The new Toyota Urban Cruiser will go on sale here in a few weeks in two versions. They will be a 1.33-litre Dual VVT-i petrol model with two-wheel drive and a 1.4 D-4D diesel with all-wheel drive. It combines the rugged, muscular appearance of a Toyota all-roader with compact, urban-friendly dimensions and five-door practicality.
Toyota tells us that the Urban Cruiser is designed for an adventurous, active-lifestyle customer base. Dissatisfied with conventional hatchbacks, these customers require a vehicle that expresses a greater sense of value and individuality. Typically, they are singles and couples in their 30s and 40s. Urban Cruiser customers will include a significant number of those who want to combine an active lifestyle with a high level of environmental awareness.
The Urban Cruiser offers a spacious interior despite its compact external dimensions. A load-space capacity of 314 litres may be increased to 749 litres with the rear seats are folded down.
Two types of rear seats are available, each with an improved folding mechanism: the 2WD model has a 60:40 split seat with slide, recline and tilt-down functions, the AWD version has a 60:40 split seat with recline and double-fold functions.
In recognition of the active lifestyles of customers, the Urban Cruiser features a wide range of storage compartments.
The new Urban Cruiser has been designed to offer very high levels of active, passive and pedestrian impact safety performance. It is fitted with standard ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD ), Brake Assist (BA ), Traction Control (TRC ) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC ).
All Urban Cruiser versions are equipped, as standard, with seven SRS airbags; driver and front passenger airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags and full-length side curtain shield airbags. This new model is also fitted with active front seat headrests to reduce whiplash injuries during rear end collisions.
Available in Terra, Luna and Sol model grades, the new Urban Cruiser offers a comprehensive standard equipment specification.
The Terra entry grade Urban Cruiser is equipped with: Anti-lock Braking System (ABS ), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD ), Brake Assist (BA ), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC ), Traction Control (TRC ), seven airbags, active front seat headrests, push start button and smart entry, electric front windows, remote central locking, a six speaker radio/CD with MP3 compatibility, tilt and telescopic steering, driver’s seat height adjustment, Electric Power Steering, Optitron instruments, a gear shift indicator, 16” pressed steel wheels, a roof spoiler and body-coloured door mirrors with turn indicators.
The Luna adds 16-inch matt alloy wheels, front fog lamps, Luna seat trim, manual air conditioning, a six speaker radio/CD with aux-in connection and Bluetooth® connectivity, rear electric windows, a leather steering wheel with audio and telephone switches, and a leather gearshift knob.
In addition to the Luna grade specification, the Sol adds All Wheel Drive, and All Wheel Drive Body-Kit, exclusive Sol trim, 16-inch super chrome metallic alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning, an electro chromatic rear view mirror, and rear and back privacy glass.
Through the adoption of Toyota Optimal Drive technology, both the Urban Cruiser’s petrol and diesel engines are highly efficient. As a result, customers benefit not only from lower fuel bills, but also, due to lower C02 emissions, lower motor tax starting from €104 for the 1.4 diesel model and €156 for the 1.33 litre petrol.
The Urban Cruiser’s 1.4-litre D-4D diesel powertrain is available with Active Torque Control AWD. Integrated with the vehicle’s other traction control systems, Active Torque Control AWD is seamlessly flexible, providing an optimized torque distribution ranging anywhere from 100:0 to 50:50 front to rear depending on driving dynamics and the prevalent road conditions.
I will bring you more details on the new Urban Cruiser including prices closer to launch date.
More Model enhancements for 2009
In addition to high profile new model arrivals such as new Avensis, iQ and the previously covered Urban Cruiser, Toyota Ireland has also announce some changes to the 2009 Yaris and Aygo models, and running change to the new Auris D-4D engine.
2009 Toyota Yaris
Toyota tells us that the Yaris supermini now comes with significantly reduced CO2 emissions and increased fuel efficiency. And all core engines are now within road tax band A of €104. In addition, Toyota has introduced a new 1.33 Litre petrol engine with Stop Start technology.
The Yaris 1.0 L petrol engine has improved CO2 emissions by 9g/km to 118g/km moving from tax band B to tax band A. The advanced new 1.33 L Dual VVT-i petrol engine, with standard “Stop & Start” technology, delivers high performance with 100 bhp / 6000 rpm and is available with both 6 speed M/T & 6 speed multimode.
Due to its low CO2 figures of 120 and 119g/km respectively; it falls into tax band A. The revisions to the D-4D engine deliver a lower CO2 figure of 109g/km along a higher torque of 205Nm and improvement of 15Nm vs pre minor change.
Other revisions to the Yaris include exterior re-styling to the grille and bumper area, lamp area to the front and rear of the car, and the introduction of new grades and colours.
2009 Aygo
The 2009 Aygo boasts reduced Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH ) values, reduced CO2 emissions and increased fuel efficiency.
The new Aygo 2009 boasts evolutionary design and refinement improvements. Aygo engineers have achieved reduced NVH values on the car by increasing sheet thickness in the exhaust and an increased use of noise damping materials with the additional felt in the A pillar trim and asphalt sheeting in the front footwell.
The Aygo’s award winning 1.0L VVT-I petrol engine now runs on low viscosity engine oil and there is also a new clutch switch which cuts fuel injection during gear changes. Both of these changes result in a reduction of CO2 and improved fuel consumption at 62 mpg with manual transmission.
New Auris D-4D
The amazing Toyota Auris D-4D 90 (1.4 ) engine in Auris has been revised further to deliver increased performance, reduced C02 emissions and improved fuel economy. The engine is now matched to a new six speed manual transmission. Maximum engine torque increased by 8 per cent; CO2 emissions reduced by 6 per cent; and fuel consumption improved by 6 per cent (60.1 mpg ).
