Toyota Yaris to be locally produced in Guangzhou by mid-2008

Shanghai. November 20 (Gasgoo.com) –Toyota’s hot-selling compact sedan Yaris, which is being displayed at a recent auto show in Guangzhou, will be locally produced in Guangzhou by the middle of next year, Guangzhou Toyota announced.

The new Toyota Yaris has achieved best safety performance in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety tests. It has been awarded a 5 star safety rating and 35 points for adult protection, the company announced on its Ireland website.

The 35 points for adult protection is simultaneously the highest score ever for a Toyota car. Driver and passenger front and side airbags, curtain shield airbags and a driver's knee airbag (a first in the segment) are available and there is a seat–belt warning system (with variable intensity buzzer) for both front seat passengers.

The Yaris body structure has been developed using Toyota’s Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS) technology which effectively disperses the energy of frontal or side impacts through the body in order to divert it away from the passenger cell and minimise cabin deformation.

Apart from safety features, Toyota Yaris has met the most stringent EU-IV emission standards.

The compact hatchback to be produced in Guangzhou next year, will come in two versions based on different displacement: a 1.3L engine and a 1.5L engine. And the model will be priced at a range of 60,000 yuan to 80,000 yuan ($8,000-$10,000).