SEMA 2007: 2008 Toyota Matrix Rally concept
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 31st 2007 at 2:06PM 
UPDATE: Video of the Corolla and Matrix tuners is available after the jump
Click the image above for a gallery of high-res pics.
Toyota unleashed the new Matrix in a Halloween-infused joint press conference here in Vegas. The production version of the new (Corolla) Matrix debuted across the street, but we were on hand to see the Rally version unveiled on the floor at SEMA. The new design lends itself well to some modifications, but like most of the vehicles here at the show, it's more about flash than function. The front-mount intercooler helps feed a supercharged version of the Matrix's 2.4-liter four. The OZ wheels and upgraded brakes speak to the concept's functionality, as does the stripped out interior, added fuel cell and multi-point rollcage.
We'll have more details on the production version momentarily, but in the meantime, check the gallery below. Also, in case you missed it, you can check out the new Toyota Corolla right here.
Click the image above for a gallery of high-res pics.
Toyota unleashed the new Matrix in a Halloween-infused joint press conference here in Vegas. The production version of the new (Corolla) Matrix debuted across the street, but we were on hand to see the Rally version unveiled on the floor at SEMA. The new design lends itself well to some modifications, but like most of the vehicles here at the show, it's more about flash than function. The front-mount intercooler helps feed a supercharged version of the Matrix's 2.4-liter four. The OZ wheels and upgraded brakes speak to the concept's functionality, as does the stripped out interior, added fuel cell and multi-point rollcage.
We'll have more details on the production version momentarily, but in the meantime, check the gallery below. Also, in case you missed it, you can check out the new Toyota Corolla right here.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John R 2:21PM (10/31/2007)
This looks nice, but I said it before. Caldina GT-Four, 250hp (iirc) and AWD. Probably a bit bigger than a Matrix but no bigger than a Mazda 5.
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Chuck U. Farlie 2:21PM (10/31/2007)
I'm sold! IF, I can get one like that... with a little more street capability of course.
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Jerk Face 2:21PM (10/31/2007)
The Matrix doesn't really do it for me; and being a happy owner of a Mazda Protege 5, I think I'm kind of the target market. Something about it just screams "Corolla Wagon" in a very bad way. Meh.
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iQuack 2:25PM (10/31/2007)
I can't wait until all of the SEMA stuff ends. The new Matrix seems to be another of the many cars that would look better if left alone.
Over-styled wheels, garish paint jobs, and out of proportion plastic crap hung on body panels don't help at all.
SEMA and all the attention given to it sucks!
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BirdmanSTX 5:13PM (10/31/2007)
Then don't read the SEMA related posts... should be fairly easy for you to do.
gotsmart 2:28PM (10/31/2007)
That's not too shabby. The aggressive body doesn't look like a dealer-installed stick-on "kit" like Toyota and Honda seem so fond of doing... hopefully this is close to the production version.
Everything about this car looks like an improvement over the first-gen model... but there's something odd about the rear side windows and the C-pillars. They just don't "flow" quite right. Then again, this is pretty much par for the course when it comes to current Toyota styling. They always seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
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tankd0g 8:35PM (10/31/2007)
It does kinda look like the doors are falling off at some angles.
Rick 1:21PM (11/01/2007)
Looks nice, but please Toyota, kill the jagged front spoiler lip and just make a continue shape that does'nt subtract in the middle. It's like they forgot the middle section of the lip! I hate that on the corolla too.
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Vivek 3:00PM (10/31/2007)
The Pontiac Vibe version of this looks so much better in every possible way. That fugly Yaris front end on this is a major turnoff. Plus you can get a better deal on a Vibe.
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tankd0g 6:32PM (10/31/2007)
I agreed about the Caldina. It's already built, just ship it over, and it can be hand with a "real" rally car engine, 2.0L turbo.
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tankd0g 6:32PM (10/31/2007)
Why is there an antilag switch on a supercharged engine?
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Eric Biran 3:31PM (10/31/2007)
Yeah, once again the Vibe is the better looking one (though I wish that rear fender on the Vibe looked less like the last gen Matrix and simply more smoothed in like this one).
LOL! Looks like they ran out of time to build this thing and had to fit the production foglight surrounds/fake brake ducts OVER the ones on this concept. You can even see the hole where they were going to mount the lights behind the production stuff. Or maybe someone changed their mind and it was never supposed to have foglights there, so they just put the production ones on top of the SEMA brake ducts. Way to show attention to detail on a show car Toyota. It's not as if anyone was going to look at it thought, right? Let's hope the rest of the build quality is better than that.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-matrix-rally/466887/full/
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calebe 3:38PM (10/31/2007)
Thats Sweet!
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Willem B 3:43PM (10/31/2007)
what's the hoodscoop good for?
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Willem B 3:43PM (10/31/2007)
i meant roof instead of hood
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P B 4:07PM (10/31/2007)
Cabin ventilation/cooling.
Willem B 9:35AM (11/01/2007)
but that thing has A/C.. .kind of pointless. I doubt it's functional
RIFRAF 6:09PM (10/31/2007)
I had a 2003 Matrix and I loved the look of it. I'm not too keen about the new front ends coming from Toyota these days with those bug-out headlights.
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D. 10:26AM (11/01/2007)
I used to have a Matrix and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. While I appreciated the overall functionality, these things bugged me every single day:
- lack of power (by far the most serious thing);
- loose steering (or totally disconnected drive);
- cheap plastic;
- lack of good brakes;
- no steering wheel controls.
The new Matrix should have addressed at least the first issue... but the most powerful one will only have around 150hp. So once you start looking at the top one (xrs), you'll probably find that it's getting too close to the GTI and the Mazda 3 Speed. So why would you choose the Matrix? Cargo space? Well, get a van and just forget the Matrix. Or better yet, get the GTI.
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mil 1:14AM (11/02/2007)
US is being treated as a third rate market...how do u explain lauching same car which is being selling in other market for so long. check this http://theyreviewed.blogspot.com/2007/11/2008-2009-toyota-corolla-preview-at.html
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