Photo: screenshot from Youtube
In case you haven’t heard about the Toyota Passo (or Daihatsu Sirion) yet, think of it as Japan’s Chevrolet Spark. A small five-door hatch, slightly bigger than a kei car and fitted with a more powerful engine. And now that you know what this is, you should also know that the model just received a facelift in Japan.
However, the biggest change with the Toyota Passo isn’t related to a few redrawn lines on its body, but more with what’s under it. The compact’s car engine has been greatly improved to achieve better mileage and less CO2 emissions, which are now 75 percent lower that the 2005 standards on which the model has been built.
The newly-developed 1-liter gasoline engine features a 37-percent thermal efficiency increase over the outgoing model. This has been achieved by a higher compression, optimized valve timing, lower frictional forces and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) along an integrated exhaust manifold and cylinder head.
Fuel efficiency is also boosted by Toyota’s Start/Stop system which is offered as standard. This will automatically shut down the engine at around 9 km/h (5.6 mph) when slowing to a stop. The new engine now returns 3.6 l/100 km (64.9 mpg) according to the Japanese JC08 tests, representing a 30 percent increase over the previous one.
Further enhancements are represented by more standard safety features (Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and Emergency Brake Signal system) along with optionals like automatic foldable mirrors and ultraviolet/infrared light reducing front windows. There’s also a Welcab model designed for disabled and elderly people.
The new Passo will be available in three versions - the X, G and + Hana, each being offered with two engines (1-liter 69 hp/ 92 Nm or 1.3-liter 95 hp/121 Nm), CVT as well as front- and all-wheel-drive.
The X and G come in ten exterior colors and two-tone interiors, while the Passo X L package, Passo X G and Passo G model come with a bench seat and chrome touches.
Moving to the Passo + Hana, this one comes with vibrant pink inner lenses rear lamps, nine exterior colors and three two-tone setups. Door mirrors, handles and fog lamp bezels come finished in Shinju Gold and Brown accents.
The newly-developed 1-liter gasoline engine features a 37-percent thermal efficiency increase over the outgoing model. This has been achieved by a higher compression, optimized valve timing, lower frictional forces and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) along an integrated exhaust manifold and cylinder head.
Further enhancements are represented by more standard safety features (Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and Emergency Brake Signal system) along with optionals like automatic foldable mirrors and ultraviolet/infrared light reducing front windows. There’s also a Welcab model designed for disabled and elderly people.
The X and G come in ten exterior colors and two-tone interiors, while the Passo X L package, Passo X G and Passo G model come with a bench seat and chrome touches.
Moving to the Passo + Hana, this one comes with vibrant pink inner lenses rear lamps, nine exterior colors and three two-tone setups. Door mirrors, handles and fog lamp bezels come finished in Shinju Gold and Brown accents.
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