2019 Toyota Yaris appears again ahead of its local debut

KUALA LUMPUR: The upcoming 2019 Toyota Yaris for the Malaysian markets has been spotted yet again. Back in February, the UMW Toyota Motor confirmed that this hatchback would be introduced in Malaysia in the second quarter of this year.

Alongside the announcement of the vehicle’s launch, Toyota Malaysia had also revealed that all-new Yaris would be assembled locally at the Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) plant in Bukit Raja, Klang. This newly-erected plant is also known for the assembly of the Vios facelift that was launched back in January 2019.

This is not the first time that the 2019 Toyota Yaris has been spotted on the streets of Malaysia. Before the company’s announcement concerning its launch, the Yaris was unintendedly exposed under a storm in November last year and came into the sight of photographer Sherman Sim.

However, the vehicle is already available in Thailand and Indonesia with more or less similar outfits. And if the accidental revelations of recent and last year’s November are of the same car, the Malaysian-spec Yaris is likely to differ in attire from its Thai and Indonesian counterparts. Moreover, it is anticipated that the upcoming car has a fair chance to get a TRD Sportivo trim, which will be specific to Malaysia. What sets apart this speculated trim in looks is the red-colored bezel around the lower bumper.

The Thai and Indonesian model differ with respect to the engine. In Thailand, the Yaris runs on a 3NR-FE 1.2-litre engine that churns a maximum of 86 PS power and 108 Nm torque. Whereas, the Indonesian version is powered by a 2NR-FE 1.5-litre mill capable of churning out 107 PS of maximum power and 140 Nm of torque. The Indonesian engine variant is also found in the 2019 Toyota Vios, which was launched in Malaysia in January 2019. Hence, it would be safe to believe that the forthcoming Yaris will be bestowed with the same powerhouse.