'Asia car' hits Thailand's showrooms<\/p>\n
By Russell Williamson<\/p>\n
THAILAND will become the first market to begin selling
\nToyota's \"Asia car\" when the Soluna goes on sale there next week.<\/p>\n
The Soluna has been developed by Toyota Motor Corp in Japan
\nunder the \"affordable family car\" project and aims to meet the
\nneeds of consumers in the developing nations of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
The car is expected to go into production in Indonesia about
\nthe middle of next year and will give Toyota-Astra a starter in
\nthe cheap sedan market competing against Honda's City, PT Timor's
\nTimor car, Suzuki's Baleno, Daewoo's Nexia and Bimantara's Cakra.<\/p>\n
Although pricing for the small four-door sedan has yet to be
\nannounced, it is expected to be priced about US$14,500 in
\nThailand, making it cheaper than the successful Honda City which
\ncosts about $15,300.<\/p>\n
While the Soluna is based on the platform of the Toyota
\nTercel, most of its components, mechanical underpinnings and
\ninterior features have been adapted specifically for its target
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
Power comes from a 1500cc four-cylinder 16-valve fuel-injected
\nengine which develops a maximum power of 70kW at 5600rpm and peak
\ntorque of 123Nm at 4800rpm.<\/p>\n
The power and torque figures almost mirror those of Honda's
\noutput from its 1300cc engine in the City while offering 10kW
\nmore power but similar torque when compared to the Timor car's
\n1500cc carburetor engine.<\/p>\n
The Timor car however, provides its maximum torque at a much
\nmore usable 2500rpm.<\/p>\n
Drive to the front wheels is through either a five-speed
\nmanual gearbox or three-speed automatic transmission.<\/p>\n
In terms of size, the Soluna is shorter overall than both the
\nTimor car and City at 4175mm, but substantially wider than the
\nCity and marginally narrower than the Timor car at 1660mm.<\/p>\n
All body panels have been treated extensively for
\nanticorrosion while high quality seals improve water resistance.<\/p>\n
Interior space is sufficient to comfortably seat five adults
\nwhile the trunk space of 405 liters is larger than both City and
\nthe Timor car.<\/p>\n
The Soluna is being sold in two trim levels in Thailand with
\nequipment including air conditioning and power windows.<\/p>\n
Toyota Motor Thailand plans to sell 40,000 Solunas this year
\nrising to about 60,000 a year by 2000.<\/p>\n
Although the car was developed in Japan, it will be produced
\nexclusively overseas and in Thailand will be launched with 70
\npercent local content using nearly 700 locally made parts.<\/p>\n
When the car goes on sale in Indonesia, local content is also
\nexpected to be high with Toyota hoping to use ASEAN cooperation
\nprograms like the AICO scheme to help lift local content in the
\nvehicle.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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