Toyota about to brandish the Blade, upscale Auris with 280-hp V6
Nihon Car & Bike is reporting that Toyota will announce an upscale version of the Auris in Japan called the Blade. The vehicle will reportedly have multiple trims, including one with a 280-hp V6 (!). The website happened to run across a parking lot full of Blades while test driving the Auris and snapped an album's worth of pics. From the pictures we can see the Blade has a different front end than the Auris that's sharper with a more traditional grille and aggressive lower front fascia. New wheels and clear taillights are also part of thep package. They report the Blades were being prepared to be shipped by sea, which means the car is destined for markets outside of Japan, though probably not the U.S. Score one for Nihon Car & Bike for the scoop, and we'll bring you more details of the Blade tomorrow after Toyota debuts the vehicle officially.
Follow the Read link to check out additional pics of the Blade, including a side-by-side comparison with a standard Auris.
[Source: Nihon Car & Bike]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lucas 11:20AM (12/20/2006)
Tune the suspension then send that sucker over here to play with the Mazdaspeed 3.
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Sid 11:22AM (12/20/2006)
Like a Mazda3 and Versa ran into each other. The hatch and bulging tail-lights is right off my Mazda3 hatch.
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judd 11:25AM (12/20/2006)
Why not the US again? Oh yeah, we only like bland stuff! I guess I am stuck with the Mazda or GTI.
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Ivan the Terrible 12:07PM (12/20/2006)
280 HP subcmpact 5-seaters eh?
Obviously gas prices are way too low not only HERE at $2.50 or even $3.50, but even in Europe at $6 or $7.
The silly cheapo hatch needs about 75 hp for most of its buyers, maybe 125 for those in a hurry..
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Andrew 11:29AM (12/20/2006)
High performance Scion, methinks?
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ron 11:31AM (12/20/2006)
Knowing Toyota it will be bland anyway in handling and etc. #3 because there has never been a bold Toyota.
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Eric B 11:42AM (12/20/2006)
Uh, ron, ever heard of the Supra TT??
Bold enough for you?
And save any Corvette related comebacks - won't wash.
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M. 11:48AM (12/20/2006)
Another competitor in South Africa's Hot Hatch War?
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Sue Esponte 11:45AM (12/20/2006)
It looks like an evolution of the Scion xA. Assuming it will meet US crash standards and the interior bits are up to par, there's no reason they couldn't add it to the Scion line-up!
Oh, and to #5. Are you nuts? Never a bold Toyota? The '67-'70 2000 GT was certainly a bold car. And, if you don't think the MkIV Supra (especially the twin turbo versions) were bold cars, then you are certifiable.
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Jay 11:47AM (12/20/2006)
#5--Yup. Never been a bold Toyota. Like the 2000 GT's. Like the Supra Twin-Turbos back in the 90's. Like the neat MR2's (first generation is my favorite) back in the 80's. Like my current Matrix XRS with 180 horses. Oh, and it beeps when you put it in reverse. It also starts first time, every time, with over 90,000 miles on the ticker, and if it's anything like the last two Toyotas I owned (an '83 Supra--a rustbucket but a blast--and an FX16), then it'll do so well over 200,000 miles with no more than regular maintenance. Ron (#5), you're an inarticulate opinionated moron who should learn to think before he speaks. If you can't do that, stay in 3rd grade where you belong and learn some restraint.
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Wyce 11:49AM (12/20/2006)
Looks like Toyota stuck a Nissan/Infiniti kit on the Auris. The nose and taillights are very similar to either the Nissan Skyline (Infiniti G) or the Nissan Fuga (Infiniti M).
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Opposite Lock 11:56AM (12/20/2006)
Ever heard m.y.1998 was over 9 years ago? And that toyota doesn't sell one moderately interesting car now?
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Chris 12:00PM (12/20/2006)
How about when Toyota reduced the pricing from one year to the next for the Supra's? I don't recall what year it was; I do like Toyota's but that was a tough move.
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Spencer 12:03PM (12/20/2006)
The Supra TT is wildly popular now because of it's unlimited tuning potential. Toyota's other engines aren't designed like this. The XRS/Celica GTS engine has too high of a compression ratio to turbo-charge and the supercharger for the TC is a joke. I think Sport Compact Car ran a disappointing 14.7 quarter mile with theirs and it had the boost turned up! What Toyota should do is a build a retro AE86 style car that is REAR WHEEL DRIVE. That feature alone would attract the performance crowd.
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M. 12:06PM (12/20/2006)
#13: There is one cool RWD car in Toyota's lineup. The Avanza:
http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3541395
Chop the top and supercharge the 1.6l and you have a great small racer. :-D
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M. 12:10PM (12/20/2006)
#15: Germans are keen on the 180hp Diesel Auris. It's economical and fast enough for german autobahns. I do not think a Blade would sell very good here.
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TheOne442 12:43PM (12/20/2006)
That looks good, do you think Toyota would send it here, I bet they do.
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pow 10:43AM (12/21/2006)
Toyota at it's best, copying Nissan Front ends.
Looks like Toyota has relized Nissan?Infiniti make cars people want and so why not copy then befor the chinese do so
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Ivan the Terrible 12:31PM (12/20/2006)
"16. #15: Germans are keen on the 180hp Diesel Auris. It's economical and fast enough for german autobahns. I do not think a Blade would sell very good here.
Posted at 12:09PM on Dec 20th 2006 by M."
Fully agree, i always propose the widespread adoption of Modern Diesels here in the US for most cars and esp. SUVS and Light trucks, for which the Diesel, with its huge Torque, is ideal for acceleration and towing.
This year, among 250+ models sold in the USA, only ONE is a diesel (the excellent Mercedes 320 CDI Bluetec). Not even VW is selling any. But this will soon change.
Even my excellent BMW 740iL (4.4 lt V8) 1998 I bought in 2005 for a mere $10.5k, would be just as adequate in its 730d version, if it were sold here, and have probably 30% less fuel consumption.
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djSyndrome 12:33PM (12/20/2006)
Jay: My XRS ('03 Cosmic Blue) just passed 90k last week. Two weeks prior it finally had it's first repair - a new clutch. Other than that, I've had absolutely zero trouble, and I drive it hard enough to require four new tires every year ;)
I have yet to find another hatch that offers the space, utility, reliability and mileage of the XRS. There are other cars that beat it in some of these categories, but none that can beat all of them.
When they killed it for the 2007 model year, it was just one more sad step towards Buickdom for Toyota. I do hope they release the Blade over here, or at least a 'hot' version of the Auris, but with their current direction I'm not holding my breath.
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