The fun-to-drive Toyota Yaris line-up includes an enhanced GR SPORT grade and stylish new options for its 2025 model year while maintaining a commitment to class-leading efficiency and safety in the highly competitive B-segment.

An agile compact car ideally suited to modern urban life, with proven quality, exceptional efficiency and fun-to-drive dynamics, the multiple award-winning Yaris is consistently one of Toyota’s best-selling models in Europe. The Yaris family has accumulated more than 10 million global sales, including more than five million in Europe, since its launch in 1999.

Yaris has been a benchmark for innovation since its debut, whilst staying true to a “big-small” philosophy which combines a compact and purposeful exterior with spacious interior. From raising the bar on safety to pioneering full hybrid power in the B-segment and becoming the first compact car built on the modular Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-B platform, Yaris has continually set new standards for a quarter of a century.

Toyota’s latest version of the fourth generation Yaris is built in Europe, for European customers, and now offers new choices with enhanced aesthetic options as well as an eye-catching update of the Yaris GR SPORT grade.

Three years after first hitting the streets, the new Yaris GR SPORT looks keener than ever thanks to new exterior and interior styling which capture the spirit of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Toyota’s multiple championship winning motorsport team.

An emotive new colour, Storm Grey, is available exclusively on the Yaris GR SPORT in 2025, both in monotone and bi-tone options, while striking 18-inch matt alloy wheels impress with a bold new design.

Inside, the Yaris GR SPORT’s stylish interior execution – with stand-out red stitching and gun metal grey accents – is upgraded by an embossed GR SPORT logo on the headrests, achieving a clean and sophisticated look.

The 2025 Yaris line-up includes the all-new Forest Green colour, either as elegant monotone or striking bi-tone in combination with contrasting black roof, which compliments the muscular, agile lines and styling that is true to Yaris’ poised handling and responsive chassis.

The Yaris 2025 range continues to employ a “dual hybrid” approach to meet customers’ varying needs and ensure exceptional efficiency, via best-in-class environmental performance with the “Hybrid 115”, or the “Hybrid 130” with its sharper acceleration and even more engaging drive. By offering a choice of performance profile, Yaris has strong appeal to customers, who rank hybrid as the top purchase consideration.

Throughout the Yaris range, drivers benefit from the latest technologies for an outstanding user experience. Toyota T-Mate includes the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance systems, making the car safer, easier to drive and park. Meanwhile, a digital user experience features a customisable driver’s instrument display and a powerful multimedia system with display screens of up to 10.5 inches.

Drivers can experience the new Toyota Yaris, including the Toyota Yaris GR SPORT, in 2025, with start of production planned for February next year.

 

The automotive industry is entering a once-in-a-century transformation and Toyota is preparing by shifting from a pure car company towards an innovative mobility provider offering ever better mobility for all.

This brand shift is reflected by a new motor show stand that features 3 distinct areas. One – called Start Your Impossible - is dedicated to new mobility solutions and future innovation. The second celebrates Toyota’s motorsport activities with Toyota GAZOO Racing. And the third area is dedicated to Toyota’s new models, with a clear focus on the latest self-charging hybrid product offers.

New Approach to Press Conference

To fully reflect the changing media communications landscape, the traditional “on-stand” press conference is replaced with a new digital on-demand format that can be experienced at any time –either on stand or on-line, whether at the motor show itself, or anywhere else in the world.

The digital press conference starts with a brief introduction from Dr. Johan Van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, followed by an interactive system with modules dedicated to each car on display and other key messages.

The idea is to offer more flexibility for the media to experience Toyota’s press conference at their convenience, whether physically at the show or visiting virtually from anywhere else.

It will be hosted on a microsite under the following URL: parisms.toyota-europe.com as well as via the Toyota Motor Europe YouTube channel.

New Cars on Display

Two key product elements are exclusively featured at the Paris Motor Show: Hybrid technology and Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA).

For more than 20 years Toyota has developed, improved and democratised its self-charging hybrid technology. At Paris this year, only hybrid vehicles will be exhibited – from the compact Yaris, to the latest generations of the Corolla, the RAV4 and the Camry.

Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) forms the basis of Toyota’s new product and powertrain offers. More than a platform, TNGA is an engineering and design philosophy. While improving the driving dynamics of cars, it also allows the development of exterior and interior designs with stronger emotional appeal.

The stand will feature the world premiere of the all new Corolla Touring Sports, alongside the full reveal of its Hatchback sibling. Thanks to the new TNGA-C platform, the new Corolla features an emotional design as well as offering the choice of two self-charging hybrid powertrains – a 1.8l or a brand new 2.0l.

The new RAV4 will debut as a European premiere, with a strong rugged design, the new TNGA-K platform and the new 2.5l self-charging hybrid.

After 14 years of absence, Camry is returning to Western Europe with a completely new model, also underpinned by the new TNGA-K platform and also with the new 2.5l self-charging hybrid.

At the Paris motor show 20 years ago, the Yaris made its world debut. To celebrate that anniversary, a special ‘Y20’ edition is available with the same stand-out Golden Yellow paintwork as the original car from 1998, but this time executed as a bi-tone including a contemporary dark grey roof and other dark grey accents. The other special edition of Yaris at the show celebrates Toyota GAZOO Racing’s successful rally season with a GR Sport version.

Besides car models, Toyota will showcase the latest safety technology development with Toyota Safety Sense featuring new features and functions, fitted on the new Corolla and RAV4.

At the dedicated Toyota GAZOO Racing area, the 2018 Le Mans-winning Toyota TS050 Hybrid LMP1 car will be on display together with the much-coveted Le Mans trophy.

We invite you to visit the new Toyota stand, experience our new digital press conference and learn about our new products in Hall 4.

In fitting style, there will be an initial production run of 1998 Launch Edition Y20 models featuring the same gold paintwork used by the first Yaris back in 1998, but with the contemporary twist of a bi-tone dark grey roof.

The full-production Y20 models will sit at the heart of the 2019 Yaris model range, replacing the current Mid+ grade and offering a strong value proposition for customers. Standard and bi-tone versions will be available, the latter matching silver, pearl or black bodywork colours with a new dark grey finish for the roof.

The exterior styling uses dark grey features to distinguish the Y20 within the Yaris line-up. These include, 16-inch grey and machined-face 10-spoke alloy wheels, and dark grey side mouldings, front grille, door mirror casings and fog light surrounds (with chrome detailing). The Y20 also sports a shark fin antenna, colour-matched to the roof, dark-tinted rear privacy glass and special Y20 badging at the rear.

The interior extends the dark grey theme, applied to the centre console, steering wheel inserts and new chequer-pattern fabric upholstery. Satin chrome air vent, audio speaker and meter surrounds and gear knob trim, black carpet mats with silver edging and Y20 badging on the instrument panel and front setbacks further enhance the quality feel of the interior.

New multimedia system

The 2019 model year Yaris’ new multimedia system is in tune with people’s desire to keep connected at all times. Connectivity has become an increasingly important purchase consideration for customers and the new package will enable easy smartphone integration and access to useful, popular apps.

Operation is via a simple central touchscreen; once connected, selected smartphone contents can be viewed and accessed using the screen. Functionality will be extended over time to enable access to other third party apps.

The system has a clear and simple hardware and HMI design. It can be used to provide smartphone-enabled route navigation and is able to respond to voice commands, via a new microphone and a dedicated button on the head unit, with least driver distraction. The touchscreen will also respond to familiar multi-touch gestures, such as screen flicking and pinching in/out.

The new GR SPORT takes the GAZOO Racing sporting influence to the heart of the Yaris range, delivering genuine fun-to-drive performance and sports styling. The GRMN-inspired modifications are focused on the suspension, giving the car engaging handling and responsiveness. It uses Sachs Performance shock absorbers similar to those fitted to the GRMN and a solid (rather than hollow) anti-roll bar to gain extra rigidity. The car has a sporting stance, too, with ground clearance reduced by 11 mm compared to the standard Yaris, and with the gap between wheel and body brought down by 18 mm.

The black 17-inch cast alloy wheels are exclusive to the GR SPORT, but are fitted with the same Bridgestone Potenza RE50 205/45R17 tyres as the GRMN model. Care has been taken to limit the increase in vehicle mass to less than 5kg by restricting the model’s feature options.

The GR SPORT is exclusively a five-door and will be available with the Yaris’ standard 1.5-litre hybrid electric powertrain.

The exterior styling follows that of the Yaris GRMN, including a black bi-tone roof with shark fin antenna and rear spoiler. There are piano black door mouldings, a black honeycomb grille, black door mirror housings and black front fog light surrounds. The headlights are unique to the GR SPORT, with black interior detailing. Dark-tinted rear privacy glass is also fitted as standard, together with GR badging. Red decals can be added to the front lip and the top line of the lower rear bumper to generate extra sporty visual appeal.

In the cabin the GR influence is highly visible, with GR-branded sports front seats, upholstered in black Ultrasuede with contrast white stitching and white inserts. When the driver presses the start button, the multi-information TFT display comes to life with the GR logo, setting the tone for a rewarding drive in store. To help make the most of the car’s handling potential, the GR SPORT is equipped with the same small-diameter three-spoke steering wheel as the GT86 coupe.

The sporting feel of the interior is enhanced by a black headlining and satin chrome trim for the gear shift lever and the air vent and door-mounted audio speaker surrounds. As a finishing touch, black GR-branded carpet mats with silver edging are fitted.

Inspired by Toyota’s return to top-flight motorsport in the FIA World Rally Championship, it shares design cues with Yaris WRC – the car that has already taken TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to the winner’s podium in the team’s first year of competition.

A development team based close to the famous Nürburgring focused on giving the car superb dynamic performance, whether driven on the track, or on public roads. Its performance quality is broadcast by its lightweight 17-inch BBS alloy wheels, larger brakes with visible white callipers, central oval tailpipe and a bespoke exterior finish that displays Toyota GAZOO Racing’s white, black and red competition colours. Under the bonnet is a 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine that produces DIN 212 hp/156 kW and benefits from a supercharger, a feature unique among B-segment performance hatchbacks.

The successful application of the supercharged engine helps the Yaris GRMN meet its development goal of high-level performance and maximum responsiveness to the driver’s inputs. Close scrutiny to weight-saving in the car’s design helped secure a class-leading power to weight ratio of 5.35 kg per 1 hp.

Its agile handling is supported by a reinforced chassis, stiffened and lowered suspension, Sachs Performance shock absorbers and a Torsen limited-slip differential – a feature rare among B-segment hot hatches. Large, ventilated front disc brakes with four-piston callipers supplied by ADVICS provide powerful, controllable stopping performance.

The Yaris GRMN’s authentic sports car quality is witnessed in a cabin that features bespoke sports seats, designed by specialists Toyota Boshoku to provide best-in-class support and body-holding, and a small-diameter steering wheel, taken from the GT86 coupe and modified to suit the Yaris’ unique interior styling, including a rally-inspired centring line.

Not only is this the first GRMN model to be launched in Europe, it is being built in Europe too, at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s Valenciennes plant (TMMF). Production has been successfully integrated into the same assembly line as the standard Yaris, with each GRMN car put together by a dedicated team comprising the factory’s most experienced technicians. Its limited production - just 400 examples are being produced for European customers – will add an extra dimension of exclusivity to its appeal as a truly performance-focused car.

TOYOTA GAZOO RACING

• The umbrella brand for Toyota’s world motorsport activities

• Aims to create ever-better cars that inspire people to drive, drawing on knowledge gained from motorsports competition and building excitement around the Toyota brand

• The ultimate test of motorsport provides an ideal environment for creating authentic, driver-centric cars

• Yaris GRMN directly inspired by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s return to the World Rally Championship with the Yaris WRC

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing was established in 2015 as an umbrella brand that brings together Toyota’s global motorsport activities.

The experience gained through competition is used to create cars that are focused on the driver’s experience at the wheel. Engagement in the extreme environment of motorsport, where new challenges are encountered and split-second decisions need to be made, inspires people to consider how new technologies and ideas can be used in the development of ever-better road cars.

Through motorsport and building cars that people love to drive, Toyota can also create fans and public enthusiasm for the brand.

GAZOO meaning and heritage

Today the name GAZOO links to the idea of a “garage,” something that resonates with the development of the Yaris GRMN at Toyota’s garage workshop base close to the Nürburgring. Its origin, however, is in a 1990s website, GAZOO.com, which brought together images and details of cars available at dealerships (in Japanese, gazo means an image or photograph). This provided a new channel of communication between retailers and customers, helping dealerships better understand customer needs and preferences, and reducing the lead time for vehicle deliveries. Many people in Toyota were initially cautious about the concept, but for GAZOO it marked the start of its fighting spirit to bring about change, a quality that still defines the brand today in its drive to build ever-better cars.

Motorsport activities

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing competes at the highest levels of international motorsport, notably in the FIA World Endurance Championship, a competition that includes the Le Mans 24 Hours, one of the world’s most famous and prestigious races. Its participation in the WEC has helped Toyota build its knowledge of how hybrid powertrains can operate in demanding environments, using the technology in its race cars with event and championship-winning success.

In 2015 Toyota announced it would return to the FIA World Rally Championship after a break of 17 years. Competing with the all-new Yaris WRC, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team scored success in 2017, their first season of competition, with wins on Rally Sweden and Rally Finland. Based in Finland, they are led by the four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen as Team Principal.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has also been a regular competitor in the VLN endurance racing series at the Nürburgring since 2007 (originally as GAZOO Racing), fielding a variety of different cars including the Lexus IS F and LFA and Toyota GT86. This participation has helped in the development of Toyota’s road cars and also given its employees the chance to work side by side with race engineers in the pit lane.

Toyota Five Continents Drive

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing also organises the 5 Continents Drive project to give Toyota employees the chance to immerse themselves in driving cars not on a test track, but in real-world conditions right around the globe, covering thousands of kilometres across all kinds of terrain and in all types of climate. This activity fits perfectly in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing spirit aiming at developing and ultimately create ever better cars. In fact, 5 Continents Drive project helps Toyota members to develop their professional and personal skills outside their usual working environment, by giving them a first-hand understanding of the different demands placed on Toyota vehicles in every part of the world. Having successfully completed drives across Australia, the Americas and Europe, the driving will go through Africa this year, through Asia in 2019 and culminate in Japan to coincide with the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and the Yaris GRMN

The Yaris GRMN is directly inspired by Toyota’s return to the World Rally Championship and the Yaris WRC race car.

It has been designed and engineered as an authentic performance hatchback, tuned by specialists to deliver a great driving experience, both on the road and on the track.

