Toyota Yaris TS in Depth

Toyota Yaris TS

Flagship of the Yaris range

By Text & Photos edited by Clinton Deacon
February 1, 2007 7:37 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Toyota

Press Release

The new Yaris TS is a flagship model for the highly successful Toyota Yaris range, offering customers enjoyable sports performance with no compromise on refinement or driveability.

Positioned as ‘the best Yaris you can buy’, the Yaris TS offers a high level of standard equipment, great open road driving characteristics and sporty, yet sophisticated styling. And, just like the latest generation Yaris on which it is based, Toyota’s Yaris TS additionally stands for exceptional space, safety and comfort in a car of this class.

These features, carried through since the original launch of Yaris in 1999, have ensured the success of the model both on a commercial level and in raising the brand profile of Toyota worldwide.

International recognition for styling, passenger comfort and durability have followed. The original Yaris won European Car of the Year in 2000 and was also Japan’s Car of the Year in 1999, the first model ever to receive such global recognition.

Having achieved a solid reputation for reliable engineering and safety, the Yaris underwent a major restyle in 2003.

Two years later, the German TÜV Auto Report 2005 has ranked the Yaris the ‘Most Reliable Car’ in the four to five year category. The recent 2005 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index studies in France and Germany have also ranked Yaris Verso and Yaris Hatchback as first and second in their category, respectively.

Typically, Yaris customers are fond of technology and innovation, appreciating the car for its clever design and advanced features in a compact package. Yaris TS will enhance this product position even further.

With ever-growing annual sales the Yaris was sold over 134,000 times during its initial launch year 1999 to an impressive 251,747 in 2006. In total, over 1.6 million units were sold across Europe since its initial launch.

The best Yaris you can buy

Yaris TS is the first car in the Toyota range to be equipped with an all-new 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i petrol engine that delivers enjoyable driving performance, refinement and excellent fuel consumption. The new engine, with dual variable valve timing, developed 133 DIN hp (98 kW) at 6000 rpm which will put Yaris TS at the heart of the sports compact hatchback segment.

Powering through a slick five-speed manual gearbox, Yaris TS will offer 0-100 km/h acceleration in 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 194 km/h.

At the same time, Yaris TS benefits from a sports-tuned chassis and suspension that generates enjoyable driving pleasure while also offering smooth ride comfort and good handling.

Yaris TS is lower all-round (by 8mm) and dampened. The suspension rates have been retuned to complement the standard 17-inch alloy wheels and tyres. The electric power steering has been retuned and the steering gear ratio is 12% higher than the current generation Yaris to give even more precise and nimble control.

The new Yaris TS will be available in both three and five-door body styles, giving it a wide appeal and allowing customers to enjoy sports hatchback performance without compromising on style, practicality or comfort.

Exterior styling, with deep front and rear bumpers, side skirts and discreet rear roof spoiler, ensures Yaris TS will stand out from the crowd. Personalised TS badging adds to the appeal, along with a chrome sports exhaust and new, LED-based rear lights.

The interior styling is equally sophisticated with exclusive trim to the sports seats and doors, chrome-plated highlighting of the air vents, leather trimmed steering wheel and unique amber lighting of the main controls. The main meter panel features hi-tech Optitron units with an analogue display of road and engine speed.

The flagship positioning of Yaris TS is indicated by the high levels of standard equipment which include air conditioning, single slot CD player and radio with six speakers and fully adjustable steering column.

Yaris TS benefits from the excellent safety rating of the entire Yaris range which, with 5 stars and 35 points in EuroNCAP tests, is among the class leaders. The TS will be available with up-to nine airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, and active safety equipment such a vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control (TRC) as standard.

Yaris TS is a significant addition to the latest generation Yaris range, bringing a new sophisticated sporty appeal to the line-up. It will add to the sales success of the Yaris, which is Toyota’s most popular single model in Europe. The predicated Yaris TS sales for Europe in 2007 are 12,000 units.

Typical customers are likely to be successful single people or young couples attracted by the style and performance of Yaris TS, plus Toyota’s worldwide reputation for quality and robustness. They are not prepared to compromise on refinement – preferring an easy to drive, responsive and sophisticated sports hatchback.

