Press Release
Page 1: In short
Page 2: Design
Page 3: Body and Chassis
Page 4: Engine
Page 5: Safety
Page 6: Running Costs
Page 7: Production and Specs
Intelligent construction
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Extensive use of high-tensile and galvanised steel for added strength
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Very short body and tight turning circle ideal for city driving
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Increased driving rewards from widest-in-segment front and rear treads
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MacPherson front suspension, torsion beam at the rear
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Speed-sensitive power steering standard on all models
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Latest generation Bosch ABS standard across the range
STRONG AND SAFE
In creating Aygo, Toyota has focused both on providing plenty of driving fun and bringing superior quality to the city car segment.
Galvanised steel is used for most of the body, allowing Toyota to provide a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. More than 50 per cent of the bodyshelll is high-tensile steel, used in key areas to improve the vehicle’s torsional stiffness and impact protection. This metal has a higher yield tensile strength than conventional steels: 45kgf/mm2 against 28kgf/mm2. Its application throughout the body also helps reduce weight, as thinner sheet metal can be used.
The rocker panel has a large cross-section, giving Aygo a solid appearance and providing better protection against chipping.
MEASURING UP FOR CITY LIFE
The ideal car for urban driving is one that’s practical and easy to park. Aygo has been designed with these qualities in mind and its compact exterior dimensions are well-suited to life on the city street. It measures 3,405mm long, making it one of the shortest four-seaters on the market. Add to that an ultra-narrow 4.73m turning radius and Aygo is perfectly proportioned for manoeuvring in traffic and fitting into parking spaces that are too tight for many other vehicles.
Aygo also has the shortest front and rear overhangs in its class. With the wheels pushed out to the corners of the body, Toyota engineers have been able to make better use of interior space and the car benefits from excellent stability at higher speeds.
Aygo is not just about city life, however, being a rewarding drive on the open road, too. Having the widest front and rear treads (1,420mm and 1,410mm respectively) of any sub-B segment car gives it good stability in cornering and quick lane-change manoeuvres. Aygo is fitted with 14-inch wheels with 155/65 R14 tyres as standard.
SUSPENSION
Aygo’s front suspension is a development of the MacPherson system used on the Toyota Yaris. It features L-shaped arms with a higher castor angle and improved anti-dive characteristics. The damping rate of the shock absorbers and the coil springs have been adjusted to deliver a good level of driving comfort.
As on Yaris, a torsion beam is deployed at the rear, but it has an all-new design featuring a transverse bar with an inverted ‘V’ profile. This brings considerable weight-saving benefits as the anti-roll bar is integrated into the beam rather than being a separate component.
A further development sees the trailing arm bushing set at an angle to the axle, creating a toe correction action.
STEERING
All Aygo models are equipped with Electric Power Steering (EPS). This gives a big advantage in city traffic, or when you need to manoeuvre fast in an emergency. EPS is speed-sensitive, adapting in line with data from the car’s ABS speed sensors. This means the steering has a light feel at low speeds, such as when moving in city traffic or manoeuvring into a parking space, and a firmer response at high speeds. For added convenience, the steering column is tilt-adjustable.
EPS also yields benefits in fuel economy, being three per cent more fuel-efficient than a conventional hydraulic power steering system. This is because EPS only operates when the driver makes a steering action, whereas a hydraulic pump is permanently engaged by the engine.
EPS efficiently damps impacts from the suspension, reducing the amount of kickback and vibration felt through the steering wheel.
BRAKES
All Aygo models are fitted with the latest generation Bosch ABS8 system with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) to ensure the best balance of front and rear braking power in all conditions. The ABS actuator is 36 per cent lighter and more compact than in previous systems.
Using this latest-generation ABS technology gives Aygo a clear advantage over rival models, as it features active speed sensors that are more precise than the passive type and are able to monitor low speed and reverse manoeuvres.
Aygo is equipped with 247mm ventilated discs at the front and 200mm drums at the rear, providing excellent stopping power for a vehicle that weighs only 790kg.