The Yaris GRMN development team liaised with their TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team colleagues to identify ways of creating visual and design links between the cars. Both are based on the three-door Yaris body shell and feature details such as a central, oval exhaust tailpipe, a red front lip and a rear diffuser. The Yaris GRMN also has an exclusive white paint finish with black roof and body decals in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s black, white and red competition colours.

INTERVIEW: TOMMASO GRASSI, MARKETING

Tommaso Grassi is Toyota Motor Europe’s Marketing Manager responsible for sports cars and has been closely involved in designing and executing the unique marketing programme for the Yaris GRMN.

What is the thinking behind bringing the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing brand to Europe?

“With TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Toyota is refining its products and improving the skills and engagement of its people through motorsport, which supports our ultimate purpose of making ever-better cars. But

the intention is not to limit TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s influence to competition activities; it gives us a great opportunity to link motorsport to our production cars and bring more excitement and passion to our

brand.

“Yaris is our best-selling model in Europe and now the Yaris WRC is our car competing in the World Rally Championship. What was missing was a link between the two, a role that’s been filled by the Yaris GRMN.

We took the opportunity to create a standard production car that reflects the pinnacle of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing execution, capturing what we are doing in motorsport and making it accessible to our customers.

What were the priorities for the car?

“We wanted there to be unique elements to the Yaris GRMN, including limiting production to just 400 units for Europe. It would also have exclusive use of the supercharged 1.8-litre engine – unique in its class – and use state-of-the-art components to achieve an excellent power to weight ratio and acceleration.

How did the marketing strategy progress, from announcing the car to it going on sale?

“There was an instant, positive response from the moment the first sketches were revealed, from the media, the public and our national sales and marketing companies that would be selling the car. The level of attention it received went far beyond our expectations and Made our task a lot easier. “We chose the concept of online reservations as it was appropriate for the very limited numbers we were building. It’s a unique product, so we wanted a unique process. The traditional approach is to wait for start of production, then host a dynamic product launch just before putting a car on sale, but because of the high expectations for Yaris GRMN, we opened the reservations process right after the Meet the Engineer event at Nürburgring in July. There was a great response, with most countries selling their allocation in around just 72 hours.

“Making it happen presented some challenges, but it struck the right note with customers, we needed to build excitement around the car and this was helped by the very positive media coverage we received. Our national sales and marketing companies have also organized private events for people who have made reservations, giving them the chance to drive the Yaris GRMN on some of Europe’s best racing circuits – Monza, Nürburgring and Silverstone – at an early stage.

From a marketing perspective, what have been the important learnings from this project?

“We have seen how translating the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing philosophy into standard production cars gives us the opportunity to target people that Toyota would not have been able to reach in the past. We see clear future potential for this. Europe is the world’s most competitive car market, which means plenty of pressure, but also great opportunities ahead.”

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

• Intensive development of vehicle dynamics

and performance at a dedicated Toyota facility close to the Nürburgring circuit

• Work undertaken by an expert team of European and Japanese technicians, including master

drivers who tested the car on the track and on local roads

• Project successfully moved from concept to production-ready vehicle in just two years

The Yaris GRMN has been extensively developed in Europe, the world’s most competitive and demanding market for B-segment performance hatchbacks.

Immediately after the first concept car was completed in 2015, a European-built prototype was shipped to a dedicated Toyota facility close to the legendary Nürburgring race circuit in Germany. Here a select group of specialists from Europe and Japan honed the car’s handling and performance, putting it through rigorous testing both on the notoriously challenging Nordschleife track and on a wide variety of public roads in the immediate neighbourhood, from ultra-fast Autobahns to tightly winding mountain routes. Toyota’s belief is that if a car can prove its capabilities in this environment, it can do so anywhere in the world.

The name GRMN itself declares the special efforts that have been invested in the car, standing for GAZOO Racing tuned by the Meister of Nürburgring. The hugely experienced team working on the car have also been able to draw on the experience gained by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing from its regular participation in endurance races at the circuit.

The development programme contained a number of distinct challenges, including a redesign of the exhaust system so that it emerged through the centre of the rear diffuser; management of engine cooling; securing excellent durability throughout; and control of vehicle weight.

INTERVIEW: STIJN PEETERS, TOTAL VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

Stijn Peeters is the senior European Technical Project Manager who has led and co-ordinated the Yaris GRMN R&D programme in Europe.

What involvement and responsibilities did Toyota’s European teams have in development of the Yaris GRMN?

“Europe has had no previous experience of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing brand outside motorsport, but in Japan there have already been five generations of GR-brand vehicles. This means that while a new Yaris (Vitz) GRMN is an evolution in Japan, for Europe it’s more of revolution. It was the first time we had been given the opportunity to engineer this kind of vehicle for mass production.

So, from a product point of view, it’s something completely different for us. Also, we have a much more competitive hot-hatch market in Europe than in Japan, so we had to be certain we could engineer something good enough to compete. For instance, having less than 200 hp from the engine simply wouldn’t make sense.

“We already make the three-door Yaris on which the GRMN is based at the TMMF factory in Valenciennes, so it was logical for the new model to be built there. The project was also planned by my division at Toyota Motor Europe, drawing on the great knowledge base we had built up about Yaris.

“The powertrain was another European idea. Toyota had been supplying the 2ZR engine to Lotus as a customer for some time and we realised that it could be suitable for use in Yaris’s small engine bay. I proposed investigating this option and working with Lotus to produce a feasibility study. While the full concept study was produced in Europe, our TMC colleagues in Japan supplied parts such as the brakes and suspension so we could set about producing prototypes. The project momentum was established in Europe, from the initial commercial idea, through the feasibility concept to product approval, a task accomplished in around six months. This was a complete departure from the usual project model where responsibility for these tasks would be taken by Japan.”

How did the project progress?

“The concept stage went smoother than we anticipated it would, thanks in large part to the fact people were inspired by the project and willing to go the extra mile to make it work. The teams showed great creativity and were able to call on their extensive product knowledge to ensure that the parts we needed to achieve the right performance were compatible.

“Right from the start, vehicle performance was an eye-opener and there was general agreement that this was one of the best concepts we had driven. Usually you get issues around mis-match of parts, roughness and responsiveness, but with Yaris GRMN that simply didn’t happen, giving us confidence that we could deliver exactly the kind of performance we wanted for the car.

“Beyond the vehicle itself, there were new challenges in manufacturing – TMMF is used to making cars that are designed to be produced in their thousands, but for Yaris GRMN it would be just seven cars a day for four months, within the usual production schedule and on the same assembly line as the standard model. It was the same for sales and marketing, they couldn’t launch a multi-million-euro campaign for just 400 vehicles. But at the same time it was an important exercise in building a new brand, it had to be different.”

How did the collaboration with Lotus work?

“There was an immediate advantage, as Lotus uses a large number of Toyota products in its vehicles, so it has built up a lot of knowledge about their performance potential. They gave us lots of information about their quality results and customer behaviour, and we learned a great deal from them about low volume, high-performance vehicle manufacturing.

“Toyota vehicles are typically developed to suit a wide range of customers, so it was very valuable to learn more about the specific requirements of people who drive performance sports cars. We were also given a great insight into working with a supercharged engine and managing low-volume production.

“Lotus was very happy from the start to supply engineering services because we have always had a good relationship with them.”

What valuable things have been learned from the project and how might they be applied to future work?

“We learned that we were right, that Toyota can make these kinds of products as long as the full organisation is behind them. I saw how passionate people were about this car, which was an important element in its success. It reflects on how TOYOTA GAZOO Racing wants to inspire not only the customers, but also the whole company, making us think again about just what we can achieve. Personally, I am very pleased that the team who can make a success of the Yaris Hybrid can also make a success of a sports model built on just the same platform.

“In terms of organisation learning, we found that we could integrate Yaris GRMN into the established production line without having to train the entire workforce on how to deal with the unique parts that need to be fitted. By building a small, specialised team, we found that a low-volume model can be almost hand-crafted within a mass-production operation.

“The Yaris GRMN is the start, there will be more products and everything we have learned so far will help us make them a success.”

POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE

• Unique-in-class supercharged 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine producing 212 DIN hp/156 kW and 250 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm

• A Toyota engine, manufactured in the UK, developed with Lotus and with final build and installation by Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF)

• 6.4 seconds for 0-100 km/h acceleration and 14.2 for 0-400 m

The heart of the Yaris GRMN is its engine, a unit that is unique in the B-hot hatch market in its use of a supercharger to boost performance.

The 1,798cm³ 2ZR-FE engine is built by Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) at its Deeside factory, with modifications carried out by specialists at the sports car manufacturer Lotus, also in Britain. Final engine build and installation is carried out by Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) at the Valenciennes factory. Each one of the 400 built for European customers bears a numbered plate to mark its special, limited production status.

With a 10:1 compression ratio and the benefit of Dual VVT-i intelligent variable timing for both inlet and exhaust valves, the engine delivers a maximum 212 DIN hp/156 kW at 6,800 rpm and peak torque of 250 Nm at 4,800 rpm. Driving the front wheels through a reinforced six-speed manual transmission, and with the significant benefit of a Torsen limited-slip differential, the Yaris GRMN posts a nought to 100 km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds, and a nought to 400 m time of 14.2 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h.

Weighing a modest 1,135 kg, the Yaris GRMN also achieves its performance target of a best-in-class power to weight ratio of 5.35 kg per 1 hp.

The supercharger, a Magnusson-Eaton unit, presented a particular design challenge, as only very limited space was available in the Yaris GRMN’s engine compartment. The packaging solution cleverly combines the supercharger, cooling unit and air intake in a single, space-saving stacked unit that can be neatly mounted on the front of the engine, within the required space tolerances.

Cooling is crucial for the engine’s performance, so an intercooler for the supercharger and an engine oil cooler are used, located in front of the radiator, together with a new, enlarged air intake to provide better engine breathing.

The engineering project also successfully introduced a new fuel injection system, using componentry originally designed for a V6 engine.

The exhaust has been fully reworked, a task that had to be achieved within very tight space limitations, and with careful attention to underbody heat management. The goals were to reduce exhaust back pressure and control emissions and noise levels, while also introducing a centre tailpipe design at the rear of the car – a feature shared with the Yaris WRC competition car. Success in this task has enhanced engine power and produced a rousing exhaust note. The design has also helped reduce the car’s overall weight.

CHASSIS AND HANDLING

• Reinforced chassis to increase body rigidity and help secure excellent handling and responsiveness

• Torsen limited-slip differential maximises grip under acceleration and delivers secure, balanced cornering while maintaining the engine’s high response

• Sachs Performance shock absorbers, stiffened suspension components and reduced ride height for a lower centre of gravity

Toyota specified the Yaris GRMN should be equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential – a feature rare among B-segment performance hatchbacks. This provides significant handling benefits, ensuring the car’s prodigious power is transferred smoothly to the road, and guaranteeing a better front/rear balance when cornering. Its effect is almost to eliminate understeer, keeping the car precisely to its intended line while maintaining the engine’s high response.

The limited-slip differential works with the larger wheels and tyres to achieve a high level of grip. The wheels are 17-inch BBS lightweight multi-spoke forged alloys which not only save weight but also provide sufficient space for larger brakes to be used. Fitted with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 205/45R17 tyres, they also contribute to the Yaris GRMN’s very precise steering feel.

The chassis has been strategically strengthened, most importantly with a lateral brace across the top of the front suspension towers. There is further front, centre and rear underbody bracing, with the reinforcement connecting the rear axle contributing to the car’s balanced handling.

The suspension is a development of the standard Yaris’ MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear designs. The stiffest components available have been used for the suspension and the subframe, and a larger, 26 mm diameter stabiliser bar has been adopted. Specially developed Sachs Performance shock absorbers are used with shorter springs that allow the car to hug the ground more closely (24 mm lower than the standard model) and give it a lower centre of gravity, thus reducing the degree of body movement. The Vehicle Stability Control has also been retuned in line with the car’s higher performance.

To achieve precision braking controllability, the Yaris GRMN is fitted with 275 mm grooved front discs with bespoke four-piston callipers, supplied by ADVICS. At the rear there are 278 mm discs.

The rack and pinion electric power steering has a 12.8:1 ratio; even though the Yaris GRMN rides on larger wheels than the standard Yaris, the returned steering has a rapid 2.28 turns lock-to-lock, with speed and control supported by the use of a small-diameter steering wheel, developed from the one used in Toyota GT86 coupe. Steering feel has been further optimised through revisions to the Electric Power Steering (EPS) control software to enhance feedback and linearity.

INTERVIEW: VIC HERMAN, VEHICLE DYNAMICS

Vic Herman is one of Toyota’s elite master drivers, tasked with testing the Yaris GRMN to the limit of its capabilities to fine-tune its handling and performance.

What is a Toyota master driver and what are they responsible for?

“The master drivers are Toyota’s main vehicle evaluators. There are only a few of us, working in Europe and Japan. We look at the vehicle as a whole, not just the suspension or the brakes, but everything that comes into play dynamically when driving a car. Of course you need good driving experience and be able to control a car at the limit at high speeds, but you also need to have a lot of experience in different areas of vehicle performance. It’s not mandatory to have motorsport experience, but for my own part, I’ve been competing since I was a kid and it’s through the sport that I’ve really learned the fundamentals that I use in my work.

“The Yaris GRMN is the first car that I have been in charge of as a master driver. I’ve worked for Toyota since 1999, initially looking at noise and vibration, then ride and handling, and now overall vehicle dynamics.”

How has the vehicle dynamics development programme been shared between Europe and Japan?

“A combined European and Japanese team worked at the Nürburgring on a wide range of elements – chassis reinforcements, coil springs, stabiliser bars, bump stoppers, steering system settings and so on. The work involved a number of loops of the circuit and driving on local roads. There was also a winter confirmation programme in Hokkaido, Japan, where we worked on the car’s agility and stability control on snow-covered roads.

“At the same time, we worked closely with our suppliers, such as for the limited-slip differential, to determine what amount of slip the unit should provide. Also, for the driver’s seat, I made several visits to the specialist seat manufacturer Toyota Boshoku to make sure we achieved exactly what we wanted.”

How did the Yaris GRMN differ from other projects you have been involved in?

“As this was specialised, low-volume model, there was a much smaller team working on it, which gave us the benefit of excellent communications with each other and with suppliers. For this kind of car, of course, performance was a much bigger priority, which was clearly understood by everyone. That meant it was much easier to align everyone’s efforts. Also there was more freedom, because the cost limitations were not as severe as they are with model produced in large volumes.”

How was the car’s performance measured against the competition?

“There are already quite a few excellent B-segment sports cars in Europe and I evaluated all of them in order to understand what the Yaris GRMN had to deliver. Most of them are fun to drive and they all have their own character, which is great. For the Yaris GRMN, we wanted it to feel like a genuine little sports car – uncomplicated and addictive to drive. It was important for us to engineer a car that is suitable for the road, but equally one that is in its element on a race track.

