Toyota Aims bB at New Generation

The bB achieves a comfortable interior space that provides sufficient head clearance and leg space, despite a compact vehicle length of 3,825mm (except for the X-version). It does this with a long wheel base of 2,500mm, near vertical side windows and pillars and an interior height of 1,355mm (excluding vehicles equipped with a sunroof).

The hip point has been set 650mm off the ground (for 2WD vehicles), and a combination of wide door entrances and the resulting reduced vertical movement of the head and hips make it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.

The use of a column shift, a pedal-style parking brake and sufficient interior height make side-to-side walkthrough easy.

Amble luggage space provides room for an all-terrain bicycle, snowboards and other large items.

The bB's separate driver and passenger sliding and reclining bench-type front seats come with a large fold-down center armrest.

The fold-forward 6:4-split rear seats slide back and forth 150mm (2WD model) to ensure amble leg space and have a double folding mechanism that permits a flexible creation of space for passengers and cargo (4WD model features an integrated fold-forward mechanism, plus double folding).

An easy-to-see center meter that requires little movement in the driver's line of sight and a Multi-AV Station II (optional) with a rear monitor function installed in the upper portion of the center cluster ensure a high degree of visibility. At the same time, attention has been paid to making driving easier with a higher hood, which allows drivers to more readily determine the position of the vehicle's front end, and through other measures.

In addition to storage spaces in many parts of the vehicle, including a large glove compartment alongside the instrument panel, utility and floor hooks widen the possibilities for use of the interior space.

Six speakers are standard in all vehicles. Other sound satisfaction comes from double horns with excellent tone and a sound-tuned sports muffler (1.5-liter 2WD vehicles).

Clean-air filters that eliminate pollen particles and other impurities are installed in the air conditioners of all vehicles as standard.

A wireless door lock remote control system that flashes the hazard lamps to confirm the locking and unlocking of the vehicle doors (Z grade) helps drivers to not forget to lock up when leaving the vehicle.

By improving heat efficiency through the use of VVT-i and oblique squish combustion chambers, and by improving circulation efficiency with long port intake manifolds and long branch exhaust manifolds, Toyota has made the bB easier to handle at low and medium speeds and has given the vehicle improved acceleration.

The use of aluminum blocks, as well as the use of resin and stainless steel in the intake and exhaust systems respectively, makes these engines the lightest in their classes (1.5-liter: 78kg; 1.3-liter: 75kg) and contributes to low fuel consumption.

A MacPherson strut-style suspension with the steering gear attached to the subframe is found at the front, while an Eta beam (2WD model) equipped with toe-correct functions or a four-link lateral load (4WD model) suspension is used in the rear. Stabilizers and the optimal geometry give the bB a high-quality ride as well as outstanding maneuverability and running stability.

The small and lightweight Super ECT, designed specifically for the 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines, raises the transmission efficiency substantially through the use of highly-efficient torque converters and low friction mechanisms, and a flex lock-up system helps give the bB one of the lowest fuel consumption levels in its class.

Better running stability is possible for a variety of road conditions by using torque distribution close to FF for normal straight-ahead driving and by using a flex full-time method for optimal torque distribution in the rear wheels for driving on slippery roads and during cornering.

Actively using supercomputer-based structural analysis in such areas as integration of body frame parts, panel construction and welding points, Toyota has produced a light but highly rigid body. It has also ensured a very quiet ride by including curved surface panels in the front floor and effectively placing sound-absorption and soundproofing material throughout the vehicle.

The center meter has been installed in the upper central portion of the instrument panel, requiring little movement of the driver's line of sight during driving.

In addition to ensuring high running stability and excellent emergency-avoidance maneuverability, by appropriately distributing steering power between the front and rear in addressing a variety of vehicle operating conditions (including load conditions and load changes due to deceleration), Toyota has given the bB superior braking performance. The bB also comes with EBD^*-equipped ABS and brake-assist as standard features on all vehicles to ensure vehicle stability even while braking during cornering.

^*Electronic Brake force Distribution

To ensure occupant safety during collisions with heavier vehicles or at higher speeds, Toyota conducted 40% lap-offset head-on collision tests at 64 km/h and full-lap head-on collision tests and side collisions at 55 km/h, and adapted advanced collision-safe body GOA for the bB.

Driver and front passenger seat belts are all equipped with pretensioners and force limiters as standard. The bB also comes equipped with SRS airbags and flashing seatbelt warning lights.

Shock-absorbing materials have been included inside pillars and roof siderails, creating interior safety equal to that outlined in U.S. head impact protection standards.

The underbody and fittings have been designed to restrain the protrusion of the brake pedal into the cabin in the event of a front-end collision, lessening the impact on the driver's legs.

The structure of the front seats follows the Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) concept of reducing shock to occupants' heads during rear-end collisions.

To reduce CO2 emissions, considered to be a major cause of global warming, Toyota has installed light and efficient engines and transmissions and has achieved, in both the 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter versions of the bB, class-leading fuel efficiency levels.

To make emissions cleaner, the bB uses VVT-i, high-mist fuel injectors and independent fuel-injection control for each cylinder. Furthermore, by increasing the warming properties of the catalyst through a rear exhaust layout, all models of the bB have been made compliant with the new 2000 emissions regulations (for vehicles subject to reduced acquisition taxes). The HC and NOx emission levels for the 1.3-liter models are 25% lower than the 2000 emissions regulations figures, meeting the Japan-Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (J-TLEV) requirements set out in the Environmental Agency's technical guidelines for emissions released by low-pollution vehicles and other emission sources.

Toyota Super Olefin Polymer (TSOP), a highly recyclable heat-molded resin, has been used in the front and rear bumpers, the instrument panel, the center cluster, the pillar garnish and other interior and exterior parts. Moreover, the three-part structure of the front bumper helps reduce repair costs, supports resource conservation and ensures greater recoverability.

Toyota has improved the ease with which engine oil, coolant and other fluids can be drained, and with which seats, engine undercovers and other items can be dismantled.

The radiator, heater core, wire harness and other parts are made of materials that do not contain lead, a substance of environmental concern.