Jan. 12, 2017

Toyota Launches the 'Vitz' Hybrid Grade

Key features

Hybrid system with a 1.5-liter engine. In addition to exceptional environmental performance of 34.4 km/L¹, exhilarating acceleration is achieved by integrating the engine and motor.
The exterior design pursues an element of individuality including front and rear views that convey a wide and low stance.

Toyota City, Japan, January 12, 2017―Toyota Motor Corporation has partially redesigned the "Vitz", and sales will begin at all Netz dealers nationwide on January 12.

: Hybrid U (options shown)

The Vitz² is a core Toyota brand model that was first launched in 1999 and is now being sold in approximately 80 countries and regions including Europe. Global cumulative sales have surpassed 7 million units³.

With the partial redesign this time, a hybrid grade was added to the lineup in response to strong requests from customers against a backdrop of growing demand for hybrids in the compact hatchback market⁴, the vehicle segment which the Vitz belongs to. In addition, major changes were made to the exterior design to create a vehicle with an even stronger market presence.

The development concept of the redesign incorporated the maximum possible knowledge and technology so as to achieve extensive improvements that exceed those typical of a partial redesign. In line with this concept, the hybrid system was enhanced, the shock absorbers were improved, and numerous areas of the body were made more rigid to provide for an exceptional driving performance. In addition, an interior design with all-black ornamentation was adopted, alongside other improvements which have been made to increase product appeal.

Welcab versions (specially equipped vehicles with factory-installed features for the disabled and elderly) offer the same improvements as the base models.

The Vitz is part of the lineup rolled out by the in-house Toyota Compact Car Company. Kazuhiro Miyauchi, the president of the Toyota Compact Car Company, made the following comment with the launch of the car, that "The Vitz pushes forward the boundaries of compact car manufacturing by combining the latest environmentally friendly and safety technologies with responsive and fun-to-drive dynamic performance. This Vitz is the template for the exciting new vehicles that we will continue to bring to market in the future."

¹Under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's JC08 test cycle

²The overseas series name is the "Yaris"

³As of December 2016; based on Toyota calculations

⁴The market scale for hybrid compact hatchbacks was approximately 80,000 units in 2011, but increased to approximately 310,000 units in 2015; based on Toyota calculations

Monthly sales target for Japan

9,000 units

Manufacturer's suggested retail prices

	Engine	Transmission	Driveline	Price¹ (yen)
M package	1KR-FE (1.0-liter)	Super CVT-i	Front-wheel drive	1,181,520
	1KR-FE (1.0-liter)			1,325,160
F	1NR-FKE (1.3-liter)			1,481,760
	1NR-FE (1.3-liter)		Four-wheel drive	1,589,760
Smart Stop package	1KR-FE (1.0-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,405,080
Jewela	1KR-FE (1.0-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,473,120
	1NR-FKE (1.3-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,703,160
	1NR-FE (1.3-liter)		Four-wheel drive	1,811,160
Smart Stop package	1KR-FE (1.0-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,553,040
U	1NR-FKE (1.3-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,798,200
U	1NR-FE (1.3-liter)		Four-wheel drive	1,906,200
Sporty package²	1NR-FKE (1.3-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,952,640
Hybrid F²	THS II with reduction gear (1NZ-FXE 1.5-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,819,800
Hybrid Jewela²				1,983,960
Hybrid U²				2,087,640
Sporty package²				2,237,760

¹Includes consumption tax, does not include recycling fees, and differs in Hokkaido and Okinawa.

²New

Super CVT-i: Super Continuously Variable Transmission-intelligent

THS II: TOYOTA Hybrid System II

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices for Welcab Variants

	Base Grade	Engine	Transmission	Driveline	Price^* (yen)
Lift-up front passenger seat (Type A)	F	1KR-FE (1.0-liter)	Super CVT-i	Front-wheel drive	1,520,000
		1NR-FKE (1.3-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,665,000
		1NR-FE (1.3-liter)		Four-wheel drive	1,765,000
		THS II with reduction gear (1NZ-FXE 1.5-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,978,000
Lift-up front passenger seat (Type B)		1KR-FE (1.0-liter)	Super CVT-i	Front-wheel drive	1,594,000
		1NR-FKE (1.3-liter)		Front-wheel drive	1,739,000
		1NR-FE (1.3-liter)		Four-wheel drive	1,839,000
		THS II with reduction gear (1NZ-FXE 1.5-liter)		Front-wheel drive	2,052,000