Unlike rivals, the Yaris TS is likely to attract a balance of male and female customers – and some more mature enthusiast drivers.

“The new Yaris TS will be a flagship model for the Yaris range and is positioned at the heart of the European sports hatchback segment, offering refinement and sophistication,” says Andrea Formica, Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing & After-Sales at Toyota Motor Europe. “It will add to the awareness of the entire Yaris range throughout Europe and position Toyota as a true B-segment player.”

The new Yaris TS will go on sale across Europe from Q1 2007.


Dual VVT-i technology

The all-new 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine which powers the Yaris TS is designed to offer enjoyable driving performance with low fuel consumption and sophisticated refinement. Its low weight The new engine complements the existing broad choice of powertrains already available through the Yaris model range – each one carefully selected to offer customers a balance of lively power output, low fuel economy and low ownership costs to suit their needs.

Indeed, an important feature of the Yaris engine range is innovation, offering advanced technology from Toyota that enhances the ownership experience. The entry-level 1.0-litre petrol is a threecylinder VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing – intelligent) unit that combines lightweight and compact design yet still delivers 51kW (69 hp DIN) at 6000 rpm.

The 1.3-litre petrol also features VVT-i for increased power and reduced emissions. The 1.4-litre D-4D available in Yaris is part of Toyota’s advanced common-rail diesel engine range which helps drive Toyota’s sales growth in Europe.

This innovation continues with Yaris TS which introduces Dual VVT-i, a significant evolution of the popular and effective VVT-i technology already available across the current range of Toyota petrol engines. By simultaneously varying the timing of both the intake and exhaust valves, the new technology is able to create optimum combustion conditions over a wide range of engine speeds.

The 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine develops 98kW (133 hp DIN) at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 173 Nm at 4400 rpm. Most significantly, over 90% of the maximum torque output is constantly available from 2000 rpm to 6000 rpm, giving Yaris TS excellent mid-range pulling power and thoroughly enjoyable open road driving performance.

At the same time, Dual VVT-i boosts top-end power so Yaris TS feels lively and exciting with good acceleration. Top speed is 194 km/h and the car will reach 100 km/h from standstill in 9.3 seconds.

Yet this performance is not at the expense of fuel economy. The combined cycle fuel consumption for Yaris TS is at 7.2 litres/100km with a CO2 output of 170 gm/km. The Dual VVT-i system uses hydraulic pressure, controlled by the main engine computer, to independently alter the advanced and retard settings of both the intake and exhaust camshafts.

This is more effective than the current VVT-i system, which works only on the intake timing.

Optimum setting of both camshafts allows the engine to develop increased torque at low and medium engine speeds with increased power output at higher engine speeds. Higher output is also achieved by increased valve lift.

At the same time, the more efficient combustion created by the Dual VVT-i technology offers better fuel economy and lower emissions – giving Yaris TS owners more enjoyable driving pleasure and reduced costs of ownership.

Further contributions to combustion efficiency come from the ‘diagonal squish’ design of the combustion chamber, the long port intake manifold and the long reach spark plugs which contribute to enhanced anti-knock performance.

Light weight, low friction

But the new engine is not just about more power and more torque. It is also a very compact and lightweight unit with considerable focus on reduced frictional losses and low levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). These measures contribute to increased driving pleasure, better engine response and better fuel consumption.

The overall size and weight of the aluminium block unit has been reduced by optimising the timing chain layout and changing the oil pump position. The water pump and lubricated oil passage are integrated into the front of the engine.

Extensive use of computer-assisted engineering (CAE) has reduced the weight of the reciprocating parts and increased the rigidity of the engine block structure. Further weight reduction comes from the use of a resin-type intake manifold.

A roller rocker arm system is used to reduce friction between the camshaft and the valve mechanism while oil-pressure activated adjusters mean valve clearance is automatic and maintenance free, further reducing ownership costs.

Low tension piston rings, an offset crankshaft and optimised intake ports all further contribute to excellent low friction and reduced fuel consumption.

