2008 Vios (Belta) and Yaris (Vitz) facelift.

While we are waiting for launch of the new 2008 Honda City / Fit Aria, Toyota has launched the minor change / facelift version of the Belta in Japan. It is uncertain how soon will the model make its way outside of Japan as the domestic market Belta (badged as the Vios in ASEAN markets) is sold for almost two years (launched in November 2005 in Japan) before making its way to Thailand in the middle of 2007 under the Vios badge. Thus, don't expect it to arrive any earlier than late 2009. But it's not like it's a car worth waiting for anyway.

There will not be much changes to the car though. The only differences in the minor change model are a revised front grille, new alloy wheel design, changes to the seat material and inclusion of Optitron dials across all models.

2008 Minor Change model. Japan Domestic Market Belta shown (image credits to AutoInCar)

Current model. ASEAN specs (Vios) model shown.

Optitron (Toyota speak for LED backlit display) dials will now be standard.

Current base models (1.5E and 1.5J) make do with amber coloured dials.

While the Vios is doing brisk sales in ASEAN markets, its sales performance in its domestic market in Japan is far from satisfactory. But then again, neither is the Fit Aria (City) doing very well in Japan either. B-segment sedans are not very popular over there. The best selling car in Japan is the Honda Fit (Jazz), which kicked-up quite a storm when in 2001, it displaced the Toyota Corolla as Japan's favourite car, an unbreakable record held since 1966!

The same car is also badged as the Yaris sedan in USA (not to be confused with the Japanese market Vitz hatchback which is sold in ASEAN market under the same Yaris badge).

Also due for a mid-life update is the Vitz (sold as Yaris in ASEAN and EU markets). The refreshed model is set to be launched in Japan in September 2008. Like the updated Vios / Belta, the spotting changes in the facelifted Vitz / Yaris is a game of spot-the-difference contest.

Current Vitz / Yaris

Facelifted Vitz / Yaris
Image from Ned-Shoryuken.

Changes made include revised front and rear bumpers, headlamps and inclusion of wing mirror mounted turn signals.