Toyota's smallest make it big
There is reason to celebrate at the next public opening of the Toyota Collection: 50 years ago, the Toyota Starlet was launched on the market and laid the foundation for many other successful small cars of the brand. It and its forebear will be the focus of attention on November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free admission at the company's German headquarters in Cologne.
In Japan, the Toyota Publica already showed in 1961 what a forward-looking small car for urban life could look like, but it was another twelve years before the Publica became an early style icon among small cars in the sporty fastback version Starlet. In Germany, it was initially known simply as the Toyota 1000, but made a name for itself with its high reliability and standard comfort features, which even included an audio system. In 1978, the Starlet, which was available as a three- and five-door fastback as well as a five-door station wagon, surprised with its family suitability in a handy 3.70-meter format. A new chapter was ushered in by its successor in 1999: The Yaris was the first compact Toyota to be designed and built in Europe. Sporty fun was also guaranteed: The "Toyota Yaris Cup" developed into a renowned talent factory for young motorsport talent. And the Yaris also set a technical milestone: In 2012, it became the first compact car with hybrid drive.
At the big small car theme day in the Toyota Collection, the Publica, Starlet and Yaris as well as a Yaris Cup racer can be experienced up close. But also flashy show cars like the 2.99-meter short Toyota iQ as a rolling disco ball and as a furious iQ Cup Car or the Aygo Crazy concept car converted to a lowrider as well as the JDM sports coupe Toyota Sera with glass cabin and scissor doors can be seen in the exhibition where the cars are not behind barriers.
Once again, there should be a lot of Toyota drivers in the parking lot with the most diverse cars. In addition, the event has a little surprise in store: The new luxury van LM from Lexus will celebrate its German debut at the show day. (aum)
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Toyota Yaris.
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Toyota Yaris.
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Toyota Yaris.
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Toyota Yaris.
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Toyota Yaris Cup.
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Four generations of Toyota Yaris.
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Parking lot in front of the Cologne Toyota Collection during the Public Opening.
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