Japan: Toyota drops 3.5L V6 in Blade Master hatchback
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Toyota has released the upmarket version of its Blade hatchback in Japan. On sale as of yesterday, the Blade Master and Blade Master G come with the 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 as standard equipment. A substantial upgrade over the 2.4L four-cylinder offered in the lower Blade trim levels, the six pumps 276 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Fuel economy is rated at around 23 mpg (compared to 31 mpg for the 4-cylinder), and a sportier suspension tune and larger disc brakes are also part of the package. In terms of appearance, the V6 Blades get a mesh-look grille and model-specific badging. Why should we care, you ask? Well, the speculation has been that we'll get the Blade as the replacement for the existing Matrix, albeit with a different face. Hence, the V6 model is significant, as such an offering here in the US would put the likes of the VW GTI and R32 on notice, at least in terms of on-paper performance stats. A Toyota hot hatch in the states? We'll have to wait and see.
[Source: Toyota]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AlexP 1:38PM (8/02/2007)
I wonder what GM will be replacing the Vibe with, the car was rather popular in Canada (same applies to the Matrix, although Vibe customers are a lot more satisfied with their vehicle and service than Matrix customers), as a matter of fact there are 4 on my street... My street's somewhat strange, too, considering that my neighbors have two Rav-4s and a family down the street has two Matrix... Heh. :v
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why not the LS2/LS7? 1:43PM (8/02/2007)
Toyota, the fuel efficient company.
23mpg in a car that size and FWD. What a joke!
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AlexP 1:48PM (8/02/2007)
"Toyota, formerly know as", you mean.
rv 3:23PM (8/02/2007)
My mind boggles at the ignorance of your knee-jerk post. I honestly don't know of many other cars on the road these days that are getting MPG numbers like my friends' Priuses. Since Toyota makes a successful hybrid they can't make a low-milage, sporty car? Please explain. You think you found a hypocrisy, now what? Sounds like you watch a little too much FauxNews, eh? What MPG does your car get if you like judging Toyota so much? Thanks...
... 3:49PM (8/02/2007)
Sure, when toyota makes a fun sounding car, its just another gas guzzler from "the green company". But when they don't its "oh toyota makes such boring cars." Someone buying a v6 shouldn't expect fuel effiency.
why not the LS2/LS7? 5:25PM (8/02/2007)
I assure you it's not knee-jerk. I have considered my opinion on Toyota quite thoroughly, thank you.
Toyota wants to pretend they are a fuel-economy company whilst simultaneously selling environmental disasters like this and their SUVS. In each recent year they introduced more gas guzzlers than economical cars.
Toyota needs to stop pretending and admit that in their quest for #1 in sales, they gave up on their principles and started making cars no more remarkable for efficiency than the companies they wanted to overtake.
why not the LS2/LS7? 5:27PM (8/02/2007)
I assure you it's not knee-jerk. I have considered my opinion on Toyota quite thoroughly, thank you.
Toyota wants to pretend they are a fuel-economy company whilst simultaneously selling environmental disasters like this and their SUVS. In each recent year they introduced more gas guzzlers than economical cars.
Toyota needs to stop pretending and admit that in their quest for #1 in sales, they gave up on their principles and started making cars no more remarkable for efficiency than the companies they wanted to overtake.
Mmmhmmm 12:36AM (8/03/2007)
You're just lying now. The Rav4 has tops fuel economy in its class. The Sienna does too. The Tundra does too. So will the Highlander, it seems. And their engines are also significantly faster than the competition half of the time, as in the case of the Rav4 or Tundra.
Americans complain for years that there's no power in Japanese cars, and now that they're besting the domestics on both power AND fuel economy, all you can do is point to a Sequoia. Pathetic.
Derek Kreindler 1:49PM (8/02/2007)
It can't be a legitimate GTI competitor with a 6-speed automatic.
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John R 1:51PM (8/02/2007)
Well, they have to do something about their bland vanilla image. This, a Supra replacement and a new hachi-roku would be a good start. But, I'm not holding my breath.
Also, is 23 mpg a bad figure for a car that is estimated to make 276bhp?
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Mattias 1:52PM (8/02/2007)
I'm waiting to see the Peugeot 308 with the 2.2l Diesel and the 3.0l V6 Diesel. I hope they'll do it. It will give them a nice competitor to the C30s I5 Diesel...
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Mike 1:54PM (8/02/2007)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ah ah aha....BLADE MASTER G?!?!?!??!?!?!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH HAH AH AH AH AH AHA HA HA HA HA AH AH HA AH AH AH AH AH AH A!!!!!
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Alex Nunez 1:55PM (8/02/2007)
Word.
jgp 2:24PM (8/02/2007)
I think the thing I like most about the Japanese is their propensity for awesome strange names. The Toyota Blade Master G is right up there with the Toyota Carina ED Exciting Version and the horribly-named Mitsubishi Pajero (it's Spanish for "wanker"). Then there's Mitsubishi's idea of naming a cargo van the Delica Space Gear, which is awesome because it makes so little sense.
Steve 2:57PM (8/02/2007)
Blade master G, that has bad rapper name written all over it. Reminds me of an episode of “Married with Children”.
Stéphane Dumas 6:34PM (8/02/2007)
Wasn't also the name used for a character from Marvel Comics? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_(comics) Maybe they want to refer to the comic book character
500 12:17AM (8/03/2007)
Blade Master G -- I can just picture him now. A really bad Asian rapper, just trying a little too hard to be cool...
judd 2:16PM (8/02/2007)
What MPG is the VW R32 making? Seems like it is in the same neighborhood. You want a car to go fast enough, you're going to have to use more fuel. Probably regular unleaded fuel for those numbers too since it's the same motor as the Camry and RAV4.
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MikeW 2:55PM (8/02/2007)
The 2gr-fe is Euro mid-grade, 95 RON.
Toyota doesn't want to offend their underinformed customers. The RAV4 has an inferior exhaust system (compared to the camry/avalon), but it has electric power steering, so it almost balances out. RAV4,269hp 246ft-lbs, Camry 268hp, 248ft-lbs.
+this is the japanese rating system 280ps
The 3.2VR6 is 98RON
Kash 2:37PM (8/02/2007)
23mpg isn't bad at all. My WRX makes 227hp at the crank and gets me on average 22mpg when I do not drive it hard.
This "Blade Master" is AWD and a 6-speed manual away from being a HIT!
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