Daily Archives: January 19, 2017
3 Things To Look Out For In The 2018 Toyota Yaris
There are few vehicles in the history of automobiles that has a race car tag and Toyota’s logo on it. It just doesn’t happen that way. Instead, the Japanese automaker is known for efficiency, affordability, and reliability.
Recently, Toyota announced that a new Toyota Yaris is on the works, and that it will be revealed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March. That’s pretty exciting for those who cannot wait to get their hands on a new hatchback from the Japanese automaker.
Here’s what we know about the car so far based on a source:
1. Exterior And Interior
According to hints and sources from Toyota, the new Toyota Yaris will gain a new front and rear styling (possible a new bumper or fascia). There will also be a modernized interior with a host of upgraded technologies to improve the handling and driving capability. Comfort and handling are two things that Toyota never compromise on.
2. Power
The 2018 Toyota Yaris will be more powerful at its full capacity of 210 horsepower. That’s faster than most sedans in the market today. That’s also pretty impressive, considering that the Yaris is only a hatchback and could not haul anything at all.
The range-topping Yaris will loosely be based on the three-door version. The 201 horsepower is not bad at all. Right now, the most powerful Yaris can produce 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet, thanks to the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
3. Handling
Aside from the horsepower it can produce, there’s not much we know about the 2018 Toyota Yaris. The Japanese car maker has yet to release specifications of the new engine, or whether there will be a new upgrade.
What’s clear is that Toyota wants the new Yaris to have a sportier appearance and performance. To do that, Toyota must add a bespoke, quick-shifting transmission. We also expect the Yaris to come out with a more muscular chassis that can deliver a sportier driving experience.
Top 5 Features Of The 2017 Holden Astra Sedan You Have To Know About
The 2017 Holden Astra sedan is the same Chevrolet Cruze that has been tested in the US. Only this time around, it’s wearing the Holden badge and carrying the Astra nameplate for the Australian market.
Here are the top 5 features of the car according to a report:
1. Powertrain
The biggest change happened under the hood. Instead of the Cruze’s 1.8-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine and 1.6-liter turbo petrol, the Holden Astra sedan will be powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Like the four-pot found on the Astra hatch, this can produce 114kW and 240Nm of torque.
2. Weight
The Astra is 113kg less in weight than the current Cruze. This allows an engine, which is basically not as powerful as other sedan’s, to pull the Astra significantly well. The Astra may be lacking a turbo engine, but the 1.4-liter makes good its promise to carry the Astra along. In terms of overall handling, the US-specification Cruze impressed drivers who tested it in Australia. After all, roads in Australia tend to be rougher than the ones in US soil.
3. Suspension
One of the biggest differences between the Cruze hatch and the Astra sedan is the setup of its suspension system. The hatch has a multi-link rear end while the sedan has a simpler torso beam or watts linkage hardware (depending on the models). That being said, the sedan may find it a bit difficult to compete with the hatch in terms of handling and driving experience.
4. Interior
An area of improvement for the sedan, though, is the cabin. It noticeable has an improved design and presentation, thanks to the MyLink infotainment system. The console between the front seats is larger and could therefore, store more, because of the elimination of a hand brake. However, this has been replaced by a foot brake, which is honestly worse than a hand brake considering the presence of electric park brakes these days.
5. Pricing
Holden has not released the official pricing yet, though the Astra is widely believed to start around the range of $21,000.
3 Things We Noticed About The Subpar 2017 Toyota Prius C
Whatever changes Toyota has been bragging about the 2017 Toyota Prius C cannot change the fact that it’s a subpar gas-electric vehicle. The same powertrain will produce the same speed and reaction time, and that was the major contention on the previous generation of the Prius C.
And although it is priced much lower than its competition—Chevrolet Volt ($34,095 – $38,445), Toyota Prius Prime ($27,965 – $33,965), and Toyota Prius ($25,550 – $30,880)—the changes on the 2017 Prius C remains to be too minimal.
1. Safety Features
In the previous generation, safety features are an option. That changed with the 2017 Prius C line because safety equipment is now packed as standard features on the vehicles. Named the Toyota Safety Sense-C moniker, the standard safety items are: forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights.
2. Powertrain
As mentioned above, the powertrain will remain the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a two AC motor/generators. Combined together, they can produce a paltry 99 horsepower that enables the Prius C to go 0 to 60mph in a lengthy 10.9 seconds.
The larger generator is provides the propulsion that generates electricity during deceleration while the smaller AC unit power the wheels with electric-controlled drive ratios (electronic CVT).
3. EPA Ratings
If you’re looking for better EPA ratings for the Prius C, sad to say that’s not going to happen. Compared with the 2016 EPA ratings, the 2017 Prius C dropped by 5 mpg around town and 3 mpg on the freeway. It now has a 48 mpg city and 43 mpg highway ratings.
The truth is, this might not be about the mechanical differences in the two generations. EPA now has a tougher fuel-economy testing guidelines. Compared with the regular Prius with 54 mpg city and 50 mpg highway, the Prius C’s EPA ratings are clearly lacking.
Photos
Check out some of the official photos of the 2017 Toyota Prius C in the gallery below:
