toyota singapore Archives - A Winsome Life

The All-New 2018 Toyota Vios is Bigger & Better

By delta April 1, 2018

Toyota is a market leader in the automotive industry globally and it is no surprise why the Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer continues to dominate the car market here in Singapore. With a strong belief that there is always a better way, Toyota constantly aims to exceed customer expectations and challenge conventional boundaries through their Kaizen spirit.

Just about four months ago, Borneo Motors (Singapore) launched the all-new Toyota Vios, an impeccable subcompact sedan equipped with state-of-the-art features and best-in-class safety and technology.

A pioneer of the subcompact category, the Vios has always embodied value since its introduction, a quality that has helped it gain an edge over its competition. Over the years, customer needs have evolved and environmental regulations have grown diverse and increasingly strict. In order for the Vios to retain its position at the forefront of the category, elements of the vehicle had to be rethought, while retaining the values that customers have come to know and love.

According to Takatomo Suzuki, Vios Chief Engineer, the new Vios is a new value pioneer – an innovative and quality new model designed without compromise. It was designed to focus on retaining the qualities Toyota customers have come to know and love like its value and comfort, while improving the technology and features of the car to keep up with changing customer needs and environmental demands.

Take a look at how the Toyota Vios has evolved over the years!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to take the new Toyota Vios out for a ride and having spent a few days with it; here are just some of my personal opinions and thoughts about the driving experience.

Appearance- Distinctive Styling, Inside and Out

Cutting-edge design defines the exterior of the new Vios, with its dynamic angles and sharp headlamps with integrated clearance lamps. The front of the new Vios has been updated with a horizontal grille for a wider yet more aerodynamic appearance.

On the inside, the central console of the new Vios has been redesigned to create a greater sense of integration. By removing the intervening gap and enlarging the centre cluster, the centre ornaments now extend seamlessly to integrate the upper portion of the instrument panel to the front console. All metallic ornaments such as the speaker grille, register knobs and air conditional dial have a consistent design throughout the interior. The Optitron meter and white LCD character display also enhance the advanced look and feel of the new Vios interior.

Comfort- A Spacious Interior Designed for Comfort

At 1730mm, the new Vios is the widest in class, featuring a spacious and comfortable cabin, where all occupants can sit in complete comfort thanks to newly designed rear seats and increased shoulder space.

An improved rear seat shape with enhanced coil springs and shock absorbers mean a smooth ride – even on bumpy roads, while the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) provides smooth acceleration, resulting in less fatigue and greater comfort for occupants. The Vios also provides excellent cabin quietness, due to the silencers and seals fitted throughout the car that enhance the sound absorption and sound insulation performance.

Safety- Class-Leading Safety and Technology

The new Vios comes equipped with seven SRS airbags, including SRS side airbags, SRS Curtain Shield Airbags (CSA) and SRS knee airbag. It also features a range of brake control systems to help prevent emergencies before they occur, such as the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

Driving Performance- Dynamic Efficiency

Driving performance of the new Vios has been optimised to suit the conditions of Singapore roads and fuel efficiency is maximised with a proven 1.5L Dual VVT-I engine, Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and Low Rolling-resistance Coefficient (RRC) tires. Both the E-grade and G-grade Vios are also Euro 6 compliant.

Summary

The new Toyota Vios is trendier and more sporty-looking than its predecessor. An affordable and reliable car for first-time car owners; the all-new Vios makes the perfect entry-level car that not only gets you from point A to point B but is also fuel-efficient and comfortable as well.

Although its setup is pretty basic and not as sophisticated, the in-car-entertainment system is one of the best that I have experienced. With a big boot space for shopping bags, the all-new Vios is definitely a functional car for most families.

Priced at $89,9881 for the Vios E-grade and $95,9881 for the Vios G-grade, the Vios is the perfect choice for any lifestyle.

Head down to the Toyota car showroom for a test-drive today!

2016 Automobile Review- The Latest Toyota Prius

By delta August 28, 2016

Toyota is one of the most reliable carmakers for the mass consumers till date and it is not a surprise why there are still so many Toyota cars on the roads in Singapore.
Thanks to Toyota Singapore, we had the privilege to own the latest Toyota Prius for half a week and we had lots of fun zipping around Singapore in this fuel efficient and futuristic hybrid car. With more than 8 million hybrids sold worldwide, the Toyota Prius is a modern-day icon that is so efficient that it remains unrivalled.

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Exterior

The “Triangle Silhouette” that defined the second and third-generation Prius models has been reimagined. In profile, it is longer and sleeker with the overall outline evoking an athletic shape. The hood is lower, and in fact the name badge on the front is at the same height as on the Scion FR-S sports car.