What were the most important qualities the Yaris GRMN had to deliver?

“The most important aspect is that the car is responsive and the driver can easily build confidence in the car – the precision of the controls, the consistency of its responses. The Yaris GRMN had to be capable of performing on the Nürburgring, even though most of the time it will be driven on public roads.

“The Nürburgring is an ideal tuning environment for what we wanted to achieve, because there are lots of bumps and uneven corners, just like you find on public roads. This helped us produce a stable, balanced suspension that remains composed and responds predictably to the driver’s inputs.”

What important things can be taken forward from this project?

“What we have learned from working with the Yaris GRMN we will be able to take into account on the cars we develop in the future, especially any further GRMN models. In particular, we were able to identify things we couldn’t achieve with the current Yaris platform and this intelligence is already being used in the development of the next platform. From a personal point of view, it was fantastic to see all the team members – we had not worked together before – gain trust and respect for each other and become a really tight team.”

BODY AND EXTERIOR STYLING

• Like the Yaris WRC, the Yaris GRMN is based on the current three-door Yaris hatchback

• Performance styling elements include rear wing-type spoiler, rear diffuser and central oval exhaust tailpipe

• All Yaris GRMN finished in white with a contrast black roof and body decals matching the colours of the Yaris WRC sporting livery

Like its World Rally Championship counterpart, the Yaris GRMN uses the three-door version of the new Yaris bodyshell, manufactured exclusive by Toyota Motor Manufacturing France at its Valenciennes factory.

Taking that as its base, it has introduced a number of dedicated exterior styling and performance features including a black, wing-type rear spoiler, a bespoke rear bumper design, a rear diffuser, a front grille with a dedicated honeycomb mesh and – again echoing the rally car’s styling – a central oval exhaust tailpipe within a trapezoid housing.

It also sports a special paint finish – white with red and black flash detailing on the bonnet and sills, directly echoing the competition livery of the Toyota Yaris WRC. There is also a contrasting black roof with a unique-in-segment black shark fin antenna.

Detailed touches that express the car’s special character include a front lip picked out in red and distinctive black ornamentation for the LED headlights, generating extra visual impact.

INTERIOR DESIGN

• Sports seats specially developed by Toyota Boshoku provide best-in-class support

and body-holding

• All-black premium interior colour theme, including Ultrasuede® upholstery and leather trim

• Small-diameter steering wheel adapted from the GT86, plus unique TFT display, aluminium sports pedal set, starter button and aluminium trim inlays

The cabin is equally an expression of the car’s performance focus, with front sports seats designed specifically for the car by the expert team at Toyota Boshoku. Finished in Ultrasuede® upholstery, they meet the development team’s goal of providing best-in-class body holding and support.

An all-black colour theme for the cabin emphasises the sporting quality, with black leather trim for the dashboard and door trims and a black headlining.

The authentic performance details include an engine start button and a small-diameter, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sourced from the Toyota GT86 coupe and further adapted to suit the special requirements of the Yaris GRMN, including a competition-inspired centring line. There is also an aluminium sports pedal set, aluminium trim detailing and a unique TFT display with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing-inspired start-up animation, reflecting the car’s special performance character.

PRODUCTION AT TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING France

• Production centre for all Yaris GRMN for Europe and counterpart Vitz GRMN models for Japan

• First time TMMF has integrated a limited production model into its standard vehicle production schedule, sharing the same assembly line

• New processes developed to accommodate parts specific to the Yaris GRMN, with work undertaken by a team of 20 specially trained members

The Yaris GRMN is built exclusively by Toyota Motor Manufacturing France at its Valenciennes factory. Toyota has successfully integrated production of a specialised, low-volume model into a mass-production environment: both the Yaris GRMN and the standard Yaris are manufactured on the same assembly line.

Valenciennes was a logical choice for production, as it is the only Toyota facility in the world that builds the current three-door Yaris on which the Yaris GRMN is based. However, accommodating the new model required significant challenges to be met, including how parts specific to the car – notably the 1.8-litre supercharged engine – could be incorporated without disrupting the factory’s three-shift production schedule.

The introduction of the Yaris GRMN also required a specialist team to be appointed, responsible for building each car. As it was not practical to train the entire workforce for the production of just 600 vehicles (400 Yaris GRMN for Europe and 200 Vitz GRMN for Japan), it was decided to call on the skills of TMMF’s most experienced members. A dedicated team of around 20 technicians has been trained to carry out all the processes that are unique to the Yaris GRMN, working across the different production shops, including weld, paint, plastics and assembly.

Yaris GRMN production is confined to one daily shift, with cars produced at a rate of seven per day.

Engine installation

One of the biggest challenges facing the production team was how to install the larger, 1.8-litre supercharged engine in the relatively small Yaris engine bay. If this could not be achieved, it would be impossible to build the car as planned on the same assembly line as the standard Yaris model – something that would have serious repercussions for the entire project.

A prototype was used in the Valenciennes factory to determine whether the existing assembly equipment could be used and whether the engine could be fitted to the car with the required 20 mm clearance from the body.

Project leader Guillaume Caron explained: “There were many points where the clearance was respected, but there were also some touch-points, so we focused on three areas to see if we could fix the issue. We challenged the designers to modify some parts of the engine, we looked to adjust the equipment we use for better accuracy in the installation, and we found a way of temporarily re-routing the wiring harness to make more space. It presented a big challenge to the designers, who worked with virtual design tools and even produced some 3D-printed replica parts to help work out what could be done.”

Quality control

From the start of the project, there were to be no compromises in the quality of the Yaris GRMN. Even though production numbers are small, it has had to meet the same high quality standards as any other Toyota vehicle.

TMMF has produced dedicated quality control tests for all parts that are specific to the model, including the additional welding points, braking system, chassis reinforcements, seats and precision application of the body decals. In the paint shop, a new process has had to be designed for the contrast black roof as the styling is different from the bi-tone finish used for other Yaris models.

At the end of the assembly process the final inspection requirements are also designed to take into account the Yaris GRMN’s special performance capabilities and include an intensive dynamic test of each vehicle to check areas such as engine performance, chassis handling and braking.

The project is a great source of pride for the TMMF workforce, as Guillaume Caron explained: “The project team were very proud to have been asked to work on this vehicle and they were very motivated to succeed. It gave us the opportunity to look at new ways of working and problem-solving. This feeling of pride has extended to the entire workforce, who have shown a keen interest in the Yaris GRMN and what it means for Toyota. They are also pleased to be building cars that will for the first time be exported from TMMF to Japan and Toyota’s home market.”

5-star vehicle safety rating in the latest 2017 Euro NCAP test results. This achievement is a clear testimony of Toyota’s commitment to car safety.

Toyota puts safety at the heart of its commitment to building ever-better cars, ensuring that the benefits of advanced technologies are not limited to high-end, high-specification models, but are made available across the board. True to this ethos, it has made Toyota Safety Sense a standard feature on all 2017 Yaris models.

This ensures that every car in the line-up is equipped with systems that can help prevent an accident happening, or lessen the consequences if an impact does occur. The package includes a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and, on models higher than Entry grade, Road Sign Assist.

2017 Toyota Yaris also benefits from a series of additional features designed for increasing passenger safety. Rear seatbelts feature force limiters and pretensioners; the head restraints have been redesigned to provide better protection against whiplash injury; and the shape of the curtain airbags has been revised. Additionally, child seat installation has been made easier with adjustments to the Isofix anchoring system and labelling.

“At Toyota, we believe that the best contribution we can make to improving road safety is to standardise functionality that can help the driver avoid an accident or at least minimise the consequences of it.” said Matt Harrison Toyota Sales and Marketing Vice President. “That’s why almost every Toyota car sold in Europe is now equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense system.”

*Not available on Entry grade

There are three essential elements at the heart of our products.

Quality & Reliability, Advanced Powertrain Technology with hybrid and Safety.

Speaking about quality, perhaps no model expresses it better than the Toyota Land Cruiser. With 65 years of heritage, it is synonymous with toughness and trustworthy performance in extreme environments. That's why it's known as "the only car that will take you almost anywhere and bring you back!"

I am proud to say that today it is getting even better.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the king of off-roaders,
The new Toyota Land Cruiser!

It is now the only vehicle in its class that uses a body-on-frame construction. That pure engineering quality defines its status as the 'king' among off-roaders. At Toyota, it is our philosophy to always make improvements. So we have developed a new Torsen locking differential for even better handling in slippery conditions.

In the cabin, we have a redesigned dashboard with superior quality trims and finishes, and even higher equipment levels. Ventilated front seats, heated rearseats, a heated windscreen and new Optitron instrumentation are just some of the features that have been added to the specification.

The lead engine is a 2.8-litre diesel that is fully compliant with the latest EU6 Step 2 emissions standards.

For Russia and other eastern markets, we will also be offering 2.7 and 4.0-litre petrol engines.

Safety is, of course, paramount. The new Land Cruiser comes with an expanded range of safety features and Toyota Safety Sense is also available.

Speaking about advanced powertrain, do you realise that it is now 20 years since Toyota started the electric revolution in the motor industry?

That is when we launched the first Prius, an electric car that doesn't have to be charged. It is interesting to see how the technology solutions we pioneered all those years ago...have today become a top priority for so many other manufacturers.

At the time, we said this hybrid car represented our vision of mobility for the 21st century. And we have been proved right! With Prius we defined a new powertrain architecture that we have constantly developed and improved.

Today, within the Toyota Group, we have 16 different hybrid vehicles on sale in Europe, making use of seven different hybrid powertrains. Worldwide, we are approaching eleven million hybrids sold, more than one-and-a- half million of these in Europe. More people than ever are making hybrid their first choice.

Our customers appreciate not just the tangible benefits it offers in terms of environmental performance and cost of ownership, but also the special driving quality it delivers, with smooth performance, silent running and a very low level of vibrations.

As a result, hybrids currently make up 40 per cent of our sales mix in total Europe and even close to 50% in Western Europe. That brings us close to our target of 50% hybrid mix in total Europe by 2020.

Hybrid is not a single solution rather a flexible powertrain architecture that can be adapted to suit different customer needs and driving scenarios.

For example, our Prius plug-in hybrid is based on our full hybrid vehicle architecture, but with a more powerful battery and with the addition of a mechanism for external charging. And by replacing the internal combustion engine of a full hybrid vehicle with a hydrogen fuel cell stack, you have a zero emission car, like our Toyota Mirai.

Even our future battery electric vehicles will be based on the same architecture, where you have an electric motor directly powered by a higher capacity battery.

With this kind of adaptability, hybrid is the backbone of our powertrain programme that will help us cut our vehicle carbon emissions by 90 per cent by 2050 compared to 2010. This is a key target within the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, our strategy for significantly reducing the impact of our products and our business on the worldaround us.

Continuing with hybrid, we listen carefully to our customers opinions. It is not just about hearing what they like about our hybrid technology. We also want to learn from them how we can make our hybrids even more attractive to more people.

It is exactly that kind of feedback that has made us realise there is an opportunity to introduce a higher performance hybrid powertrain. I can announce today that in future it is our ambition to provide our core models with a choice of two hybrid powertrains.

One will provide the traditional benefits of efficiency and fuel economy, like in our current offer. The second will build on this and add more power and a more dynamic driving character. We will reveal more details about these plans early next year.

The prospect of a more powerful hybrid system is part of the inspiration for the new Toyota C-HR HY-POWER design study. Revealed today here in Frankfurt, it symbolises the dynamic and fun-to-drive qualities that have helped make the Toyota C-HR such an instant success for us.

The design is the work of a team at ED², our European design studio. The aim of the designers was to give the Toyota C-HR an even more emotional, powerful look. A look that will resonate strongly with people who enjoy highly individual lifestyles.

Together with Quality and Hybrid, Safety is one of our core values. Our belief is that we should make the best technology widely available to our customers. Last year we said we would make Toyota Safety Sense available across our entire model line-up.

Today I am pleased to tell you that 92 per cent of the cars we are selling across Europe is already fitted with Toyota Safety Sense. That includes 100% of Yaris sales, in the highly cost-competitive B-segment.

Of course, the full benefits of Toyota Safety Sense will be realised as more and more cars are equipped with the technology. But already positive results are being achieved.

Our studies in Japan show that Toyota Safety Sense has reduced rear-end accidents by 50 per cent compared to vehicles not equipped with this technology. And this is not the end of the story! Our ultimate goal is zero accidents.

And the work of our Toyota Research Institute (TRI), in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Connectivity, will support the introduction of automated driving technologies, helping us to achieve such an ultimate goal.

Has our product strategy delivered? Yes (I believe so)! In the first half of this year our European Toyota group sales are up by 11 per cent compared to 2016. And that brings our Market Share to 4.9 per cent, 0.3 percentage points more than last year.

We expect to reach the one million sales mark by the end of this year. And this growth has not been to the detriment of our profit. Our quarterly financial results show an operating profit increase of 125 per cent compared to last year.

Key drivers of this growth are the successful launch of the new Toyota C-HR,which has achieved a segment share of 11% in just 10 months, and the outstanding sales of hybrid models up by 52 per cent year-on-year!

In our core models the hybrid mix is achieving very high levels 45 per cent on Yaris, 52 per cent on RAV4, 65 per cent on Auris and an exceptional 77 per cent on Toyota C-HR!

So, how are we going to sustain our business moving forward? We will maintain our sustainable growth by making ever better cars.

Hybrid will remain our key differentiator. We will expand our (hybrid) offer with more derivatives. And we will take care of our customers with an ever stronger focus on our "customer-first" approach.

Thank you for your kind attention.

I would now like to invite Koyari san, Chief Engineer of the Land Cruiser, to join me on stage for photographs.

Development at the Nürburgring

Right from the completion of the first Yaris GRMN concept in 2015, a prototype was sent to a Toyota facility close to the legendary Nürburgring race circuit in Germany. Here a select group of Toyota tuning specialists from Europe and Japan have honed the car’s handling and performance, working both on track on the famous Nordschleife and on the wide variety of roads found in the immediate neighbourhood – from ultra-fast Autobahns to tightly winding mountain routes. Toyota’s belief is that if the car can prove its capabilities in this environment, it can do so anywhere.

The name GRMN itself declares the special efforts that have been invested in the car, standing for Gazoo Racing tuned by the Meister of the Nürburgring. The team working on the car have developed their skills through participation in motor sport, working side-by-side with racing professionals, and through sports car development programmes. They have also been able to draw on the experience gained by Toyota Gazoo Racing from competing at the circuit.

