The all-new 2019 Yaris platform is expected to revolutionize the Malaysian market by taking advantage of the downsizing and cost reduction trend while improving safety, environmental performance and vehicle life. Today we look back at a few stories from the Toyota Yaris.

The first generation of Yaris

The first Yaris adopted the Toyota Funtime design concept first exhibited at the Frankfurt motor show in 1997. This design concept was first introduced at the Paris motor show in 1998 and first applied to the Asian market of the Toyota vies launched in January 1999.

The Yaris is designed by the ED2 studio of Toyota in France. It is fashionable and distinctive, with a strong European flavor. The body is relatively tall and spacious. The ergonomics is the core of the design, and the entire internal layout is completely reconstructed. For example, the redesign of the digital dashboard can effectively reduce the driver's perspective transfer time. At the same time, the safety measures are excellent, and its environmental protection performance is the best of its kind.

For the first time, the 1sz-fe 998cc 16v four-cylinder petrol engine nicknamed "powerful atom", with variable valve timing capable of producing 67bhp and 50 + MPG fuel consumption, won the first international engine of the year award. The second engine, the 2nz-fe 1.3-litre vvt-i engine, was launched around October 1999 and is mainly used in high-specification five-door cars. With this engine, the Yaris started the era of the four-speed automatic transmission as an alternative to the standard five-speed manual transmission.

It also has an adjustable chassis and a reinforced body, with a mid-range speed of 40-60mph that is faster than its peers.

ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution become full standard configurations and offer new multi-mode manual transmission options on the 1.0-liter model.

The Second-generation Toyota Yaris

Chief engineer Kibauke Shibahara had higher requirements for the second Yaris, focusing on the following three key elements:

• the new Yaris must be faithful to the DNA of the previous generation, including multifunctional interior space, comfort, safety and athletic performance.

• to further improve the level of complexity and model refinement, more intimate service for users.

• by improving the texture of the vehicle, from driving dynamics to more specific details, such as the sound of each door closing.

The new car, again designed by Toyota's ED2 plant in France, went on sale in the UK on January 2006. The second Yaris employs Toyota's Minimal intrusion into the cab system. Moreover, due to the short cantilever and the clever design of the bridge front architecture, the collision performance of the vehicle has been improved by 30%. With as many as nine airbags dotted around the cabin, the new Yaris earned the highest five-star occupant protection rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.

Modular rear seats provide up to 880 mm of legroom for rear passengers. If more space is needed, the new Easy Flat backseat folding system USES a cantilever mechanism to sink the backseat pad deep into the foot space to create a Flat loading area, creating unparalleled capacity.

Production of three - and five-door body styles, can choose three kinds of engines. The entry-level powerplant is the 1.0-litre vvt-i petrol engine Shared with the Aygo, which produces 68bhp at 52.3mpg and has low emissions.

In February 2009, the second generation Yaris was updated with a new 1.3-liter dual vvt-i 6-speed engine with start-stop technology and a gentle modification of the headlamps.

The Third generation Toyota Yaris

Toyota showed off its all-third-generation Yaris HSD concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show. The new model's unique selling point is all-inclusive hybrid technology, and 95% of its vehicles will be equipped with Toyota's affordable Touch&Go multimedia system.

The all-new Yaris remains one of the most compact cars in its class, adding 100 millimeters to its overall length, while the longer wheelbase, shorter suspension and lower roof highlight the changing chassis dynamics. The drag coefficient dropped to Cd 0.287, the leading car in the same class. The all-new Yaris scored its fifth consecutive five-star performance in collision safety. Although the cabin length is the same as that of the outgoing vehicle, the clever development of the components means that the interior space has actually increased by 2%, putting it in the leading position among its peers.

Thanks to generations of engineers' meticulous design, Yaris still remains a fascinating attraction to a wide range of customers.