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The distinctive roof peak has been moved forward by 170mm to further reduce drag while still ensuring ample rear-seat headroom. Edgy character lines run along the side from the front fenders. One is just above the sill that sweeps up towards the rear fender, while the upper crease morphs into the rear spoiler. The rocker panel features a distinctive light-catching upward-facing surface that begins at the lowest part of the vehicle to highlight its stable low stance.

New standard Bi-LED headlamps dominate the Prius’ front fascia and give it an unforgettable face. Automatic headlamp levelling keeps the beam focused on the road and helps prevent blinding drivers in oncoming vehicles.

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The unique and striking rear combination lamps express the distinctive lines of the Prius from the rear spoiler to the trailing edges of the sides and leave one of the most evocative night-time signatures on the road today.

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A palette of seven exterior colours includes an all-new Toyota hue, Hypersonic Red. A newly developed treatment process yields a deep and vibrant lustre highlighting the external forms. Perhaps red will be the new green!

Overall, the Toyota Prius exudes a sharp and confident design that is truly a head-turner.

Interior

The Toyota Prius brought not only a futuristic trend to exterior design, but also to interior configuration, delivering mid-size room in a compact package.

The intuitive concept of former Prius generations continues, anchored by a centrally mounted gauge panel. The information displays and the center display wrap around the instrument panel, showing a layered structure. A seamless flow from the instrument panel into the door trim creates an open, airy ambience.

The soft instrument panel and trim surfaces convey a smooth, warm feel. Features that drivers use on a regular basis, including a new electric fuel lid release, are placed close to hand for intuitive operation. The look may seem futuristic, but the driver does not need an advanced degree to use the controls.

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In the 2016 Toyota Prius, the electronic information cluster appears to float through a carefully carved, almost invisible rear surface. The new panel features dual 4.2-inch full-colour TFT multi-information displays, and their content can be changed using steering wheel controls. To suit the mood, the display background colour changes depending on selected driving mode. Choose Power mode, and the background becomes racy red. Select Normal mode for a soothing blue glow.

The display provides a multitude of readouts for hybrid energy information and much more, but best of all, the driver can choose how much information to receive by selecting either Simple or Segmented display modes.

A driving support display shows the status of features such as radar cruise control, Lane Departure Alert and other systems. The driver can cycle through the Multi-Information Display content using steering wheel-mounted switches. After the vehicle is turned off, the display will remain on for 30 seconds to show elapsed time, distance travelled, average fuel economy, Eco Score result, and driving advice to help enhance fuel economy.

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The most critical element of the new Toyota Prius interior becomes apparent only once underway; quietness. With a lighter, more efficient hybrid system and greater usage of high-strength, light-weight body materials, Toyota was able to significantly increase noise control measures without hurting the vehicle’s fuel economy or performance.

New noise-control features and materials throughout the body, engine compartment and cabin combine to give the 2016 Prius a serene passenger cabin. A sound-insulating laminated windshield glass and numerous new sound absorbers in the dash structure reduce noise intrusion.

The 2016 Toyota Prius may be the most comfortable way to conserve fuel. Amenities abound in this roomier, quieter model, with comfort and convenience manifesting in many details. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel comes wrapped in urethane synthetic leather.

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The air conditioning system uses a new, quieter electric compressor, and the Smart-flow mode focuses airflow only to areas where occupants are seated in order to help maximise fuel economy and comfort. The system’s slim climate control panel conveys a luxurious feel with piano black finish for the switches and chrome accents. Each control is arranged directly underneath its corresponding display, for intuitive operation.

The Toyota Prius comes ready to connect with your world through its Entune Audio systems. The Entune Audio system comes as a standard and it includes the Entune Multimedia Bundle (6.1 in. touch-screen display, AM/FM CD player, six speakers, auxiliary audio jack, USB 2.0 port with iPod® connectivity and control, advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology), plus Siri® Eyes Free mode and an integrated backup camera display.

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Driving Experience

Of all the cars that we have driven this year, the Toyota Prius offers the smoothest and quietest driving experience. There is no doubt about it.

When I first sat in the driver’s seat of the Toyota Prius and pushed the Start Engine button, nothing seemed to happen as there wasn’t any sound of a roaring engine (you know that usual engine sound when you turn the ignition key?) but when I shifted the gear to ‘Drive’ mode, the car moved off in a quiet fashion.

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What I really like about the whole driving experience with the Toyota Prius is the smooth transition from gear to gear and the rapid acceleration that it offers. The car handling in terms of cornering and braking is also superb too. There’s everything to like about the Toyota Prius and if there’s one thing I don’t like about the car, it has got to do with travelling at high speed as I felt like I was floating/flying on the road. I suppose this is only normal for an eco-friendly car because the weight of the car ultimately affects fuel efficiency and the Toyota Prius is designed to be lightweight.

