2014 Toyota Yaris, Vios, Hybrid, Six-Passenger Concepts
Lately, China has become a major destination for luxury car debuts, but not all Chinese are millionaires, or in the market for ostentatious motorized displays of their wealth. The big news for Toyota at this years Shanghai auto show was the introduction of a new Yaris hatchback and Vios sedan variant, as well as the debut of two concept models that preview future production models for the Chinese market.
The Yaris is what youd expect it is, a B-series hatchback, and its Vios counterpart is a three-box notchback sedan version, a style favored by many car buyers in China. The styling on the new models is unique to the Chinese market, with a more aggressive grille design with a satin silver type mustache type accent that bisects the grille, and turns down onto the front and lower bumper. The current Chinese-market Toyota Yaris has the choice of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder or 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine.
Toyota also showed the Yundong Shuangqing II concept, a C/D-segment sedan powered by a hybrid powertrain, described only as a concept hybrid vehicle that would be exclusive to the China market. The literal translation of Yundong Shuangqing is Movement Upon Clouds Dual Support which we interpret as smooth-riding hybrid. Accompanying the Yundong Shuangqing II is the FT-HT Yuejia, a six-passenger concept designed for the younger generation, whatever that means. Yuejia translates to happy family, highlighting the concepts six-passenger, family-friendly capacity.