Mark your calendars: Toyota will be holding the global reveal of the Vios HEV this Thursday, August 21. The first market to have it? Thailand.
Although the Philippines has still been waiting for the all-new, fourth-generation Vios, it’s been available elsewhere for around three years now. It seems part of the reason why Toyota Motor Philippines has been biding their time is that so they can launch their sub-compact sedan with a hybrid powertrain from the get-go.
Save for the launch date, Toyota is mum on official details prior to the launch. They did show off a 15-second teaser clip, but apart from the Beyond Zero HEV trunk badge, not much is seen.
The likely candidate for the Vios HEV or Yaris Ativ HEV as it’s known in Thailand is the same powertrain found in the Yaris Cross HEV (read our review). If that’s the case, the 1.5-liter 2NR-VEX produces a total output of 111 horsepower—91 horsepower and 121 Nm from the combustion engine and 80 horsepower and 141 Nm from the electric motor. As always, Toyota doesn’t quote a combined torque figure. This is mated to an E-CVT, while electrical power is supplied by a 0.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Another possibility, although unlikely is the series hybrid powertrain found in the Vios HEV’s platform mate, the Raize HEV.
If Toyota goes that route, the 1.2-liter WA-VEX combustion generator puts out 82 horsepower and 105 Nm of torque. However, tractive effort is provided by an EA1 motor alone with 106 horsepower and 170 Nm of torque. In this setup, the electric juice is provided by a 4.3-Ah lithium-ion battery. As with almost every EV powertrain, it has a single-speed gearbox.
Regardless of powertrain, with Toyota getting ready to launch a hybrid version of the Vios, it seems it’ll beat its chief rival, the Honda City in the electrified race.
Although the City has been available with a dual-motor hybrid powertrain for some time (it’s the same one outfitted in the HR-V RS e:HEV), the brand’s been rather conservative in rolling out their electrified powertrains here in the Philippines. In fact, Honda sat out in electrifying the City when they had a chance during its most recent update.
I suppose the VIOS hybrid will.be underpinned by the 4th generation AC100 series. We gotta have this soon.
ReplyDeleteAs a wannabe mechanic, either stick to ice or go full ev. Saves you from having 2 problems with 1 vehicle. Hybrid vehicles, masisira na ang makina, masisira pa ang electric motor plus the l-ion battery.
ReplyDeleteWell the prius has been around for almost 20 years... My uncle has a prius he has had it fir 17 years still no battery change still reliable.
DeleteOr you can think of it as, less strain to both motors hence lesser chances of problems.
DeleteEv are efficient in low speeds, and gas efficieny at high speeds. They complement each other.
Can you go on further about the repair challenges of electric motors? I had the impression na very simple lng ang design ng electric motors meaning easy to repair. Also, given the very long warranty periods of both the electric motor and the battery I would assume they would barely create any problems for owners.
DeleteToyota and Honda holding out on giving us their latest stuff (years behind na pala). Shows what their priority markets are.
ReplyDeleteTama
DeleteHybrid from a large name brand that if priced right, may Seal the competitor's fate.
ReplyDeleteSaw what u did there :)
DeleteAlmost 1.3m (Thai price converted) for the lowest spec, if that's the price that they'll sell it here for (if not more) then Toyota might just scare off any prospective buyers who were still holding out :(
DeleteIt probably won't be priced "right". This is Toyota we're talking about.
DeleteThe top of the line vios G cvt is 1.039M.
ReplyDeleteThis new vios hybrid would cost more definitely. If the price breaches the 1.10M, then it will be wiser to just buy a CUV hybrid for almost the same cost..