Hot looks and cool connections with Toyota Aygo Fire and Ice
Regroomed and re-engineered, the Toyota Aygo has both better looks and more efficient performance for 2012. Having broken cover at the Brussels motor show at the beginning of the year, the new range is now available in the UK with prices little changed or even cheaper than the previous line-up.
As well as adopting the new “face” of Toyota’s latest generation of small cars, Aygo’s engine has been revised so that emissions drop below the 100g/km threshold, which means no annual road tax and no London congestion charge. At the same time owners can expect even more miles per gallon.
Leading the new range are the special Fire and Ice models: for Fire the focus is on sporty details, while for Ice the theme is comfort and on-board connectivity.
Engine
Right from the start, clean performance that is easy on the wallet has been central to Aygo’s qualities. A string of International Engine of the Year awards for “green” performance notwithstanding, Toyota has further tweaked its remarkable 1.0-litre VVT-I petrol unit to achieve even lower emissions and better fuel economy.
The result of these latest changes is to take CO2 output (for models with manual transmission) below the 100g/km benchmark, earning Aygo a zero rating for annual road tax (VED) and exemption from London’s central area congestion charge.
Design
Aygo has a new front-end treatment that follows Toyota’s new design language, echoing some of the features that characterise new Yaris. There is a greater emphasis on the lower section of the car, to express a more planted, purposeful stance, evident in the wider front bumper, with integrated foglights at each corner and a large trapezoidal air intake. The LED daytime running lights featured on the new Aygo Fire are set into the lower edge of the grille, adding further emphasis to the look.
The upper front grille has been rendered more slender, while the new bonnet design adds to Aygo’s overall road presence. The re-style has added increased Aygo’s length by 15mm; other dimensions – including the car’s tight 4.73m turning circle – are unchanged, making Aygo as well-suited to life around town as ever.
The design changes are not just about looking good: the new bumper is more aerodynamically efficient while the larger intake improves engine cooling performance.
Equipment
A revised Aygo line-up introduces special Fire and Ice versions for 2012.
Aygo Fire comes equipped with 14-inch alloys, front foglights and LED daytime running lights, rear privacy glass, leather steering wheel and gear knob trim and a rev counter. Owners can also ramp up the hotter look with a new Burnt Orange paint finish, with matching side protection mouldings and interior trim.
Aygo Ice’s specification puts the emphasis on in car comfort, entertainment and connectivity, featuring air conditioning, Alcantara and leather trim, a more powerful four-speaker sound system that is DAB-ready, Bluetooth and a USB port for connecting digital music players.
The entry level Aygo and the Aygo+ carry over their specification from the 2011 model year.
Options
An Xtraprotected Pack is available to prepare Aygo Fire and Aygo Ice inside and out for the scuffs and scrapes of everyday driving, with rear parking sensors, mud flaps, carpet mats, a rear bumper protection plate and side protection mouldings. For those wanting to add a few extra style flashes, Aygo Ice can be specified with a Style Pack offering rear chrome trim, aluminium scuff plates and a chrome exhaust pipe, or the Style Pack Plus with all of the aforementioned plus 14-inch alloy wheels.
Air conditioning can be specified as an option on Aygo+ and Aygo Fire, and metallic paint is available for all models apart from the entry level Aygo.
