Yaris Verso: A New Dimension in Family Cars

• Innovative solution to the new car needs of young families
• Versatile interior with unique retractable rear seats
• 1.3-litre 16v engine with Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i)
• Fun to drive with excellent stability and dynamic performance
• Low cost of ownership, backed by complete peace-of-mind warranty

Yaris Verso is a new compact car from Toyota that offers young families all the space and performance they are looking for ­ without the cost of upgrading to a larger car and with the added bonus of being stylish, versatile and fun to drive.

Yaris Verso makes full use of advanced intelligent technology, including the latest 1.3 litre version of Toyota’s award winning VVT-i engine, to deliver outstanding performance and economy in the family car market. First seen as a styling concept at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, Yaris Verso will go on sale in the UK in January 2000.

Yaris Verso is based on the same platform as the new Toyota Yaris. Like Yaris, Yaris Verso has been created by challenging the preconceptions of compact car design and presents a solution for the environmental and driving conditions of the next century.

The starting point and background for the development for Yaris Verso was looking at the mobility problem of a young couple who are moving to a young family stage. This change in life stage means a sudden need for more space and modularity while their environment and budget have not been altered. The challenge facing the Chief engineer for Yaris Verso, Mr Isao Tsuzuki was therefore to create a car that did not exist at the time. A car that would satisfy a young family, that would be compact, spacious, modular, pleasant to drive, safe and not least affordable.

Chief engineer, Isao Tsuzuki, said: “With Yaris Verso we present to you a car which has been developed under a new concept. We placed the greatest emphasis on environmental concerns, manoeuvrability, economy and compact size with maximum interior space.”

COMPACT, VERSATILE DESIGN

• Easy to use retractable rear seats
• Intelligent approach to use of space
• A massive interior space in compact body

The key to Yaris Verso’s versatility is its incredible interior space and its unique, retractable rear seats. With all seats in position, Yaris Verso is a spacious five-seater family car with plenty of rear space and saloon car comfort for all passengers.

Yet, within seconds, any member of the family can convert Yaris Verso to have extra space. The left and right rear seats simply fold away into the floor to create a low, flat floor and an incredible 2,160 litres (75.6 cu ft) of load space. Even the headrests do not have to be removed.

In fact, Yaris Verso offers various clever seating configurations with the removable rear centre seat acting as a tray space, or folding picnic table as necessary.

This huge interior space has been created within a car, which is stylish, compact and easy to drive. Yaris Verso is just 3860mm long and 1690mm wide, placing it right at the heart of the B-car segment. Yet at 1680mm high, Yaris Verso provides ample head and leg room for adults. Even when the rear seats are folded flat under the floor access and head room is still extensive. It is manoeuvrable and nimble in town but equally at home on the open road.

PERFORMANCE FROM INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY

• New, 1.3-litre VVT-i engine
• Lively performance and low fuel consumption
• Low emissions, low maintenance
• Automatic gearbox option

Yaris Verso will be powered by the new 1.3-litre version of the award winning Toyota VVT-i engine simultaneously being fitted to the three and five door Yaris hatchback range. This high technology engine, which makes intelligent use of systems first developed for executive cars, has fully Variable Valve Timing–intelligent and direct ignition to offer outstanding performance and fuel economy.

The engine develops a maximum 85bhp of power at 6,000 rpm and 91 lb.ft of torque at 4,400rpm. Thanks to the variable valve timing, high torque of more than 81 lb.ft is available across a wide range of engine speed, from 2450 to 5350rpm, to offer excellent mid-range acceleration and easy, comfortable driveability.

Yaris Verso, with a five speed manual gearbox, has a maximum speed of 103mph and will accelerate to 62mph in just 12.5 seconds. Despite this excellent performance, Yaris Verso returns over 42mpg on the combined European fuel consumption cycle.

The Toyota Direct Ignition system replaces the traditional distributor with four individual ignition coils operating directly on each spark plug and ensures careful control of each ignition. It means more efficient fuel burning, less emissions and less maintenance ­ with no ignition timing to be adjusted and no distributor to be serviced.

Yaris Verso will be offered with a four speed, fully automatic gearbox as well as the five speed manual gearbox. Top speed is then 96mph and acceleration to 62mph from rest takes 13.8 seconds. Fuel consumption on the combined European cycle is 37.6mpg.

STYLISH, MODERN INTERIOR

• Digital instrument cluster and central display
• Clean, modern dashboard layout
• Integrated radio and optional navigation system
• Even more storage space

Yaris Verso adopts twin roles. It can meet the everyday transport needs of the young family and yet makes a style statement about its owners.

The hi-tech, central instrument cluster with three-dimensional digital display is clear and easy to read, but has practical advantages too. The positioning helps reduce driver fatigue by minimising eye movement and refocusing.

The dashboard is clean and uncluttered with a full audio system as standard and turn-by-turn in-car satellite navigation as an option. Standard equipment includes high mounted rear stop light, central locking, electric windows, intermittent windscreen wipers and lights-on warning buzzer.

Incredibly, Yaris Verso has even more storage space than Yaris with extra stowage in rear floor compartments and a central roof console. In total, Yaris Verso provides an incredible 230 litres (8.0 cu ft) of cabin oddments storage space.

SAFE AND STABLE

Yaris Verso has a lightweight but rigid body construction, minimising the deformation of the cabin during an impact. A low centre of gravity ensures maximum stability under all driving conditions. The car is particularly stable during high-speed changes of direction and is light and nimble to drive in city conditions. Power assisted steering is standard.

Airbags are standard for driver and front seat passenger. Seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiting mechanism for front seats are also standard equipment.

Anti-lock braking, with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is standard equipment. The EBD system ensures correct distribution of the brake forces, front and rear, and during cornering to help maintain stability under all driving conditions.

Front suspension is by MacPherson strut while the rear suspension uses a newly developed beam system with ‘inverse’ spring and separate damper to create a compact, highly stable unit.

PEACE OF MIND

Yaris Verso will be supported by Toyota’s three-year/60,000 mile comprehensive warranty and breakdown assistance. It is backed with a six-year surface rust paint and 12 year anti-corrosion warranty.

Yaris Verso’s annual Health and Safety check can be performed by dealers with a simple 30-minute oil and oil filter change. A full service is required only once every 20,000 miles or two years.

YARIS VERSO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

ENDS