Toyota Yaris Ativ HEV Teased, Launches This Week In Thailand

Here’s an interesting development from the Kingdom just north of our Peninsular’s borders known as the ‘Land of Smiles’. It seems that Toyota is gearing up to launch a new hybrid offering there this week, and it’s one that could come to Malaysia soon after too.

Set to debut on Aug 21 is the new Toyota Yaris Ativ HEV. For the uninitiated, the Yaris Ativ is what the Thais call the Vios in their market. The debut if a brand new HEV variant for which marks the first time said nameplate gains a hybrid powertrain under its hood.

The HEV-powered version of the Yaris Ativ (Vios) is something we’ve been expecting. Given its DNGA platform underpinnings, it’s presumed that the Daihatsu scandal may have been a key catalyst to its delayed market arrival. Nevertheless, arrive it will.

Screen grabs of the official teaser video for the new Yaris Ativ HEV released by Toyota.

Toyota Thailand’s official teaser video doesn’t reveal much other than the ‘HEV’ script badge the model will rock on its tailgate just above the right-side taillight. Reputable Thai sources also report two variants will be launched – HEV Premium and HEV GR Sport.

Moreover, Thai sources continue to speculate that the Yaris Ativ HEV will adopt the same powertrain as the Yaris Cross. As a refresher, this compact crossover shares the same DNGA platfrom base, and it’s marketed in Thailand solely with hybrid power.

Thai-spec Toyota Yaris Cross pictured, which rides on the same DNGA underpinnings as the Yaris Ativ. The compact crossover is also marketed solely with a hybrid powertrain in Thailand.

The Yaris Cross mentioned uses an E20-compliant 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cyl petrol mill that works in tandem with an e-motor, the former rated at 90 HP and 121 NM whilst the latter has 79 HP and 141 NM instead. Total system output will stand at 110 HP.

Primed with a compact 0.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and paired with an E-CVT box, this front-wheel-drive (FWD) compact crossover also sees its hybrid powertrain noted yield ultra-high efficiency figures of up to 26.3 KM/litre.

Current  AC100-gen and DNGA-based Toyota Vios (Yaris Ativ) model pictured.

The ensuing new compact sedan derivative of which detailed should be able to at least match the Yaris Cross HEV in terms of fuel efficiency, if not better it. Certainly, this will also give the rivalling Honda City e:HEV something to sweat about.

Naturally, with the latest AC100-gen and DNGA-based non-HEV variant, we can perhaps expect it to arrive locally in Malaysia soon enough. We’ll have more once the new Toyota Yaris Ativ HEV debuts in Thailand later this week.

In the meantime, what do you folks think? Are you keen to see Toyota finally offer a hybrid-powertrain choice for one of its best-sellers? Hit the comments below…