A more updated Dual VVT-i engine mated to a CVT transmission is expected, first shown to consumers in the ASEAN region via the facelifted Corolla Altis. But of course, the one in the Yaris will come with a smaller capacity. If proven true, it is a welcomed replacement as the current 1NZ-FE VVT-i unit that powers current and previous generation of Yaris and Vios (Yaris sedan) is a rather coarse unit, lacking the refinement of its fellow segment competitors.
Introduction in ASEAN region is still a bit unclear as there have been a number of conflicting rumours floating around in the region, causing some to doubt if the model will even be sold in ASEAN trade bloc markets. Toyota Australia was mum about sourcing of the new 3G Yaris but hinted that Thailand's Chachoengsao plant, which makes the current generation Yaris alongside the Vios could be a possibility, citing lower cost for the Thai plant compared to its current Japanese source. However Toyota Motor Thailand have not revealed anything regarding production of the next generation Yaris. It should be noted that Toyota Motor Thailand have since ceased production of the previous generation Wish MPV, and the model was never replaced with the current second generation model, citing high tooling cost and low sales volume. Singapore is the only market in the ASEAN region that continues to sell the Wish, in its second generation model guise, fully imported from Japan.
There have been suggestions from the Thai automotive community that the Yaris will not be replaced and will be dropped from Toyota's model line-up entirely! The Yaris have always been a difficult model to sell for Toyota's ASEAN region offices. In Malaysia, the model was quietly discontinued after barely 3 years in the market. Designed with a European cost base, it made the car difficult to be built outside of Europe / Japan under a competitive cost. It was more pricey, less fuel efficient, and smaller compared to a similarly priced Honda Jazz. The first and the last bit was the Achilles' heel for the Yaris, in a market where consumers want the most metal for their money. And the Yaris 3G does not seem have addressed any of these issues, further lending credibility to the rumour. The size, performance and price of the Yaris have hit a sweet spot for Western European markets and changing that formula would not go down well with European consumers.
It's high price vs relatively smaller dimensions make the Yaris a slow seller in key Asian markets like ASEAN trade bloc and also the all important Chinese market, where the Honda Jazz continues its segment leading position. Even in Japan, on certain months the single model Jazz outsells all the Toyota Corolla variants. The Honda Jazz was never marketed as a typical compact car in ASEAN markets, mainly Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. But it was marketed as a practical right-size car with class leading utlity features as its trump card - the huge 384-litre boot space (with rear seats upright) that can be expanded to 1321-litres with intelligent ULTRA-seats folded.
There have been rumours that the Yaris will be discontinued and replaced with the Verso-S, a sister car to the Yaris. Although no further reliable information can be found to ascertain this rumour. The Verso-S is a more utility focused hatchback, more in keeping with the Honda Jazz and Hyundai's new ix20, all hatchbacks with MPV-like pretensions. In the ASEAN market, the current 2G Yaris is really punching above its weight by going head-head with the Jazz. Size-wise, a more natural competitor for the Yaris would be Nissan Micra / March, Suzuki Swift and Splash. In certain markets, the Yaris is sold with a 1.3-litre engine and even a 1.0-litre engine.
Verso-SBut this is just a rumour, certain sources however believed that the next generation Yaris will continue to be made in Thailand.
Now here's the shocker - it appears that a sub-Yaris hatchback is currently being considered for production for Thailand. Target competitors are the Hyundai i10, Suzuki Alto and Nissan March. Little details were shared but this is expected to be a eco-car variant that is eligible for tax breaks under the Thai government eco-car programme. Toyota have previously announced that a low cost compact car called the Etios will be made in India.
Whatever the future plans is for the Yaris in this region, we can be very sure a hybrid version of the Yaris is expected to be introduced, probably even before its mid-lifecycle upgrade timing, circa 2012 or 2013, with a fuel economy expected to be even better than that of the Prius.
The second (current) generation Yaris, and the first Yaris model to be sold in ASEAN region markets. In hatch (Vitz in Japan) and sedan form (also known as Vios in ASEAN markets and Belta in Japan).
The first generation Yaris (also known as Echo in some markets). Oddly, we didn't get the same sedan sold in Europe, USA and Australia, but got an entirely different looking car for our previous generation Vios. Providing ammunition for critics to call the previous generation Vios a dumbed down developing market car that could not pass safety regulations required in more developed markets. Personally I think it is just a very obvious case that the early generation Echo sedan would look too horrible to sell in a market that takes compact sedans very seriously. American Toyota dealers had a lot of problem shifting early model Yaris sedan out of their showrooms. Plus, the previous generation Vios, although built off the same Yaris platform, is more of a replacement for the Soluna entry level sedan rather than a bona-fide sedan variant of the Yaris.
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