All New Toyota VIOS launched in Bangkok

Courtesy of Mr Peter Lee reporting from Bangkok, Thailand, these are the official pictures of this popular model replacement from Toyota.

Prices start at RM50K equivalent in Thai baht to the top-spec G trim asking for around RM75K.
In the royal kingdom however, life does not get cheaper even with the basic entry-level model, since all variants come with ABS standard. Options include leather seats, airbags and immobilizer but not the all important safety braking system.

From the pictures, its 1.5L engine remains largely unchanged. Also, the centrally placed meters are still present, but now with Optitron gauges for the 'G' version.

Update:

Significantly, the all-new VIOS' wheelbase has been increased to 2550mm (previously 2500mm). As a result, the passenger cabin is more spacious now (120mm extra) but the overall length of the car has been increased by just 15mm. In other words, wheels are increasingly being pushed nearer to the four corners of the vehicle. In growing evolution, boot volume is 19% more capacious than its predecessor, offering up to 475 litres.

Not wanting to discard a proven powerplant and likely in the interest of cost, Toyota's 1NZ-FE DOHC 16 valve 1.5L VVT-i engine soldiers on in this replacement model, albeit with claims of some minor improvements. Perhaps better fuel efficiency now? Power output and torque figures are the same as the Yaris, at 109bhp @ 6,000rpm and 141Nm @ 4200 rpm respectively. Transmission options are either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. No CVT options are available for the Thai/ASEAN market, as opposed to the JDM Yaris and Ractis with Super CVT-i (Continuously Variable Transmission-intelligent). CVT allows for a smoother drive, with no perceptible gear shifts at all, as gear ratios are infinitely varied with the use of steel belts and pulleys. Another welcomed benefit would be lower fuel consumption due to lesser loss of power in transmission.

Related post: http://newbiecars.blogspot.com/2007/03/all-new-2007-toyota-vios.html

All New 2007 Toyota Vios

NEWBIE CARS correspondent in Thailand, Mr. Peter Lee, has reported that the all new 3rd generation Toyota Vios will be officially unveiled in Bangkok next week.
To be launched well ahead of the upcoming Bangkok International Motor Show 2007 (from March 30 � April 8, 2007), the new sub-compact sedan based on the Yaris, is actually a rebadged and tropicalised version of the JDM Toyota Belta.

In a departure from the usual Soluna/Soluna-Vios lineage, this popular sedan is no longer based on a cost-cutting ASEAN market platform. For instance, the 1st generation Soluna was based on the 80�s Toyota Tercel underpinnings. The second generation Soluna-Vios meanwhile, is pretty much an ASEAN only model which was not available in Japan. Both models obviously had no DNA linkages to the previous Yaris/Echo/Vitz hatchback.

On the other hand � and ironically - Toyota Vios� main competitor, the upcoming all-new 3rd generation Honda City is rumoured to have a bargain-basement ASEAN platform, unrelated to the all-new Jazz/Fit design and structure.

A reversal of roles in the cards for both these highly anticipated replacement models? In Malaysia, the all-new 2nd generation Toyota Vios (we never had the sub-standard 1st gen Soluna anyway) is rumoured due as early as Q4 2007.

Watch this space for more updates as the new Belta�oops! I mean all-new Vios comes unwrapped in Thailand�.