Toyota prepares new Verso MPV for Geneva debut

[coolmazda5]

There is another small multipurpose vehicle set to make its debut at the Geneva motor show.

Toyota is planning to show an all-new Verso. The automaker is promising improved interior accommodations for second- and third-row passengers and simpler and quicker folding of the rear seats with an improved Easy Flat-7 system.

The Verso will be available at launch with two gasoline- and one diesel-engine options. The gasoline range consists of 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter four-cylinders that both come standard with a six-speed manual. A continuously variable transmission is available with the 1.8-liter. For diesel fans, the Verso is available with a 2.0-liter unit and will be joined later by a 2.2-liter unit mated to new six-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota implements its Optimal Driver technology across the entire engine range. It consists of lighter-weight engines with low friction, more compact and smoother shifting transmissions and a start/stop system. According to Toyota, the changes yield up to a 20 percent increase in power, while improving fuel economy by up to 12 percent.

Standard features include side-curtain airbags, intelligent steering assist and stability control.

The Verso goes on sale in Europe this spring and is not destined for the United States.

Source:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090226/GENEVA/902269993

 

[coolmazda5]

Has a lot of Matrix cues, it is supposed to be going head to head with the Opel Zafira and the Mazda5

 

[Donas64]

That new toyota looks an awful lot like a vette.... Just kidding. It's ugly. Another misshapen malformed blob. The venza at least looked sorta cool

 

[07MZ5SA]

Still no sliding doors.

 

[starlightmica]

 

[coolmazda5]

Thanks starlightmica for the pic link

 

[coolmazda5]

Geneva 2009: Toyota Verso crams three rows into Corolla-sized package...

 

[coolmazda5]

Toyota officially unveiled the latest version of its slick looking, Euro-centric people mover at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Called the Verso (not to be confused with the Nissan Versa), the three-row, five-door hatchback wears handsome sheetmetal with lines that are definitely "in family" for Toyota. For as much as we like the outside, the instrument panel has Scion disease. Center gauges. Please stop it. That third row also has severely limited legroom, but it's still a neat trick to fit so many perches within a Corolla-sized footprint, even if some are occasional-use grade. The Verso will likely delight for bopping across the moorland, but you might need to have your legs removed so you'll fit in back.

Source:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/05/geneva-2009-toyota-verso/

 

[coolmazda5]

And people complain of the 3rd row legroom in the Mazda5?

 

[skyhawk]

And people complain of the 3rd row legroom in the Mazda5?

Maybe its just me, but there is no middle aisle. Open space. A feature that N.A. Mazda5 owners enjoy but take for granted.

 

[x10dude]

Maybe its just me, but there is no middle aisle. Open space. A feature that N.A. Mazda5 owners enjoy but take for granted.

The middle aisle is nice until you need to transport 7. It's a tradeoff.

Positives is that you get a aisle and the two 2nd row seats are independent.

Negative is that you lose a seat and you don't have a completely flat surface when you fold the 2nd row down. It can be a pain when you are transporting long pieces of lumber. They don't stack as nice with the aisle there (but minor annoyance)
The aisle does give a small amount of additional storage - so it depends on how you use it.

 

[Heat]

A couple of years ago I had read about the Toyota Ace which was said to be very close to the Mazda5 - it turned out to be the Toyota Venza which is, of course, a return of the Camry station wagon. This is the vehicle I was thinking of when I first heard about the Ace project.

And I'm sure that the back row will have size / weight restrictions. Just to toss out some numbers, the rear-facing jump seat in my old '93 Volvo wagon had size / weight restrictions of 5 feet max and 85 pounds max.

 

[brarsandeep]

Why even have a third row, if you can't really use it????
:wtf:

 

[coolmazda5]

Why even have a third row, if you can't really use it????

• It shows that they have a 3rd row so they compete on the segment
• It can be used, but you have to be on your knees, maybe meditating, so it does not hurt as much

 

[zoomzoom mazda5]

Looks like it's going after the Fit.

 

[x10dude]

Why even have a third row, if you can't really use it????
:wtf:

I can't comment on the Toyota since I've never seen it but for the 5, on short rides it actually does come in handy... esp if the people in the 3rd row are children or shorter adults. It's definitely not designed for comfort or leg room, but given a choice, I'd MUCH rather have a somewhat uncomfortable 3rd row available than not at all.

 

[coolmazda5]

I can't comment on the Toyota since I've never seen it

I think the pictures talk for themselves. Look closely at the 2nd row seat position compared to the 3rd on the Mazda5 and the Verso. The Mazda5 has at least some space to put the legs, but for the Verso I see 1-2 inches?

The 2nd row seats on both are on a "regular" position if you ask

(check the position of the B-Pillar on both compared to the 2nd row seat)

 

[x10dude]

Agreed... if these are promotional pictures from Toyota, they'd probably be better off not publishing the 3rd row pics at all.

Looks like the Verso is simply too short in length to have a useable 3rd row.

 

[coolmazda5]

Agreed... if these are promotional pictures from Toyota, they'd probably be better off not publishing the 3rd row pics at all.

Looks like the Verso is simply too short in length to have a useable 3rd row.

Yup, now to their credit, the pics also show the space left after the 3rd row, and it looks like there is more usable space left than in the Mazda5, or may be not as the hatch is more angular (scratch)?

 

[x10dude]

Correct me if I am wrong but I read somewhere that the length of the Verso is just above 174 inches which makes it about 7 inches shorter than the Mazda5... that's gotta set some sort of record for "shortest vehicle with 3 rows"... or perhaps "most uncomfortable 3rd row seat ever made"