The next-generation Toyota Vios sheds more of its camouflage ahead of what’s expected to be a global debut in August.
Posted by Thai website AutoLifeThailand, these photos purportedly show off the all-new Vios just a month after a more covered version was spotted on Thai streets. According to the website, the Vios will launch with a choice between a 1.2-liter naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine or a 1.5-liter hybrid because of Thailand’s unique eco car program. The latter engine could be the same engine found in the Prius c. If that’s so, expect it to make a total of 91 horsepower and 120 Nm of torque.
However, once it goes for export, it’s expected to gain the option of perhaps a 1.5-liter normally-aspirated engine. Who knows, maybe it’ll even stand to benefit from the 1.0-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder found in the Raize.
The small displacement turbo could be a likely candidate since the Vios will migrate to an all-new platform co-developed with Daihatsu. The DNGA platform is already in service in the Raize, Avanza, and Veloz. The Vios will reportedly carry the D92A model designation.
Going back to the spied photos, as the Vios starts to drop even more of its camo, it’s very clear that it’s shaping up to look like the Daihatsu DN F-Sedan concept.
If this new Vios (using Daihatsu architecture) is also destined for export to Philippines, that could be an obituary for the local manufacturing of PH-spec Toyota Vios.
ReplyDeleteIt is likely that another country that might be stopping production of the Vios is Indonesia. Because in thar country, Sedans are considered as Luxury Items leading to decline in sales throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteHindi ba halos magkaparehas lang sila ng preferences dito sa PH? Many of our Asian neighbors (us included) is now favoring SUVs and crossovers (including MPVs dressed as crossovers) due to higher ground clearance and also the ability to ferry cargo or passengers much more.
DeleteThe days of sedans and small cars are numbered, honestly.
They will just import d chassis n add other parts made here, i think thats what they currently doing now in dear manufacturing/assembly here. Maybe sir uly can enlignthened us.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of things that can happen. But take note, Toyota Motor PH has yet to say anything official.
Delete1. The current Vios will live on alongside the all-new Vios. If this happens, assembly at Santa Rosa might continue. Who knows, we might end up exporting it to other countries as well similiar to what Mitsubishi has done with the L300.
2. They will re-tool the Santa Rosa plant to make the all-new Vios. If this happens, we might even see other DNGA products added to the line. If the Innova shifts to a new unibody platform, especially DNGA-related, this makes a lot of sense.
3. They'll assemble the Vios using flat-packed kits from Thailand. Possible but unlikely given the Santa Rosa plant has been tooled with local parts in mind. The current Vios, for example, has 40 percent local content (https://www.carguide.ph/2018/07/2018-toyota-vios-in-facts-figures.html) so going this route seems backward. But at least they'll be able to keep local assembly.
4. They'll end up assembling another product altogether, or stop production gradually at Santa Rosa.
I am waiting for what will be the status. There's zero reports or even some small announcement of what's happening inside the Santa Rosa plant. I think it's somewhat understandable that Toyota PH is mum about the future of that plant.
DeleteThe mostl likely scenarios are the #2 (since we also have innova locally made here—and that's a profitable one in my opinion, because switching to D-NGA architecture might also mean that there's a high possibly that at least to some extent the Raize and Avanza can be locally assembled here) and #4 (but in that, they'll probably scale down local production until they close up shop, and that's a sad death of Toyota PH local manufacturing if that's true.)
DeleteAnd if #2 was indeed true, then Toyota might have to invest billions of pesos (in dollars, btw) for retooling of the local assembly plant to accommodate DNGA vehicles.
Delete#2 seems to be the best - hoping the DNGA platform can allow multiple nameplates can be assembled here. Where ever the market shifts, TMP has multiple options - Vios, Raize, Avanza, Veloz open as an alternatives.
ReplyDeleteIt's too late now to entice car companies to set up manufactiring facilities here, we should just specialize in LHD assembly if cost savings could be realized by companies there since Thailand, Indonesia & Malaysia are all RHD countries. Our only competition would be the commie Viets for LHD vehicles. Dunno if we can prove to be more efficient than them, we really couldn't match the scale of our other neighbors in terms of manufacturing when it was needed (i.e., 10-20 years ago). That ship has sailed.
ReplyDeleteYah government failure
ReplyDelete