Will be slightly bigger than the Vios, but powered by a smaller 1.2L petrol motor.
Thai blog Cars New Update, has managed to acquire information on the Toyota Yaris sedan from a source close to the company. Apparently, it will slot below the Toyota Vios, and be pitched as the sedan version of the Yaris which will undergo a significant facelift and share its design cues.
Despite slotting below the Vios, interestingly, the Yaris sedan's length and width are slightly bigger than the former. According to the report, it will measure 4,425 mm long, 1,730 mm wide, 1,475 mm high, and have a wheelbase of 2,550 mm. While the wheelbase and height are identical, the Yaris sedan is 30 mm wider and 5 mm longer than the Vios. In the metal, the differences are unlikely to be perceptible.
Spyshots of the Yaris sedan hint towards a design that will draw cues with the Toyota Corolla Altis. The front fascia wasn't snapped, but it's likely to be similar to the facelifted Yaris hatchback, which was also spotted testing with a full body camouflage. It had long LED headlamps that directly flow into a bold chrome bar housing the Toyota logo, a slim and wide air inlet below the grille, and an hexagonal radiator grille.
The report states that there will be five grades of the Yaris sedan: J ECO, J, E, G, and S. Some of the features include a touchscreen infotainment system, rear parking camera, TFT multi-info display, 15 inch alloy wheels, start/stop button, and automatic climate control. The J ECO, J and E grades will have an all black interior, while G and S get a dual tone black and beige colour combo.
The motor under the hood is reported to be the Yaris hatchback's 3NR-FE 1.2L four-cylinder petrol engine with Dual VVT-i, instead of the Vios' 2NR-FBE 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i engine. Available only with a Super CVT-i transmission, the 1.2L engine develops 86 PS and 11.0 kg.m of max torque. This would help the Yaris sedan get 'Eco car' tax cuts, and compete directly with the Suzuki Ciaz and the Nissan Almera which come with sub-1.3L engines.
Also Read: Next-gen Toyota Rush & Daihatsu Terios to launch in Indonesia next year – Report
The Yaris sedan could be the model that TKM (Toyota Kirloskar Motor) launches in India, following an unveil at the Auto Expo 2018, although it would have to pack a bigger petrol engine given that few rivals have output figures over 100 hp.
[Info Source: Cars New Update]
[Image Source: Headlight Mag]
