2012 Yaris to debut at Lollapalooza this weekend in Chicago!

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by TwoBearWisconsin

With these specs, the only thing that would keep the new Yaris on my future car shopping list would be if they offer the panoramic roof here. Otherwise, 4-speed automatic, one mile per gallon bump in fuel economy... No thanks. The only Toyotas I'd still be looking at would be the upcoming Scion iQ and the Prius C. Otherwise Hyundai and Kia look really good to me. :(

Looks like you won't be getting the new Yaris.

We're not getting most of the goodies offered in Europe and Asia. No way in hell that we'd get the panoramic roof when they won't even put a modern transmission in it. Biggest reason is Americans wouldn't pay for them even though people on the internet say they want them. When it comes to paying $20K for a Yaris in America, we would laugh at the idea. For Europeans, paying $25K for a sub-compact is normal. Unfortunately, Americans equate price with size. Yeah, kinda stupid.

So we get the antiquated engine and transmission to keep the Yaris under $15K...

[TwoBearWisconsin]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Looks like you won't be getting the new Yaris.

We're not getting most of the goodies offered in Europe and Asia. No way in hell that we'd get the panoramic roof when they won't even put a modern transmission in it. Biggest reason is Americans wouldn't pay for them even though people on the internet say they want them. When it comes to paying $20K for a Yaris in America, we would laugh at the idea. For Europeans, paying $25K for a sub-compact is normal. Unfortunately, Americans equate price with size. Yeah, kinda stupid.

So we get the antiquated engine and transmission to keep the Yaris under $15K...

And yet somehow Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and just about everyone else manages to include 5 and 6 speed automatics and other "up level" features into their new small cars. Toyota is way behind the curve on this one...

[teddy]

Originally Posted by TwoBearWisconsin

And yet somehow Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and just about everyone else manages to include 5 and 6 speed automatics and other "up level" features into their new small cars. Toyota is way behind the curve on this one...

Yep. Toyota could've impressed big time with what they're already selling in Japan.

I love my Yaris, but if I were buying new today it would almost certainly be the new Accent Hatchback or a Honda Fit. The Mazda2 just doesn't float my boat and is pretty much equally unimpressive. The Fiesta is nice, but I want a hatchback and you pay a premium for it.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by TwoBearWisconsin

And yet somehow Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and just about everyone else manages to include 5 and 6 speed automatics and other "up level" features into their new small cars. Toyota is way behind the curve on this one...

Because those cars are built in low wage countries (Mexico, Korea). As long as the Yaris is built in Japan, they're going to have a hard time competing with models built elsewhere. Notice how the Honda Fit (the only other offering built in Japan) costs $18K in sport trim. If you want it under $16K, it looks stripped down. Toyota just wouldn't make money if they put the upper level stuff in America bound Yaris's. Notice also that no sub-compacts are built in America for the same reason. Although that finally changes with the 2012 Chevy Sonic. GM is going to extreme measures to make this possible though (article posted in Sonic thread).

[digitalrain]

Totally agree with you Kal-El, the currency advantage for Korea is monstous probably 30% . That's why it shocks me that they continue to produce Yaris in Japan. Margins are thin already on that model anyways.

Regardless of that advantage Toyota has to find a way to get the leadership that they used to have in engine tech. You know it's a problem when forums such a Yaris world are so unenthusiastic about the 3rd gen Yaris. Sigh. We should be psyched now for the new model coming, but for the most part there is absolutely no one saying they can't wait to get their hands on a new Yaris.

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Because those cars are built in low wage countries (Mexico, Korea). As long as the Yaris is built in Japan, they're going to have a hard time competing with models built elsewhere. Notice how the Honda Fit (the only other offering built in Japan) costs $18K in sport trim. If you want it under $16K, it looks stripped down. Toyota just wouldn't make money if they put the upper level stuff in America bound Yaris's. Notice also that no sub-compacts are built in America for the same reason. Although that finally changes with the 2012 Chevy Sonic. GM is going to extreme measures to make this possible though (article posted in Sonic thread).