Hybrid Yaris on its way, possibly with an SUV spin-off

Wednesday, 29 January 2020

A petrol-electric Yaris hatch that has the goods to be a giant-killer here will be joined by a crossover variant this year.

Toyota's all-new Yaris packs some big technology into a small package.

Set to slot under the just-introduced hybrid C-HR, the new model obliquely referred to by Toyota New Zealand's product spokesman seems the same one the brand's European arm is discussing more openly.

Chief operating officer Neeraj Lala referenced the hybrid SUV in outlining prospects for the hybrid five-door road car that should be here before June, but said little specific could be aired just yet.

'It is a new model, which we will be introducing this year, that I'm hoping to announce very soon. It will be potentially below C-HR and it will be hybrid.'

Toyota's hybrid version of the all-new Yaris is coming to New Zealand.

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A small hybrid SUV under the C-HR is coming, but product and new vehicle sales general manager for Toyota NZ, Neeraj Lala, wouldn't say if it was the Yaris-based one.

That much syncs with Toyota Europe divulging a Yaris SUV is a goer with a close-to-production concept set to be displayed at the Geneva motor show in March.

A senior vice president, Mike Harrison, says the model won't be 'just a Yaris with body cladding and raised suspension' but will an entirely new distinctive model 'with a compact, dynamic design and a personality all of its own.'

It will have slightly larger proportions than a Yaris hatch, in both width and length, as well as being taller and on an extended wheelbase. Yaris powertrain options will be used, which means it is likely to get the hybrid unit Lala believes will elevate Yaris hatch's potential on merit of its market position and thrift - overall economy is just 3.3 litres per 100km from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine matched to a lithium ion battery.

The new Yaris hybrid will replace the small Prius C.

'To us, Yaris is the most important (of all hybrid models). It is another, very significant step to fulfil our passion to see hybrid and low emission powertrain technology become mainstream and spread right across our product line,' Lala says.

'From day one that has been our goal. It has taken us 20 years to get there. That's not a failure of our ability to have one in every lineup… we've had to stage it as the market and customers have shown readiness to accept that tech.'

The volume increases in Toyota and Lexus hybrid passenger vehicles over the past two years show this is happening.

Toyota has just launched a hybrid version of the small C-HR SUV.

In 2018, TNZ achieved 2222 hybrid registrations; in 2019, that ramped to 5566 cars and could have breached 6000 units if demand had not exceeded ability to supply. Lala says it was frustrating to end the year with an order bank of 500 unfulfilled orders.

Still, with hybrids having elevated from representing seven per cent of its total volume in 2018 to 18 per cent last year 'I strongly believe we are now at the crest of a wave.'

With the Yaris now joining the hybrid gang, TNZ is able to fulfil ambition to have battery-electric drivetrains across all its passenger cars and in its most popular SUVs. By year-end, Lala says, Camry and Highlander will only be available in hybrid form.

It's a big year for Yaris - the hot GR version is also on its way.

How many others are joining the queue? Talk of a hybrid Hilux has never been substantiated but Japan's confirmation of the Land Cruiser 200 Series dropping its turbo diesel V8 for a twin-turbo electric-assisted petrol V6 suggests the company isn't afraid to take this tech off-road.

Lala says the next two years are going to see the Yaris become a mouse that roared for Toyota here, with a full suite of vehicles, topped by the heroic GR performance hatch.

'We can see Yaris, over the next 12-24 months, playing a much stronger role. The rebirth of Yaris will come with this generation.'

TNZ has yet to release detail about the hybrid's pricing, specifications, the full outputs from the drivetrain and if it will represent in several levels of trim, however it has confirmed it will directly replace the Prius C, which is priced at $27,990 for the GX and $29,990 for the SX, and has been here for eight years.

The car's optimal combined consumption makes it fractionally thriftier than the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and Toyota's own Prius (but not the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime, which claims a combined average of 1.1 L/100km). The Prius C offers a 3.9L/100km best.

Lala says the arrival of a mainstream Toyota model that can outshine the Prius doesn't mean the latter is finished - the Prius hatch and its people-mover counterpart, the Prius V, will continue on.

'In our line-up, every model has a purpose. And the purpose of Prius is unchanged… it's a model with which we can push the boundaries with technology.

'I certainly see Prius playing a much stronger role in the future specifically in the area of MAAS (mobility as a service).'

The potential of the next generation stepping away from mild hybrid and instead becoming a fully-fledged electric car might be taking it too far, he suggests, given the Japanese viewpoint toward EVs is different, with thought the best usage is for city-configured micro cars.

'We are looking to introduce electric to our lineup… but they will be specific to purpose.'

Toyota Japan is promising Yaris having transferred to the highly-regarded Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform will ensure all versions improve their driving pedigree.

Equally importantly, it delivers an improvement in safety and equipment, being set to come as standard with Toyota's most advanced pre-collision safety system and adaptive cruise control.

In its Japan market guise – but perhaps not for export – the car has a 1500W accessory power outlet so it can serve as an emergency power generator in cases such as blackouts.