is similar to the Canadian variant. In the US, the 3-door Vitz shares the Yaris name with the Toyota Belta sedan. The 3-door model is called the 'Yaris Liftback', while the 5-door model is not sold in the United States, since the Scion xD has the same features and therefore, serves a similar purpose. The US Yaris comes standard with the 1.5 liter VVT-i engine and five speed manual transmission, the four speed automatic ECT being optional. The US models have optional ABS and optional side and head airbags. The CE, LE, and RS packages in the Canadian hatchback are replaced by the more modular convenience, power, and all-weather guard packages.
T-Sport
The Toyota Yaris T-Sport was launched in 2007. It was first seen at the Geneva Motor Show and is powered by the new 130 bhp (97 kW) 1.8 L dual VVT-i petrol engine, which can reach 100 km/h in under 10 seconds. The T-Sport features 17 inch alloy wheels, a mesh grille at the front, a redesigned bumper at the rear, deep side skirts and a tail spoiler. It also features redesigned headlights and taillights. As in the previous T-Sport, there are extra rear lights on the bumper.
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