Toyota Ractis and Subaru Trezia 2015 minor change

It's the new Toyota Ractis (Verso-S) and Subaru Trezia! Sort of...The second-generation Toyota Ractis, as well as its Subaru twin, the Trezia, has been updated for the 2015 model year and for these compact cars, they're now more economical and keen looking than ever before.

2015 Subaru Trezia

2015 Toyota Ractis

Well, on the outside, some subtle changes are occurred from the front grille, revised headlamps, revised rear lamps, and a little else of that. Not only the outside gets some cosmetic changes but on the inside...

2015 Subaru Trezia interior

2015 Toyota Ractis interior

...well, there interior's mildly revised with the hint of a revised instrumental panel for some models. Now, even though the cosmetic changes is a bit enough to differentiate it from the pre-facelift, the biggest change happened on both the Trezia and the Ractis is the implementation of the brand new 1NR-FKE engine first applied on the Vitz minor change last month.

1NR-FKE

For a quick recap, the 1NR-KFE engine uses the Atkinson Cycle commonly used in their hybrid cars and provides and enhanced expansion ration and reduces waste heat through a high compression ratio of 13.5:1. It can be utilized with the use of a tumble flow-generating intake, cooled EGR, and VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing - intelligent Electric) technology.

With the new 1NR-FKE engine, both the Trezia and the Ractis will have the JC08 Mode-calculated fuel economy of 20.0kmpl but couple that with the idling stop feature and it will return about 21.8kmpl, making it one of the class-leading fuel-economy figures ever recorded. Of course, if you want more power, you can opt for the 1.5L 1NZ-FE engine, which develops 109PS of power output and fuel economy of 20.6kmpl when equipped with an idling stop function. Of course, most models do come with the CVT gearbox but for 1.5L models, the CVT comes with a 7-speed manual mode and a SPORT switch which makes it a bit too peppy...I think...

The 2015 Ractis starts from 1,615,091 up to 1,954,800 Japanese Yen (about $16,200 to $19,550) while the 2015 Trezia starts from 1,566,000 up to 2,131,000 Japanese Yen (about $15,700 to $21,310). The pricing may not be textbook but they can be a smart buy for the smart consumers.

Available colors for the Ractis: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Super Red V, Bronze Mica Metallic, Light Blue Mica Metallic, Satin Blue Mica Metallic, Deep Amethyst Mica Metallic, and Super White II.

Available Colors for the Trezia: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Super Red V, Bronze Mica Metallic, Satin Blue Mica Metallic, and Deep Amethyst Mica Metallic.

A special web anime movie created in collaboration between Fuji Heavy Industries and GAINAX

Of all the automobile manufacturers created web specials that made car enthusiasts interested for more such as BMW Korea's BMW Meets Truth starring Rain, Lexus CT 200h's Dark Ride, Toyota Mark X Samurai Code drama starring Koichi Sato, True Power Should Be Shared starring the Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A1's The Next Big Thing starring Justin Timberlake, Kia Motors' The Lotze Identity starring Kim Joo-Hyuk, Nissan Note's Teinenpi Shoujo Heidi, and other web specials made possible by automobile manufacturers, it seems that Fuji Heavy Industries joined the bandwagon for a very special web special to keep fans of the Subaru brand alive and kicking by offering a short anime film titled Houkago no Pleiades (日本名：放課後のプレアデス)

Subaru and GAINAX presents Houkago no Pleiades

Created in collaboration between Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (behind the Subaru brand), and GAINAX, this special web movie made its debut in February 1 ,2011 and wow! This is the first time a famous Japanese carmaker team up with a famous Japanese anime studio for a surprise treat for Scooby fans all over Japan. I guess its true that Love is what makes a Subaru, a Subaru, especially this web special!

When I first peeked on this web special, it was like OH MY! This web special is a sweet as a full tank of 100-octane gasoline! As a web special created in partnership between Fuji Heavy Industries and GAINAX, there are some Subaru-related references on this 4-part short anime film;

1) The main character, Subaru (すばる) is from her namesake, the brand itself.

2) The opening of a door using a key is somewhat like you're turning the ignition key on

3) Hear the engine start-up on the magic staff? That's the sound of the boxer engine, the pinnacle of Subaru engineering.

