Toyota will continue competing in the dwindling European minicar segment with the launch of the Aygo X crossover, which replaces the current Aygo.
The Aygo X (pronounced Aygo Cross) will be sold with a 1.0-liter, non-electrified combustion engine to keep costs down and retain Toyota's connection with younger buyers.
"The A [minicar] segment is very important to us. Not only has it brought many new customers to Toyota, it also fulfills our mission to provide everyone with the right mobility solution," Toyota Europe Vice President Product and Marketing Management Andrea Carlucci said in a statement.
The Aygo X sticks closely to the Aygo X Prologue concept shown March, keeping the same length (3700 mm, 146 inches), making it 235 mm longer than the current Aygo.
The Aygo X is built on a modified version of the GA-B platform used by the larger Yaris. A long wheelbase and short overhangs increase space in the cabin, Toyota said.
The trunk space, for example, grows by 231 liters, up from 60 liters in the outgoing car.
The car is 50 mm taller (1525 mm) and ground clearance has been increased by 11 mm. Despite this, the driver sits 55 mm higher, which Toyota says improves visibility.
Toyota's 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with a manual transmission produce 107 grams per kilometer of CO2, the company said. The car will also be offered with a continuously variable transmission..
Despite the size, the car comes with a full suite of active safety equipment monitored by a radar and a camera sensor. Features include adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, lane keep assist and emergency steering assist.
Optional features include a retractable canvas roof to give customers an alternative to the Fiat 500 convertible.
A smartphone app called MyT links to Toyota's Smart Connect system that includes a 9-inch touchscreen. Other features include ambient lighting and wireless phone charging.
The chunky design of the car is accentuated by a two-tone color scheme, including a launch version finished in matt green with black elements.
The matt black 18-inch wheels are highlighted with orange accents that also appear on the side skirts and lower front grille.
The design combines hatchback aesthetics with more rugged SUV elements including the dominant lower grille, black fenders and protective side sills. The front lights are given a wing shape by the LED driving lamps.
The Aygo X concept was designed in Toyota's ED² advance studio in Nice, southern France, and was developed for production in Toyota's Belgium styling studio.
The production car will be built at Toyota's factory in Kolin, Czech Republic. The plant had been a joint venture between Toyota and PSA Group, and most recently built the Aygo, the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 108 minicars.
Toyota has doubled its volume crossover/SUV offerings in Europe in the past year with the Aygo X and the small Yaris Cross, which join the compact CH-R crossover coupe and the RAV4 SUV in the brand's lineup.
Toyota Europe CEO Matthew Harrison recently told Automotive News Europe that the Aygo X and Yaris Cross, as new models, were key to Toyota's growth plans.
Earlier this year the automaker revised its 2021 sales target for the Europe region (which includes Russia, Turkey, Israel and Eurasia) to 1.2 million from 1.1 million. It also boosted its 2025 sales target to 1.5 million, up from 1.4 million.
Most of that growth will come from the Yaris Cross, but Toyota is hoping that the Aygo X, with its crossover styling and fewer competitors in the segment, will also gain sales as well as market share.
Segment in decline
The minicar segment has shrunk in recent years, with Citroen and Peugeot exiting. The segment has been dominated by the Fiat Panda and Fiat 500, which finished first and second in the segment in 2020 with 144,348 and 137,265 sales, respectively, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.
The Aygo was in third place with a volume of 83,277. It was followed by the Renault Twingo, Volkswagen Up, Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto.
Direct competitors to the Aygo X include the SUV-inspired Cross version of the Panda and the Suzuki Ignis, which has a high stance and is available with four-wheel drive. Toyota has not said whether it will offer an all-wheel-drive option for the Aygo X.
The Aygo X is expected to go on sale in Europe around April next year. No prices have been announced but they are expected to rise from the 12,840 euros entry price for the current Aygo in France.
