Silverarrow Neutral Newbie June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 Came across a recent Frankel Motor ad featuring an unnamed Toyota. Turned out to be the newly launched Toyota Passo, a nicely-packaged car smaller than the Vitz but promises class-leading fuel economy. *** New Toyota and Daihatsu Twins Unveiled Link: http://thetelegram.auto123.com/autonews/in...iew&artid=25679 Passo and Boon are New Asian Micro-Cars from Toyota and Daihatsu Toyota and Japanese micro-carmaker Daihatsu are bringing two new cars to the compact Asian car market for 2005. Called the Passo and Boon respectively, they're actually the same vehicle right down to the last detail. Yes, this is more than just a case of platform sharing - the panels and the wheels even exactly the same. The only real differences between the two are the badges, Toyota Passo on one and Daihatsu Boon on the other. The Passo is not to be confused with the Paseo, a small underpowered 2+2 seat coupe Toyota built during the 1990s, said to be a fun, economical sports coupe. Rather, the Passo and Boon launch Toyota and Daihatsu's new mini-compact platform, which features a 2,440 mm (96.1 inch) wheelbase and a 3,595 mm (141.3 inch) long body length. The length is a fair bit smaller than Toyota's smallest car currently, the Yaris/Echo Hatchback/Vitz. Despite that, it does not fall under the classification of the Kei laws. As for Daihatsu, the Boon fits in to its range as part of the brand's modern luxury range. Two engines will be available in both cars, starting with a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder motor featuring 71 horsepower, and topping out with a slightly larger 1.3-liter inline four producing 90 horsepower. Equal participation has gone into producing the engines; with the 90 horsepower motor coming from Toyota and the 71 horsepower I-3 from Daihatsu, but not before a strict overhaul for refinement and smoothness. Like many Japanese-domestic minicars, buyers will have the option of choosing from such features as a CVT transmission and all-wheel drive. The Passo and Boon will be on sale shortly in Japan. While a move to downscale is already underway in Canada, Toyota will most likely maintain the Echo Hatchback as its smallest entry and Daihatsu doesn't market cars in North America. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum Clutched June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 wow.. looks cute on the outside. Looks fierce on the inside, look at whats sticking out of the dashboard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverarrow Neutral Newbie June 23, 2004 Author Share June 23, 2004 (edited) Looks fierce on the inside, look at whats sticking out of the dashboard I thought that thing that sticks out from the dashboard (i.e. the rev counter) looks a little weird. Upon closer inspection of Toyota's spec sheets, I found out that the rev counter is actually an optional item. Heck, Frankel's car will be a little incomplete if the version they're bringing in comes without this item. Edited June 23, 2004 by Silverarrow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie47 1st Gear June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 (edited) I'd say the 1L is fine for the city driving we have here but the 1.3L will much more versatile. Should bring in the 1.3L with the rev counter. Yes weird position for the rev counter. Toyota comes back with econo-hatches! Yay! BTW, the article is wrong. The econo sports coupe is not called the Passo but the Paseo. Uses a higher performance 1.5L engine that is found in the US Tercels. Edited June 23, 2004 by Genie47 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkLord 1st Gear June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 Huhz, what is the gear stick doing up so high for a 1L car?? But the car looks yummy overall manz! The face-lifted Fit... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phochem Neutral Newbie June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 save some leg rooms??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkLord 1st Gear June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 Somehow the gear stick reminds me of those ancient time when it is found on the "lolis" and taxis! But the price is quite tempting... Maybe should check it out first before striking it off my list... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkLord 1st Gear June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 I just noticed something different/funny about the speedo.... Again seems like a "retro" design! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bcyn Neutral Newbie June 23, 2004 Share June 23, 2004 the speedometer looks like one on the mini cooper? maybe the mini is in the center but this aint? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverarrow Neutral Newbie June 23, 2004 Author Share June 23, 2004 I'd say the 1L is fine for the city driving we have here but the 1.3L will much more versatile. Should bring in the 1.3L with the rev counter. Yes weird position for the rev counter. Toyota comes back with econo-hatches! Yay! BTW, the article is wrong. The econo sports coupe is not called the Passo but the Paseo. Uses a higher performance 1.5L engine that is found in the US Tercels. Actually, the article correctly states "The Passo is not to be confused with the Paseo, a small underpowered 2+2 seat coupe Toyota built during the 1990s, said to be a fun, economical sports coupe." But I agree with you that the 1.3 litre version of the Passo is a much better alternative. I guess these PIs are trying to maximise their profit margins by bringing in lower specced versions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverarrow Neutral Newbie June 23, 2004 Author Share June 23, 2004 Somehow the gear stick reminds me of those ancient time when it is found on the "lolis" and taxis! But the price is quite tempting... Maybe should check it out first before striking it off my list... That column-mounted gear shift may not be everyone's cup of tea. However, I've driven a luxurious Toyota Estima/Previa with such a feature, and you'd get used to it very quickly. The latest Mitsubishi Colt is equipped with this feature as well. The advantage of a column-mounted gear shift is in freeing up space between the front two seats. In the case of the Colt, that space turned the front seats into a bench (which is perfect for some... ahem... "naughty" play). In the case of the Passo, the space between the front two seats became a walk-through access to the rear, since Toyota has also repositioned the parking brake lever to dunno-where. If you decide to check the car out, do let the rest of us know how the car is like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accenture Neutral Newbie June 24, 2004 Share June 24, 2004 not cheap for a 1 litre car man... 64.8K... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverarrow Neutral Newbie June 24, 2004 Author Share June 24, 2004 not cheap for a 1 litre car man... 64.8K... Yah lor... what else can we expect from a Toyota brand brought in by a PI? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkLord 1st Gear June 24, 2004 Share June 24, 2004 It's auto right?? Can't imagine shifting gears all the time with that gear stick! Reminds me of my dad's old "loli"! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppe Clutched June 24, 2004 Share June 24, 2004 wow...nice interior great stuff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wankie Clutched June 24, 2004 Share June 24, 2004 Its seriously not that badlah, used to "test drive" my dad's renault 16 (does anyone still remember those??) when i was underaged shifts quite naturally... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverarrow Neutral Newbie June 24, 2004 Author Share June 24, 2004 It's auto right?? Can't imagine shifting gears all the time with that gear stick! Reminds me of my dad's old "loli"! Oh well... this is the nature of engineering trade-offs. A repositioning of certain controls are necessary to free up useful space between the front seats. Honda has done it with a dash-mounted shifter in their Civic hatch, and they claimed that the shorter distance between the steering wheel and the gear-shift makes driving easier. Of course, if people are used to the usual positioning of the gear-shift (i.e. far, far away from the steering wheel, which requires unneccessarily longer travel for your shifting arm) then complains are inevitable since people have a tendency to resist change. I'm a traditionalist who used to favour manual shifters, but I had no problems adapting to a column-mounted auto gearstick. Can't speak on behalf of others though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacer Clutched June 24, 2004 Share June 24, 2004 $64k pays for the Look. but high for a 1.0L car. but sure it looks dashing and stylo.. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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