It will replace the Echo. Looks like a nice motor. Read all about it at Toyota.com. I wish Honda would be as forthcoming with their new Jazz.

 

Forty5L

You're right the Yaris or (Vitz in Japan) is a nice car and has a lot more style than the Echo. Unfortunately for the US, Honda is keeping the wraps on the plans for the Fit. But we at least know its coming here in the spring of 2006.

The Yaris that is coming to the US was just updated in 2005 so its a recently updated version of the car they have been selling since 2000. I'll wait for the Fit though. I drove a Yaris/Vitz in Japan. It was a great car but really boring.

I think the new model will also be a great car, but boring!

Just my .02

 

Some companies have to make a song and dance about their vehicles others just shatter records. Results speak for themselves.

No.1 car in Japan was Corolla. No.1 now is Fit/Jazz. Japan car of the year was the Fit/Jazz the other year.

Toyota is starting to chase the youth market because their market is gowing old and dieing. Nothing wrong with their quality (yawn). Nothing wrong with their price (yawn). Fridges/whitegoods on wheels. Most fatal accidents in Japan are caused by falling asleep at the wheel.

 

The Yaris has a fresh look and Toyota will probably sell a bunch of them, perhaps out pacing the outgoing Echo. I DO like the more aggressive wheel arches (similar to the xA). However, I still prefer the Fit. I can't stand that center mounted instrument cluster...and no RPM gauge (not that it needs one, but nice to have). The Fit's interior is still nicer/sportier despite being older...and along with age is a more friendly aftermarket. Although, a Fit Coupe would be nice...then again, there is the Civic Si HB.

 

...I believe that Toyota will likely sell both the three-door and five-door hatchbacks in the USA, mostly because Americans are re-discovering the versatility of the hatchback design in terms of cargo carrying (thanks to the enormous success of the Toyota Matrix and the Scion xA/xB models).

I expect the Yaris to have a tachometer on the higher-end models, though.

By the way, the US-market engine has been confirmed: 1.5-liter VVT-i I-4 engine rated at 108 bhp (SAE 08/04 net). Hopefully, it won't be raucous as the engine used on the Echo.

 

Hope Toyota recondsiders those hideous tail lights..barf

 

Sorry. US only gets the 3 door hatch and a 4 door sedan with a 100" wheel base. I guess the Fit won't have a direct competitor for a while.

 

I'm disappointed that Toyota decided to sell a four-door sedan version of the Yaris instead of the five-door hatchback. That is unless Toyota wants to protect their Scion franchise, because a five-door hatchback Yaris would seriously cut into Scion xA and xB sales.

 

Toyota did bring the 3 door yaris to the SEMA show.

 

The Yaris 3 doors and 5 doors are available in Canada, and are not much cheaper then a Corolla.

 

You know what's interesting is that the Yaris 4 door sedan looks a lot like a baby Corolla. So, how small is small? We think the Corolla is a small car, and the Yaris is smaller version of the Corolla....what's next? A micro car (660 cc) like they drive in Japan? Do they have a 4 door version of that? It would make the Yaris seem like a big car. :-)

 

Try Smart cars for small. The 4 four is the 4 door but smaller than any of these and the the 2 door smart is so small you can park 2 of them in one parking space. These aren't Japanese K cars either as their engines are bigger than 600cc.

Smart are a joint venture with swatch watch company and they feature clip on removeable plastic parts which you can change.

If you park 2 of them in 1 parking space you only have to pay for the one space. Some guy contested a parking fine in Europe over this and won.

 

Actually, a better comparison would be the upcoming 2007 Toyota Camry. There are a number of undisguised pictures of the new Camry floating around the 'Net and if you compare the pictures of the Yaris four-door sedan with the Camry, they have a lot of simularities, including that ugly-looking slatted front grille.