The , marketed as the Vios in selected Asian markets and elsewhere as the Yaris sedan (or simply as Yaris, for markets where the hatchback version is not available), is a subcompact sedan manufactured by Toyota.
The successor to the Platz, the Belta has increased in size over the previous generation such that its interior volume is comparable to the E120 series Corolla. The Belta went on sale in Japan on 28 November 2005 equipped with 1.0 to 1.3 L engines and was available at Toyopet Store and Toyota Corolla Store dealerships. International sales began in early 2006, featured 1.3 to 1.6 L engines, depending on the market. The sedan was introduced as second generation Vios for Southeast Asian market in April 2007 and for the Chinese market in February 2008, succeeding the XP40 series Vios.
In June 2012, the Japanese market Belta was discontinued and replaced by the E160 series Corolla Axio, and it was dropped in Canada and US to be replaced by the Mazda2 sedan-based Scion iA/Yaris sedan in July 2015. The sedan was offered until December 2014 in New Zealand and in Australia until July 2016.
For Asia-Pacific (China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Pacific islands), North Africa and Latin America (including Caribbean islands), the XP150 series Yaris sedan/Vios replaced the XP90 model in March 2013 as the sedan counterpart to the XP150 series Yaris hatchback.
The "Belta" nameplate was revived in November 2021 for the rebadged Suzuki Ciaz sold in Africa.
The name "Belta" is a contraction of the Italian words "bella gente", or "beautiful people".
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Development The XP90 series Vitz and Belta share underpinnings with each other including the powertrain and platform. However, while the Vitz was designed at Toyota's French design studio (Toyota ED²), the Belta was designed at Toyota's Japanese design studio (TMC Design Division) — design projects for similar cars marketed toward different demographics. While the outgoing XP10 series Vitz and Platz models look and feel very much alike, the newer Vitz hatchback and Belta sedan are more subtly related. No sheetmetal is shared between the two, and although both have a similar centralized dashboard design (Toyota's efforts to standardize the design for all markets, left or right hand drive at the time), there are some cosmetic differences. It has a , marginally more aerodynamic than its hatchback counterpart.
The Belta and global market Yaris sedan were manufactured in Japan, while the Vios nameplate was manufactured in either China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand or Vietnam.
Markets Asia For the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets, the Belta was sold as the second generation Vios. However, the sedan was sold as the Yaris sedan in the Middle East and several countries in South Asia.
As was the first generation Vios, the second generation Vios was continued its assembly in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) also started manufacturing second generation Vios locally in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Japan
Debuted in November 2005, the Japanese market Belta had three engine variants available, namely the 1.0 L 1KR-FE straight-three engine (KSP92) and two variants of the 1.3 L inline-four engines, 2NZ-FE (NCP96) or 2SZ-FE (SCP92), both rated at . The 1KR-FE and 2SZ-FE engines comes with Super CVT-i transmission and not available elsewhere, while the 2NZ-FE engine has a 4-speed Super ECT transmission and only available with AWD system as standard. The sedan was offered with two trim levels; X (available with sporty "S Package" option) and G. The 1.0 L engine is not available for the G trim and the AWD system is available for both trims with the 1.3 L 2NZ-FE engine. In October 2006, the cheaper model called "Business A/B Package" was introduced, aimed for the company fleet market. It is basically X trim with less equipments.
The Belta received a facelift in August 2008, the exterior was updated with new honeycomb grille, new mirror wings with blinker and redesign hubcaps. For the interior, the instrument cluster and seat upholstery were redesigned, the driver's seat was also equipped with heater for the G trim. The sporty "S Package" was also abolished (although it was still available as dealer optional accessories for every trim) and being replaced by luxury "L Package" (added some equipment from G trim such as driver's heated seat, automatic climate control etc.). The sedan was discontinued for the Japanese market in 2012 and succeeded by the Corolla Axio, although it was still produced for the export market until 2016.
Southeast Asia Malaysia The second generation Vios was unveiled in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 5 October 2007, two weeks ahead of its official launch on 19 October 2007. The Vios is powered exclusively by the same 1NZ-FE 1.5 L four-cylinder engine with VVT-i used in the old Vios, but included a redesigned air intake and exhaust system to improve low to mid-range torque. It was also fitted with the Super ECT four-speed automatic with the same gear ratios as its predecessor, but with improved programming for the transmission control unit. Electric power steering was offered in place of the hydraulic system in its predecessor. The second generation Vios was made available in four trim levels for the Malaysian market: J, E, G and S.
The J is the base version. It was initially unavailable at the Malaysian Vios launch in October 2007, but was introduced on 1 July 2008, offering a choice of either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions.
The E and G differ mostly in terms of equipment levels and are mechanically identical, both sharing the 4-speed Super ECT transmission.
