New Year News In Brief

KEY POINTS

• New Zinc model for Yaris range
• XT-R joins RAV4 line-up
• Extended availability for Verso TR
• Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) standard on Prius T Spirit

THINK ZINC FOR NEW YARIS
Image-conscious motorists can look the business and save money in the New Year with the introduction of the new Yaris Zinc.

The Zinc enjoys the same specification as the regular T3 Yaris, but ups the style quotient with the addition of alloy wheels (with locking wheelnuts) and metallic paint. Not only do these features come at no extra cost (their combined value is £800), the Zinc is priced £615 less than the T3. No maths degree is required to work out that this adds up to a genuine New Year bargain.

In common with the T3, it comes with front, side, curtain shield and driver’s knee airbags, air conditioning, six-speaker sound system with CD player and MP3/WMA file recognition, leather-trimmed steering wheel with additional audio controls, electrically adjustable door mirrors and height-adjustable driver’s seat.

The Yaris Zinc goes on sale on 1 January and is available in three and five-door body styles with a choice of 1.3 VVT-i petrol or 1.4 D-4D 90 diesel engines and Eclipse Black or Venetian Silver metallic paint finishes. Owners can also choose between the standard five-speed manual transmission or Toyota’s MultiMode gearbox, which offers full automatic or manual gear selection. On-the-road prices start at £9,695 for the three-door 1.3 VVT-i model.

XT-R BOOSTS RAV4 STYLE
The RAV4, Europe’s best-selling SUV, gains extra owner-appeal from 1 January with the introduction of the XT-R.

Taking the XT4 grade as its starting point, the XT-R adds dark-tinted rear privacy glass, scuff plates and metallic paint as a no cost option to the specification. At the same time, leather upholstery (standard on the XT4) is made optional, so owners can enjoy almost all the features of the XT4 model, plus the dedicated XT-R extras at a lower price. Without the leather option, there’s a cost benefit of £1,140, while those who do choose leather are still in pocket by £140.

Other equipment highlights include dual-zone climate control, a cooled glovebox, electric sunroof, six-disc CD autochanger, electric heated and folding door mirrors, Toyota’s Integrated Active Drive system and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

The XT-R is available with 2.0-litre VVT-i petrol or 2.2-litre D-4D 140 diesel power. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with MultiMode transmission an option with the petrol engine. Three paint finishes are offered: Tyrol Silver (metallic), Carbon Quartz (metallic) and Astral Black.

VERSO TR DRIVES ON TO 2007
Toyota is extending availability of its special Verso TR model through to spring next year, reflecting the popularity enjoyed by this high value, high specification version of the seven-seat compact MPV.

The TR builds on the regular Verso T3 specification with additional 16-inch Sequoia alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, darkened rear privacy glass, a six-disc CD multichanger, metallic paint and extra chrome trim detailing.

These features add to an equipment list that includes Toyota’s Easy Flat folding system for the five rear seats, trip computer, electric windows and (heated) door mirrors, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, digital climate control air conditioning, auto-dimming rear view mirror, height-adjustable front seats, front fog lights and leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob.

The TR is available with Toyota’s 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine and 2.2-litre D-4D 140 common rail diesel unit. On-the-road prices start at £16,765 for the 1.8 VVT-i model with manual transmission.

PERFECT PARKING PRIUS
Prius owners have been so keen to take advantage of Toyota’s Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) system, it has been made a standard feature on the top-of-the-range T Spirit model.

IPA takes much of the risk and effort out of reversing manoeuvres by automatically controlling the steering to move neatly into series (side-by-side) or parallel parking spots. It marked a European first when it was introduced as an option on the T Spirit at the beginning of this year. Now it moves further into mainstream motoring by becoming part of the standard specification, together with a rear parking monitor from 1 January.

Where space permits, the system will help the driver steer the Prius into a parking space. After the car has been positioned at the appropriate angle and within required safe distances from neighbouring vehicles, IPA will calculate the correct course and automatically engage the necessary steering angle. The driver simply has to control the throttle and brake to move the vehicle into place.

The hybrid-power Prius T Spirit, also equipped with DVD-based full-map satellite navigation with voice command recognition and Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free mobile phone use, costs £20,680 on the road.

ENDS