Photo: Toyota/autoevolution
Earlier today we showed you our little ‘scoop’ sketch showing how the Toyota/Scion iQ would look if a Rocket Bunny kit would be available for it too. The Scion tC recently got one, so why the little city car should miss the tuning scene?
However, coincidence or not, Toyota USA appeared to have joined our little mockup game and recently posted a resurrected version of the Tercel model, which exited production in 2000.
The first generation Tercel went on sale in the US in 1980, being offered either as a two- or four-door sedan, and even a three-door hatchback. It was slotted between the Corolla and the Starlet, while power was coming out from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 60 hp and could be attached to either a four/five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. From there it went on for five generations but nothing impressively changed in time, still remaining a compact car making just under 100 hp out of a new DOHC 1.5-liter.
It’s place now is occupied by the Toyota Yaris, so we don’t think a Tercel might ever come back unless the automaker decides to change its name into it. Still, something wearing those classic lines would sure be cool instead of the Yaris toaster.
On the other hand, the iQ is offered both as a Toyota or a Scion in the US - small funky city car with four seats (the ones in the back are for midgets or two fruit baskets though) and everything else you need to easily do your daily trips around town. In the US, it’s offered with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine making 94 hp, while the European version is equipped with a 1-liter 68 hp unit.
Our opinion about it? It looks better than its smart Four-Two equivalent version, has more standard features and also offers a bit more space. It’s so better that smart appears to have copied its shape a bit for the next generation model.
So, which one would you take?
The first generation Tercel went on sale in the US in 1980, being offered either as a two- or four-door sedan, and even a three-door hatchback. It was slotted between the Corolla and the Starlet, while power was coming out from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 60 hp and could be attached to either a four/five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. From there it went on for five generations but nothing impressively changed in time, still remaining a compact car making just under 100 hp out of a new DOHC 1.5-liter.
It’s place now is occupied by the Toyota Yaris, so we don’t think a Tercel might ever come back unless the automaker decides to change its name into it. Still, something wearing those classic lines would sure be cool instead of the Yaris toaster.
Our opinion about it? It looks better than its smart Four-Two equivalent version, has more standard features and also offers a bit more space. It’s so better that smart appears to have copied its shape a bit for the next generation model.
So, which one would you take?
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