Even since the car’s show debut in Geneva, work has continued to define the optimum shape of strategic areas of the bodywork. Every part has been painstakingly reconfirmed so that the Yaris GRMN is in perfect trim for the start of production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s Valenciennes plant this autumn. Production will be supervised by a team of TMMF’s most skilled members and each car will undergo a special quality control check, including a specific test drive.

Engine and performance

The heart of the Yaris GRMN is its 1,798 cm³ four-cylinder engine, a 16-valve unit equipped with a Magnusson Eaton supercharger and Dual VVT-i intelligent variable timing for both inlet and exhaust valves. The 2ZR-FE unit is built by Toyota Manufacturing UK and has been specially adapted for use with the smaller Yaris platform.

With a 10:1 compression ratio, it delivers a maximum 212 DIN hp (156 kW) at 6,800 rpm and peak torque of 250 Nm at 5,000 rpm. Driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, the engine enables nought to 100 km/h acceleration in around 6.3* seconds; top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h.

Installing the supercharger presented a particular challenge, as only very limited space was available in the Yaris GRMN’s engine compartment. The packaging solution combines the supercharger, cooling and air intake together in a single, space-saving stacked unit. Cooling is crucial, so there is an intercooler for the supercharger and an oil cooler, both located in front of the radiator, and an enlarged air intake to support better engine breathing. The fuel system has also been upgraded, using components from a V6 engine.

With kerb weight kept down to just 1,135 kg, the Yaris GRMN achieves the best power-to-weight ratio in its class at 5.35 kg per 1 hp.

Chassis and handling

To ensure the Yaris GRMN’s power is transferred smoothly to the road, the car is equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential. Chassis stiffness is enhanced with a lateral bar across the engine bay, between the front suspension towers, with further front and rear chassis underbody bracing.

Shorter springs allow the car to hug the ground more closely (24 mm lower than the standard Yaris) and these are teamed with dedicated performance shock absorbers, developed with Sachs, and a larger diameter (26 mm) front anti-roll bar. The suspension is a development of the Yaris’ front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam design.

To achieve razor-sharp braking controllability, the 275 mm-diameter grooved front disc brakes are fitted with four-piston callipers; 278 mm discs are featured at the rear. The callipers are a stand-out feature, painted in signature Toyota Gazoo Racing white and visible through the slim spokes of the alloy wheels.

The wheels are 17-inch BBS lightweight multi-spoke alloys which not only save weight but also provide sufficient space for larger brakes to be used. Fitted with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 205/45R17 tyres, they also contribute to the Yaris GRMN’s very precise steering feel.

Performance exhaust system

The exhaust has been fully reworked, a task that had to be achieved within very tight space limitations, and with careful attention to underbody heat management. The goals were to reduce exhaust back pressure and control emissions and noise levels. Success in this task has enhanced engine power and produced a rousing exhaust note. The design has also helped reduce the car’s overall weight.

Body and styling

Like its world rally counterpart, the Yaris GRMN uses a three-door version of the new Yaris bodyshell. It introduces a number of dedicated features including a black, wing-type rear spoiler, bespoke rear bumper design, rear diffuser, honeycomb front grille and – again echoing the rally car’s styling – a central oval exhaust tailpipe.

It also sports a special paint finish – white with red and black flash detailing on the bonnet and sills, echoing the livery of the Toyota Yaris WRC, and a black roof with a unique-in-segment black shark fin antenna. The front lip is picked out in red and the LED headlights are given extra visual impact with the addition of a black upper ornamentation.

Cabin design

The cabin is equally an expression of the car’s performance focus, with front sports seats designed specifically for the car by Toyota Boshoku, providing best-in-class body holding and support.

The authentic performance details include an engine start button and a small-diameter, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sourced from the Toyota GT86 coupe and further adapted to suit the special requirements of the Yaris GRMN. There is also an aluminium sports pedal set, aluminium trim detailing and a bespoke, high-grade combimeter with TFT display, designed to reflect the car’s special performance character.

Sales and pricing

Just 400 Yaris GRMN will be available to European customers, including both right and left-hand drive models. The price is €29,900, with market variations for taxes and other local factors.

* Subject to final homologation

Toyota’s unique 65 years heritage and QDR* Leadership is embodied by the world premiere of the new Land Cruiser. Featuring a segment-unique body-on-frame construction, the new Land Cruiser will take you wherever you want to go. And bring you back.

In addition, the Toyota stand will also feature the hot hatch Yaris GRMN and the new Auris Touring Sport “Freestyle”, which brings a higher degree of personalisation to the Auris line-up.

The Toyota Press Conference takes place at 08:50 on Tuesday September 12^th, on the Toyota stand in Hall 8.

* Quality, Durability and Reliability

This performance provides a strong platform on which to strengthen the Yaris’ established qualities and broaden its appeal to new and increasingly discerning customers in a highly competitive marketplace. Design, quality, performance and safety are key purchase considerations and have been the focus areas for Toyota’s programme of improvements.

Hybrid power remains a unique selling point for the model, a powertrain option that is currently leveraging more than 40 per cent of all Yaris’ European sales.

The Yaris has a strong European heritage, having been manufactured at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s Valenciennes factory since 2001. Production passed three million units in 2016, with cars not only supplied throughout Europe, but also sent for export around the world, including Africa, North America and Middle East markets in Asia.

A GLOBAL PROJECT, LED BY EUROPE

Toyota has handed much of the responsibility for shaping the new Yaris to its European operations, reflecting the strength and quality of the B-segment market in the region. Notably, this is the first time that changes developed for the Yaris in Europe will be adopted directly for its sister Vitz model, manufactured in Japan.

Going much deeper than a simple mid-life “facelift,” the €90 million programme sees the introduction of more than 900 new parts to improve the car’s design, dynamic performance and safety. The car’s new look, with significant changes to the front and rear styling, has been created at Toyota’s ED² design studio in the South of France.

A STRONGER MODEL RANGE

The new Yaris makes a stronger style statement, displaying new front and rear designs that give the car a stronger harmony of design and project a more active and dynamic look. The appearance is also more refined, with detailing in the bodywork and the cabin and new colour choices that enhance the model’s already high levels of perceived quality.

Changes to the interior promote a more modern feel, in particular with new colours, trims and improvements to the instruments and controls. All versions apart from the Entry grade model now feature a colour TFT multi-information display in the driver’s instrument binnacle.

Increased customer choice extends to a new 1.5-litre petrol engine, designed to meet more stringent Euro 6c emissions standards and future homologation requirements that address “real world” fuel economy. The new unit delivers 10% more power and torque than the previous 1.33-litre engine, yet also posts an improvement in fuel economy of up to 12 per cent.

Toyota’s commitment to making cars safer is reflected in all versions of new Yaris being equipped with Toyota Safety Sense active safety systems as standard, including a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist*.

Where the hybrid model is concerned, engineers have focused on achieving an even quieter ride, particularly under acceleration, introducing a raft of measures including new engine mounts, roll restrictor, front driveshafts and subframe. The design of the new engine mounts and adjustments to the shock absorbers and electric power steering have also improved the hybrid’s ride comfort and steering accuracy.

Toyota’s approach to the new Yaris is not just about improving the car, but also creating a stronger model range designed to meet the requirements and preferences of a wider and increasingly selective customer base. The new model is presented with a new grade strategy that targets distinct qualities, from value for money to contemporary style and elegance. New Mid and Mid+ grades are at the heart of the line-up, while the new Bi-tone models offer a wider choice of the contrast exterior paintwork finishes that were introduced to the range in 2016. The line-up also includes a new Chic grade, designed to give the car’s style and detailing a more elegant direction.

_{*Road Sign Assist not available on Entry grade}

DESIGN

• Design changes focus on more active and dynamic look with increased refinement

• Emphasis on horizontal lines and stronger three-dimensional architecture, emphasising a wide vehicle stance and low centre of gravity

• New front end displays “catamaran” shape architecture, with new headlight units, new grille designs and simplified treatment of the area around the central Toyota emblem

• New lower door mouldings emphasise new Yaris’ athletic profile

• New tailgate, rear light clusters and bumper

• New exterior colours and wheel designs

• New cabin upholsteries, trims and colour choices

• Revised combimeter incorporates new colour TFT multi-information display

EXTERIOR DESIGN

Design is a key consideration for customers in the B-segment and the team at Toyota’s ED² European design centre has focused on giving the new Yaris a more active and dynamic look while at the same time communicating a more refined direction. To achieve this, both the front and rear of the car have been given a new design architecture that presents a stronger three-dimensional quality, a greater emphasis on horizontal lines to express a wide stance and low centre of gravity.

The result is a more dynamic and emotional shape that amplifies the qualities of Toyota’s Keen Look and Under Priority design principles.

The redesign of the front of the car features a new front bumper that creates a “catamaran” shape with broad sections flowing down from new headlight units, flanking the wide, trapezoidal grille. The result is a more pronounced three-dimensional effect, and the sense of a wider, more planted road stance. A simplified design in the area around the central Toyota emblem adds to the overall dynamic impact.

The grille itself benefits from new treatments that contribute to the new Yaris’s more resolute look, with a honeycomb design for Bi-tone grades and arrangement of “stepped” horizontal bars for other grades that again delivers a more eye-catching, 3D effect. The integrated fog light housings either side of the grille have also been reworked with a more compact recess and a vertical line that arcs smoothly to follow the outer edge of the bumper – featuring a bright chrome trim detail on higher grade versions that’s also available as an option on Mid grades.

NEW HEADLIGHT DESIGNS

The new headlamp units further develop the Keen Look qualities in the frontal design, producing a new lighting signature that expresses confidence and individuality. Where LED daytime running lights are fitted, light guides create a forked frame around the main lamp that flows seamlessly into a single line; this line extends beyond the projector headlamp in a matching chrome trim element that extends towards the central Toyota emblem. This is available on higher grade models, while on Mid and Mid+ versions the distinctive forked pattern is created using slim chrome trim bars within the unit.

DYNAMIC PROFILE VIEW

The new Yaris’ side view helps generate added dynamism with more emphasis given to the axis line of the body from front to rear. Here, the new tailgate and rear light units contribute to the sense of extra length and tautness in the car’s profile. There is also a new lower door moulding which adds a sportier look by leading the eye neatly into the line of the new rear lamp cluster, finished in piano black or chrome, according to model grade.

The range of wheels for new Yaris includes three new designs: a 15-inch silver wheel cover for the Mid grade; a multi-spoke 15-inch alloy for Mid+ models; and a new 16-inch wheel with a machined face finish for the Chic hybrid model.

REVISED REAR DESIGN WITH NEW TAILGATE, BUMPER AND LAMP CLUSTERS

At the rear the added sense of refinement is reflected in a stronger central mass, created by a new tailgate design that extends the horizontal emphasis with new rear light clusters that extend from the rear wings onto the door itself. According to model grade, the rear lights feature LED stop and tail lights with light guides, asserting the new Yaris’ premium quality and, like the front lights, presenting a distinctive illumination signature.

Following the same concept as the new frontal design, a “catamaran” architecture has been created at the rear of the car with a new bumper design that harmonises perfectly with the lines of the tailgate, projecting the sense of a low centre of gravity and wide on-road stance. The powerful quality of this design is supported by a re-shaping of the area framing the licence plate and the addition of black garnish details in the lower bumper, edged with reflector and finished with a pattern of straked, horizontal lines.

Two new colours have been added to the range of paint finishes for the Yaris – Hydro Blue and Tokyo Red, taking the total to 10 different shades.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The focus for changes to the Yaris’ interior was to keep the look and ambience of the cabin feeling fresh and modern, introducing new upholsteries, colours and trim details and upgrading the instrumentation and controls to ensure excellent ergonomics and HMI (human-machine interface) performance.

The combimeter in the driver’s instrument binnacle has a new “bi-nocular” arrangement of twin analogue dials flanking a new 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information display, fitted as standard from Mid grade. Different information and vehicle data can be selected and adjusted using control switches on the three-spoke steering wheel, which itself has a new look with the addition of piano black trim inserts (on Mid grade and higher). A new chrome trim frames the combimeter, adding to the more refined effect.

Other detail changes include new propeller-style air vents, cool blue instrument illumination and a more streamlined, seamless execution of the multimedia screen and controls in the centre console, including new switches that are both neater in appearance and easier to operate.

NEW UPHOLSTERIES, TRIMS AND COLOUR OPTIONS

The new Yaris offers customers more choice in terms of interior finish, with new, co-ordinated upholstery and trim colour options that harmonise the cabin’s appearance.

The entry level model combines a grey instrument panel insert with new black cloth upholstery with a distinctive houndstooth check design for the centre seatback and cushion. For the new Mid grade the cloth has a smart black/grey gradation pattern and the instrument panel insert and upper door trims are in a toning dark grey with a soft-touch finish and animal grain pattern. On Mid+ models the same upholstery is used, with a black instrument panel and door trim.

For Bi-tone versions of the new Yaris, there is a dedicated interior treatment for each exterior colour choice: blue with blue/black, burgundy with red/black, warm grey with bronze/black and black with white/black. The colour detailing covers the instrument panel insert and door trims, plus inserts in the seatbacks and edging to the seatback and cushion bolsters.

DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE

• Yaris Hybrid remains unique proposition in its segment, with best-in-class CO₂ emissions

• Yaris Hybrid noise and vibration levels reduced with new engine mounts, roll restrictor, front driveshafts and subframe

• New-design engine mounts, shock absorber adjustments and retuned electric power steering improve Yaris Hybrid’s ride comfort and steering accuracy

• New 1.5-litre petrol engine with VVT-iE, offering more torque and power but higher efficiency and lower emissions than previous 1.33-litre unit

• Improvement in fuel economy of up to 12 per cent

IMPROVED HYBRID POWERTRAIN PERFORMANCE

Yaris remains unique in the B-segment in giving customers the option of hybrid power and the chance to experience the smooth, relaxed and intuitive drive Toyota’s world-leading technology provides, together with excellent fuel economy and best-in-class exhaust emissions (from 75 g/km CO₂). In developing the new Yaris, Toyota engineers listened to customer feedback to understand where improvements might be made to achieve an even quieter and more comfortable ride with better handling and steering accuracy.

THE REAL BENEFITS OF HYBRID DRIVING

Toyota is deploying a smart data-gathering tool to help European retailers demonstrate to customers how hybrid technology works and the real benefits it can deliver.

The Driveco box is already being used in seven European markets for Hybrid models including Yaris Hybrid and is set for pilot trials in nine more. An automatic driver log system, it collects data on test drive journey distances, times and average speeds, plus the proportion of the journey in which car operates in all-electric EV mode, with zero fuel consumption and zero tailpipe emissions. The information can be downloaded and viewed using a smartphone or tablet app, along with comparisons with previous performance, and with the levels achieved by other drivers.

