Press Release
Page 1: Marketing and Positioning
Page 2: Design and Perveived Quality
Page 3: Package and Interior Comfort
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Body and Chassis
Page 6: Powertrains
Page 7: Cost of Ownership and Protection
Safety
Raising the standards
???????????????????????????????? Brake Assist now standard across the range
???????????????????????????????? Full availability of VSC and TRC for all powertrains
???????????????????????????????? Larger brake discs (FR: 258 mm, RR: 278 mm for European-produced models)
???????????????????????????????? Wider 185/60 R 15 tyres are now standardised for the entire range
???????????????????????????????? A 5-star, 35-point performance at Euro NCAP, the highest ever for a Toyota model
???????????????????????????????? First car in the segment to offer a driver??????????????????????????????????????s knee airbag
???????????????????????????????? Adoption of MICS safety structure concept from Toyota Avensis
???????????????????????????????? First car to be developed according to Toyota??????????????????????????????????????s more stringent car-to-car compatibility standards
???????????????????????????????? First car to adopt the second-generation WIL concept seats
???????????????????????????????? Equipped with a collapsible steering column and a retractable brake pedal
???????????????????????????????? ISOFIX standard for two outer rear seats
Active safety
???????????????????????????????? Brake Assist standard across the range
???????????????????????????????? Larger brake discs
???????????????????????????????? Larger 185/60 R 15 from entry grade
Concerning safety, Anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and, unusually in this segment, Brake Assist (BA) are standard equipment fitted across all models.
Disc diameter has been increased and is now among the largest in the sector ??????????????????????????????????????? 258 mm at the front (ventilated) and 278 mm at the rear (for models produced in Europe). Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) ) and Traction Control (TRC) will also be available across all powertrains.
In selected models the rear brake calipers are made of aluminium. In addition, the parking brake function is now incorporated in the rear discs. These measures allow for less unsprung weight.
The brake booster is also new, featuring a bigger master cylinder (??????????????????22.22 x 38 mm). This in turn has improved the brake pedal feel, which is now more linear and incisive.
Furthermore, 185/60 R 15 tyres are now standardised for the entire range (not available on Yaris 1.0 VVT-i, entry grade, in some countries).
Euro NCAP
???????????????????????????????? A 5-star and 35-point overall score
???????????????????????????????? Segment??????????????????????????????????????s first knee airbag
???????????????????????????????? Adopting several Avensis-derived safety features
The original Yaris was the safest supermini available at the time of its launch. In order to live up to its predecessor??????????????????????????????????????s image, the new Yaris also counts with a strong Euro NCAP performance. In spite of a very short front overhang ??????????????????????????????????????? 725 mm, the shortest in the segment ??????????????????????????????????????? the new Yaris has achieved a class-leading result at the Euro NCAP Adult Occupant Rating among B-segment cars ??????????????????????????????????????? 35 points. In addition, this is the highest score ever attained by a Toyota model at the Euro NCAP tests.
Furthermore, Yaris was awarded 2 stars for pedestrian protection and 3 stars at the Child Protection Rating.
Airbags
Several features have contributed to this high level of passive safety. Four airbags (dual front and side) are standard with curtain shield airbags, and a segment-first driver??????????????????????????????????????s knee airbag is also available. An energy absorption pad has been integrated in the door trim, which further complements the protection offered by the side and curtain shield airbags.
There is a seatbelt warning system for both front seat passengers, featuring a buzzer with variable intensity according to the vehicle??????????????????????????????????????s speed. Front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiter are also standard.
The new Yaris body structure has been developed using Toyota??????????????????????????????????????s Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS), an advanced body structure concept first introduced in the Toyota Avensis.
MICS effectively disperses the energy of frontal or side impacts through the body in order to divert it away from the passenger cell and minimise cabin deformation.
In the case of a head-on collision, energy received by the front side members is transmitted to a complex under-body frame structure, and also to the upper body, through the A pillar and side bars installed in the front doors.
For side impacts, energy is dispersed through several roof crossmembers and two floor crossmembers. Furthermore, the B pillar benefits from reinforcement, courtesy of 590 MPa high-tensile steel, adopted to increase this section??????????????????????????????????????s stiffness.
Overall, the body structure??????????????????????????????????????s crash-resistance has been improved for frontal and side impacts by 20% and 30% respectively.
The Yaris?????????????????????????????????????? frontal section also incorporates several measures which aim to improve the level of pedestrian protection. Plastic energy absorbers have been placed behind the grille and front spoiler and an energy absorbing structure has also been incorporated into the bumper reinforcement. These elements should minimise the level of injury to a pedestrian??????????????????????????????????????s lower and upper legs.
In order to reduce the risk of head injury, the structure underneath the cowl louver is now more deformable, which translates into higher energy absorption. Furthermore, a new bonnet structure supported by an increased engine clearance allows this component to deform more effectively in the event of a pedestrian impact.
Car-to-car compatibility
???????????????????????????????? Extensive real-world research
???????????????????????????????? Yaris developed according to new internal standards
In addition to Euro NCAP activities, Toyota also conducts active research in other safety areas, including car-to-car compatibility. According to several statistics, a great amount of fatalities are caused by impacts against heavier vehicles.
After analysing several accident situations of this type, Toyota has developed its own internal standards and tests to ensure its cars better protect passengers in these circumstances.
The pattern crash tests are:
???????????????????????????????? Frontal impact against 2-ton vehicle, with a 50% overlap (both vehicles driving at the same speed)
???????????????????????????????? Side impact from a 2-ton vehicle
???????????????????????????????? Rear impact from a 2-ton vehicle, with a 50% overlap.
Toyota??????????????????????????????????????s previous car-to-car compatibility standards stipulated a crash speed of 50 km/h. However, the manufacturer decided to adopt more stringent criteria by increasing this speed to 55 km/h on all car-to-car crash tests, which represents a 20% increase in impact energy. Yaris was the first Toyota car developed according to these new standards.
Additional passive safety features
???????????????????????????????? First to feature latest WIL concept seats
???????????????????????????????? Collapsible steering column
???????????????????????????????? Retractable brake pedal
The new Yaris is also the first Toyota equipped with the second-generation Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) concept seats. The performance of these seats has been improved through simulations conducted with Toyota??????????????????????????????????????s virtual crash test dummy - THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) - a highly-detailed reproduction of the human body, including bone structure, skin, joints and ligaments.
Adopting a new seat-back structure and headrest design is an important development over the first generation Yaris (already recognised by Germany??????????????????????????????????????s auto club ADAC as the best whiplash protection system in the segment). In the event of a rear impact, the head movement can be restrained at a much earlier stage by approaching the headrest from the passenger??????????????????????????????????????s head.
In addition, Yaris is equipped with other important safety features such as a collapsible steering column and retractable brake pedal, systems that keep these components away from the driver in case of a frontal impact. Furthermore, the driver can deactivate the passenger??????????????????????????????????????s front airbag with a cut-off switch.
An ISOFIX system is also standard for the two outer rear seats.
