Toyota Aygo

Toyota Aygo
Overview
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	2005–present
Assembly	Kolín, Czech Republic (TPCA)
Body and chassis
Class	City car
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Related	Citroën C1 Peugeot 107
Powertrain
Engine	1.0 L 1KR-FE I3 (petrol) 1.4 L DV4 I4 (diesel)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,340 mm (92.1 in)
Length	3,405 mm (134.1 in)
Width	1,615 mm (63.6 in)
Height	1,465 mm (57.7 in)
Curb weight	890 kg (1,962 lb)

The Toyota Aygo /ˈaɪɡoʊ/ is a city car sold by Toyota in Europe since 2005. All Aygos are built at the new factory of the Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech (TPCA) joint venture in Kolin, Czech Republic. The Aygo was first displayed at the 2005 Salon de l'Automobile de Genève. The name "Aygo" comes from "i-go",^[1] symbolising freedom and mobility.^[2]

The decision to produce the cars was made on July 12, 2001, when the presidents of Toyota and PSA Peugeot Citroën, Fujio Cho and Jean-Martin Folz respectively, decided to produce a small car to share development costs. This project was called B-Zero. The Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 are rebadged versions of the same car.

The Aygo's starting on-the-road price is €8,500 (GB£6,845). The main difference between the Aygo and its siblings is in the interior equipment, badges, logos and the easily recognizable rear end of the car. The planned production is 300,000 cars annually – 100,000 cars per brand. Sales began in July 2005 and the car is available as a three or five-door hatchback. There are two engines available, a 1.0 L three-cylinder engine rated at 68 bhp (51 kW), and a 1.4 L HDi diesel I4 engine rated at 54 bhp (40 kW).

The Aygo was used on BBC's Top Gear in a giant match of football, showcasing its maneuverability. The Top Gear presenters deemed the Aygo and its Peugeot and Citroën counterparts to be competent town cars.

A modified Aygo was also used on Fifth Gear to perform a 12 metre high loop-the-loop on a specially-designed track to determine if a stunt that can be done using Hot Wheels toys can be replicated in real life. The stunt was driven by UK Stuntman Steve Truglia in May 2009.

In 2006, Tesco donated two Aygos to the local police force in Chippenham, England for use as patrol cars.^[3]

In January 2010, the Aygo was part of a worldwide recall by Toyota for a faulty sticking accelerator pedal. It was found that under some circumstances, the pedal could stick in a partially depressed position, or return slowly to the off position. The recall affected the Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 models built between February 2005 and August 2009.^[4] Information from Toyota later suggested, however, that only Aygos with automatic gearboxes were affected, and that those with manual gearboxes were not.^[5]

Engines

UK trim levels

Pre-facelift Toyota Aygo

• Aygo – basic model, with 2 airbags, ABS and a CD player.
• Aygo Plus – added electric front windows, remote central locking and side airbags.
• Aygo Sport – added alloy wheels, Rev counter and front foglights. Discontinued in 2007 after just one year of sales.
• Aygo Black – based on Aygo Plus, adding alloy wheels and half-leather interior. (Model no longer available).
• Aygo Blue – based on Aygo Plus, adding air conditioning, Bluetooth and blue interior inserts (from 2010 the blue inserts were phased out after customers complained of chipping paint). (Model no longer available).
• Aygo Platinum – based on Aygo Plus, adding alloy wheels, half-leather interior and silver interior inserts. (Model no longer available).
• Aygo Ice – based on Aygo Plus, adding Alcantara & leather seat trim and manual air conditioning. Also metallic paint as standard with a choice of three colours.
• Aygo Go! – based on Aygo Plus, adding TomTom built in sat-nav, alloy wheels and rear privacy glass as standard.^{[citation needed]}

2009 & 2012 facelifts

2009 Toyota Aygo facelift

2012 Toyota Aygo facelift

In 2009, the Aygo was given a refresh at the same time as its Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 sisters. These revisions were limited to new rear light clusters and a new front bumper and grille. Trim levels remained largely the same, with Aygo, Aygo Plus, Aygo Black and Aygo Blue available at launch. CO₂ emissions dropped and fuel economy improved. New colours were also available.

Toyota Europe made another face-lift in 2012. Including new front bumper, new LED daylights and also improvement in the fuel economy.

Reliability

Breakdown statistics reported by the German Automobile Club in May 2010 placed the Aygo (which the data grouped with the Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107) at the top of the sub-small car class in respect of the low break-down rates achieved for cars aged between 1 and 4 years.^[6][7]

Safety

Euro NCAP test results
5 door LHD hatchback (2005)[8]
Test	Score	Rating
Adult occupant:	26
Child occupant:	37
Pedestrian:	14

"Aygo Crazy" concept

Toyota Aygo Crazy

In 2008, Toyota created a driveable one-off concept car based on the Toyota Aygo. Named the Aygo Crazy, it was unveiled to the public at the July 2008 British International Motor Show in London, before appearing at other UK-based motor shows that year.^[9]

Aygo Crazy has a rear mounted 1.8 litre VVTi engine from the Toyota MR2 and Celica, mated to an MR2 five speed gearbox and fitted with a Toyota Motorsport turbocharger conversion. The manufacturer claims the engine produces 147 kW (197 bhp) at 6,700 rpm and 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) torque at 3,400 rpm.

Weighing just 1,050 kg (2,315 lb), this gives it a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) sprint time of 5.75 seconds and a theoretical top speed of 204 km/h (127 mph), though the latter has not been tested. Unlike the standard Aygo, it has no driver aids, steering or anti-lock brakes but its rear wheel drive layout helps traction under heavy acceleration.

Exterior modifications include wider arches to accommodate the one inch of extra track, 17-inch alloy wheels with Goodyear tyres and a carbon fibre rear spoiler designed for the 322 km/h (200 mph) American Champ Car series.

Suspension is from the MR2, with adjustable Tein shock absorbers and McPherson struts front and rear. To cope with the extra power, Toyota upgraded the standard 247 mm (9.7 in) front brake discs to a 328 mm (12.9 in) Brembo conversion, with 280 mm (11.0 in) ventilated rear discs replacing the 200 mm (7.9 in) drums normally found on the Aygo. An uprated Helix clutch is also used.

The interior features a partial roll cage for extra chassis comfort and driver protection. Two specially designed sports seats, trimmed in red and black, and a suede-rimmed Sparco steering wheel complete the race-inspired look.

Toyota claims the Aygo Crazy cost GB£100,000 to build.^[10]

See also

• Start-Stop
• Toyota iQ
• BYD F0, an unlicensed Chinese copy of that
• Lifan SuperMini, another unlicensed Chinese copy of related twin, Citroen C1.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toyota Aygo.

• Official websites for Europe, UK