Toyota At The British International Motor Show

• Up to 15% reduction in prices
• New sporty Yaris with 1.5-litre engine for 2001
• Prius, the world’s most environmentally friendly family car now on sale
• Standard Sat Nav and new engines for Avensis
• Sequential gearbox adds to MR2 Roadster appeal
• New 190bhp engine for Celica
• New common rail diesel for Corolla and Land Cruiser Colorado

Toyota is using the British International Motor Show to launch several new cars, including the world’s most environmentally friendly family car – the Prius. Prices across the range have also come down with up to 15% less for some models.

The strength of Toyota’s engineering can be gauged not only from Prius, the world’s first mass production hybrid car, but also by how many new models have been launched since the last NEC show in 1998. They are:

• Yaris
• Yaris T Sport
• Yaris Verso
• Celica
• Celica 190
• Corolla
• Avensis
• RAV4
• Previa
• MR2
• Prius
• Toyota Announces Sporty Yaris

The British International Motor Show sees the announcement of a new Yaris derivative, The 1.5-litre Yaris T Sport. The creation of the T Sport reflects the company’s successful motor sport heritage in the FIA World Rally Championship, the American ChampCar series, the classic Le Mans 24-Hours race and its forthcoming entry into the FIA Formula 1 series.

The Yaris T Sport features a 1.5-litre VVT-i engine, dynamic new looks, lowered suspension and sports-style interior. It will offer class leading performance and economy in the supermini segment with 106hp (DIN) of power at 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 143Nm at 4,200rpm.

The Yaris T Sport will accelerate to 62mph in just 9.0 seconds and has a top speed, where permitted, of 111mph. The Yaris T Sport is quicker to 62mph from rest than many 1.6-litre hot hatches and excels in mid-range acceleration – faster from 40-60mph in fourth gear (8.4 seconds) than any other comparable car. Prices will be announced nearer to launch time in early 2001.

More Powerful Celica

The new Toyota Celica 190 features a sophisticated 1.8-litre engine with Variable Valve Timing and Lift intelligent (VVTL-i) which combines the benefits of Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i) with a two-stage Lift change mechanism. The result is a significant boost in maximum power output to 192hp (DIN) at 7,800rpm and maximum torque to 180Nm at 6,800rpm.

The new Celica 190 will accelerate to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and has a top speed, where permitted, of 140mph. The chassis of the Celica 190 has been developed to give high speed stability with the increased power and provide more sports-orientated ride and handling. The new Celica 190 goes on sale from mid-October at £20,495 on the road.

Prius Goes On Sale

The Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass production hybrid car, goes on sale in the UK from the start of the show. Priced at just £16,495, it will be sold by a nationwide network of over 60 Hybrid Technology Centres who will handle the car’s servicing and even the ultimate recycling. To reassure buyers Toyota is offering a unique five-year warranty and no-worries private leasing to take care of all maintenance costs.

Powered by the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) Prius can run on either its highly efficient, low emissions 1.5-litre petrol engine, its electric motor, or a combination of both.

The efficient use of hybrid technology results in greatly improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions of all the most harmful pollutants, particularly under urban driving conditions. The Toyota Prius achieves 61.4mpg of unleaded petrol on the Urban cycle and emits just 114g/km of CO2.

Continuous development since the launch of Prius in Japan three years ago means the car meets the exacting standards of ride, handling and driving dynamics demanded by UK motorists. The engine control software, transmission gearing and engine characteristics of Prius have all been optimised for British driving conditions.

Satellite Navigation as Standard for New Avensis

The new Toyota Avensis range features full voice prompted satellite navigation as standard, a unique feature in this class of car. Ideal for business users, the Toyota sat nav system is fully integrated with the dash and stereo system.

Under the bonnet – recently restyled along with the front bumper and headlamps – the Avensis hides the very latest high technology petrol and diesel engines. Also improved are interior quality, passenger comfort, ride and handling.

All petrol engined models in the new Avensis range now benefit from Toyota’s advanced Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i) technology; offering better performance than comparable cars with the same engine size; better fuel consumption and fewer harmful emissions.

The new Avensis range also features a brand new 2.0-litre Toyota D-4 direct injection petrol engine that offers outstanding fuel economy and performance. The 150hp (DIN) engine gives 17.0 per cent more power and 12.4 per cent more torque than the previous 2.0-litre engine and yet is over seven per cent more economical on the Combined cycle.

Sequential Gearbox Adds To MR2 Roadster Appeal

Toyota’s high performance MR2 Roadster gets increased driver appeal with the option of a sequential gearbox. The new gearbox allows rapid, smooth gear changes without the use of a clutch pedal – either using the gearshift lever or F1-style shift buttons on the sports steering wheel.

The five-speed, sequential gearbox is linked to an intelligent engine management system that controls throttle settings. Gear changes can be made without lifting off the accelerator pedal for maximum performance and response. The price of the new gearbox is £1,500 extra.

High Tech Diesel Range Extended

Toyota is extending its advanced high-pressure, common rail diesel technology (D-4D) to the best selling Corolla and Land Cruiser Colorado model ranges.

The Corolla is now offered in all bodystyles with the 2.0-litre D-4D engine, first seen in the Toyota Avensis. The 16-valve, twin overhead camshaft engine is turbo-charged and develops 90hp (DIN) of power at 4,000rpm and maximum torque of 215Nm at 2,400rpm.

A newly developed 3.0-litre version of the Toyota common rail diesel engine will be available for the first time in the Land Cruiser Colorado model range. The outstanding fuel economy, high torque, and low noise and vibration levels offered by Toyota’s advanced diesel technology make it especially suitable for Sports Utility Vehicles.

Virtual Press Kit

Full details of these new developments plus all of Toyota’s other models are available on the Toyota Press web site. There will be no press kits or photographs available from the stand. A very wide selection of material is already on the web site, so not only can you get hold of it now, but you don’t have to carry it around either.

Development of virtual PR staff continues, but for now the real flesh and blood type will be on hand on Press Day to help in any way they can.

ENDS