New 'Vitz' Gets Japan's Best Fuel Efficiency

Toyota City, Japan, December 2, 2010―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that the Japanese-market version of the redesigned "Vitz" compact―equipped with a 1.3-liter gasoline engine and the Toyota Stop & Start idling-stop system―has achieved Japan's best fuel efficiency^*.

The new Vitz, scheduled for launch in Japan at the end of this year, has a fuel efficiency of 26.5 km/L under the 10-15 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), thus exceeding by more than 25% the mandatory level required under the 2010 national standards. Also, under MLIT's newer JC08 test cycle, the vehicle has a fuel efficiency of 21.8 km/L.

CO2 emissions for the vehicle under MLIT's 10-15 test cycle are 88 g/km, and under the JC08 test cycle, 106 g/km.

Emissions of both nitrogen oxides and non-methane hydrocarbons have also been reduced in the vehicle, with levels 75% lower than the 2005 standards under the MLIT's approval system for low-emission vehicles. As such, under the Japanese government's taxation system for environment friendly vehicles, the new Vitz qualifies for a 75% reduction in the automobile weight tax and automobile acquisition tax, and qualifies for a 50% reduction in the automobile tax.