Driveco has already logged data from 900 Yaris Hybrids and more than half a million kilometres of driving in all kinds of environments, from city centres to mountain routes. The combined results reveal that together the cars have operated in EV mode for more than 54% of the time, achieving real-world average fuel consumption of 5.0 l/100 km.

AN EVEN QUIETER DRIVE

Although Toyota hybrids are noted for their quiet performance, new Yaris’ engineers undertook a thorough review to ascertain where improvements in noise and vibration levels could be made, in particular to reduce any noise intrusion from the powertrain under acceleration.

As a result, a comprehensive range of measures has been introduced, including the installation of redesigned engine mounts, a larger engine roll restrictor, new front driveshafts and front subframe and a modified air box intake system. Additionally, the exhaust system has been adjusted with a new sub-silencer.

RIDE COMFORT AND HANDLING

The new engine mount design also helps the new Yaris Hybrid deliver a more comfortable ride, with less vehicle shake caused by engine movement when driving over uneven surfaces. Changes have also been made to the shock absorbers’ damping force and valve design to enhance comfort while maintaining handling performance.

The electric power steering has been tuned for less friction feel and smoother response to driver inputs. Cornering traceability has been improved by more closely aligning the driver’s steering effort with the vehicle’s response.

NEW 1.5-LITRE PETROL ENGINE

The new Yaris marks the introduction of a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to the range to replace the current 1.33-litre unit, developed in anticipation of future Euro 6c emissions standard and RDE (Real Driving Emission) homologation requirements. The new unit is being manufactured by Toyota Motor Industries Poland.

The engine is a member of Toyota’s ESTEC (Economy with Superior Thermal Efficiency) family, benefiting from new technical features that deliver better performance and a more enjoyable drive, while at the same time achieving a reduction of up to 12 per cent in fuel consumption, using the current NEDC test parameters.

In the new Yaris the naturally aspirated 1,496 cm³ engine develops a maximum 111 DIN hp/82 kW and peak torque of 136 Nm at 4,400 rpm. Its responsiveness ensures a comfortable drive both in urban traffic and on the open road. Compared to the 1.33-litre unit, it is 0.8 seconds quicker in acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h (11.0 versus 11.8), while at overtaking speed in 5th gear the improvement is more than a second, moving from 80 to 120 km/h in 17.6 seconds compared to 18.8.

Toyota’s world-leading experience in hybrid powertrain technology has proved valuable in addressing the challenges presented by the new Euro 6c emissions standard and RDE homologation cycle, witnessed in the new engine achieving a 38.5 per cent thermal efficiency value, placing it among the best on the market. This has been achieved by using a high, 13.5:1 compression ratio, adopting a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and extending the variable valve timing operation so that the engine can switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle to gain optimum efficiency in different driving conditions.

The higher compression ratio has been made possible by the combustion chamber design and new pistons, which promote a homogenous air/petrol mixture and rapid combustion. Cooled EGR reduces combustion temperature and also helps prevent engine knocking. Furthermore, the volume of reinjected inert gases allows for a reduction in pumping losses at low and medium loads, improving overall engine efficiency.

The adoption of a new variable inlet valve timing system – VVT-iE* – allows the engine to switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle (and vice-versa) in a fraction of a second. Controlled electronically, closure of the intake valve is delayed, reducing the compression phase and further helping reduce pumping losses (Atkinson cycle), and enabling a prompt return to the Otto cycle for better performance under high loads The phase shift of the exhaust camshaft is hydraulically controlled.

The engineers also focused on improving fuel consumption at sustained motorway cruising speeds, leading to the use – for the first time on a Toyota – of a water-cooled exhaust manifold. By limiting the gas temperature, this avoids the need for mixture enrichment to reduce combustion temperature at any motorway driving speed. As a result, both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are reduced.

In common with other Toyota ESTEC engines, the 1.5-litre unit benefits from the latest measures designed to reduce friction losses.

_{* Variable Valve Timing – intelligent Electric Motor}

SAFETY

• Toyota Safety Sense active safety systems fitted as standard to all new Yaris models

• The package includes Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist

• Rear seat belts with force limiters

and pretensioners

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE AS STANDARD

Toyota puts safety at the heart of its commitment to building ever-better cars, ensuring that the benefits of advanced technologies are not limited to high-end, high-specification models, but are made available across the board. True to this ethos, it has made Toyota Safety Sense a standard feature on all new Yaris models.

This ensures that every car in the line-up is equipped with systems that can help prevent an accident happening, or lessen the consequences if an impact does occur. The package includes a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and, on models higher than Entry grade, Road Sign Assist.

The Pre-Collision System uses a front- mounted laser to monitor the road ahead, warning the driver of an imminent collision risk and preparing the brakes to deliver emergency braking the moment the brake pedal is pressed. If the driver fails to respond to the warning, the system will trigger Autonomous Emergency Braking to slow the car to reduce the severity of any impact.

Automatic High Beam detects both the headlights of oncoming traffic and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, automatically switching between low and high beam to avoid dazzling other drivers, while maintaining the best possible illumination for night-time driving.

The Lane Departure Alert monitors lane markings on the road surface and helps prevent accidents caused by the vehicle moving out of its lane. If the Yaris begins to deviate from its lane without the turn indicators being used, the system alerts the driver visual and audible warnings.

Road Sign Assist helps ensure drivers are kept informed about key road warnings and commands, even if they have driven past a road sign without noticing it. The system recognises signs such as speed limits and “no overtaking” restrictions and presents them on the colour TFT multi-information display in the driver’s combimeter. If the driver exceeds the speed limit, the system will activate a warning light and buzzer.

To improve safety for people on board, the rear seatbelts now feature force limiters and pretensioners. The head restraints have been redesigned to provide better protection against whiplash injury and the shape of the curtain airbags has been revised. Child seat installation has been made easier with adjustments to the Isofix anchoring system and labelling.

A GLOBAL PROJECT LED BY EUROPE

• New Yaris project masterminded by Toyota’s European operations, including design, R&D, planning, production and sales and marketing

• European responsibility extended for the first time to include global product changes

Toyota Motor Europe teams have been responsible for managing the Yaris’ product lifecycle since 2011. This has included delivering the first major revision of the third generation model, together with annual upgrades and new derivatives, such as the Trend and Bi-tone versions, extending the model’s market reach and appeal. Their successful collaboration has reached a higher level with the introduction of the new Yaris, delivering significant changes to the car that will be adopted not just for local markets, but globally.

“We have made the Yaris more ‘European’ than ever,” says Senior Project Manager Serkan Karaman. “It has been a big challenge, but the experience we have gained since 2011 has improved the way our different functions work together. Year by year we have increased our capabilities and our knowledge and understanding of the market, while at the same time developing more harmonious and effective ways of working together internally.”

The project has involved multiple departments, including the ED² design centre in the South of France, product planning, R&D, production, sales and marketing. Their work has helped achieve year-on-year sales growth; in fact the Yaris reached a record high of more than 208,000 units and a segment share greater than 6.5 per cent in Europe in 2016, just as the new model was being readied for launch.

“It is usual for a new model to peak then gradually decline in sales volume, but the Yaris has continued to increase its market share. This is a great achievement, but it also put more pressure on us to find ways to bring more ‘newness’ and appeal to the car, something that was felt in every part of the process,” says Karaman.

European qualities for a global market

The essentially “European” quality of the new Yaris can be seen in in its new design, its higher levels of sensory quality and its dynamic performance. These are in line with Toyota’s desire to give the model more emotional appeal, generating a stronger attachment between the customer and their car, in addition to the rational qualities for which Toyota is renowned.

Sensory quality – what the customer sees, hears and feels – is very important in Europe where premium brands are strong and influential, so it has been a constant priority for the teams responsible for the Yaris’ lifecycle development.

“Toyota is renowned for being a rational brand, but we knew it was important to give the new Yaris a greater emotional appeal and better dynamic performance. To address these priorities you need to have a close understanding of the market, which is something we have worked hard to achieve,” says Karaman.

The responsibility for defining product changes that will be adopted globally (including for the Vitz, the Japanese version of the Yaris) has been welcomed by the TME teams and they are proud of their achievement. Success for the Yaris in the highly competitive European market signals that it has the potential to succeed elsewhere.

“This is the first time that TME R&D’s role has expanded to create products not just for Europe, but for Toyota globally. The new styling we have created for Yaris will be adopted in full in Japan,” says Karaman. “By developing cars in Europe, we gain better knowledge of the European market and, beyond that, are able to help Toyota in its global strategy to make ever-better cars.”

NEW YARIS GRMN

High performance inspired by Toyota’s motorsport engineering

The new Yaris GRMN is more than a simple hot hatch, it is a thoroughbred performance model that directly benefits from the engineering and tuning skills Toyota is developing in its motorsport programme. Powered by a new, 1.8-litre supercharged engine producing more than 210 DIN hp, it promises speed, poise and rich driver rewards.

THE NEW YARIS GRMN is an authentic, full-blooded and highly tuned hot hatch, inspired and influenced by Toyota’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017 with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and the Yaris WRC after a 17-year break from the competition. The WRC is the pinnacle of the sport and is sure to provide Toyota with new challenges and opportunities to further develop its people, explore new technologies, and experience various road conditions around the world, helping it in its pursuit of making ever-better cars.

The motorsport influence is displayed in dedicated performance features that broadcast the car’s special qualities, both in its exterior styling and its driver-focused interior. It also sports unique paint finish – white with red and black flash detailing on the bonnet and sills, echoing the livery of the thoroughbred rally car.

Toyota called on its European teams to design the Yaris GRMN and develop its engine and interior, while responsibility for the chassis and braking system fell to colleagues in Japan. Production will be handled by Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s plant in Valenciennes.

Although successful GRMN performance models have previously been sold in Japan, the Yaris GRMN is the first to be marketed in Europe, on sale from early 2018.

SUPERCHARGED ENGINE

The Yaris GRMN is unique in the European hot hatch market in being powered by a supercharged engine. This highly responsive 1.8-litre unit will produce more than 210 DIN hp, driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and enabling best-in-class times both for the sprint from nought to 100 km/h and acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h in fourth gear.

CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION

To ensure the engine’s prodigious power is translated into a genuinely rewarding drive, the Yaris GRMN has a reinforced chassis with additional bracing, including an extra bar between the front suspension towers.

It benefits from suspension tuned through extensive testing on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife with significant input from Toyota GAZOO Racing’s motorsport activities, plus a Torsen limited-slip differential for better traction and handling. Shorter springs allow the car to hug the ground more closely and these are teamed with dedicated shock absorbers developed with Sachs and a larger diameter front stabiliser bar.

The car is also equipped with highly efficient performance brakes, with large ventilated discs and four-pot front callipers.

SPORTS STYLING

The Yaris GRMN’s performance credentials are clearly broadcast in its styling. Offered exclusively in three-door form, it rides on BBS 17-inch multi-spoke alloys and is fitted with a bespoke, black wing-type rear spoiler.

The features included dedicated front and rear bumper designs, a rear diffuser and a distinctive centre exhaust tailpipe.

The cabin is an equal expression of the Yaris GRMN’s performance focus, with front sports seats designed specifically for the car by Toyota Boshoku, providing the best-in-class body holding and support.

The authentic performance details include a small-diameter, leather- wrapped steering wheel – shared with the GT86 – that incorporates a centre line mark to help the driver with accurate car positioning. There is also an aluminium sports pedal set and a redesigned combi meter that reflect the car’s special sporting character.

I know many of you travelled from all over Europe - and from around the world - to be here with us today.So I would like to thank you and warmly welcome you to Toyota.

Regarding our European sales results in 2016, you received our press release in January. It is on our media website, so you know how pleased we are with our progress.

Toyota Motor Europe outperformed the market last year, selling more than 928,000 units, a 6% increase over previous year. And we are set to grow even more in ‘17, as our January and February sales results prove.

More and more, we are differentiating ourselves in the European market with our wide Hybrid model range. Our Hybrid sales increased by more than 40% last year, and now represent one third of our sales in Europe.

Actually, official statistics show that Toyota and Lexus Hybrids are the main contributors to the increase of alternative powertrains in Europe.

You know that Toyota is not going for growth at any cost. It must be profitable and sustainable.

And it is! In the first 9 months of our fiscal year, our operating profit in Europe increased 18% from 378 Mil. euro to 446 Mil. euro.

Toyota has exciting times ahead! Not only because of the new products, but also for important initiatives linked to our company philosophy of contributing to the global society, beyond producing and selling quality cars.

Think of our partnership with the Olympics and Paralympic Games for example. It’s not a traditional sponsorship at all. And, we are not doing this for commercial purposes. Instead, we want to truly embrace the Olympic values within our Company values such as, “individual and collective effort”, “fair play”, “stretching ourselves beyond current capabilities” and “healthy competition”.

Because only through these values can we improve who we are as people, and as a company. As the exclusive Mobility provider of the Olympics and Paralympics Games for the next eight years until 2024, we will showcase clean and efficient mobility solutions like the hydrogen-powered Mirai, which supports both the Olympic theme of sustainability and our roadmap towards zero emissions, as committed in Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050.

We will also contribute with various advanced intelligent transport systems for urban traffic, including vehicle-to-vehicle communications. In other words, it’s Toyota’s way of giving back to Society.

But ladies and gentlemen, you will not have to wait for the Olympics to see the future. The first product I’m introducing to you is the concept of a new type of electric and automated vehicle. A vehicle that takes a different look at how we move around in towns and cities, that anticipates the future mobility needs of society and the modern generation. It’s smart, elegant and great fun to drive.

Ladies and gentlemen – the revolutionary 3-seater, i-TRIL! For i-TRIL we went to the South of France, to Nice where we have ED², our European Design Centre. We asked our Designers and Engineers to get out of their offices, to go and observe our target younger audience, and then to be ready to answer what will future generations expect from us?”.

The team worked hard, met, discussed and challenged each other. And this is their answer. Let me invite on stage Pierre Romeo, the i-TRIL chief designer @ ED².

(Johan)

Hey Pierre, this vehicle looks great! Congratulations. So what does the future have in store for us?

(Pierre)

Thanks Johan, in a word I think the future is all about variety, allowing mobility to become more specific to what people really want, rather than just a general, “one size fits all”.

If you’re living in the city, commuting, running the kids to school, shopping, but you still want to have a bit of fun, then this is the answer for you.

(Johan)

I understand. Tell us a bit more. Is this really a three seater even for grown-ups? I can’t believe it.

