Mar. 18, 1980

TOYOTA UNVEILS NEW 4WD "BLIZZARD"

To be Marketed by New "Vista" Dealerships

TOKYO―Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. announced today plans to place on the domestic market the newly developed Toyota Blizzard, a 4WD vehicle, beginning April 1. That day also marks the opening of the fifth Toyota national sales network, the "Toyota Vista" dealer chain. Vista outlets will have exclusive marketing rights for the Blizzard.

Demand in Japan for 4WD vehicles has risen steadily in recent years, reflecting the versatility of their performance in climbing steep grades, handling deep snow, and functioning safely on unpaved roads and sandy surfaces. Their great adaptability, as either utility or recreation vehicles, has also made them popular across a widening spectrum of the automotive population. The Blizzard was developed by Toyota to respond to the widest possible range of these demands in a single, superbly engineered and compact 4WD vehicle.

Some of the features of the new Blizzard are

Strong, bold styling, coordinated with the basic functionality and durability demanded in a 4WD vehicle.
A highly rated L-type diesel engine (2188cc)―noted for its small size, light weight, fine performance, fuel efficiency and quietness.
Outstanding off-road performance delivered through the incorporation of an extra-sturdy chassis frame, suspension designed for a comfortable ride, 16-inch-diameter, deep-tread lug tires with 215 mm minimum road clearance, and other quality design features.
A full range of options that provide maximum flexibility to Blizzard users, including a free-wheel hub lock system which enables the driver to switch from 4WD to optional rear wheel drive smoothly and efficiently, an electric winch, limited-slip differential, and other engineering advances.

The tentative sales target set by Toyota for the Blizzard is 300 units per month. There are no plans to export the model.