Low levels of NVH

Driving pleasure with Yaris TS is further enhanced by the low noise levels and premium vibration suppression of the 1.8 Dual VVT-i engine. The extensive use of CAE has ensured the rigidity of the cylinder block and aluminium crank case while the three engine mounts are rigid to avoid any uncontrolled movement. In addition, a balanced, forged crankshaft has been used and a highly rigid, steel oil pan is fitted. Noise transmission from the engine is suppressed with the sound-absorbing engine cover.

Slick five-speed gearbox

Power from the 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine is channelled through a new ‘C56’ five speed manual gearbox which has been specially adopted for the engine. Gear ratios have been carefully selected to maximise the performance characteristics of the engine

with excellent mid-range acceleration.

The tactile pleasure of the new gearbox is emphasised by the chrome-plated shift lever knob which is trimmed in leather. Gear changes are slick and smooth – and the gearshift gate has been designed to promote accurate and rapid changes. Double cone synchromesh is adopted on first gear for slick downshifts and the second gear synchromesh has also been re-engineered. Low viscosity gear oil helps contribute to improved fuel economy.

This combination of slick C56 gearbox, flexible 1.8 Dual VVT-i engine and Yaris TS sports chassis and suspension ensures the car delivers enjoyable driving performance – with refinement – under all driving conditions.

Sports chassis and suspension

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

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

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

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.


Sophisticated sports styling

Yaris TS is clearly a flagship in the Yaris range with sophisticated sports styling to make it stand out from the crowd. Available as either a three or five-door bodystyle, Yaris TS has a more dynamic stance but manages to avoid an aggressive look. As such, this premium performance hatchback is designed to appeal equally to both men and women buyers.

Under the supervision of Executive Chief Engineer Masao Inoue and Chief Engineer Toshio Suzuki, the new Yaris TS was designed to incorporate several key points. First and foremost, the new product had to remain faithful to the Yaris DNA: an advanced package, high levels of interior space and versatility, use of advanced technology, comfort, safety and performance. This also includes a constant focus in the continuous improvement of every aspect of quality, durability and reliability.

Toyota wanted to give the Yaris TS customer a more premium feel compared to the current range. As a result, the level of sophistication through a more refined execution was raised. This translates into improved quality and the more advanced Dual VVT-i engine for the Yaris TS.

Exclusive features of Yaris TS include a body finished in Storm Grey and the full 17-inch alloy wheels which fill out the wheel arches to create a sense of the exceptional handling and driver control on offer. Yaris TS will also be available in three other lively colours: Sea Spirit, Night Sky

Black and Fire Red.

Of course, Yaris TS already benefits from the exceptional package of the current Yaris range with a spacious, versatile interior and dynamic, monoform shape. This small car offers big space, which has been achieved by developing a ‘cab-forward’ style, moving the base of the A-pillar forward by 120mm and reducing the front overhang.

Latest generation Yaris is longer (3750mm) than the original model and has an extended wheelbase of 2460mm (90mm longer) over the original. This has created a remarkably roomy interior with a couple distance (front to rear hip seats) of 880mm – comparable with many Csegment cars.

Passenger comfort is further increased with the exceptional headroom and the flat rear floor which increases space in the rear footwell. The driving position and hip points have also been optimised to increase seating comfort.

For maximum versatility and convenience, Yaris TS features the unique Toyota Easy-Flat system which allows full-flat folding of the rear seats using a single lever mounted at the top of the seat back. The rear seats are also split 60/40 and can slide individually backwards or forwards by 150mm.

Exterior styling for Yaris TS gives the hatchback enhanced road presence and a premium look. The large and dynamic front bumper is integrated with the bonnet to portray a uniform image which emphasises the low centre of gravity. This is further reflected in the large lower grille and strong lines of the lower bumper with built-in fog lamps.

Detailing creates the sporty look which distinguishes Yaris TS. The unique honey-comb-style sports mesh grille with clear TS badge is a highlight. The headlamp is re-engineered with a halogen lobeam and hi-beam and frost silver inner lens.

