Toyota Pixis Space (L575A/L585A)

Over the years, Toyota Motor Corporation never made any single "Light Weight K Car" or "kei car" but their interest was made by Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., which in fact Toyota owns Daihatsu for that reason. At the past, we see Daihatsu Storia models wearing Toyota badges as the Toyota Duet, the Daihatsu Boon as the Toyota Passo, and the Daihatsu Be-Go (known in emerging countries as the Terios) as the Toyota Rush. And now for the first time, thanks to the joint custody between Toyota and Daihatsu, Toyota finally start selling its first "kei car" under the "PIXIS" sub-brand. Meet the 2012 Toyota Pixis Space, a Daihatsu Move Conte wearing a Toyota badge!

2012 Toyota Pixis Space

2012 Toyota Pixis Space Custom

The 2012 Toyota Pixis Space is the first of the Toyota Pixis sub-brand, where these models are sourced from Daihatsu, and this is the first of its kind. The Toyota Pixis Space comes in two unique styles; standard version for simple tastes and Custom version for fashionable tastes. The Toyota Pixis Space features a boxy look which is too similar from its big brothers such as the Toyota bB and the Toyota Corolla Rumion and hey, looks like this is start of something we would like to call it Toyota's "box car" club but enough of this laughing manner because we are getting serious about Toyota's first kei car sold in Japan in cooperation with Daihatsu. On the standard version, we're looking at something simple such as the squarish headlamps, odd-looking grille, and simple rear lamps while the Pixis Space Custom, on the other hand, features a billet-style grille, odd-looking headlamps, rectangular fog lamps, and some Altezza-style rear lamps to bring out something sporty.

2012 Toyota Pixis Space interior

2012 Toyota Pixis Space Custom interior

What you will see on the interior of the standard Pixis Space are some red lines accentuated on the seats and the dashboard to give it a little something French because these red lines look more reasonable on the light interior but on the Pixis Space Custom, a blend of dark interior and white lines does suit well but if your choice was the RS version, an exclusive MOMO steering wheel is equipped to make it well mannered.

Most Pixis Space variants come with a 658cc Twin Cam DVVT 3-cylinder 12-valve engine that produces 38kW(52PS)/7,200r.p.m. of power output and 60N・m(6.1kgf・m)/4,000r.p.m. of torque output. It provides CVT as the standard transmission available on most variants and it will provide a maximum fuel economy of 25.5km/L (2WD variants) in Japan's 10-15 Mode scale thanks to Daihatsu's Eco Idle feature which provides idling stop to this engine, making it to stop automatically when stopped at the red light. On the Toyota Pixis Space Custom RS, it will have an exclusive turbocharged version of a 658cc Twin Cam DVVT 3-cylinder 12-valve engine, providing 47kW(64PS)/6,000r.p.m. of power output, 103N・m (10.5kgf・m)/3,000r.p.m. of torque output and the fuel economy of 19.0 km/L (2WD variants) based on Japan's 10-15 Mode scale.

The standard Toyota Pixis Space offers seven exterior colors such as Bright Silver Metallic, Black Mica Metallic, Plum Brown Crystal Mica, Pearl White III, Light Rose Mica Metallic, Cotton Ivory, and Mist Blue Mica Metallic while the Toyota Pixis Space Custom offers five exterior colors such as Bright Silver Metallic, Black Mica Metallic, Plum Brown Crystal Mica, Pearl White III and Urban Night Blue Crystal Metallic.

My Comment:
The team up between Toyota and Daihatsu realizing the dream to have Toyota selling its first kei car under the Pixis sub brand and the Toyota Pixis Space, based on the Daihatsu Move Conte, was the first of its kind. Consider it the petite of Toyota's box cars such as the bB and the Corolla Rumion, the Toyota Pixis Space has a lot of learning to do, even though it comes in two different flavors such as the standard version and the Custom version. Adopting the concept of "my space", the new Toyota Pixis Space is best suited to your everyday lifestyles. It wasn't easy being the first kei car sold from Toyota but the Pixis Space has a few tricks on its sleeves.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Latest Daihatsu Move Conte commercial does TNP27!

With the introduction of the 2012 Daihatsu Move Conte and Move Conte Custom minor change since June 6, 2011, Daihatsu released a TV commercial for the new Conte and OMG, this one does TNP27 except the new Conte is not TNP27 (because the fuel economy is 25.5km/L) even if it has Eco Idle (same as the fifth-generation Move).

Coincidence?

Daihatsu Move Conte Commercial

Daihatsu Move Commercial

Whoa! These commercials are far too TNP-ism! Seems that the Move Conte minor change wants to follow the same steps as the fifth-generation Move because of its Eco Idle function.

I heard that Toyota is planning their own version of the Move Conte this autumn and with that, this will be a possibility but I hope they won't wind up just like the Subaru Stella because they didn't offer the turbocharged RS variant.

Daihatsu Move Conte and Move Conte Custom - Phase II

2012 Daihatsu Move Conte

2012 Daihatsu Move Conte Custom

Launched in August 25, 2008, the Daihatsu Move Conte is the squarish member of the Daihatsu family designed and engineered for the smartest drivers in Japan. It was separated into two kinds; the standard Move Conte for the simple living drivers, especially women, and the elegant Move Conte Custom for those who want a touch of class. Get ready for the spectacular twist because for the 2012 Model Year, both the Move Conte and the Move Conte Custom are now on its biggest minor change yet.

On the standard Move Conte, you will be greeted by a new front design that is somewhat cute to look at it. On the Move Conte Custom, elegance has progressed because of the new front design inspired from the second-generation Daihatsu Tanto Custom but on the back, the "CUSTOM" paneling was shelved. No matter which of these Conte you'll choose, you will still be greeted with the upgraded KF engine that produces 52PS/7,200rpm of power, 6.1kg-m/4,000rpm of torque, and 23.0km/L of fuel economy.

There is a major major news happened to the 2012 Move Conte X and the 2012 Move Conte Custom G because the Idle Stop and Go feature known as "Eco Idle", first applied on the fifth generation Daihatsu Move and Move Custom since December 2010, is now applied, providing an optimized fuel economy of 25.5km/L. Needless to say, the new-for-2012 Move Conte has the right to be applied TNP25.5 because of its Eco Idle feature that brings the 660cc KF to a complete shutoff when stopped at the red light. This is the second Daihatsu model to be equipped with the idling stop function. Don't forget that when you're out there.

My Comment:


The Move Conte and Move Conte Custom's minor change received the much awaited Eco Idle function that provides the exceptional fuel economy of 25.5km/L. Maybe this new Move Conte tries to follow the footsteps of the TNP27 Move but we'll see if the new 2012 Move Conte will achieve its lifelong dream of becoming the most fuel efficient kei car from Daihatsu. Good luck and enjoy the new idling stop function, Move Conte.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.