Toyota-Astra pits sales recovery on restyled Kijang

By Russell Williamson

TOYOTA-ASTRA is banking on the new Kijang to lead its sales recovery in 1997.

The new model -- launched earlier this month -- features a dramatic restyle and will be built in a wider range of models aimed at attracting new customers.

The marketing manager for Toyota Astra, Mr. Nobuharu Tabata, said the company expected to sell about 75,000 Kijangs this year, up from 60,041 vehicles last year.

This would lift total Toyota sales from 77,593 vehicles in 1996 to about 95,000 units this year.

Tabata said the vehicle had already been well received with more than 4,000 orders for the new car.

"The original reaction was quite positive and better than our original expectations," Tabata said.

The new Kijang is now available in 20 different models with a range of body styles, engines and transmissions. It ranges in price, off the road, from Rp 23.8 million for the manual gasoline pickup through to Rp 43.4 million for the top of the range long wheelbase automatic gasoline minivan.

From the outside, the vehicle has undergone a dramatic transformation, further distancing it from its commercial vehicle origins.

Not only does the new body bring the car's appearance up to date and make it more car-like but it is also stronger and more aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.38.

The new Kijang is substantially larger in most dimensions improving passenger and luggage space inside.

In long wheelbase minivan models, overall length has increased 75mm, with a wheelbase extended by 1,500mm sitting 25mm higher off the ground.

Short wheelbase minivans benefit from an increase in overall length of 25mm, wheelbase increase of 100mm and better ground clearance by 15mm.

All minivans are now 15mm wider in the body with the track widened 70mm at the front and 50mm at the rear for improved stability.

While the new shape may be the most obvious change to the car, possibly the most important is the addition of a diesel engine to the range. Its availability will enable the Kijang to compete effectively with Isuzu's Panther, particularly in the rural areas where diesel fuel is more prevalent.

The new 2400cc four cylinder diesel engine is available in all model Kijangs except the range topping GX specification long and short wheelbase minivans and the entry level X spec short wheelbase minivan.

The diesel engine produces a maximum power of 62kW at 4200rpm and a peak torque of 162Nm at 2400rpm.

Although diesel engines tend to have a relatively low maximum power output compared to similar capacity gasoline engines, they do provide a great deal of torque or "pulling power" at fairly low engine revs making them very efficient in hauling large loads.

The other engine option is largely a carryover from the previous generation Kijang and is an 1800cc four cylinder carburetor gasoline engine.

Maximum power is 60kW at 4200rpm and peak torque, 140Nm at 2800rpm.

Stopping power across the range comes from front disc and rear drum brakes while steering is rack and pinion -- power assisted on all except the base model gasoline minivans and pickup.

The suspension setup remains the same as the previous model with double wishbones on the front and a leaf sprung live axle on the rear.

Safety features across the board include seat belts, collapsible steering column, crumple zones, an antiblow fuel tank and laminated windshield glass.

The model range starts with the long wheelbase pickup flatdeck which is offered with either gasoline or diesel engines, driving through a four-speed manual transmission.

Next up the range is the X-specification minivan, also offered in diesel and gasoline versions with a four-speed manual transmission.

The midrange SX minivans get a five-speed manual transmission linked to either engine with other additional features including tacho, tripmeter and a center console box.

The GX minivans are offered with the gasoline engine only but get a choice of either five-speed manual transmission or -- new for 1997 -- four-speed automatic transmission.

The availability of the auto box aims to provide these flagship models an even greater car-like environment.

To further enhance comfort of the GX versions, they also come standard with power windows, central locking, 14" alloy wheels with lower profile 195/70 tires and reclining center seats.

The vastly improved appearance and substantial increase of models should help the new Kijang claw back a lot of lost market share -- despite the proliferation of new cheap passenger sedans.