Toyota Blade - First Premium Jap Hatch

[Miketow]

Dec 21, 9:53 AM EST

 

 

Toyota launches new hatchback in Japan

 

 

AP Photo/KOJI SASAHARA

 

TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota Motor Corp. on Thursday launched an up-market hatchback in Japan targeting aging baby boomers, as the carmaker's president said domestic sales for 2006 "were slightly behind" sales for the previous year.

 

The Blade hatchback, powered by a 2.4-liter engine, is its highest-class hatchback to date and carries a price tag of 2,247,000 yen (US$19,000) to 2,772,000 yen (US$23,460).

 

The world's second-biggest automaker said the main targets of the Blade are those who have already finished raising their children - a rapidly growing consumer group in aging Japan. The model will be available only in Japan, according to the company.

 

At the launch, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said domestic sales "were slightly behind" last year's unit sales. He said he would speak in more detail at a press conference scheduled for Friday.

 

Analysts say Toyota is on track to surpass General Motors Corp. in the coming years to become the world's No. 1 automaker.

 

Last month, Toyota announced plans to boost global sales to 9.8 million vehicles in 2008. GM sold 9.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2005, the second-largest volume it that company's history.

 

 

[Miketow]

Here are more pictures.

 

http://www.nihoncarandbike.com/news-393-To...+to+go+%21.html

[Miketow]

So will it be a worthy contender to the European Hatches like the Ford Focus or Opel Astra?

 

Well its only avaialble in Japan, but...

 

It doesnt look like it has the X Factor.

[Renegade]

Not sure about the x-factor part (tho' I'm inclined to agree with you... ) but it sure reminds me of the g9 'rolla hatch they sold in UK....

[Twinrongs]

very lame effort from Toyota

[Mtoh]

errr... 2.4L engine , Singapore confirm no orders

[Spiderman]

OT a bit...

 

Hmmmmm.... just wondering - exactly how many current models they have? Must be the champion in this area.

[Seansene]

Ok, so they took a Peugeot 307 and plonked on Latio headlights. If that makes it 'premium' then they obviously know something I don't...

[Ccssgm]

Probably...Tis Car wil take in By PI.........

[Miles]

I thought the headlights look a little bit like the E90 3 series.

profile look like the new Renault Clio

backside look like a hybrid of Latio and they own Harrier.

nice big rims tho...

if they put in the Camry's 4pot 2.4L,... it wont be much of a hot hatch... unless they retune it to revv higher. It may hit 0-100 in 7.5 secs or so. Probably lots of torque steer without proper ESP or LSD.

[Magfocus]

I think for Toyota, if it has to be REALLY premium, should it be of a different badge..

[Keithpapa]

start with letter "L"

[Ahhuat]

it is interesting how the japanese and germans do serious market research into the demographics and come out with cars that suit the changing times... koreans, malaysians and chinese still fall far behind in this aspect...

[Watwheels]

koreans, malaysians and chinese still fall far behind in this aspect...

 

They are considered new to the market as compared to the Japanese and Germans.

[Ahhuat]

but the japanese caught up to the germans and american auto industry pretty soon after they got into the market.. now they are leading certain markets...

 

the koreans are catching up... but they seem to be focusing more on creating quality cars in an already established end user market... and not looking at the market itself and creating cars for emerging markets...

 

the malaysians.. nothing good to say there... creating cars for malaysians...

 

china.. copying cars...

[Watwheels]

Yeah. Koreans can catch up rather quickly cos they are good in terms of technology.

 

Very soon they might just beat the Japanese at their own game.

[Ahhuat]

they still need to do more... right now their cars still suck in terms of quality.. except for a few models..

 

i drive a kia rio.. i should know..

[Watwheels]

Oh that's bcos they target low end buyers for export. If u had been to Korea u'll notice they have high-end models too.

 

I've been in one made by KIA. I can't remember the model's name but its class is the same as Merc S-class and so is its interior. The Koreans told me these posh models can only be found in their domestic market.

 

I'm impressed with that car but the exterior is a bit ah pek as usual.