Toyota Yaris 2009 News

It’s not the one at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, but the one played out under lights at dealerships across the country for almost every day of the year.When the sales top one million vehicles it has to be rated as a good year, even though there were plenty of tests, trials and tribulations on the way to the second-best result in motoring history.The eventual mark was 1,012,164, although that will not be matched in 2009 despite the excitement generated by the newcomers at this year’s Melbourne show.All forecasters are predicting a 10-15 per cent slide in new-car demand, as the global economic meltdown and rising unemployment take the edge off consumer confidence, with a likely result in the 850,000-900,000 range.But there is no questioning the million-car run through 2008, which followed a record in 2007, as Toyota stormed to its sixth straight year as sales leader while the Holden Commodore was Australia’s favourite car for the 13th consecutive year.“This is positive news for the Australian automotive industry,” says the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce’s Murray Collins.“There is little doubt that 2008 was a challenging year, so to achieve one million new vehicle sales is a very good effort.”There were plenty of highlights last year, as Maserati claimed “fastest growing car company” rights, Audi had another boom year, and Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen also improved their results among the top-10 runners.But Holden and Ford went backwards again, as their big Aussie sixes suffered the worst results on record thanks to fuel prices.Mitsubishi, Nissan and Honda were also down from the highs of 2007. Their combined results were actually beaten by Toyota, which topped the charts with 238,983 sales — and also exported more than 100,000 Melbourne-made Camry and Aurion sedans.Brand T is almost certain to be No.1 again in 2009, thanks to its momentum and GM Holden’s decision to concentrate on profits ahead of outright showroom volume.“The next 12 months are expected to be tough for all concerned,” Collins says.“But the industry is looking ahead with confidence after receiving significant support towards the end of 2008.”The $6.2 billion New Car Plan showed the Rudd Government was committed to a sustainable automotive industry. And the Special Purpose Vehicle — the $2 billion floorplan rescue package — was a timely breakthrough by Treasurer Wayne Swan to end the dealer finance crisis.”The story of Australia’s new-car showrooms in 2008 was a win for buyers, as big dollar deals on everything from a $29,990 Holden Commodore to a $9990 Hyundai Getz helped prevent a total meltdown.Big stocks mean the analysts were predicting continued deals through to this month to clear ‘08 vehicles, followed by the arrival of the major newcomers of ‘09.But there will be a penalty, with prices rising off the back of the slide in the Australian dollar through the second half of last year. Greats ‘08 TOP MODELSHolden Commodore 51,093Toyota Corolla 47,901Toyota HiLux 42,956Mazda3 33,755Ford Falcon 31,936Toyota Yaris 26,097Toyota Camry 23,067Mitsubishi Lancer 19,688Toyota Aurion 19,562Nissan Navara 18,574TOP BRANDSToyota 238,983Holden 130,338Ford 104,715Mazda 79,826Mitsubishi 60,692Nissan 59,214Honda 52,571Hyundai 45,409Subaru 38,492Volkswagen 29,875 The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

Its new 1.8-litre dual VVT-i engine develops 97kW at 4400 revs and 142Nm at 4200 revs. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, goes from 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds and has a top of 194km/h. At present the range-topping Yaris locally is the 80kW 1.5-litre YRX, which sells for $19,590 in three-door form, which means the TS would have to be positioned above the YRX on price. Toyota has brought a TS to Australia for evaluation, but don't expect it in showrooms soon. Toyota product planning manager Doug Soden says a few hurdles must be overcome. “We have to make sure it's right for Australia,” he says. “It is available for Europe, but we have harsher conditions.” Toyota has no firm plans but it may go on sale before the year ends. Apart from the engine the TS has been modified and strengthened to cope with the extra oomph. It gets a beefier front suspension with thicker anti-roll bar and a linking rod has been installed between the rear suspension members. The ride has been lowered by 8mm and retuned springs and dampers for improve high-speed driving. The steering ratio is quicker, given lock-to-lock in 2.3 turns. The three-door and five-door versions of the Yaris TS are available in Europe. Meanwhile, Toyota has admitted its TRD Aurion will not be a threat to anything from Ford Performance Vehicles or Holden Special Vehicles, despite earlier promises on the potential of its supercharged V6 hero car. It now says the TRD Aurion, which will wear a price tag somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 and run with at least 235kW of power, is more likely to be shopped against European sporties such as the Alfa Romeo 159 and Volkswagen Golf R32, as well as the Subaru Liberty GT from Japan. “Our car is not a direct competitor for the mega-kiloWatt cars from HSV and FPV,” the spokesman for Toyota TRD, Mike Breen, says. “From a styling and presentation point of view we are there, but we definitely don't have the raw power of the V8s. And we don't have their rear-wheel-drive.” TRD is finally going public with its delayed plans for the Aurion, which is now likely to be in showrooms by August, although the price is still woolly. Breen says TRD had originally estimated a higher price because the car is being developed with a costly intercooler and modified bonnet for its supercharger conversion, but this is not going to be in the final production model because of late improvements to the Eaton supercharger package developed in Melbourne. “The final price could be varied by up to $10,000,” Breen says. “Development is still being finalised. A lot of work has gone into it.” The new Eaton supercharger has several changes, including a very quiet design, that means it does not need an intercooler. “It's the best of both worlds,” Breen says. “It produces the kiloWatts without the heat and delivers the power smoothly, so it is not battling the ESC (electronic stability control) all the time.” Breen says TRD was originally hoping to have an all-wheel-drive Aurion hero car, but this was ruled out because of the cost and complication of the conversion. A TRD Aurion AWD would have been a much more serious threat to FPV and HSV, which led to the original optimism at Toyota about its upcoming challenge to the Australian hero cars and brands. “It's a more sophisticated performance car, not an all-out speed wagon,” Breen says. “The bottom line is it is fun to drive. It's a typically smooth, sure-footed front-drive chassis with the TRD refinements and power boost. “You can still get into it and get a rewarding drive, but it has a nice balance. It will be a step up from Aurion Sportivo, not a step across from an FPV or HSV car.” Mitsubishi will also be getting serious in this market segment later this year. The TMR 380, the Ralliart-tweaked version of the 380, with a 230kW/442Nm Sprintex supercharged 3.8-litre V6, is a concept for now. Other go-fast bits on it include a Koni sports suspension system, TMR brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, Recaro seats and sports trim. Mitsubishi suggests a 0-100km/h time of six seconds for the TMR 380, which will be based on the upcoming Series III edition of the Adelaide-built sedan.