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While turning heads, the new Toyota Prius design slices through the air with a 0.24 coefficient of drag, among the lowest of current production passenger cars. The sleek shape is aided by myriad details to keep the wind going on its way.

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Overall, the Toyota Prius is a fun car to drive and despite being heavy footed throughout, we managed to achieve 18km/litre (which could have been better if there wasn’t the frequent peak hour traffic jam).

If you have been eyeing on the Toyota Prius for a while now, there is no better time to own the all-new Prius because from now till 7 September 2016, Toyota Singapore is having some attractive promotions and if you purchase a Toyota Prius during this period, it will come with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.

At the time of writing, the price for the all-new Toyota Prius 1.8 – Sedan Auto Hybrid starts from SGD$136,888. For more information about the latest Toyota Prius, you can visit Toyota Singapore Official Website or head down to their showroom for a test-drive!

[Test Drive]- The All-New 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis

By delta March 28, 2014

Thanks to Toyota Singapore, we had the opportunity to test drive the all-new Corolla Altis over the weekends and if you are wondering whether the car is worth buying, read on to find out more!
Built upon the stellar reputation of the Toyota Corolla’s iconic badge, the all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis represents a triumphant showcase of Toyota’s philosophy of constant improvement. This year, the series’ 11th generation fuses stylish design with durability and reliability, to redefine the legend that is the Toyota Corolla Altis. When we were driving the all-new Corolla Altis, we realised that there are more Toyota Corolla Altis on the roads than other brands of cars.

The all-new Corolla Altis’ design theme exudes the confidence of a modern, advanced vehicle. With a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs, the car holds an athletic stance with greater presence. More pronounced flared wheel arches and a clean yet impactful sculpted surface adds an air of elegance to its sporty exterior. Viewed in profile, a sweeping crease in the body sheet metal spans the length of the sedan and accentuates the integrated door handle design.

The exterior tapers towards the front and rear of the vehicle to emphasize its wheel arches, with a longer, faster sloping roofline that blends into a shorter rear deck to give the sedan a sportier image.

A horizontally oriented dash structure enhances the interior with a sense of spaciousness while providing a more intuitively functional space to interface with vehicular controls. The interior offers a premium aesthetic with its use of piano-black gloss trim highlighted by cyber carbon accents, while posh trimming conveys an upscale yet sportier image. Ornamental stitching along the edge of the dash pad adds the intricacy of craftsmanship to the interior’s upscale nature.

As a result of the increase in vehicle wheelbase, passenger comfort in the all-new Corolla Altis’ interior package has been dramatically improved, with significantly increased legroom for rear seat occupants.

A new sporty 3-spoke steering wheel, designed with a characteristic V-shaped silver ornamentation and clad in genuine leather, provides excellent ergonomics driving to remain a comfortable experience, even for longer journeys. Shortcuts to access frequently required information and audio controls are placed within easy reach to ensure safe driving at all times.

The all-new Corolla Altis offers an efficient 1.6-litre, four-cylinder 16 Valves DOHC engine equipped with Dual VVT-i that generates a power output of 121 bhp and 154 Nm torque. The Dual VVT-i varies the timing and lift of the engine’s valves to suit driving requirements, resulting in improved responsiveness, superior fuel economy of 6.5l/100km, and low CO2 emission of 151g/km.

Our Take On The All-New Corolla Altis

From a driver’s point of view, the all-new Corolla Altis is for the minimalist. Although there are not much features like the luxurious Kia Optima K5 to rave about, the all-new Corolla Altis does offer the driver and its passengers a very smooth and comfortable journey on the road. Spacious in the interior with sufficient legroom, the road experience is no doubt a very comfortable one. In terms of driving experience on the road, the all-new Corolla Altis’ 1.6-litre, four-cylinder 16 Valves DOHC engine equipped with Dual VVT-i is very responsive, quiet, and smooth. The gear transmission is barely audible and the braking grip is tight; allowing for sufficient reaction time in the event of an emergency. If you are looking for a power-packed car with a lot of features, then the all-new Corolla Altis is not for you. Will the all-new Corolla Altis attract young buyers? Probably yes for young couples with children but probably no for the yuppies [young urban professionals].

Bolstered by an impressive 5-year unlimited mileage warranty plus 1-year of free servicing, the all-new Corolla Altis is currently priced at SGD$135,988 with a CEVS Rebate of SGD$5,000.

For more information and updates from Toyota Singapore, do check out Toyota Singapore’s Website!