As far as Toyota has said so far, we continue to get the echo in the current incarnation for another year. The US will get the new Platz and Vitz under a different name than echo (perhaps the Vitz will be the new scion Xa), and the year after, we get the new Vitz and Platz. May even come as a 2006.5 model depending on production phase out, but nothing is official yet.
If you mean in 05, then no. It's not coming. If you mean as an 06, there's a chance depending on the production schedules. My guess is Toyota will not continue production of a legacy model for one market the size of Canada, unless they have nothing to retool that plant with and they know it will outsell what the US is getting. Notice we didn't get any Scions?
I'm not sure that ALL Echos ar eimported from Japan, but I know that the HB's are. And yes the EL(really expensive Civic )is only sold in Canada, as was the Suzuki Forsa(Chevy Sprint/Suzuki Swift) in the mid to late 80's. There are a few others that I can think of, but not off the top of my head.
__________________ Size matters not! Judge ME by my size do you? Hmmm?
Exactly. The EL is a rebadged civic, as was the forsa. Costmetic changes that cost the maker a few pennies, and net them a much larger profit here. Not an entirely seperate car or chassis platform. No automaker is stupid enough to manufacture an independant car platform specifically for this market.
I spoke with an aquaintance who is a Canadian product rep at Toyota working on the launch of the new Echo/Vitz, and we will be getting the next generation in Canada, but when is another story. Echo will be dropped as the name and we will probably get Vitz nomenclature as Toyota is trying to amalgamate one name for one world car rather than 3 different names in seperate markets. We will not be getting all the bells and whistles the Japanese get, since the marketing in NA for small cars is still that they are economy cars, so like our current Echo Hatch, we get seriously ripped off compared to the packages offered overseas. The Toyota product launch team is still deciding what options "Canadians" want, including exterior colours etc. They also have to re-engineer the car to accomodate the longer bumpers needed to meet our crash regs. My guess is we will see the new Canadian version at next year's 2006 CIAS and at dealers later that year...
Now our gas is over $55 USD per barrel... thats crazy.
And before, people who didn't get a Echo its because of their poor crash tests... very weak shell indeed.
But now, with the new much safer chasis, i think Echo will do even better sales on the current one.
BTW, i dunno about other cities in Canada, but insurance is ripping peoples @$$ off here in Toronto... most people pay higher money on insurance premium than their finance/lease monthly payment So i see a big trend toward eco cars... the new Suzuki little car is pretty nice for its price, even it shares with GM.
but i guess our new Echo aka Citron/Peugeot will be much stronger in every different aspect
What's wrong with the current echo for fuel? The new one is supposed to be using the same 1NZ motor, so the chance of a noticible improvement in economy is basically zero.
Poor crash tests? compared to what other cars in their class? You want poor tests, talk to a Kia owner. The chassis is fine, though arguably the replacement may get more safety ammenities that other markets are getting (curtain bags etc), though I wouldn't hold my breath. Toyota wants this to be a stripped down econobox here...no bells, no whistles.
I pay about 135 a month for the echo hatch. My car payment is over double that...If you pay more, you're young or got busted doing too many stupid things. Give it time or learn to drive properly depending on which case it may be.
What citreon or Peugeot borrowed the Toyota chassis?
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)is only sold in Canada, as was the Suzuki Forsa(Chevy Sprint/Suzuki Swift) in the mid to late 80's. There are a few others that I can think of, but not off the top of my head.
So i see a big trend toward eco cars... the new Suzuki little car is pretty nice for its price, even it shares with GM.
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