UK: Toyota Aygo gets the blues
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While US automakers like GM ponder whether or not our market is ready for an ultra-compact city car, in Europe, the segment's old news. Ultra-compact, easy on the wallet, and stingy with fuel, urbanites have a wide range of vehicles from which to choose. Toyota has a stylish entry in the Aygo, which is also sold in French guise as the Citroën C1 and the Peugeot 107. Named one of the UK's top 10 green cars of 2006, the Aygo is powered by a 67-horsepower 1.0L VVT-i 3-cylinder that gets over 60 mpg (Imperial gallons) in the combined cycle.
Last summer, the special-edition Aygo Black color and equipment package was released in the UK. This year, it looks as if Toyota GB is ready for a follow-up, unveiling the Aygo Blue, which joins the Aygo Black in the lineup. Like it's darker brother, the color is the overriding theme, with Lagoon Blue metallic paint, color-coordinated floormats, and blue accents on the dash and instrument panel, and Bluetooth connectivity (nice touch) all finding their way onto the spec sheet. Additional interior features are included, and the car can be further dressed up with optional packages that add items such as foglamps and alloy wheels. Pricing comes in at £7,995 for the 3-door and £8,245 for the 5-door.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Toyota GB]
PRESS RELEASE: AYGO BLUE: A COOLER HUE FOR TOYOTA'S URBAN HERO
KEY POINTS
* Aygo Blue joins Aygo range
* High specification, including Bluetooth and air conditioning as standard
* Exclusive Lagoon Blue metallic paint and blue-themed interior
* On sale from 14 May, priced from £7,995
* New Aygo Style accessory pack available for Aygo+ and Aygo Blue
* Aygo range revised with deletion of Sport grade
NEW AYGO BLUE
Spring brings an addition to Toyota's Aygo range, the new Aygo Blue, a model that offers high specification and extra style.
Joining the established Aygo Black in the line-up, it expresses its blue theme in exclusive Lagoon Blue metallic paint, carpet mats and blue surrounds for the air vents and instrument panel.
Its true blue qualities extend to its high-tech specification, with the provision of Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free use of mobile phones.
And blue means cool, too, with air conditioning also provided as standard, with an integrated pollen filter and air recirculation function. A leather gear knob and a glovebox with lid completes the array of special features (this is also added to the specification of the Aygo Black model), but owners can go much further by choosing from a series of bespoke Aygo option packs.
These include a new Aygo Style pack, available for Aygo Blue and Aygo+ models, which provides front fog lamps, five-spoke 14-inch alloy wheels and chrome-effect front scuff plates.
Aygo Blue is available in both three and five-door body styles, priced from £7,995 on the road. The new Aygo Style accessory pack costs £600, including VAT.
AYGO RANGE REVISION
Toyota has revised the Aygo range to focus on customer preferences, deleting the Sport grade.
The revised line-up offers four grades - Aygo, Aygo+, Aygo Black and Aygo Blue – all powered by Toyota's remarkable three-cylinder 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine, with a choice of five-speed manual or optional MultiMode (M/M) transmission for an additional £500 (inc. VAT).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve 1:11PM (5/08/2007)
"While US automakers like GM" [...and apparently also Toyota, or there would be a U.S. AYGO too, right?]"ponder whether or not our market is ready for an ultra-compact city car"
Nice bit of biasing there! But seriously, if we were to give a nod to a manufacturer for getting a minicar to the U.S. shouldn't it be DCX with next year's Smart?
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Mattias 1:30PM (5/08/2007)
In german cities the Aygo/C1/107 massively outsells the Smart. It provides proper luggage space. If in need, you can transport four persons. It feels much better at 95mph on the Autobahn. Prices start around 8000€ which is also cheaper than the Smart's prices.
Another competitor in the ultracompact range I see very often in Leipzig and Berlin is the Peugeot 1007. It's not a "No Frills Car" like the 107 but a shrinked van (3,73m) with two sliding doors and engines up to 110hp (still 50mpg) that costs up to 22.000€...
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Alex Nunez 1:32PM (5/08/2007)
You're right, of course, about the smart. I mention GM specifically because they showed the three impressive-looking minicar concepts in New York, which shows that they are actually considering dipping a toe into the segment here.
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Alex Nunez 1:40PM (5/08/2007)
Mattias,
Of all the interesting small cars not available in the US, the Peugeot 1007 is high on my list of favorites. It's pretty good-looking for what it is, and the sliding-door configuration is a slick feature for close-quarters parking. The price certainly isn't cheap, though. Wow.
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Nils 3:04PM (5/08/2007)
1007 starting at €13440 for gasoline engine, €14740 for diesel. Euro's at $1,30 I think.
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Don 7:57PM (5/08/2007)
I'm not sure why anyone would buy the Smart in the States when they can buy a Yaris.
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Bob 12:46AM (5/09/2007)
Will it come to Canada, i mean the province of Quebec, where in north america people but more small car than anywhere on the continent... aygo come to us. come on toyota..
http://mininova.wordpress.com/
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calguy 1:30AM (5/09/2007)
Why would someone in the US buy a Smart over a Yaris? 1. that Yaris is WAY too big, that's why. 2. It is devoid of luxury. Looks cool, but without leather, heated seats, sunroof options... it's definitively econo. The key to making tiny cars popular in the states is taking the concept beyond 'cheap'. Use the iPod as an example. People used to want big-ass boomboxes.. till something small, chic and BETTER came along. You know anyone who wants a boombox now? Doupt it. Gotta bring the design to the table to get the peeps interested.
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Rick 10:05AM (5/09/2007)
Yaris doesn't even get cruise control as an option!!! haha sad.
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Thirty-Nine 10:24AM (5/10/2007)
We used to have no-frills cars in the U.S., but apparently tastes change. I really wish we'd get the Aygo, personally.
I love the Yaris hatch, and I can live w/o cruise, but no tach? The rest of the world (including Canada) gets a tach.
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jmetcalf 6:44PM (5/10/2007)
It's time for this segment to bloom in the U.S. My wife and I each have a car. Other than the occasional business trip or interstate trip to see family, most of our travel is within 15 miles of home (would love to bike, but don't want to risk life and limb on 45mph+ roads, and Michigan winters are COLD.) I would assume that we are not atypical. One of our cars could most definitely be of the Aygo class.
Bring it on quick- we are looking to replace our Civic hatchback!
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john 12:43AM (5/11/2007)
The reason we don't have them in the US is because of corporate greed. They can make much more money selling luxury cars of all sizes. They don't want to rock the boat for their buddys in the oil industry either. The super rich help the super rich, while pissing on the peasants. To hell with the corporatocracy! Bring on the 1 litre, 60 mpg cars already!
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