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Toyota GB launches Yaris SR 1.8
Click photo for gallery
Last week, Toyota Great Britain announced the addition of the Yaris SR 1.8 to the top of the division's Yaris lineup. With its 130-horsepower Dual VVT-i powerplant, it immediately becomes the spunkiest Yaris, capable of a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) run in 9.3 seconds while managing over 39 miles per gallon in the combined cycle. Not bad at all, especially when you consider that we can only get the Yaris with a 106-horse 1.5L engine.
The SR trim level adds 17" alloys and nice visual touches like foglights, a trailing-edge roof spoiler, sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and aluminum interior trim. Also note the better-looking Euro taillights. Shoppers desiring for the car's sporty looks but not the more high-zoot motor can opt for the SR trimmings on cars equipped with the 1.3L VVT-i (87 hp) and 1.4L D-4D diesel (90 hp). It's available in both three and five-door hatchback bodystyes, and the Yaris SR 1.8 is offered in continental Europe as the Yaris TS. Again, the people across the pond win. We get the impossibly heinous Yaris 4-door sedan with the smaller engine in the US market, while they get the much-better-looking 5-door hatch and a new topline powerplant? Sheesh.
[Source: Toyota GB]
Gallery: Toyota Yaris SR 1.8 (UK Market)
PRESS RELEASE:
SPORTING AND REFINED: THE NEW TOYOTA YARIS SR
KEY POINTS
* New SR 1.8 flagship mode for the Yaris range
* Powered by new 131bhp (133 DIN hp) 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine
* Suspension and steering tuned for sportier performance
* 17-inch alloy wheels and body styling kit with side skirts and rear spoiler
* Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control as standard
* On sale from 1 April, priced from £12,995 (three-door)
* SR grade also introduced for 1.3 VVT-i and 1.4 D-4D Yaris, priced from £10,695
The Toyota Yaris SR 1.8 is a new flagship model for the Yaris range, bringing sports performance, style and refinement to a car that's already a leader in terms of safety, equipment and comfort.
It is powered by a new 1.8-litre petrol engine with Dual VVT-i technology and benefits from sports-tuned steering and suspension, a striking body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels and a premium equipment specification that offers more in terms of comfort and convenience features than any of its segment rivals. Add to that Yaris's class-leading safety performance, with a five-star Euro NCAP adult passenger safety rating and a unique-in-class standard-fit driver's knee airbag and you have a formidable all-round package.
Beyond the SR 1.8, Toyota is also introducing new SR versions of the Yaris, powered by the 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol and 1.4 D-4D 90 diesel engines. These combine sports styling and high equipment specification with highly competitive prices and ownership costs.
New 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine
The SR 1.8 is the first Toyota to be powered by the new 1.8 Dual VVT-i petrol engine, equipped with intelligent timing for both intake and exhaust valves to deliver smoother performance and greater efficiency. Maximum output of 131bhp (133 DIN hp) is achieved at 6,000rpm, with 173Nm of torque delivered at 4,400rpm. This gives nought to 62mph acceleration in 9.3 seconds, with combined cycle fuel economy of 39.2mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions are 170g/km, placing the SR 1.8 in Band E for Vehicle Excise Duty.
Sports chassis, suspension and steering
The SR 1.8's chassis and suspension are tuned for good handling and ride comfort. The suspension has also been lowered for a more rewarding driving experience and the Electric Power Steering has been adjusted for quicker and more precise response to driver input. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) are provided as standard, in addition to ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
Design and equipment
The Yaris SR 1.8 is available in both three and five-door body styles. To complement its sportier performance, it features a rear roof spoiler, side skirts, chrome sports exhaust, LED tail lights and deeper front and rear bumpers, the front fitted with integrated fog lights. The interior is equipped with sports seats and an upholstery fabric that's exclusive to the model. There's also a leather trimmed steering wheel, chrome trim detailing and an amber-lit Optitron instrument display with analogue read-outs.
Building on the high specification of the existing Yaris T Spirit model, the SR 1.8 gains exclusive-design 17-inch alloy wheels, plus VSC with TRC and sports pedals. It also features climate control air conditioning with pollen filter, Smart Entry and Start system, six-speaker audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA file playing function (from disc), a reach and rake-adjustable steering column, electrically adjustable door mirrors and front fog lamps.
High equipment, high value SR grade models
The arrival of the SR 1.8 gives the Yaris a new sporty dimension and its impact is spreading further into the model range with the introduction of other new SR versions powered by Toyota's 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol and 1.4-litre D-4D 90 diesel engines. Launched at the same time as the SR 1.8, these feature models enable customers to enjoy sports styling and high equipment specification with competitive on-the-road prices and ownership costs.
The SR 1.3 and 1.4 D-4D match the current T Spirit specification with the addition of turbine-style 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust finisher, front scuff plates and brushed alloy gear knob. Other high quality features include the Smart Entry and Start system, climate control air conditioning and front fog lamps. In spite of all these extra features, the SR models are £615 cheaper than their T Spirit equivalents.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim UF 9:40AM (3/20/2007)
We do get the three door hatch, though...
