Vitz: it's the new Yaris

Newswheel staff :: 12 February 2005 :: Filed under Hatchback, Toyota Yaris, Europe & UK,

[Click on an image to view]

Nanoscopic shutlines and techno-chic vibe for new Yaris progenitor

There’s a new Toyota Vitz on the loose in Japan . So, unless history fails in its repetition routine, you’re looking at the funky new Yaris for Europe.

Although it’s not yet clear whether the new Vitz is a clean-sheet design, the car is inevitably reported to be larger all round. Early pictures of the interior reveal a techno-chic vibe that will no doubt have Toyota whipping out the shitty sticks to beat hordes of Sony Vaio-addicted generation-X’ers out of showrooms.  It certainly makes the worthy-but-dull look prevailing in the European supermini market look like old news. The engine line-up takes in the usual peppy but gutless small capacity in-line fours, both petrol and diesel, capped (in Japan, at least) by a slightly toasty 1.5-litre RS model which sings to the tune of 109bhp.

Oh, and just take a look at those shutlines. Tight doesn’t even begin to describe…The strip-down boys back in Wolfsburg will be out with the dial calipers faster than you can say “very precise toolz”.

If your Japanese is up to it, or if you enjoy installing language packs for Internet Explorer, get the full skinny here.