Press Release
Sports chassis and suspension
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Excellent driver control
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Lowered, retuned suspension
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Precise, responsive steering
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Low noise levels
Yaris TS takes the already strong Yaris platform and adapts it to cope with the increased power and performance while still offering maximum driving pleasure. Sophisticated suspension and steering modifications ensure excellent driver control and enhanced active safety without comprising refinement.
Under the skin of Yaris TS, the sports chassis is a further development of the all-new, highly rigid platform introduced with the second generation Yaris model range. This platform is some 50% stiffer in torsional rigidity than the underbody of the original Yaris, leading to more secure handling, greater ride comfort and even better low levels of noise and vibration.
Now, the TS sports chassis has been created with body and suspension rigidity further improved. There are reinforcements to the front suspension members and a linking rod between the rear members to increase rear roll stiffness.
Overall, the body has been lowered by 8mm for a more sporting stance and retuned springs and shock absorbers give balanced ride and handling while enhancing high speed stability.
Retuned front suspension
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Excellent steering stability and comfort
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Reduced body roll and rebound
Yaris TS front suspension is adapted from the highly successful L-arm MacPherson strut which features across the Yaris range. This compact, highly rigid design brings the strut inboard from the wheel hub to provide excellent steering stability and supple ride.
This design also reduces noise and vibration transmission through the suspension strut and contributes to passenger comfort which already exceeds that of many current generation compact cars. Yaris TS adopts exclusive suspension tuning of springs and shock absorbers to achieve high levels of ride comfort and sports handling. Rebound springs have been added to the front shock absorbers to increase stability and maintain balanced handling characteristics.
A thicker front anti-roll bar reduces body roll.
Compact rear suspension
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Retuned shock absorbers
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Excellent ride comfort
The torsion beam rear suspension is light weight and compact, contributing to the highly efficient package and creating excellent stability with a smooth ride.
Separate mounting points for springs and shock absorbers help achieve a low, flat rear floor and short overhang. This layout also allows the track width to be increased to accommodate increased cargo capacity and overall dimensions.
Yaris TS takes this highly efficient, rigid structure and retunes the shock absorbers and springs for maximum driver control without compromising on ride comfort.
Precise steering control
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High ratio steering rack
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Recalibrated electric power steering
Yaris TS offers extra driving pleasure and more precise car control with retuning of the electric power steering (EPS) and a high ratio steering rack. The EPS ensures a smoother and more linear steering feel on initial input and is also more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly than old, hydraulic power steering systems.
Across the Yaris range, the structure and rigidity of the gear mount have been strengthened to provide a more linear steering feel at all speeds. Yaris TS has a steering rack ratio of 13.2:1 and offers just 2.3 turns, lock to lock. As a result, the sports hatchback is extremely nimble with a turning radius of 5.6 metres. Steering feel and feedback to the driver is further enhanced by retuning of the EPS characteristics, which are precisely adapted to the increased tyre sizes and new rack ratio. At the same time, the EPS motor output has been stepped up to accommodate the gear ratio extra force required.
Exclusive 17” wheels and tyres
Increased stability and handling comes from the exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels and tyres which are standard equipment on Yaris TS. The larger wheels fill the arches to create a sporty stance while the low profile 205/45 R17 tyres provide excellent grip under all driving conditions.
Low levels of NVH
Despite its sporty appearance and enjoyable driving pleasure, Yaris TS offers a sophisticated, smooth and comfortable ride with exceptionally low noise levels. As with the current Yaris range, the TS adopts a new concept of sound absorption over insulation - a principle already successfully applied in the Avensis and Corolla Verso.
The new sound material absorbs and dissipates noise rather than insulating the car from the noise source by using heavier layers. This not only delivers substantially better sound damping performance, but is also lighter; weighing only around half as much as traditional sound damping material. In addition, this material is more than 80% recyclable and its installation does not require solvents or adhesives.
Yaris benefits from double-sealing around the doors. A new, ‘balanced’ engine mount system is used to reduce noise and vibration. Instead of the conventional tri-angular mount layout, Yaris features an engine mount on each side, which draws an imaginary line intercepting the engine’s centre of gravity. The third engine mount (placed at the bottom of the engine compartment) is replaced by a torque rod that efficiently suppresses the engine’s rotational movement.
