Pack leader gets better: New Toyota Vios unveiled

MANILA: It’s hard to argue with success — much less a sustained one. Eighteen-time triple-crown winner (with sales leadership in passenger car, commercial vehicle, and overall sales) Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) surely knows a lot about it.

If success were a sedan, it would be the Vios. Three generations and over 17 years of the subcompact have resulted in sales of almost 320,000 units locally – pacing all passenger cars in the Philippines. Last year, TMP reports that the Vios cornered 38.6% of the pie.

Produced chiefly for Toyota’s Asia-Pacific markets, the model has surely struck a chord in the car buying public who have acquired it for private as well as for fleet, taxi, and even ride-hailing use.

Today, the TMP has literally a lot riding on the Vios as it is also its entry in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, implemented by the government to “attract new investments, stimulate demand and effectively implement industry regulations that will revitalize the Philippine automotive industry, and develop the country as a regional automotive manufacturing hub.”

Under CARS, TMP is committed to hit unit sales of 200,000 for its locally assembled (at Santa Rosa, Laguna) Vios over six years. Last year, TMP moved 33,181 units. Of course, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic this year and lockdown that followed it, we’re not sure how much the pace has been set back.

Explained TMP Chairman Alfred Ty, “Under the CARS Program of the government, the Vios is our flagship. It helps support almost 55,000 lives throughout the Toyota network, 71 dealers, 56 local suppliers and countless other business and trade partners… Our Toyota Vios is a symbol of the best of Japanese technology and Filipino craftsmanship. In my mind, our Vios has become the national car of the Philippines.”

And here’s a sure shot in the arm in the form of the refreshed version of the Vios.

Launched today, Toyota says it boasts “improved modern design” and comes “at the forefront of TMP’s drive to lead the resurgence of the local auto industry by responding to the Filipinos’ need for quality, efficient, and safe mode of transportation.”

The new Vios closely follows the unveiling of the Wigo last June 15, in a digital presentation witnessed by thousands of viewers nationwide. “The new Vios is expected to continue its streak as the Philippines top-selling car – a record it has been holding for more than a decade now,” said TMP in a statement.

Meanwhile, TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto averred in his opening remarks: “You can count on TMP to stay true to our promise of making the world’s best Vios, and in the process, helping the economy, and providing livelihood to thousands of Filipino families.”

Toyota heralds the Vios as having upgraded design and new features across nine available variants: G CVT and M/T, E CVT and M/T, XLE CVT and M/T, XE CVT, and J and J Base in M/T.

 

New stuff

TMP says the new Vios gets a new glossy black front grille, plus three-tier LED headlights and daytime running lights for G variants. The G, E, and XLE variants also get LED foglamps.

The G additionally receives 16-inch alloy wheels and LED rear combination lamps with a line guide “for a sleek and sporty look from the front, to the side, and the back,” as well as a smart entry feature and push start/stop button. The G CVT also gets paddle shifters and drive modes (Eco and Sport).

All variants are equipped with SRS airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability control and hill-start assist control. G trims get a back camera, and customers can actually choose from three or seven SRS airbags for certain variants.

The pricing is as follows:

Variant	SRP	Color
G CVT	P1,071,000	White Pearl
	P1,056,000	Super Red V Grayish Blue Mica Metallic Alumina Jade Metallic Black
G MT	P1,012,000	White Pearl
	P997,000	Super Red V Grayish Blue Mica Metallic Alumina Jade Metallic Black
E CVT	P891,000	Thermalyte Red Mica Metallic Blackish Red Mica Grayish Blue Metallic Alumina Jade Metallic Black
E MT	P841,000
XLE CVT	P841,000
XLE MT	P791,000
XE CVT (7AB)	P753,000	Freedom White Thermalyte Red Mica Metallic Alumina Jade Metallic
XE CVT	P747,000
J MT (7AB)	P707,000
J MT	P697,000
Base MT (7AB)	P681,000	Freedom White Thermalyte
Base MT	P671,000

 

Buyers get a free periodic maintenance package of up to 20,000 kilometers, a five-year warranty, and one-year comprehensive insurance. Trade-in discounts are also available, as well as flexible financing deals.

Significantly, the new Vios will also be made available through the recently introduced car-leasing program, Kinto One. The car will appear at Toyota dealerships nationwide from July 27. For more information, visit the virtual showroom https://toyota.com.ph/vios, TMP’s official website at www.toyota.com.ph, and follow the official social media accounts and online communities at ToyotaMotorPhilippines (Facebook and Instagram), @ToyotaMotorPH (Twitter), and Toyota PH (Viber).

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines

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