New Toyota Yaris with lower emissions and fuel consumption
Toyota's launch of its 2009 Yaris demonstrates that lower emissions and fuel consumption can be delivered without compromise. No model in the new 2009 Toyota Yaris range emits more than 120g/km of carbon dioxide, thanks to the successful adoption of Toyota Optimal Drive across the entire range. At the same time, Yaris is every bit as well-specified, comfortable, reliable and safe as before.
Money-conscious motorists will be encouraged by Yaris's value compared to its key competitors. Adjusting on-the-road prices in line with equipment specifications, Yaris offers a significant saving. Taking the 1.33 SR five-door model as an example, it represents a price advantage in real terms of up to more than £1,000, against its market rivals, as the table below shows.
Toyota Optimal Drive, introduced at last year’s Paris motor show, covers a range of technologies that promote greater powertrain efficiency. In line with Toyota’s guiding principle of kaizen – continuous improvement – engineers have improved combustion efficiency, reduced engine and transmission weight and reduced friction to produce engines that deliver more power and are fun to drive, yet at the same time are more efficient and economical.
The 2009 Yaris features a range of new and revised engines that benefit fully from the technical advances delivered by Toyota Optimal Drive. The line-up comprises a new 1.33-litre Dual VVT-i petrol unit with a Stop & Start system and improved versions of the award-winning 1.0-litre VVT-i three-cylinder petrol unit and the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel. A new six-speed manual transmission also debuts in Yaris. Matched to the 1.33 VVT-i and 1.4 D-4D engines, it is smaller, lighter and more efficient than the five-speed gearbox it replaces.
Toyota’s 1.33-litre petrol engine is new to the Yaris range, having made its debut in Auris and new iQ at the end of last year. It features state-of-the-art Dual VVT-i (variable valve timing – intelligent), produces 100bhp (101 DIN hp) and has the highest compression ratio of any petrol engine on the market at 11.5:1.
The in-line four-cylinder unit produces 132Nm of torque at 3,800rpm and returns 55.4mpg in combined cycle driving, with both six-speed manual and MultiMode transmissions.
Applying Toyota Optimal Drive technologies gives the engine superior emissions and fuel consumption performance compared to the previous 1.3-litre unit, reducing CO2 output by 22g/km and improving combined cycle mpg from 47.1 to 55.4 (both figures for manual transmission with Stop & Start). The engine is also smaller and lighter, but produces greater torque.
Advanced engineering was applied through the development of the new engine, with streamlining of the intake channel, and smoothing of surfaces and rounding off of all angles and edges inside the block to improve airflow and reduce turbulence.
Using a resin cylinder head and intake manifold has yielded substantial weight savings and a new, highly rigid aluminium crank case is connected to the transaxle case, which improves the rigidity of the joint in the powertrain and reduces friction and noise levels.
Further changes that benefit all-round performance include a new camshaft profile, reduced friction and weight in the valve gear, and a maintenance-free hydraulic lash adjuster.
A new Stop & Start system is featured as standard on the 1.33 Dual VVT-i engine with six-speed manual transmission. This automatically stops the engine when the gear shift is moved to neutral and the clutch pedal is released; the engine restarts as soon as the clutch is depressed again.
Immediate restarting is made possible by a permanently engaged gear mechanism and there is no hesitation in a rapid stop and start sequence – the engine does not have to stop fully before firing into life again. The system reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and operates smoothly and silently.
The introduction of the 1.3 Dual VVT-i engine with Stop & Start gives Yaris a strong competitive edge in the B-segment, delivering performance and emissions that its key competitors simply cannot match. This advantage extends into on-going ownership cost benefits.
While the new engine’s emissions and fuel consumption are better than rival 1.2-litre units, power and torque are also superior to other 1.4-litre power plants.
In performance terms, the Yaris 1.33 delivers 35 per cent more power than the Renault Clio 1.2 and about 25 per cent more than the 1.2 engines in Ford’s new Fiesta and the Vauxhall Corsa and the 1.4 unit in the Volkswagen Polo. At the same time, official combined cycle fuel consumption is 12 per cent lower than the next-best rival, the new Fiesta 1.25.
Within the B-segment the Yaris 1.33 Dual VVT-i is also the only model in its class to fall within band B for Vehicle Excise Duty, giving an annual road fund licence bill for 2008/9 of just £35.
In the longer term the cost benefits quickly accrue. Working on the basis of 12,000 miles drive a year, with fuel at an average 99.9p per litre, owners can save around £600 to £960 over a three-year period in fuel and road tax costs compared to leading competitor models.
Toyota’s three-cylinder VVT-i petrol engine has twice been a category winner in the sub-1.0-litre category of the International Engine of the Year Awards and enters 2009 with even better fuel consumption and emissions performance.
Toyota engineers have worked on the unit to deliver the following improvements:
• A new cut-off system to save fuel during gear changes
• Improvements to the Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) management
• Use of low viscosity oil for less engine resistance
• Adoption of an exhaust gas recirculation system and cylinder block water jacket spacer to increase efficiency
One of the lightest engines on the market today, it delivers class-leading specific power and torque, with 68bhp (69 DIN hp) at 6,000rpm and 93Nm at 3,600rpm.
TR versions of the 2009 Yaris ride on low rolling resistance tyres, further contributing to lower fuel consumption and CO2 figures. Together the measures achieve a reduction in CO2 of close to 10 per cent compared to the previous model.
The 1.4 D-4D diesel engine features latest-generation common rail technology and an intercooled turbocharger. Power has been increased slightly to 89bhp (90 DIN hp) and maximum torque is greater by 15Nm at 205Nm, produced between 1,800 and 2,800rpm, giving more pulling power at lower engine speeds.
Official combined cycle fuel consumption is substantially improved, cut from 62.8 to 68.9mpg with manual transmission, 67.3 with the MultiMode (M/M) gearbox. Likewise emissions have been reduced, falling from 119 to a class-leading 109g/km (110g/km with M/M).
As part of the Toyota Optimal Drive technology applied to the new 2009 Yaris. A six-speed transmission has been developed for the 1.33 Dual VVT-i and 1.4 D-4D 90 engines. This new unit delivers world-class efficiency and improved fuel economy, thanks to a wider ratio for sixth gear. Driving performance is also enhanced. And shift feel is better, with a new shift structure that is quiet and gives a smooth feel to clutch operation.
A six-speed version of MultiMode, Toyota’s electrically operated (robotised) manual transmission has also been developed and introduced in Yaris. It uses two electric motors and an electronically operated clutch to provide either automatic or sequential gear changes, using three operating modes: M for sequential shifts; E for automatic shifts; and Es for quicker automatic gear changes.
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