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Toyota’s New Compact Belta: Up to 51 MPG

Belta
The new Belta

Toyota has launched its new compact sedan, Belta, in Japan. The Belta is now Toyota’s smallest sedan.

The Belta delivers fuel efficiency under the Japanese test cycle of 4.6 l/100km (51 mpg US) with a 1.0-liter engine or 5.1 l/100km (46 mpg US) with a 1.3-liter engine, both gasoline-fueled.

Both engines use Toyota’s VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) system, and are coupled with Toyota’s Super CVT-i (Continuously Variable Transmission-intelligent) in the front-wheel drive models.

Toyota is also offering a four-wheel-drive version.

All front-wheel-drive vehicles in the series achieve emission levels 75% lower than the 2005 standards under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Approval System for Low-emission Vehicles.

The fuel consumption levels exceed by 5% the Japanese 2010 fuel efficiency standards, thus qualifying for incentives under the Japanese government’s Green Taxation System.

Toyota applied its Eco-VAS (Eco-Vehicle Assessment System)—Toyota’s original comprehensive environmental impact assessment system—to the Belta to reduce overall environmental impact, from initial development to disposal, throughout the entire lifecycle of the vehicle.

The company has set a monthly sales target of 3,000 units for the Belta, and is considering exporting as well to meet a growing demand for fuel-efficient cars.

Comments

sensitive_man

I say yes! Other power hungry people say no, and that is the problem with the USA market.

WattHead

I want one...

Justin

It'll be on sale in the US at the beging of the O6 model year. This is the sedan version of the Yaris. US market will get the Yaris 4 door (Belta) and the 3 door. No 5 door like canada though. US version gets 105hp 1.5 litre engine with about 40mph combined.

Maxx Reid

Its good that CVT is slowly gaining.
Better to have 1 system instead of these 4 speed, 5 speed, 6 speed are confusing.

But smaller sedan will have very little cargo space thats why Echo flopped. May be they put this engine/transmission in 3 / 5 door models.

Tripp Bisop

If cargo space is an issue the hatchback is the way to go. I'm really pleased with the cargo capacity of my Prius.

Mikhail Capone

There's a good chance that north-america won't get the CVT, just like the Yaris and Echo Hatchback have regular automatic transmissions here in Canada (which is a shame really -- though that may change once the Honda Fit/Jazz is out with a CVT).

The Echo sedan has been selling really well in Canada (unlike in the US), but the Echo Hatchback/Yaris that came in 2004 took away most of its sales. This redesign could really help it gain back customers.

Mikhail Capone

There's a good chance that north-america won't get the CVT, just like the Yaris and Echo Hatchback have regular automatic transmissions here in Canada (which is a shame really -- though that may change once the Honda Fit/Jazz is out with a CVT).

The Echo sedan has been selling really well in Canada (unlike in the US), but the Echo Hatchback/Yaris that came in 2004 took away most of its sales. This redesign could really help it gain back customers.

Justin

The US won't get the Honda Fit with CVT 7. Its going to be a 5 speed auto only.

Mikhail Capone

Justin,

I've been following a thread about the Fit pretty closely on the Edmunds forum and that "info" about the 5 speed seemed to have spread around the web, but coming from one fairly unreliable source, so I'd say that there's still hope.

Honda hasn't released (yet, AFAIK) anything official, and all around the world the CVT is the only auto transmission available for the Fit/Jazz (including in Mexico).

Or maybe you know something that I don't?

rexis

I want one too! CVT rox! 1.3L cool!

Jesse Jenkins

This is great to see the combination to two fuel economy-boosting technologies like CVT and VVT-i to get very good mileage. This is a perfect example of how incremental boosts in fuel economy can make a huge difference and even go so far as significantly offseting our dependence on imported oil here in the U.S. Check out this simple excercise in fuel economy to see what I'm talking about.

NismoTuned

So this is it... the Yaris saloon/sedan... and a thing of beauty it is too !! Very easy on the eye but still dynamic like its hatchback brother.

The first Yaris/Echo was never designed to be a sedan hence, grafting the back end on was never going to be easy with such a flat tail. To be fair, Toyota did a fine job and proved good sales in Canada at least.

The US market, used to the corolla/mazda3 as a 'small car' just couldn't fathom how interior space could be relatively similar and so most people fell over themselves and didn't go near it.

Already the new Yaris seems to be selling well (in Canada) and I imagine all the recent interest in more efficient vehicles in the US will give the Yaris and Belta a head start.

It's a shame then that it won't be available with the 1.3 (86hp), or 1.0 (67hp) that incidentally weighs just 76kg.

Should ULSD come across the atlantic and US law makers get their act together... it will be interesting to see what an impact a Yaris D4-D would have on the market. Although not in production yet, based on the first Yaris of 64.2mpg (4.35l/100km), this would be a huge leap in the minds of most people in N.America who have simply never been offered a 'normal' car with such capability.

Of course options already mentioned such as CVT and stop/start are already used in Japanese Yaris (Vitz) and would push boundaries further.

Diesel technology will eventually make its way to N.America, but in the meantime in 2006, it's great to see the Belta open the market so beautifully.

NismoTuned

...and that 64.2mpg (4.35l/100km) is Euro average of city and hwy. Thus 74mpg 58mpUSg (3.7l/100km) HWY...

JerryMalcolmson

Sounds great! It is keeping up with the need for the time.
I just purchsed a Camry and I am very pleased with it. The Toyota dealer in Hamilton Ont. Canada Upper James St. has been excelllent . I had two slight problems with the car and they are dealing with them. I also have contacted Toyota with another problem with the purchase but was not successful in dealing with it. They are being stuborn, but I have not given up yet!
Its sounds like the type of auto that would fit my daughters needs. Depending on price.
Jerry Malcolmson Hamilton Ont/ Canada

JerryMalcolmson

Sounds great! It is keeping up with the need for the time.
I just purchsed a Camry and I am very pleased with it. The Toyota dealer in Hamilton Ont. Canada Upper James St. has been excelllent . I had two slight problems with the car and they are dealing with them. I also have contacted Toyota with another problem with the purchase but was not successful in dealing with it. They are being stuborn, but I have not given up yet!
Its sounds like the type of auto that would fit my daughters needs. Depending on price.
Jerry Malcolmson Hamilton Ont/ Canada

JesseJenkins

So, yes, we will get the Yaris/Belta sedan in the U.S. and Canada (just like we will get the Yaris/Vitz liftback) in 2006 but sadly, both the sedan and liftback will not have CVT in the U.S. model. Neither will the European model. Only the Japanese Belta/Vitz versions of the Yaris will have CVT. All models will have VVT-i though which is a plus. The U.S. model will only be available with a 1.5 liter engine while the European model (and presumable the Canadian version) will be availalbe with a 1.3 liter or new high-tech 1.0 liter engine. There's a lot more here.

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