(Pierre)

Well, it’s basically a 1+2 concept, with the driver up front and the 2 rear seats offset either side. Plenty of leg space for everyone, and a completely open, panoramic view forward dedicated to the driver. It has an electric powertrain good for more than 200 km range in real life and is ready for the autonomous era. The whole interior is designed to create a welcoming fun and relaxed space for all the passenger.

(Johan)

What is it like to drive it leans in the curves. Have you learned from the i-ROAD concept?

(Pierre)

Absolutely, we’re building on the experience of the i-ROAD where even at low speeds you get a really exciting and completely new driving experience from the lean. In a word it’s fun, anytime, anywhere.

(Johan)

OK, thank you Pierre and congratulations to you and the team.

So, clean and sustainable, compact and dynamic, cool, agile – and fun! i-TRIL brings to life Toyota’s vision of the future urban mobility in Europe. But now to the exciting present! At the Paris Motor Show just a few months ago, Akio Toyoda announced we were stepping up our activities in motorsport. Not only to promote our brand,.but also to improve our internal skills and products. Since January this year, Toyota re-entered the World Rally Championship with two very special Yaris rally cars!

The Yaris WRC is born in our French factory, but grown and developed in Finland by the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Team led by Tommi Mäkinen. Following its outstanding performance in both Monte-Carlo and Sweden, the Yaris WRC has well taken its first steps, and ready to face the remaining 11 challenges ahead.

Through Motorsports, we’re committed to creating ‘Ever Better Cars’ for our customers on the road. Better to drive, better to own and better suited to our changing world. In this context let me introduce our latest product for Europe, the 2017 Yaris, here just behind me. With much improved interior sensory quality and refinement, ED² designed it with Europe’s specific flavor, while our European R&D engineers spiced up its driving dynamics.

The all-new ESTEC 1.5 liter petrol engine is capable to switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle (and vice versa) in a fraction of a second, delivering impressive torque and acceleration, alongside outstanding fuel economy. And of course, we always pursue the democratisation of safety for our drivers, passengers and all road users with the standardization of the acclaimed “Toyota Safety Sense” package, which includes among others an advanced Pre Collision System with Automatic Emergency braking.

The model you see here on stage is the hybrid version. And that’s no coincidence! It’s already been 20 years of Toyota hybrid! We just reached our 10 millionth hybrid sale globally! In the B-segment still no one else offers hybrid. Yet, Yaris Hybrid is the public’s favorite choice, accounting for 40% of all Yaris sales in Europe. Yaris is an important contributor to our overall hybrid sales mix of 32%, putting us firmly on track towards our goal of 50% hybrid mix by 2020.

Thanks to our proactive European lifecycle management, innovation, technological upgrades, re-designs and hybrid powertrain strategy, this 3^rd generation Yaris has been gaining segment share, keeping our existing customers satisfied and loyal, and attracting the hearts of many conquest customers.

This car is a winner on the track and for our customers!!

Now, ladies and gentlemen, before closing, we have one more surprise in store for you. Our customers, dealers, and even many journalists today present, have been asking us:

* When will Toyota come back with a great hot hatch?

* How to share a bit more of the super exciting WRC experience?

* How to make racing more accessible?

Today, it is my great pleasure to provide you the answer. Ladies and gentlemen, the Yaris GRMN.

(Johan)

Waoh! This car makes my heart rate go wild!! Ladies and gentlemen let me thank Tada san, the Chief Engineer, for such an emotional Yaris!

With its rigid body, its retuned suspension, its enhanced braking system, streamlined aerodynamics and sporty interiors, this super exciting Yaris takes our rally car credentials, and puts them on the road.

Its super-charged 1.8L petrol engine produces more than 210hp. That means it can hit 100km/h in a fraction over six seconds – the best acceleration in its class! And believe it or not, it will be produced in Europe, in TMMF in Valenciennes and exported outside Europe!

Now, we know the “B- hot hatch” segment is quite small in Europe. But this car is for those enthusiasts who look for unique driving excitement and, as we call it Waku Doki. It will be an exclusive product, produced in a very limited series, making it even more special!

So ladies and gentlemen, this is only the beginning, but believe me, it is the beginning of an exciting journey!!! Thank you very much for being with us today.

Let me now ask Pierre and Tada-san to join me on stage for a photograph or two.

Thank you again.

This performance provides a strong platform on which to strengthen the Yaris’ established qualities and broaden its appeal to new and increasingly discerning customers in a highly competitive marketplace. Design, quality, performance and safety are key purchase considerations and have been the focus areas for Toyota’s programme of improvements.

Hybrid power remains a unique selling point for the model, a powertrain option that is currently leveraging more than 40 per cent of all Yaris’ European sales.

The Yaris has a strong European heritage, having been manufactured at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s Valenciennes factory since 2001. Production passed three million units in 2016, with cars not only supplied throughout Europe, but also sent for export around the world, including Africa, North America and Middle East markets in Asia.

A global project, led by Europe

Toyota has handed much of the responsibility for shaping the new Yaris to its European operations, reflecting the strength and quality of the B-segment market in the region. Notably, this is the first time that changes developed for the Yaris in Europe will be adopted directly for its sister Vitz model, manufactured in Japan.

Going much deeper than a simple mid-life “facelift,” the €90 million programme sees the introduction of more than 900 new parts to improve the car’s design, dynamic performance and safety. The car’s new look, with significant changes to the front and rear styling, has been created at Toyota’s ED² design studio in the South of France,

Exterior design

Design is a key consideration for customers in the B-segment and the team at Toyota’s ED² European design centre has focused on giving the new Yaris a more active and dynamic look while at the same time communicating a more refined direction. To achieve this, both the front and rear of the car have been given a new design architecture that presents a stronger three-dimensional quality, a greater emphasis on horizontal lines to express a wide stance and low centre of gravity.

The result is a more dynamic and emotional shape that amplifies the qualities of Toyota’s Keen Look and Under Priority design principles.

The redesign of the front of the car features a new front bumper that creates a “catamaran” shape with broad sections flowing down from new headlight units, flanking the wide, trapezoidal grille. The result is a more pronounced three-dimensional effect, and the sense of a wider, more planted road stance. A simplified design in the area around the central Toyota emblem adds to the overall dynamic impact.

The grille itself benefits from new treatments that contribute to the new Yaris’s more resolute look, with a honeycomb design for Bi-tone grades and arrangement of “stepped” horizontal bars for other grades that again delivers a more eye-catching, 3D effect. The integrated fog light housings either side of the grille have also been reworked with a more compact recess and a vertical line that arcs smoothly to follow the outer edge of the bumper – featuring a bright chrome trim detail on higher grade versions that’s also available as an option on Mid grades.

New headlight designs

The new headlamp units further develop the Keen Look qualities in the frontal design, producing a new lighting signature that expresses confidence and individuality. Where LED daytime running lights are fitted, light guides create a forked frame around the main lamp that flows seamlessly into a single line; this line extends beyond the projector headlamp in a matching chrome trim element that extends towards the central Toyota emblem. This is available on higher grade models, while on Mid and Mid+ versions the distinctive forked pattern is created using slim chrome trim bars within the unit.

Dynamic profile view

The new Yaris’ side view helps generate added dynamism with more emphasis given to the axis line of the body from front to rear. Here, the new tailgate and rear light units contribute to the sense of extra length and tautness in the car’s profile. There is also a new lower door moulding which adds a sportier look by leading the eye neatly into the line of the new rear lamp cluster, finished in piano black or chrome, according to model grade.

The range of wheels for new Yaris includes three new designs: a 15-inch silver wheel cover for the Mid grade; a multi-spoke 15-inch alloy for Mid+ models; and a new 16-inch wheel with a machined face finish for the Chic hybrid model.

Revised rear design with new tailgate, bumper and lamp clusters

At the rear the added sense of refinement is reflected in a stronger central mass, created by a new tailgate design that extends the horizontal emphasis with new rear light clusters that extend from the rear wings onto the door itself. According to model grade, the rear lights feature LED stop and tail lights with light guides, asserting the new Yaris’ premium quality and, like the front lights, presenting a distinctive illumination signature.

Following the same concept as the new frontal design, a “catamaran” architecture has been created at the rear of the car with a new bumper design that harmonises perfectly with the lines of the tailgate, projecting the sense of a low centre of gravity and wide on-road stance. The powerful quality of this design is supported by a re-shaping of the area framing the licence plate and the addition of black garnish details in the lower bumper, edged with reflector and finished with a pattern of straked, horizontal lines.

Two new colours have been added to the range of paint finishes for the Yaris – Hydro Blue and Tokyo Red, taking the total to 10 different shades.

Interior design

The focus for changes to the Yaris’ interior was to keep the look and ambience of the cabin feeling fresh and modern, introducing new upholsteries, colours and trim details and upgrading the instrumentation and controls to ensure excellent ergonomics and HMI (human-machine interface) performance.

The combimeter in the driver’s instrument binnacle has a new “binocular” arrangement of twin analogue dials flanking a new 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information display, fitted as standard from Mid grade. Different information and vehicle data can be selected and adjusted using control switches on the three-spoke steering wheel, which itself has a new look with the addition of piano black trim inserts (on Mid grade and higher). A new chrome trim frames the combimeter, adding to the more refined effect.

Other detail changes include new propeller-style air vents, cool blue instrument illumination and a more streamlined, seamless execution of the multimedia screen and controls in the centre console, including new switches that are both neater in appearance and easier to operate.

New upholsteries, trims and colour options

The new Yaris offers customers more choice in terms of interior finish, with new, co-ordinated upholstery and trim colour options that harmonise the cabin’s appearance.

The entry level model combines a grey instrument panel insert with new black cloth upholstery with a distinctive houndstooth check design for the centre seatback and cushion. For the new Mid grade the cloth has a smart black/grey gradation pattern and the instrument panel insert and upper door trims are in a toning dark grey with a soft-touch finish and animal grain pattern. On Mid+ models the same upholstery is used, with a black instrument panel and door trim.

For Bi-tone versions of the new Yaris, there is a dedicated interior treatment for each exterior colour choice: blue with blue/black, burgundy with red/black, warm grey with bronze/black and black with white/black. The colour detailing covers the instrument panel insert and door trims, plus inserts in the seatbacks and edging to the seatback and cushion bolsters.

Improved hybrid powertrain performance

Yaris remains unique in the B-segment in giving customers the option of hybrid power and the chance to experience the smooth, relaxed and intuitive drive Toyota’s world-leading technology provides, together with excellent fuel economy and best-in-class exhaust emissions (from 75 g/km CO₂). In developing the new Yaris, Toyota engineers listened to customer feedback to understand where improvements might be made to achieve an even quieter and more comfortable ride with better handling and steering accuracy.

The real benefits of hybrid driving

Toyota is deploying a smart data-gathering tool to help European retailers demonstrate to customers how hybrid technology works and the real benefits it can deliver.

The Driveco box is already being used in seven European markets for Hybrid models including Yaris Hybrid and is set for pilot trials in nine more. An automatic driver log system, it collects data on test drive journey distances, times and average speeds, plus the proportion of the journey in which car operates in all-electric EV mode, with zero fuel consumption and zero tailpipe emissions. The information can be downloaded and viewed using a smartphone or tablet app, along with comparisons with previous performance, and with the levels achieved by other drivers.

Driveco has already logged data from 900 Yaris Hybrids and more than half a million kilometres of driving in all kinds of environments, from city centres to mountain routes. The combined results reveal that together the cars have operated in EV mode for more than 54% of the time, achieving real-world average fuel consumption of 5.0 l/100 km.

An even quieter drive

Although Toyota hybrids are noted for their quiet performance, new Yaris’ engineers undertook a thorough review to ascertain where improvements in noise and vibration levels could be made, in particular to reduce any noise intrusion from the powertrain under acceleration.

As a result, a comprehensive range of measures has been introduced, including the installation of redesigned engine mounts, a larger engine roll restrictor, new front driveshafts and front subframe and a modified air box intake system. Additionally, the exhaust system has been adjusted with a new sub-silencer.

Ride comfort and handling

The new engine mount design also helps the new Yaris Hybrid deliver a more comfortable ride, with less vehicle shake caused by engine movement when driving over uneven surfaces. Changes have also been made to the shock absorbers’ damping force and valve design to enhance comfort while maintaining handling performance.

The electric power steering has been tuned for less friction feel and smoother response to driver inputs. Cornering traceability has been improved by more closely aligning the driver’s steering effort with the vehicle’s response.

New 1.5-litre petrol engine

The new Yaris marks the introduction of a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to the range to replace the current 1.33-litre unit, developed in anticipation of future Euro 6c emissions standard and RDE (Real Driving Emission) homologation requirements. The new unit is being manufactured by Toyota Motor Industries Poland.

The engine is a member of Toyota’s ESTEC (Economy with Superior Thermal Efficiency) family, benefiting from new technical features that deliver better performance and a more enjoyable drive, while at the same time achieving a reduction of up to 12 per cent* in fuel consumption, using the current NEDC test parameters.

In the new Yaris the naturally aspirated 1,496 cm³ engine develops a maximum 111 DIN hp/82 kW and peak torque of 136 Nm at 4,400 rpm. Its responsiveness ensures a comfortable drive both in urban traffic and on the open road. Compared to the 1.33-litre unit, it is 0.8 seconds quicker in acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h (11.0 versus 11.8), while at overtaking speed in 5th gear the improvement is more than a second, moving from 80 to 120 km/h in 17.6 seconds compared to 18.8.

Toyota’s world-leading experience in hybrid powertrain technology has proved valuable in addressing the challenges presented by the new Euro 6c emissions standard and RDE homologation cycle, witnessed in the new engine achieving a 38.5 per cent thermal efficiency value, placing it among the best on the market. This has been achieved by using a high, 13.5:1 compression ratio, adopting a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and extending the variable valve timing operation so that the engine can switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle to gain optimum efficiency in different driving conditions.

The higher compression ratio has been made possible by the combustion chamber design and new pistons, which promote a homogenous air/petrol mixture and rapid combustion. Cooled EGR reduces combustion temperature and also helps prevent engine knocking. Furthermore, the volume of reinjected inert gases allows for a reduction in pumping losses at low and medium loads, improving overall engine efficiency.

The adoption of a new variable inlet valve timing system – VVT-iE** – allows the engine to switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle (and vice-versa) in a fraction of a second. Controlled electronically, closure of the intake valve is delayed, reducing the compression phase and further helping reduce pumping losses (Atkinson cycle), and enabling a prompt return to the Otto cycle for better performance under high loads The phase shift of the exhaust camshaft is hydraulically controlled.

The engineers also focused on improving fuel consumption at sustained motorway cruising speeds, leading to the use – for the first time on a Toyota – of a water-cooled exhaust manifold. By limiting the gas temperature, this avoids the need for mixture enrichment to reduce combustion temperature at any motorway driving speed. As a result, both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are reduced.