^*Consumption tax does not apply; does not include recycling fees, and differs in Hokkaido and Okinawa

Super CVT-i: Super Continuously Variable Transmission-intelligent

THS II: TOYOTA Hybrid System II

Main Features

High Fuel Efficiency and Roominess Pursued by Adopting a Lightweight and Compact Hybrid System

Hybrid System

The new Vitz is equipped with a 1.5-liter engine hybrid system with improved control of the engine, motor, inverter, and other components. The hybrid model boasts class-leading fuel efficiency of 34.4 km/L¹. This exceeds the Japanese government's 2020 fuel economy standards by at least 20 percent, and achieves emissions that are at least 75 percent lower than the 2005 standards set under the Japanese government's Approval System for Low-emission Vehicles. As a result, the hybrid Vitz is eligible for Japanese government subsidies and tax incentives for eco-cars.

Key Hybrid System Specifications

Engine	Model	1NZ-FXE
	Displacement	1,496 cc
	Maximum output	54 kW [74 PS]/4,800 rpm
	Maximum torque	111 N･m [11.3 kgf･m]/3,600 rpm-4,400 rpm
Motor	Maximum output	45 kW [61 PS]
Motor	Maximum torque	169 N･m [17.2 kgf･m]
Complete system²	Maximum output	73 kW [100 PS]
Battery		Nickel-metal hydride

Package and Maneuverability

By placing the drive battery under the rear seat, both the interior and cargo space equivalent to that of a gasoline vehicle have been achieved. The package has a length of 3,945 mm (60 mm more than the earlier model) and width of 1,695 mm in consideration of maneuverability, thus achieving a minimum turning radius of 4.7 m³.

¹Under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's JC08 test cycle

²Using both engine power and electric motor power; based on Toyota calculations

³5.6 m in the case of the Hybrid U and Sporty package. The gasoline model with 165/70R14 tires has a minimum turning radius of 4.5 m.

More Impressive Exterior Design Features a Sense of Dynamism and Refinement

: Hybrid U (options shown)

Front, Rear, and Side Views

Front

The main areas of change are the front bumper, low grille, headlights, and fog lamp cover.
The wide and low stance is emphasized, providing a dynamic feel and a sense of a low center of gravity.
Bi-Beam LED headlights (with auto-leveling function and smoked plated finish) are available as an option, and when combined with the line-emitting LED clearance lights, the ruggedness is emphasized.

Rear

The main changes are to the back door, back door garnish, rear combination taillights, rear bumper, and rear wiper.
Similar with the front view, the wide and low stance is emphasized.
LED line-emitting taillights are available as an option. The brake lights, which incorporate six LEDs, create an impressive rear view.

Side

The wheel design has been updated to create an enhanced feel.⁴

Color variations

A total of 17 exterior colors are available, including the newly-developed Clear Blue Crystal Shine (option) and the new Avant Garde Bronze Metallic.

Dark Blue Mica and Olive Mica Metallic are newly available for shiny decorations only⁵.

⁴The Jewela grade (including the Smart Stop package) will continue to use 14-inch steel wheels (with exclusive resin full caps).

⁵Plated ornamentation on the door mirrors and exterior door handles exclusive to the Hybrid Jewela and Jewela (including the Smart Stop Package) grades (option).

Refined Interior Designs Conveys a Sense of Consistency

: Interior color: Barrel Brown

: Interior color: Marsala

All ornamentation is black, creating a refined interior.
Barrel Brown, a brown shade, is now available on the U grade (including the Sporty package), conveying a modern and refined space. In addition, the new Marsala, a sepia tone, is available on the Hybrid Jewela and Jewela (including the Smart Stop package) grades, enhancing the hatchback's sense of quality.

Others

Substantial Improvement in Basic Performance

By adopting shock absorbers with a new structure, increasing the number of spot welds on various parts of the body, and making other changes to increase body rigidity, and increasing the thickness of braces around the instrument panel, driving performance have been enhanced, which offers exceptional maneuvering stability as well as a comfortable ride.
Safety have also been improved by making the Toyota Safety Sense C collision avoidance assist package and hill-start assist control standard on all models, thus supporting safer driving.