Toyota reveals the new-generation Yaris with an optional hybrid drive

Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the new model Yaris to the world.

The new Yaris is scheduled to go on sale in Japan starting in mid-February 2020. It will be exhibited at VenusFort in Odaiba, Tokyo during the Tokyo Motor Show 2019.

The new Yaris has been developed in pursuit of new value sought in next-generation compact cars. The new Yaris is a new-generation compact car that adopts the TNGA platform, on which Toyota will base its compact cars for developed countries in the future, and features components built entirely from the ground up, including the engine, Hybrid System, transmission, and suspension. In addition to the light yet highly rigid body and low centre of gravity, the Yaris is offered with a 1.5-litre Dynamic Force Engine with New-generation Hybrid System to deliver agility, superior comfort, and smooth and direct acceleration.

In addition to pursuing Toyota's ongoing goal of developing the world's highest level of fuel efficiency for a hybrid vehicle, the new Yaris is offered with E-Four (electric four-wheel drive system), a first for a Toyota compact car. Toyota is among the first to adopt an array of advanced features that defy the common hierarchy based on car size, such as Advanced Park, Toyota's advanced parking support system (a first for a Toyota vehicle); the latest Toyota Safety Sense, which has been expanded to detect oncoming cars when turning right at an intersection and pedestrians crossing the street when turning right or left; Turn Tilt Seats (equipped by Toyota for the first time) which facilitate entering and exiting the vehicle; and Display Audio (standard on all models), which can connect with smartphones.

Chief Engineer Yasunori Suezawa, in charge of development of the new Yaris, explained, “This marks the 20th year since the first Yaris debuted, so we wanted to build a new-generation compact car that goes far beyond customers' preconceptions about class by building on the strengths of the Yaris as a compact car while revamping the platform, powertrain, and all other components. Compact cars are driven by many people, so offering a pleasurable drive was a priority, but it also prompted us to use the Yaris as the starting point of cars with the world's highest level of fuel efficiency and secure safety technology.”

The new model Yaris is Toyota's first car to adopt the TNGA platform (GA-B) for compact cars, which features a body developed to be lightweight and highly rigid with a low centre of gravity. The platform achieves both superior handling stability and a high-quality ride by shedding 50 kg in vehicle weight compared to the conventional model, increasing torsional rigidity by at least 30%, and lowering the centre of gravity by 15 mm. It also delivers driving performance beyond its class by being agile yet Confident and Natural (the vehicle remains stable while driving yet responds naturally to the driver's intentions).

The new-generation 1.5-litre Hybrid System (adopted by Toyota for the first time) achieves greater fuel efficiency by enhancing the efficiency of the entire system and by adopting a dedicated engine designed for the Hybrid System and the other newly developed hybrid units. In addition to achieving the world's highest level of fuel efficiency for a hybrid vehicle, acceleration has also been enhanced to in pursuit of both fuel efficiency and performance. E-Four is being offered on a Toyota compact car for the first time.

The suspension uses MacPherson Struts on the front, providing agile and smooth motion. The rear uses a torsion beam suspension for both handling stability and ride comfort (front-wheel drive). The Four-wheel drive / E-Four adopts a two-link double wishbone suspension.

The new Yaris comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense, Toyota's latest active safety package. The pre-collision safety system detects pedestrians during the day and night and cyclists during the day to help prevent collisions and mitigate damage. The sensing system has been expanded to prevent accidents at intersections by detecting oncoming cars when turning right and pedestrians crossing the street when turning right or left (adopted by Toyota for the first time).

Toyota also added Low Speed Acceleration Control to support the prevention of collisions caused by pedal misapplication at time of reduced speed. This uses millimetre-wave radar and a mono camera to recognise bicycle riders and pedestrians immediately in front of the car. This control helps prevent collisions and mitigate damage by suppressing the engine output or by lightly applying the brakes to suppress acceleration if there is an object in front of the car and the accelerator pedal is depressed with excessive force when starting from a standstill or during low-speed operation.

Also present is a Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with full-speed range that supports driving behind another car, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) that enhances steering so cars can remain centred in the same lane when using the radar cruise control, Automatic High Beam (AHB) that changes between high beam and low beam headlights and Road Sign Assist (RSA) that displays road signs recognized by the camera on the display so that drivers do not miss them.

The new Yaris is equipped with a Secondary Collision Brake, which contributes to mitigating the damage caused by secondary collisions. The Secondary Collision Brake and the brake lights are automatically activated if the SRS air bag sensor detects a collision and activates the air bags. This decelerates the vehicle to mitigate damage caused by secondary collisions.

For the first time, Toyota is introducing Advanced Park, which represents the cutting edge of Toyota's Advanced Parking Support System and is based on Toyota's automation concept of having the car and driver act as partners. This system supports parking operations by controlling not just the steering wheel, but also the accelerator and brakes (the driver needs only to operate the shift lever according to instructions). The system alerts the driver with audible warnings and applies the brakes to help avoid minor collisions by using cameras and ultrasonic sensors to monitor the vicinity of the car. By setting the parking spot in advance, the system can also park in spots without white lines.

Easy Return Seat memorises the driver's seat position using manual operation. Passengers can enjoy a comfortable ride, including in the rear seats, and let the Easy Return Seat function do the work when entering and exiting seats. Turn Tilt Seats makes it easy for the driver and front passenger enter and exit the car by rotating the seat and tilting it. This facilitates entering and exiting the vehicle by passengers wearing a skirt or kimono and supports those with back pain or low muscle strength.

An accessory power outlet (1,500 W) is available for the hybrid version of the cars. With the accessory, electricity from the vehicle can be used to power electrical devices and appliances using the same type of electrical outlets found at home. Additionally, the vehicle can serve as an emergency power generator in cases such as blackouts.