In common with other Toyota ESTEC engines, the 1.5-litre unit benefits from the latest measures designed to reduce friction losses.

Toyota Safety Sense as standard

Toyota puts safety at the heart of its commitment to building ever-better cars, ensuring that the benefits of advanced technologies are not limited to high-end, high-specification models, but are made available across the board. True to this ethos, it has made Toyota Safety Sense a standard feature on all new Yaris models.

This ensures that every car in the line-up is equipped with systems that can help prevent an accident happening, or lessen the consequences if an impact does occur. The package includes a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and, on models higher than Entry grade, Road Sign Assist.

The Pre-Collision System uses a front- mounted laser to monitor the road ahead, warning the driver of an imminent collision risk and preparing the brakes to deliver emergency braking the moment the brake pedal is pressed. If the driver fails to respond to the warning, the system will trigger Autonomous Emergency Braking to slow the car to reduce the severity of any impact.

Automatic High Beam detects both the headlights of oncoming traffic and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, automatically switching between low and high beam to avoid dazzling other drivers, while maintaining the best possible illumination for night-time driving.

The Lane Departure Alert monitors lane markings on the road surface and helps prevent accidents caused by the vehicle moving out of its lane. If the Yaris begins to deviate from its lane without the turn indicators being used, the system alerts the driver visual and audible warnings.

Road Sign Assist helps ensure drivers are kept informed about key road warnings and commands, even if they have driven past a road sign without noticing it. The system recognises signs such as speed limits and “no overtaking” restrictions and presents them on the colour TFT multi-information display in the driver’s combimeter. If the driver exceeds the speed limit, the system will activate a warning light and buzzer.

To improve safety for people on board, the rear seatbelts now feature force limiters and pretensioners. The head restraints have been redesigned to provide better protection against whiplash injury and the shape of the curtain airbags has been revised. Child seat installation has been made easier with adjustments to the Isofix anchoring system and labelling.

_{*with CVT - ** Variable Valve Timing – intelligent Electric Motor}

The motorsport influence is displayed in dedicated performance features that broadcast the car’s special qualities, both in its exterior styling and its driver-focused interior. It also sports unique paint finish – white with red and black flash detailing on the bonnet and sills, echoing the livery of the thoroughbred rally car.

Toyota called on its European teams to design the Yaris GRMN and develop its engine and interior, while responsibility for the chassis and braking system fell to colleagues in Japan. Production will be handled by Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s plant in Valenciennes.

Although successful GRMN performance models have previously been sold in Japan, the Yaris GRMN is the first to be marketed in Europe, on sale from early 2018.

Supercharged engine

The Yaris GRMN is unique in the European hot hatch market in being powered by a supercharged engine. This highly responsive 1.8-litre unit will produce more than 210 DIN hp, driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and enabling best-in-class times both for the sprint from nought to 100 km/h and acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h in fourth gear.

Chassis and suspension

To ensure the engine’s prodigious power is translated into a genuinely rewarding drive, the Yaris GRMN has a reinforced chassis with additional bracing, including an extra bar between the front suspension towers.

It benefits from suspension tuned through extensive testing on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife with significant input from Toyota GAZOO Racing’s motorsport activities, plus a Torsen limited-slip differential for better traction and handling. Shorter springs allow the car to hug the ground more closely and these are teamed with dedicated shock absorbers developed with Sachs and a larger diameter front stabiliser bar.

The car is also equipped with highly efficient performance brakes, with large ventilated discs and four-pot front callipers.

Sports styling

The Yaris GRMN’s performance credentials are clearly broadcast in its styling. Offered exclusively in three-door form, it rides on BBS 17-inch multi-spoke alloys and is fitted with a bespoke, black wing-type rear spoiler.

The features included dedicated front and rear bumper designs, a rear diffuser and a distinctive centre exhaust tailpipe.

The cabin is an equal expression of the Yaris GRMN’s performance focus, with front sports seats designed specifically for the car by Toyota Boshoku, providing the best-in-class body holding and support.

The authentic performance details include a small-diameter, leather-wrapped steering wheel – shared with the GT86 – that incorporates a centre line mark to help the driver with accurate car positioning. There is also an aluminium sports pedal set and a redesigned combi meter that reflect the car’s special sporting character.

The introduction of the new, significantly revised Yaris range is set to add further impetus to the success of Toyota’s small hatchback, thanks to a more dynamic exterior design and upgraded interior finish.

The Yaris range will also include a performance model in the form of the Yaris GRMN, inspired and influenced by Toyota’s return to the World Rally Championship in 2017 with the Yaris WRC. It will be unique in the hot hatch market in being powered by a supercharged engine - a 1.8-litre unit that will produce more than 210 DIN hp.

Another Toyota highlight in Geneva will be the world premiere of the i-TRIL Concept. Developed by Toyota Motor Europe (TME) in collaboration with the company’s ED² design studio in Nice, this electric motor powered concept showcases numerous innovative aspects of Toyota's research into ever better and more engaging environmentally-friendly mobility solutions.

Featuring a one-plus-two seating layout, Active Lean technology and capable of operating autonomously the i-TRIL Concept represents a viable alternative to A and B segment cars, other EV products, and motorcycles for those who still wish to have fun whilst driving even at slow speeds in the urban environment.

Last but not least, the Toyota stand will feature the full line-up of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing vehicles. By participating in highly demanding series such as the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Dakar, Toyota pushes its cars to the limit, in the pursuit of making ever-better cars.

Toyota’s on-stand press conference takes place on Tuesday 7 March at 12:30 in Hall 4.

The introduction of the new, significantly revised Yaris range is set to add to further impetus to the success of Toyota’s small hatchback. In fact, the car has continued to increase its share of the B-segment (supermini) market in Western Europe since the launch of the third generation of the model in 2011, rising to more than 6.5 per cent and 208,000-plus sales in the past year.

This performance provides a strong platform on which to strengthen the Yaris’ established qualities and broaden its appeal to new and increasingly discerning customers in a highly competitive marketplace. Design, quality, performance and safety are key purchase considerations and have been the focus areas for Toyota’s programme of improvements.

Hybrid power remains a unique selling point for the model, a powertrain option that is currently leveraging more than 40 per cent of all Yaris’ European sales.

The Yaris has a strong European heritage, having been manufactured at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France’s Valenciennes factory since 2001. Production passed three million units in 2016, with cars not only supplied throughout Europe, but also sent for export around the world, including Africa, North America and Middle East markets in Asia.

A global project, led by Europe

Toyota has handed much of the responsibility for shaping the new Yaris to its European operations, reflecting the strength and quality of the B-segment market in the region. Notably, this is the first time that changes developed for the Yaris in Europe will be adopted directly for its sister Vitz model, manufactured in Japan.

Going much deeper than a simple mid-life “facelift,” the €90 million programme sees the introduction of more than 900 new parts to improve the car’s design, dynamic performance and safety. The car’s new look, with significant changes to the front and rear styling, has been created at Toyota’s ED² design studio in the South of France,

A stronger model range

The new Yaris makes a stronger style statement, displaying new front and rear designs that give the car a stronger harmony of design and project a more active and dynamic look. The appearance is also more refined, with detailing in the bodywork and the cabin and new colour choices that enhance the model’s already high levels of perceived quality.

Changes to the interior promote a more modern feel, in particular with new colours, trims and improvements to the instruments and controls. All versions apart from the Entry grade model now feature a colour TFT multi-information display in the driver’s instrument binnacle.

Increased customer choice extends to a new 1.5-litre petrol engine, designed to meet more stringent Euro 6c emissions standards and future homologation requirements that address “real world” fuel economy. The new unit delivers 10% more power and torque than the previous 1.33-litre engine, yet also posts an improvement in fuel economy of up to 12 per cent.

Toyota’s commitment to making cars safer is reflected in all versions of new Yaris being equipped with Toyota Safety Sense active safety systems as standard, including a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist*.

Where the hybrid model is concerned, engineers have focused on achieving an even quieter ride, particularly under acceleration, introducing a raft of measures including new engine mounts, roll restrictor, front driveshafts and subframe. The design of the new engine mounts and adjustments to the shock absorbers and electric power steering have also improved the hybrid’s ride comfort and steering accuracy.

Toyota’s approach to the new Yaris is not just about improving the car, but also creating a stronger model range designed to meet the requirements and preferences of a wider and increasingly selective customer base. The new model is presented with a new grade strategy that targets distinct qualities, from value for money to contemporary style and elegance. New Mid and Mid+ grades are at the heart of the line-up, while the new Bi-tone models offer a wider choice of the contrast exterior paintwork finishes that were introduced to the range in 2016. The line-up also includes a new Chic grade, designed to give the car’s style and detailing a more elegant direction.

_{*Road Sign Assist not available on Entry grade}

DESIGN

• Design changes focus on more active and dynamic look with increased refinement
• Emphasis on horizontal lines and stronger three-dimensional architecture, emphasising a wide vehicle stance and low centre of gravity
• New front end displays “catamaran” shape architecture, with new headlight units, new grille designs and simplified treatment of the area around the central Toyota emblem
• New lower door mouldings emphasise new Yaris’ athletic profile
• New tailgate, rear light clusters and bumper
• New exterior colours and wheel designs
• New cabin upholsteries, trims and colour choices
• Revised combimeter incorporates new colour TFT multi-information display

Exterior design

Design is a key consideration for customers in the B-segment and the team at Toyota’s ED² European design centre has focused on giving the new Yaris a more active and dynamic look while at the same time communicating a more refined direction. To achieve this, both the front and rear of the car have been given a new design architecture that presents a stronger three-dimensional quality, a greater emphasis on horizontal lines to express a wide stance and low centre of gravity.

The result is a more dynamic and emotional shape that amplifies the qualities of Toyota’s Keen Look and Under Priority design principles.

The redesign of the front of the car features a new front bumper that creates a “catamaran” shape with broad sections flowing down from new headlight units, flanking the wide, trapezoidal grille. The result is a more pronounced three-dimensional effect, and the sense of a wider, more planted road stance. A simplified design in the area around the central Toyota emblem adds to the overall dynamic impact.

The grille itself benefits from new treatments that contribute to the new Yaris’s more resolute look, with a honeycomb design for Bi-tone grades and arrangement of “stepped” horizontal bars for other grades that again delivers a more eye-catching, 3D effect. The integrated fog light housings either side of the grille have also been reworked with a more compact recess and a vertical line that arcs smoothly to follow the outer edge of the bumper – featuring a bright chrome trim detail on higher grade versions that’s also available as an option on Mid grades.

New headlight designs

The new headlamp units further develop the Keen Look qualities in the frontal design, producing a new lighting signature that expresses confidence and individuality. Where LED daytime running lights are fitted, light guides create a forked frame around the main lamp that flows seamlessly into a single line; this line extends beyond the projector headlamp in a matching chrome trim element that extends towards the central Toyota emblem. This is available on higher grade models, while on Mid and Mid+ versions the distinctive forked pattern is created using slim chrome trim bars within the unit.

Dynamic profile view

The new Yaris’ side view helps generate added dynamism with more emphasis given to the axis line of the body from front to rear. Here, the new tailgate and rear light units contribute to the sense of extra length and tautness in the car’s profile. There is also a new lower door moulding which adds a sportier look by leading the eye neatly into the line of the new rear lamp cluster, finished in piano black or chrome, according to model grade.

The range of wheels for new Yaris includes three new designs: a 15-inch silver wheel cover for the Mid grade; a multi-spoke 15-inch alloy for Mid+ models; and a new 16-inch wheel with a machined face finish for the Chic hybrid model.

Revised rear design with new tailgate, bumper and lamp clusters

At the rear the added sense of refinement is reflected in a stronger central mass, created by a new tailgate design that extends the horizontal emphasis with new rear light clusters that extend from the rear wings onto the door itself. According to model grade, the rear lights feature LED stop and tail lights with light guides, asserting the new Yaris’ premium quality and, like the front lights, presenting a distinctive illumination signature.

Following the same concept as new the frontal design, a “catamaran” architecture has been created at the rear of the car with a new bumper design that harmonises perfectly with the lines of the tailgate, projecting the sense of a low centre of gravity and wide on-road stance. The powerful quality of this design is supported by a re-shaping of the area framing the licence plate and the addition of black garnish details in the lower bumper, edged with reflector and finished with a pattern of straked, horizontal lines.

Two new colours have been added to the range of paint finishes for the Yaris – Hydro Blue and Tokyo Red, taking the total to 10 different shades.

The new Yaris Mid+ grade gives customers the opportunity to add an extra dash of visual flair to their car with a Design Pack. This adds contrast colour accents to the lower front bumper and lower door sills in a choice of Hydro Blue, Fire Red and Lime.

Interior design

The focus for changes to the Yaris’ interior was to keep the look and ambience of the cabin feeling fresh and modern, introducing new upholsteries, colours and trim details and upgrading the instrumentation and controls to ensure excellent ergonomics and HMI (human-machine interface) performance.

The combimeter in the driver’s instrument binnacle has a new “binocular” arrangement of twin analogue dials flanking a new 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information display, fitted as standard from Mid grade. Different information and vehicle data can be selected and adjusted using control switches on the three-spoke steering wheel, which itself has a new look with the addition of piano black trim inserts (on Mid grade and higher). A new chrome trim frames the combimeter, adding to the more refined effect.

Other detail changes include new propeller-style air vents, cool blue instrument illumination and a more streamlined, seamless execution of the multimedia screen and controls in the centre console, including new switches that are both neater in appearance and easier to operate.

New upholsteries, trims and colour options

The new Yaris offers customers more choice in terms of interior finish, with new, co-ordinated upholstery and trim colour options that harmonise the cabin’s appearance.

The entry level model combines a grey instrument panel insert with new black cloth upholstery with a distinctive houndstooth check design for the centre seatback and cushion. For the new Mid grade the cloth has a smart black/grey gradation pattern and the instrument panel insert and upper door trims are in a toning dark grey with a soft-touch finish and animal grain pattern. On Mid+ models the same upholstery is used, with a black instrument panel and door trim.

For Bi-tone versions of the new Yaris, there is a dedicated interior treatment for each exterior colour choice: blue with blue/black, burgundy with red/black, warm grey with bronze/black and black with white/black. The colour detailing covers the instrument panel insert and door trims, plus inserts in the seatbacks and edging to the seatback and cushion bolsters.

The Chic grade models feature a smart, all-black interior, with part-leather upholstery.

