Description
With the great success of the 1999 models, Toyota decided it was time for a redesign of the Yaris. The refreshed version was released in 2003.
The new design was meant to create a better looking car, while still keeping some of the original Yaris.
The front bumper, along with the radiator grille and the headlights were refreshed to give a sportier look. At the rear, the bumper was restyled.
A new Color Collection was available for the facelift Yari, and it stood out with the metallic paint finish and other features such as front fog lamps, a chrome exhaust pipe, alloy wheels and color-matching door mirrors and bumpers.
The users could choose from Twilight Blue, Carlo Blue, Thunder Grey, Eclipse Black and Crystal Silver only for the 1.0-liter and the 1.3-liter VVT-i gasoline engines.
The engines mentioned above were mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The body structure was revised to improve safety, along with the ride quality and the car’s dynamics. The NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) level was reduced and the Yaris felt more like a larger car.
The interior of the Yaris was roomy for such a small car, with both the front and the rear passengers benefiting of great comfort.
With a decent trunk size for a car in its class, the Yaris also had foldable rear seats (with a 60:40 configuration) to extend the load area if necessary.
Press Release
When Toyota took the opportunity to refresh the styling of Toyota Yaris in spring 2003, the challenge to the design team was to create a new look without diluting the model's intrinsic styling values. This was achieved by restyling the front bumper, radiator grille and headlights to provide a striking, sportier and more youthful look. Both the air vent in the bumper and the radiator grille feature a mesh treatment and the headlamps have a teardrop shape that extends into the top line of the bumper. The inner surface of the headlights is chrome plated, adding to the boldness of the Toyota Yaris's appearance and improving forward illumination.
At the rear, there is a restyled bumper and more sharply figured light clusters, finished with an all-over red tone. These exterior refinements follow some of the design cues seen on the Toyota Yaris Cabrio Concept, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2000.
TOYOTA YARIS FASHIONS THE NEW COLOUR COLLECTION
The Toyota Yaris also offers further driver appeal with the Colour Collection. On sale since February 2005, these new models are laden with extra features that make the Toyota Yaris more eye-catching and desirable than ever, but at prices that represent supreme value for money.
The Colour Collection cars stand out on the street thanks to their metallic paint finish, front fog lamps, chrome exhaust finisher, alloy wheels (1.3-litre versions only) and body colour-matched door mirrors and bumpers. There are five colours to choose from: Twilight Blue, Carlo Blue, Thunder Grey, Eclipse Black and Crystal Silver.
2003 Toyota Yaris
On the inside, special features include scuff plates, height adjustable leather trimmed steering wheel with built-in audio system controls and a leather and chrome finished gear knob.
Prices are the same as for equivalent T3 models, in spite of the additional features which have a combined value of £900 or £1,250 in the case of the 1.3-litre versions with alloy wheels.
The Toyota Yaris Colour Collection is available with 1.0 or 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol engines in three or five-door hatchback body styles and with five-speed manual transmission.
On-the-road prices for the Colour Collection models start at £8,595 for the 1.0-litre VVT-i three-door and £9,095 for the 1.3-litre VVT-i three-door (including alloy wheels). Five-door models cost an additional £500 and air conditioning plus a roof spoiler is available as a £500 option.
STRENGTH AND REFINEMENT BUILT-IN
Unseen, but vital to the overall perception of quality is the body structure. This has been reinforced at vital points not only to improve the Toyota Yaris's already impressive safety performance but also to enhance ride quality and dynamics. It also minimises Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) to a level more often associated with larger, heavier cars.
The car's overall interior volume equals that of some cars in the next class up and this spaciousness contributes much to driver and passenger comfort and convenience.
REFINED INTERIOR
The quality of the interior plays an important role in communicating the perceived quality of the car. Already considered by customers to be "best in class" in terms of its specification and powertrain, the Toyota Yaris is enhanced by a package that includes high quality facia, instrumentation and steering wheel design.
The facia moulding is shaped in dark plastic to minimise distracting reflections in the windscreen. The central instrument display incorporates speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge, odometer and, on models fitted with the Multi-mode Manual Transmission, a transmission indicator.
Interior colours have been chosen to provide a refined cabin ambience and bright metallic detailing (door handles, air vents and hand brake release button) on some versions add to the feeling of quality and modern design.
Rear seats slide for and aft and are equipped with three-point seatbelts. Leather straps are fitted for folding and pulling back the rear seat assembly, which divides 60:40 for flexible seating and load area configuration.
