What's next for the Yaris?

[BensVitz]

What do you guys think is next for the Yaris? I was thinking Toyota would put the Corolla 1.8 liter engine in it next. I'm guessing that EPA milage estimates might decrese in the city cycle, but remain the same for hwy as the 1.5 liter. Also, the 60/40 split rear should be part of the convenience package.

I figure that if they put the 1.8 in there as an option, the price would probably be close to Scion or Corolla territory ($14K +). Knowing Toyota, it would only be available on the top-of-the-line trim, at which point I'm not sure I see the attraction of the car. Part of the attraction of the car for me is what they were able to do with the car for such an affordable price. How much of a premium are people really willing to pay for the (hypothetical) upgraded 1.8 liter engine? I hope they don't mess a up a good thing.

Ben

[Ziv]

If, and if they are going to put a 1.8 Litre, why not put the celica one instead?

[BensVitz]

Oooh... good idea.

Ben

[Idjiit]

I'd much rather see a Supercharger option like with the Mini. Keep weight down. Also gives you the option of turning it off for better fuel efficiency on long drives.

[hhcchen]

the most important thing first...
should be turning the yaris into e85 compatible...

most american cars are e85 compatible already...
and bush is going to put more ethanol into the oil...
e85 should be the next thing to do before thinking about performance...

then, of course... e85 compatible with hybrid...
biodiesel hybrid...
e85 biodiesel hybrid...
and finally true fuel cell powered by hydrogen...

i say when we solve the fuel problem, then we deal with performance...

[Idjiit]

Most american cars are E85 compatible? You're dreaming, dude.

[Idjiit]

Here's the cars currently compatible with E85:
* Chrysler Sebring
* Dodge Caravan, Durango, Grand Caravan, Ram Pickup, Stratus
* Ford Crown Victoria, F-150, Grand Marquis, Taurus
* Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
* GMC Sierra, Yukon
* Nissan Titan

Note that most of them are trucks or SUVs.

[TOYOTaejien]

Well, that looks like most American cars to me. Didn't see much or any Asian market cars in there. :)

Anyways, wasn't there a post about the next Yaris they might of had for lineup? I thought I saw it here on yarisworld.

[Idjiit]

That's is an extremely small fraction of the number of cars produced in the US.

[hhcchen]

well, according to this website...
seem like a lot of cars are e85 already...

http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php

[Idjiit]

Originally Posted by hhcchen

well, according to this website...
seem like a lot of cars are e85 already...

http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php

Read the fine print. The models (which still are a fraction of the cars sold by each manufacturer) potentially have the capability. You'd have to actually enter in a VIN to find out. In some cases, only fleet models are FFVs.

[hhcchen]

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t132685.html
Wed Apr 19, 5:00 AM ET

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T) plans to sell ethanol-powered vehicles in the United States by 2008, following the lead of domestics General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - news), the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed company executive.
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A Toyota spokeswoman in Tokyo acknowledged that Japan's top auto maker was developing flexible-fuel vehicles, mainly for the ethanol-smitten Brazilian market for starters, but declined to disclose specific product plans.

"We're proceeding with development of ethanol-based cars for Brazil, but for other markets we are gauging what needs there are first," she said.

Toyota, a market leader in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, has resisted the technology amid worries about the impact of highly corrosive ethanol on rubber seals in the engine, the Financial Times said.

U.S. auto makers have produced about 6 million flexible-fuel vehicles, with many running on E85, or a fuel blend consisting of 85 percent ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, and 15 percent gasoline.

Toyota's new vehicle would be fitted with anti-corrosive parts to meet U.S. regulations, but the auto maker suggested that a less ambitious strategy of mixing only 10-15 percent ethanol into gasoline might produce greater savings, the paper said.

Toyota is still keen to spread the use of hybrid vehicles, which save fuel by twinning a conventional engine with an electric motor, the spokeswoman said.

President Bush has called for more ethanol use to reduce foreign oil imports, but fewer than 1,000 of the nation's 170,000 filling stations currently sell E85.

Bush has set a six-year goal for making ethanol practical and competitive as an alternative fuel, and vowed to fund additional research into ways to make it not just from the commonly used corn but also from wood chips or grasses.

[hhcchen]

sorry for attempted hijacking the thread...
back to original topic...
here is something related...
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138

[why?]

Was wondering if someone brought that up.

It would be nice if we got the next T-sport. Just drop the Corolla engine and tranny in as is.

Heck, it'd get better mpg than in the corolla, and be faster.

[BensVitz]

How much more $$$ do you think it would be with the 1.8? I'm thinking that the display cluster may get changed around also. "People prefer tachs."

Ben

[Ronin]

i'd buy the t-sport in a heartbeat. i've been holding off on buying a liftback because i figure once i buy one, toyota will come out with a sport version (t-sport, factory supercharged, or some kind of trd special edition) of the liftback.

[why?]

Prolly pushing $15k at least. Maybe more. The XRS is $3800 more than the base corolla, that would make it around 15k for the Yaris.

[DJ_SpaRky]

I think that I would pay that for a 200AWHP 6MT Yaris, anybody else?

LOL