The 1.8L is capable of 100hp/L, just have to tune it out to the spec from the 1.8L in the Celica GTs. for a while there was talk of some forced induction bolt on from TRD (Toyota Racing Development). 220hp Yaris that weighs not much more than 2500lbs? Yes Please!
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Juan 9:49AM (3/20/2007)
The 2ZZ-GE that makes 100hp/L in the Celica GT-S has a different bore & stroke than the economy-minded 1ZZ-FE that is probably in the Yaris. Still, the 1ZZ is tunable.
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djSyndrome 10:21AM (3/20/2007)
As far as I can tell, the 2ZZ engine is no longer being manufactured by Toyota. It was killed in 2006, along with the Matrix and Corolla XRS models here in North America.
That said, the 2ZZ would have been great in a little car like this. It moves my 2,700 lb. Matrix pretty well - I can only imagine what it could do with five hundred fewer pounds to push around.
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Alex Nunez 10:13AM (3/20/2007)
@Tim UF,
Y, and the 3-door is definitely a better-looking car, but the 5-door is totally practical and just as good-looking. Plus, our friends in Canada get it but not us. Lame.
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Rick Lyon 10:35AM (3/20/2007)
WHY DON'T WE GET THAT 5 DOOR HERE?!?!?! I swear, the more Euro and Asian models I see of various car makers makes me mad. Then add to that list the vehicle MODELS that either get stripped, dipped and spit on before coming to the states or don't even make it, and I lose it. I mean come on, the US market is only different BECAUSE CAR MAKERS MAKE IT DIFFERENT! We have 2 Yaris' but the 5 door version won't sell here?! Come on. We get crappy Pontiacs, while Australia gets Holdens!!!??? We get Fusions, while Euro get Mondeos!!?!? Come on this is getting quite insulting.
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Nellydesign 10:26AM (3/20/2007)
One of the only vehicles Toyota makes that I actually like to look at. Great stance with the bigger wheels.
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djSyndrome 11:49AM (3/20/2007)
"WHY DON'T WE GET THAT 5 DOOR HERE?!?!?!"
Because we get the Scion xA (soon to be the xD) instead. It's the same reason the Celica was killed off in North America before the rest of the world - it was failing against the tC.
Horrible reason, I know, but Toyota apparently doesn't want to compete with itself. With the xB now larger and containing the 2.4L engine, I wouldn't be surprised if the Matrix dies this year as well.
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Joe 11:47AM (3/20/2007)
We will get it. What do you think the Scion xD is?
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purecoda 2:54PM (3/20/2007)
Rick - I couldn't agree more. Sometimes I feel like a European trapped in an American's body. I'd rather have the cars they have, the food they eat, the clothes they wear, BBC over CNN... Most of it you can find here if you know where to look - except with the cars. I can't tell you how many times I've seen something released in the UK and thought, I'd buy that, and then saw dozens of releases here by Ford and GM stateside and wanted to vomit.
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mirko 1:58PM (3/20/2007)
The real question is: Why don't they bring over the diesel Yaris? Do they fear it eating into Prius sales, with better fuel economy at a lower price point?
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Benjamin Levy 1:53PM (3/20/2007)
I thought the Lotus Elise still used the 2ZZ-GE engine.
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Rick Lyon 4:07PM (3/20/2007)
The xb?!!? THat huge ugly box? That new box that is now longer to give you more ugly box? The xD is just a bigger xA or smaller Matrix depending on your vantage point and is still ugly. The Yaris looks nice, but the 5 door would be the only version I would buy. The Scions sans the coupe are just hideous.
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Jim 2:35PM (3/20/2007)
mirko
It's about price and emission laws.
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Mirko 2:44PM (3/20/2007)
I'm not buying that one. you could bluetec it to hell and back, and still be at least 30% cheaper than a Prius.
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stefan 5:21PM (3/20/2007)
Japan is geting some thing even better the fitz rs with a 1.5 liter turbo making 150bhp.
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sp 7:10PM (3/20/2007)
First of all, it is brand new ZR engine with dual VVTi, not old ZZ series.
2nd, Yaris diesel is car that has 3 sizes smaller interior than Prius, and diesel Yaris would cost only 20% less than Prius.
3rd. As every other diesel in the world, it would not pass California clean air regulations.
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KJC 7:27PM (3/20/2007)
I hope Toyota brings this to version to the U.S.
Yaris SR could be Toyota's mini fighter.
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AladdinSane 10:47PM (3/20/2007)
Hi all...
I wonder if anyone will read what I have to say, but I'm still giving it a go:
If Toyota gave us a break and offered this version of the Yaris I certainly would buy it on the spot.
I favor the 3dr liftback, but then I'm speaking for myself. Does anyone think that this version is available with EITHER 5sp or automatic transmission (CVT perhaps)? Just wondering...
TOYOTA: WAKE UP!!!
Cheers-
Peace!
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DPC car videos 5:35AM (3/21/2007)
Great car for the money. Test drove one and it is worth every penny.
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Spule 4 7:42PM (3/21/2007)
Hey Toyota-
My Honda fit is treating me well with 22k on the clock already since I bought it last April. I would be in a Yaris if you brought the five door here in the US.
And no thanks on the Scion, I have owned enough orpahn cars not to get stuck again.
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