At the rear, the bumper has also been redesigned to express the low centre of gravity and the aerodynamics enhanced with a spoiler shape for the lower part. The bumper now features integrated, chromed sports exhaust pipe and rear fog lights.

The circle motif of the tail lamp further creates a sports image and the light has been changed to LED style for a more stylish look and greater effectiveness.

Deep side skirts and neat rear spoiler complete the Yaris TS exterior styling. They also contribute to excellent and stable aerodynamics, with an overall drag coefficient of 0.32 Cd.

Premium interior & equipment

Yaris TS owners also benefit from a more sporty environment that fully communicates the sense of enjoyable driving pleasure. Interior trim has been upgraded across the seats and the doors and there is silver chromiumplated highlighting the air vents. A more sporty feel is created by the leather trimmed sports steering wheel and gear shift lever. The seats themselves have been redesigned to offer more side support and increased comfort when enjoying the extra performance of Yaris TS.

In keeping with the sports theme, Yaris TS features a specific meter panel with hi-tech Optitron displays. These give an analogue read-out of road and engine speed which more suits the sports environment. Red coloured indicator needles contrast clearly with the amber background lighting which is also featured on the other instruments and controls.

As flagship of the Yaris range, TS boasts high levels of standard equipment in keeping with its premium position. These are designed to complement the sophisticated and sporty driving pleasure.

The manual air conditioning improves driver and passenger comfort levels while single slot CD player and radio with six speakers gives great audio performance. For an optimum driving position, Yaris TS features a fully adjustable tilt and reach steering column.

Typical options that will allow customers to further enhance their driving pleasure include Toyota’s Smart Keyless Entry and Push Start and heated mirrors. Furthermore, buyers can choose to upgrade the manual air conditioning to the even more convenient automatic air conditioning.


Class-leading safety standards

The latest generation Toyota Yaris has an outstanding safety rating with 5-stars and 35 points for adult protection in the EuroNCAP safety tests. This places Yaris among the class-leaders in compact superminis, despite the fact that some rivals

models have been launched more recently. The 35 points for adult protection is the highest score ever for a Toyota car.

Across the three groups of EuroNCAP tests, Yaris scored 5 stars and 35 points in adult protection, 2 stars in pedestrian protection and 3 stars in the child protection rating.

Yaris TS, the flagship of the range, benefits from this well-developed, integrated active and passive safety package for driver and passenger protection. Nine airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag (a first in the segment), are available on Yaris TS and there is a seat-belt warning system (with buzzer) for both front seat occupants. Four airbags (dual front and side) are standard equipment with curtain shield airbags for front and rear passengers available as option.

The front of Yaris TS has been designed to reduce the potential harm to pedestrians in the event of a collision. 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 results in higher energy absorption. Furthermore, a new bonnet structure with increased engine clearance allows this component to deform more effectively in the event of a pedestrian impact.

Strong passenger cell

The Yaris body structure has been developed using Toyota’s Minimal Intrusion Cabin System technology which 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 event of a head-on collision, energy received by the front side members is transmitted away from the passenger cell 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 cross-members and two floor crossmembers. Furthermore, the B-pillar has a reinforcement of 590 MPa high-tensile steel to increase this section’s stiffness.

Further passenger protection features include whiplash impact lessening (WIL) front seats, collapsible steering column and retracting brake pedals, which move away from the footwell area under impact. ISOfix child seat brackets are standard equipment on the outer rear seats.

New crash test standard

Yaris is also the first car to be developed by Toyota according to more stringent internal car-tocar crash test standards. These simulate a 55 km/h impact with a two ton vehicle in frontal 50% overlap, both travelling at 55 km/h, and side and rear 50% overlap collisions.

This crash test standard results in a 20% increase in impact energy over the previous internal standard which took place at 50 km/h.

Active safety features

Active safety control on Yaris TS is provided by the precise steering and handling, plus the highly effective braking system. Front disc brake diameter has been increased to 275 mm while the rear brake discs (259 mm) are optimised for higher performance.

Anti-lock braking (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist is standard equipment across the Yaris range. In addition, Yaris TS features vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control (TRC) as standard equipment.