TOYOTA INTRODUCES THE CORONA PREMIO SERIES

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today full model changes to the Corona four-door sedans and their debut as the Premio^* Series. ^*(Spanish for "reward")

As a medium-sized sedan for the next century, the attention to safety and harmony with the environment, together with high levels of comfort and performance, have been melded into a design of elegant appearance.

Major Features

1. The newly developed collision safety body―the Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA)―and ABS and dual SRS air bags fitted as standard equipment, provide world-class safety levels.
2. The latest lean-bum engine with the top fuel economy in its class, and the use of recyclable materials for improved environmental friendliness.
3. An elegant body design combined with a silent, spacious cabin with outstanding functional efficiency, and an exhilarating driving performance.

Overview

1. Safety

   The Premio Series has one of the highest levels of safety in its class thanks to the antilock braking system (ABS) and dual SRS air bags that come as standard equipment, and its new GOA-based collision-impact absorbent safety body.

   Active safety

   Improved visibility and outstanding emergency avoidance capabilities

   • A lower belt line for the side windows and lowered trunk line improve all-round visibility, and the body is designed so that the driver can easily see the vehicle's edges to enhance maneuverability.
   • ABS is standard equipment on all models.
   • An improved chassis ensures excellent handling characteristics for emergency avoidance.

   Passive safety

   World-class passive safety is achieved through the use of a new GOA-based safety body consisting of a collision-impact absorbent body and high-strength cabin structure, ELR seat belts, and SRS air bags. This combination of passive safety features are designed to protect occupants in all types of collisions.

   • The new body and high-strength cabin absorb impact energy from various angles and protect the cabin space such as in offset head-on and lateral collisions.
   • With this body structure, the Premio Series meets both Japanese safety standards and European 40% lap offset head-on collision and side collision safety standards to be introduced in October 1998.
   • Dual SRS air bags are standard equipment on all models.
   • All seats, including the center rear seat, feature three-point seat belts with an emergency locking retractor (ELR).
   • Vertically adjustable headrests on rear seats are standard on all models.

2. Environmental Considerations

   The transmission and lean-burn engine ensure top fuel economy in its class, and recyclable new materials improve environment friendliness.

   Improved fuel economy

   • Together with the electronically controlled four-speed ECT-E automatic transmission with a flex lock-up system, the advanced lean-bum system and a three-way NOx occlusion/reduction catalyst provide the 1.6-liter 4A-FE and 1.8-liter 7A-FE engines with top fuel economy figures in their class―over 25% better than with conventional automatic transmissions. Fuel consumption is a low 15.6km per liter (10T5 mode) for both the 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter engines.

   Recyclability

   • The number of fastenings for bumpers and other large resin parts has been reduced to ease disassembly and recyclability.
   • Toyota's proprietary technology―a world first―creates outstanding, long-lasting recycled soundproof products (RSPPs) mainly from recycled urethane seat material.

   Others

   • A boost pressure injection system is used for the diesel turbo engine to reduce smoke emission.

3. Exterior and Interior Design

   The elegant bodywork and silent, spacious cabin features outstanding functional efficiency.

   Exterior

   The refined and elegant exterior design integrates sharp lines with surface volume.

   • An impressive grille asserts itself from the deep hood relief, and a slim, uncompromising headlamp assembly produces an individual frontal view.
   • The side view presents a fluid, clean cabin line.
   • The distinguished design of the rear features a lean fender and slender rear lamp clusters.

   Interior

   Improved cabin comfort and silence move yet another step forward. The following convenient features installed as standard equipment ensure higher functionality

   • A more open instrument panel design with a reclined, lower center section
   • Shock-absorbent door trim with large pockets
   • Greater head room with a straighter front pillar angle
   • More cup holders and an altered ashtray position
   • Outstanding seat comfort provided by supple, elastic padding
   • Standard equipment includes adjustable steering column, power door mirrors and windows, electric door lock, UV and infrared ray blocking glass, and synchronized window washer and wiper action.
   • Reduced vibration and noise from the engine, tires, and other sources, together with improved body vibration characteristics and strategic positioning of damping, noise-absorbent, and insulation materials

4. Performance

   Excellent performance in the low- to medium-speed ranges and outstanding controllability and running stability provide comfortable driving performance.

   Engine

   • The 4A-FE and 7A-FE gasoline engines feature a lean-burn system and improved air intake, achieving powerful acceleration with higher torque in the low- and medium-speed ranges.
   • The 2C-T diesel engine has a small but highly efficient turbocharger that dramatically improves driving performance.
   • The 3S-FE gasoline engine has increased torque in the low- and medium-speed ranges with an improved air intake system and combustion chamber, plus fuel-saving lighter-weight mechanical parts with lower noise and vibration characteristics.
   • The popular strut suspension for all four wheels uses a modified geometry (excluding 4WD). Forward stability and steering response have been improved with a larger caster angle. A change in the rear lower arm position makes possible a smaller change in vehicle posture, thus enabling greater driving comfort, controllability, and running stability.

   Sales Outline

   • The Premio Series is available from Toyopet dealers nationwide (Osaka Toyota dealers in the Osaka area).

   • Monthly sales target

     6,000 units