By Steve Laser
The popular European Toyota Yaris Cross receives an array of product enhancements for the new year. The list includes the debut of a flagship Premiere Edition, a more powerful Hybrid system, new safety and driver assist systems, and increased high-tech features.
The Premiere Edition offers a distinctive appearance with new Urban Khaki bi-tone exterior paint, and new 18-inch dark gray machined-finished five-spoke alloy wheels. It also gains performance benefits from the latest Hybrid 130 system.
Hybrid 130 features a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine with a more powerful electric motor-generator (MG1), for increased total system output of 130bhp/96kW. Torque for the MG2 motor is also increased by 30 percent to 185Nm. The results are said to include more dynamic and responsive acceleration. Base Yaris Cross models continue with a carryover 114bhp/85kW system, now called Hybrid 115.
Premiere Edition’s cabin is dressed with upholstery stitching and deco lines on the instrument panel and doors to match the Urban Khaki exterior. A new 12.3-inch instrument display offers customizable styles with driver-selectable Smart, Casual, Sporty and Tough options. A 10.5-inch multimedia touchscreen, plus a new Smart Digital Key, are included.
Yaris Cross GR SPORT shares the new Hybrid 130 system with the Premiere Edition. It also features distinctive sporty elements, including mesh-type upper and lower front grilles, unique alloy wheels, GR SPORT suspension tuning, and badges.
Inside is a GR SPORT leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching, and GR SPORT Black Ultrasuede® front sport seats. Toyota’s Smart Connect multimedia system delivers cloud-based navigation, plus enhanced voice recognition with a “Hey Toyota” voice agent. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and over-the-air multimedia upgrades, are included.
Toyota Safety Sense gains an enhanced Pre-Collision System (PCS) with pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle detection, new Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) with Deceleration Assist and Steering Assist, plus enhanced Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Trace Assist (LTA), and Road Sign Assist.
Note: Features and specifications for UK market models are subject to change without notice. Yaris Cross is not available in America
News source and photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Europe and Toyota (GB) PLC
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