GRADE STRATEGY

• New grade strategy tailored to appeal to different customer groups
• Entry grade models provide strong basic specification at a competitive price point
• Mid grade specification includes new colour TFT multi-information display
• Mid+ models deliver high value for money and feature additional style details, including 15-inch alloy wheels and side sills
• Bi-Tone grade targets younger, style-conscious customers, with contrast exterior paint finishes and toning interior trims and upholsteries
• New Chic trim focuses on added refinement with exterior chrome detailing and black interior finish, including part-leather upholstery

The new Yaris will be launched with a grade structure designed to maximise the car’s appeal to distinct customer groups. All versions will be available with the option of hybrid power.

The Entry model will be a highly cost-effective proposition, with a strong basic equipment specification. Like all other versions of new Yaris, it is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense.

Mid grade is positioned at the heart of the range as the expected best-selling version of the new Yaris, offering a high value-for-money specification that includes body colour-matching door handles and mirrors, chrome detailing in the headlamp units, leather trimmed steering wheel with piano black inserts, colour TFT multi-information display and dark grey, soft-touch instrument panel insert and door panels with an animal grain pattern. The new cloth upholstery has a smart black and grey graded effect.

Mid+ versions of the new Yaris add extra style elements, including a piano black paint finish for the front grille, front fog lights, a black instrument panel and door trims, new-design 15-inch alloy wheels and lower exterior door mouldings in piano black.

The new Bi-tone grade extends the dual colour scheme that was introduced for Yaris with great success for the 2016 model year. Now established as a model grade in its own right, it is styled and equipped to appeal to younger, style-conscious customers who value individuality. Available in a range of four body colours – Hydro Blue and Tokyo Red from launch, Glacier Pearl White and Platinum Bronze from summer 2017 – with a contrast black finish for the roof, pillars and leading edge of the bonnet, it is equipped with projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, a black honeycomb grille and 16-inch alloys with a black and machined face finish. Rear privacy glass, a rear spoiler, rear LED lights and piano black door mouldings are also included in the specification. In the cabin the instrument panel and door trims are specific to each body colour.

The new Chic grade adds elegance with design elements that amplify the new Yaris’s refined appeal, in particular to female customers. Features include a gloss black grille, rear LED combi lights, a rear spoiler, new-design 16-inch alloy wheels (for the hybrid version), a chrome belt line along the lower edge of the windows and a chrome finish to the door mouldings. The interior details include satin chrome bezels for the air vents and part-leather black seat upholstery.

DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE

• Yaris Hybrid remains unique proposition in its segment, with best-in-class CO₂ emissions
• Yaris Hybrid noise and vibration levels reduced with new engine mounts, roll restrictor, front driveshafts and subframe
• New-design engine mounts, shock absorber adjustments and retuned electric power steering improve Yaris Hybrid’s ride comfort and steering accuracy
• New 1.5-litre petrol engine with VVT-iE, offering more torque and power but higher efficiency and lower emissions than previous 1.33-litre unit
• Improvement in fuel economy of up to 12 per cent

Improved hybrid powertrain performance

Yaris remains unique in the B-segment in giving customers the option of hybrid power and the chance to experience the smooth, relaxed and intuitive drive Toyota’s world-leading technology provides, together with excellent fuel economy and best-in-class exhaust emissions (from 75g/km CO₂). In developing the new Yaris, Toyota engineers listened to customer feedback to understand where improvements might be made to achieve an even quieter and more comfortable ride with better handling and steering accuracy.

Driveco revealing the real benefits of hybrid driving to Toyota hybrid customers

Toyota is deploying a smart data-gathering tool to help European retailers demonstrate to customers how hybrid technology works and the real benefits it can deliver.

The Driveco box is already being used in seven European markets for Hybrid models including Yaris Hybrid and is set for pilot trials in nine more. An automatic driver log system, it collects data on test drive journey distances, times and average speeds, plus the proportion of the journey in which car operates in all-electric EV mode, with zero fuel consumption and zero tailpipe emissions. The information can be downloaded and viewed using a smartphone or tablet app, along with comparisons with previous performance, and with the levels achieved by other drivers.

Driveco has already logged data from 900 Yaris Hybrids and more than half a million kilometres of driving in all kinds of environments, from city centres to mountain routes. The combined results reveal that together the cars have operated in EV mode for more than 54% of the time, achieving real-world average fuel consumption of 5.0l/100km.

An even quieter drive

Although Toyota hybrids are noted for their quiet performance, new Yaris’ engineers undertook a thorough review to ascertain where improvements in noise and vibration levels could be made, in particular to reduce any noise intrusion from the powertrain under acceleration.

As a result, a comprehensive range of measures has been introduced, including the installation of redesigned engine mounts, a larger engine roll restrictor, new front driveshafts and front subframe and a modified air box intake system. Additionally, the exhaust system has been adjusted with a new sub-silencer.

Ride comfort and handling

The new engine mount design also helps the new Yaris Hybrid deliver a more comfortable ride, with less vehicle shake caused by engine movement when driving over uneven surfaces. Changes have also been made to the shock absorbers’ damping force and valve design to enhance comfort while maintaining handling performance.

The electric power steering has been tuned for less friction feel and smoother response to driver inputs. Cornering traceability has been improved by more closely aligning the driver’s steering effort with the vehicle’s response.

New 1.5-litre petrol engine

The new Yaris marks the introduction of a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to the range to replace the current 1.33-litre unit, developed in anticipation of future Euro 6c emissions standard and RDE (Real Driving Emission) homologation requirements. The new unit is being manufactured by Toyota Motor Industries Poland as part of a €150 million production investment programme by Toyota Motor Europe.

The engine is a member of Toyota’s ESTEC (Economy with Superior Thermal Efficiency) family, benefiting from new technical features that deliver better performance and a more enjoyable drive, while at the same time achieving a reduction of up to 12 per cent* in fuel consumption, using the current NEDC test parameters.

In the new Yaris the naturally aspirated 1,496 cm³ engine develops a maximum 111 DIN hp/82kW and peak torque of 136 Nm at 4,400rpm. Its responsiveness ensures a comfortable drive both in urban traffic and on the open road. Compared to the 1.33-litre unit, it is 0.8 seconds quicker in acceleration from 0 – 100km/h (11.0 versus 11.8), while at overtaking speed in 5^th gear the improvement is more than a second, moving from 80 to 120km/h in 17.6 seconds compared to 18.8.

Toyota’s world-leading experience in hybrid powertrain technology has proved valuable in addressing the challenges presented by the new Euro 6c emissions standard and RDE homologation cycle, witnessed in the new engine achieving a 38.5 per cent thermal efficiency value, placing it among the best on the market. This has been achieved by using a high, 13.5:1 compression ratio, adopting a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and extending the variable valve timing operation so that the engine can switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle to gain optimum efficiency in different driving conditions.

The higher compression ratio has been made possible by the combustion chamber design and new pistons, which promote a homogenous air/petrol mixture and rapid combustion. Cooled EGR reduces combustion temperature and also helps prevent engine knocking. Furthermore, the volume of reinjected inert gases allows for a reduction in pumping losses at low and medium loads, improving overall engine efficiency.

The adoption of a new variable inlet valve timing system – VVT-iE** – allows the engine to switch from the Otto to the Atkinson cycle (and vice-versa) in a fraction of a second. Controlled electronically, closure of the intake valve is delayed, reducing the compression phase and further helping reduce pumping losses (Atkinson cycle), and enabling a prompt return to the Otto cycle for better performance under high loads The phase shift of the exhaust camshaft is hydraulically controlled.

The engineers also focused on improving fuel consumption at sustained motorway cruising speeds, leading to the use – for the first time on a Toyota – of a water-cooled exhaust manifold. By limiting the gas temperature, this avoids the need for mixture enrichment to reduce combustion temperature at any motorway driving speed. As a result, both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are reduced.

In common with other Toyota ESTEC engines, the 1.5-litre unit benefits from the latest measures designed to reduce friction losses.

_{*with CVT}

_{** Variable Valve Timing – intelligent Electric Motor}

SAFETY

• Toyota Safety Sense active safety systems fitted as standard to all new Yaris models
• The package includes Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist*
• Rear seat belts with force limiters and pretensioners

Toyota Safety Sense as standard

Toyota puts safety at the heart of its commitment to building ever-better cars, ensuring that the benefits of advanced technologies are not limited to high-end, high-specification models, but are made available across the board. True to this ethos, it has made Toyota Safety Sense a standard feature on all new Yaris models.

This ensures that every car in the line-up is equipped with systems that can help prevent an accident happening, or lessen the consequences if an impact does occur. The package includes a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and, on models higher than Entry grade, Road Sign Assist.

The pre-collision system uses a front-mounted laser to monitor the road ahead, warning the driver of an imminent collision risk and preparing the brakes to deliver emergency braking the moment the brake pedal is pressed. If the driver fails to respond to the warning, the system will trigger Autonomous Emergency Braking to slow the car to reduce the severity of any impact.

Automatic High Beam detects both the headlights of oncoming traffic and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, automatically switching between low and high beam to avoid dazzling other drivers, while maintaining the best possible illumination for night-time driving.

The Lane Departure Alert monitors lane markings on the road surface and helps prevent accidents caused by the vehicle moving out of its lane. If the Yaris begins to deviate from its lane without the turn indicators being used, the system alerts the driver visual and audible warnings.

Road Sign Assist helps ensure drivers are kept informed about key road warnings and commands, even if they have driven past a road sign without noticing it. The system recognises signs such as speed limits and “no overtaking” restrictions and presents them on the colour TFT multi-information display in the driver’s combimeter. If the driver exceeds the speed limit, the system will activate a warning light and buzzer.

To improve safety for people on board, the rear seatbelts now feature force limiters and pretensioners. The head restraints have been redesigned to provide better protection against whiplash injury and the shape of the curtain airbags has been revised. Child seat installation has been made easier with adjustments to the Isofix anchoring system and labelling.

_{*Road Sign Assist not available on Entry grade}

To meet the requirements of the new Euro 6c standard and the new RDE homologation cycle, Toyota has benefited from its knowledge in the field of hybrid vehicles. In this new engine, this is revealed by a thermal efficiency value of 38.5%, putting it amongst the best. This performance is achieved by implementing a high compression ratio of 13.5, by adopting a cooled exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) and by extending the variable valve timing, which allows to switch from the Otto cycle to the Atkinson cycle.

The higher value of the compression ratio is achieved thanks to the design of the combustion chamber and the use of new pistons, which promote a homogeneous air/petrol mixture and rapid combustion. By reducing the combustion temperature, cooled EGR also helps delay the occurrence of knocking. Furthermore, the volume of reinjected inert gases allows the reduction of pumping losses at low and medium loads which improves the efficiency. Finally, the adoption of a new variable inlet valve timing system - VVT-iE** - allows the switch from the Otto cycle to the Atkinson cycle and vice versa in a fraction of a second. Controlled electrically, the phase shift of the intake camshaft allows a delay in the closure of the intake valve beyond the piston bottom dead centre, so as to reduce the compression phase which contribute to a further reduction in the pumping losses (Atkinson cycle) or an advance of opening to a switch back to the Otto cycle for a better performance at high load. The phase shift of the exhaust camshaft is controlled by a hydraulic system.

The engineers also focussed on reducing fuel consumption and emissions at sustained motorway speeds. Therefore - for the first time at Toyota - the new engine is fitted with a water-cooled exhaust manifold. By limiting the gas temperature, this allows to avoid the enrichment of the mixture necessary for reducing the combustion temperature at any motorway driving speed, and hence reduces consumption and emissions under these driving conditions.

Like all the new engines in the ESTEC family, this new 1.5 litre naturally benefits from the latest developments designed to reduce friction losses.

* _{with CVT transmission}

** _{VVT-iE = Variable Valve Timing intelligent system Electric Motor}

At the same time, the entire Yaris line-up will benefit from the similar design modifications, with a new front face, a new rear style and a modernised interior.

On top of those aesthetical considerations, many technical modifications have been applied in order to improve the overall comfort and handling of the car.

This will refresh the entire Yaris line-up and make the Yaris Hybrid version even stronger. Yaris Hybrid is still a unique offer in the B-Segment and accounts for more than 40% of all Yaris sales in Europe.

The 2017 Model Year update builds on the availability of a new Tokyo Red body colour and newly designed alloy wheels across Toyota’s European designed, engineered and built models: Yaris, Auris, Verso and Avensis.

Yaris

Built in Valenciennes, France, the Yaris has reinforced its presence in the B-segment over the last five years with sales increasing from some 144,000 units in 2011 to more than 160,000 units during the first 9 months of 2016.

Much of this ongoing sales success may be attributed to the Yaris Hybrid. The full hybrid model currently accounts for more than 40% of all Yaris sales in Europe; a percentage which is expected to increase even further.

For 2017, the new Tokyo Red body colour will be available on monotone and bi-tone versions of Yaris, the latter adding a metallic black 'wrap-around' finish to the roof, A-pillars, door mirrors, upper front wing and bonnet leading edge.

Auris

In 2016 to date, Auris Hatchback and Touring Sports models have seen their sales figures increase by 7% to around 125,000, of which 60% are hybrid sales, strengthening the position of Auris as the best-selling hybrid model in Europe.

In addition to the new body colour, 2017 Auris models will be available with new machined face 17-inch alloy wheels and sports seats with a new Black Alcantara upholstery.

From now, Toyota Safety Sense comes fitted as standard on all Auris Hatchback and Auris Touring Sports grades. The safety pack takes active safety and driver assistance to new levels, offering customers a Pre-Collision system (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Automatic High Beam (AHB) and Road Sign Assist (RSA).

Verso

The Toyota Verso has proved a consistently popular contender in the C-MPV segment, with over 730,000 units sold since its initial launch in 2002.

Tailored to meet the increasingly varied demands of today’s MPV customer, the Verso combines Toyota’s legendary Quality, Durability and Reliability with outstanding value for money. Within compact exterior dimensions, it boasts exceptional roominess, one of the best seat couple distances in its class, and the true multi-purpose vehicle versatility of Toyota’s Easy Flat seating system.

The seats of 2017 Verso mid-grade models feature a new, high quality upholstery incorporating a red thread and back rests embossed with a red patch to match the new Tokyo Red body colour. In addition, a new 17-inch alloy wheel design featuring a machined face finish is available.

Avensis

The Toyota Avensis has firmly established its credentials as a strong and attractive market competitor since its launch in 2015. Built and designed in Europe, for Europeans, it offers prestigious, dynamic styling, rich sensory quality inside and out and, thanks to precision chassis and steering engineering, a rewarding experience behind the wheel.

In line with the other updated core models, the 2017 Avensis is available with the new Tokyo Red exterior colour and newly designed 18-inch with a machined face treatment.

The 2017 Model Year will be available across Europe from December.