The S is an addition featuring cosmetic enhancements, including a front bumper spoiler, side skirts, rear skirt and a bootlid spoiler. The interior received a dark grey/black trim treatment and an Optitron meter with a multi-information display, as opposed to the E and G trims' conventional backlit display. The S trim was the most expensive Vios variant. On 17 June 2009, UMW Toyota launched the Vios 1.5 TRD Sportivo which effectively replaced the S trim. It featured a body kit, Enkei wheels, various interior trim improvements and an optional sports suspension kit.
On 15 April 2010, the Vios received a facelift in Malaysia, offering mostly cosmetic improvements. The Vios TRD Sportivo was updated on 29 June 2011, featuring a redesigned grille, unique alloy wheels and leather seats. Another new grade positioned between G and TRD Sportivo called the G Limited was also introduced offering a body kit, 15-inch alloy wheels and leather seats. The Vios was updated on 21 June 2012 in response to Honda Malaysia's facelift of the fifth generation City, with appearance changes without significant mechanical improvements.
All model grades included ABS with EBD and BA at the October 2007 launch, but the E trim was only offered with a single driver's airbag, whereas the G and S trims had an additional passenger airbag. The J trim had no airbags at all upon its July 2008 launch, but was nonetheless offered with ABS + EBD and BA. The J trim later received a driver's airbag in its 2010 facelift and a front passenger airbag in its 2012 update.
The Malaysian Vios was assembled locally by ASSB, a subsidiary of UMW Toyota, in Shah Alam, Selangor. The Vios has since become the best selling non-national badged vehicle in Malaysia, achieving record sales in 2012.
Philippines The second generation Vios was launched in August 2007 and assembled locally by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) at their production plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Toyota spent PHP 1 billion to retool the plant in preparation for the assembly of the sedan in the Philippines. As before, it was available in three trim levels: 1.3 J, 1.3 E and 1.5 G.
To commemorate TMP's 20th anniversary, the 1.5 G XX Limited was introduced in August 2008, with a total production of only 800 units. This is the same as the G trim, but came with HID headlights, 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and a small spoiler. In July 2009, another limited edition called 1.5 S was added to the line up. It almost identical to the earlier limited-edition model but featured different 17-inch Rota Bolognia Mags with 205/45 tires. The XX Limited and S Limited trims were released in different colour schemes. TRD kits such as all-around body kits, a spoiler, 15- or 17-inch wheels and performance shockbreakers were also available as a separate option.
The facelifted model was launched in April 2010 with the same appearance as other market Vios. For 2012, the 1.3 L 2NZ-FE engine for the G trim was released, and it was mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, then later a 5-speed manual transmission, equipped with fog lights and 15-inch alloy wheels. Three new trims were also available from 2012, new cheapest trim called 1.3 Base, a trim slotted between the J and E trims called the 1.3 J Limited which added fog lights, 15-inch alloy wheels, front passenger airbag and more colors option from the E trim, and a limited edition based on 1.5 G trim called the SE Limited, distinguished by its Belta/Yaris sedan-style black grille. Replacing the SE Limited, the 1.5 TRD Sportivo trim was released in 2013 with additional side skirts, a spoiler and 17-inch wheels. However, it did not come with additional body kit like the neighboring countries or pre-facelift model.
Indonesia The second generation Vios (and Limo) was officially launched to the Indonesian market in April 2007, imported from Thailand. The sedan was marketed with backronym "Very Intelligent, Outstanding Sedan!". Like the outgoing NCP42, the NCP93 Vios was offered in Limo (exclusively for taxi fleet), E and G trim levels and powered by the same 1.5 L 1NZ-FE engine. The Indonesian market Vios (excluding Limo) can be distinguished from other markets Vios with its V-shaped grille ornament.
The E and G trims come equipped with ABS with EBD and BA (2007–2008 model only for Limo), driver's side airbag, 2-DIN audio system, power window, window and power door lock and wing mirrors with electric adjuster and retract as standard. The highest grade G trim received more safety and convenience features such as passenger's side airbag, immobilizer, rear disc brake, rear parking sensor and keyless entry for the automatic transmission model. For the interior, both the Limo and E trims has full black interior color and additional power windows, power door and windows lock, fabric seat upholstery and door trim as standard for the latter. Meanwhile, the G trim has two tone black and beige colors combination plus additional leather wrapped steering wheel, audio control on the steering wheel, start/stop button for automatic transmission model, blue-colored optitron instrument cluster with multi-information display and 60:40 split back seat. For the exterior, the Limo can be distinguished by the use of 14-inch steel wheels, blinkers on the front fender, the lack of third stop light and unpainted door handles and trunk ornament. The middle E trim received V-shaped ornament on the front grille, side body moulding, blinkers on wing mirrors, body colored trunk ornament and 14-inch alloy wheels. The top of the line G trim added the front and rear fog lamps, auto-leveling HID headlamps, 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry button for the automatic transmission model and chrome ornament on the trunk.