4) The shafts Subaru, Aoi, Itsuki, Hikaru, and Nanako used were derived from Subaru models. Look closely at their shafts on this short film and it has something similar from the Subaru trademark grille.

Subaru's shaft was derived from the Fifth-generation Subaru Legacy

2010 Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon

Itsuki's shaft was based on the Forester

2011 Subaru Forester

Aoi's shaft was based on the third-generation Subaru Impreza

2011 Subaru Impreza 1.5i-S Limited (Special Edition)

Nanako's shaft was based on Subaru's Touring 7-seater, the Exiga

2009 Subaru Exiga

Hikaru's shaft was based on Subaru's latest compact, the Trezia

2011 Subaru Trezia

5) The areas marked on the bus stop were the names of areas Subaru manufacturing plants located, most notably, Ota, Gunma.

My impressions about this Subaru x GAINAX collaboration short film is tremendously superb. Two worlds combined to create something sweeter than a full tank of 100-octane petrol! Most Scooby fans wowed upon peeking at the web special, Houkago no Pleiades. This short anime film reprises the new Subaru slogan "Confidence in Motion" to a completely new level. I guess Houkago no Pleiades is the automotive web special that ends all automotive web specials since 2009's Nissan Note Teinenpi Shoujo Heidi and 2010's Toyota Mark X Samurai Code drama!

Thank you Fuji Heavy Industries and GAINAX for making this short anime film possible! I guess the words "Love is what makes a Subaru, a Subaru" came to reality! (Applause)

Top Gun's Warming Up

2011 Subaru Trezia STi Concept

Thanks to the Subaru Trezia Japanese TV Commercial starring Tetsuji Tamayama that goes like some take-off scene from the movie, Top Gun (cue the music titled Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins), Subaru Tecnica International (STi) unveiled the Trezia STi concept at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Those who don't know about Trezia here goes; the Trezia is Subaru's five-seater hatchback that is essentially a rebadged version of the second-generation Toyota Ractis (Verso-S). It was unveiled in Japan since late November 2010 and it will make its European debut in this year's Geneva Motor Show. It will replace the both the Daihatsu Sirion and Subaru Justy at the same time when it reaches Europe soon.

The Trezia STi concept uses the Trezia's Type Euro as its base and made some cosmetic changes. Although specs haven't been told by Fuji Heavy Industries, the Trezia STi concept will be made into production soon as the limited-edition Trezia tS and when that happens, it's Top Gun all over again.

Photo: Carview

A Trezia tS is in the works?

Despite the Subaru Trezia is a rebadged version of the Toyota Ractis Verso, it still garners more attention than its original twin. Needless to say, most Japanese car enthusiasts prefer the front face of the Trezia rather than the new Toyota Ractis/Verso-S, and I don't really know why...

I read something in an article found at Carview:

http://carview.co.jp/news/0/138959/

In translation: Subaru's planning an STi version of the Subaru Trezia. This Trezia tuned by STi will be unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon and specs for this Trezia tS remains unclear...

If went into limited production, this Trezia could fly...like a fighter jet...

Ractis vs. Trezia

Toyota's new Ractis (soon in Europe as the Verso-S)

and the Subaru version of the new Toyota Ractis, the Trezia

Wait a minute, both of them have the same engine, same interior, and same platform. Why would I compare them if both have the same traits? Don't worry, it's the style I'm comparing...

CASE ONE:

With Yui Aragaki leading the commercial for the new, second-generation, Toyota Ractis, this is truly every Japanese families' answer to the question "Korette, Ari?" (これって、あり, does that mean, there?) The answers on the new Ractis include, but not limited to; a choice of a 1.3L and 1.5L engine, three types (Standard, L'epice, and Sporty Type), and convenient tax cuts due to Japan's "Eco Car Genzei" system. The new Ractis is built as an everyday compact hatchback for the everyday Japanese, and soon Europeans. Take note, the new Ractis arrived in Hong Kong as the Ractis Verso. 

CASE TWO:

The commercial from the new Subaru Trezia pits Japanese male actor, Tetsuji Tamayama, ala, Top Gun. It feels like you're in a jet fighter. But let me explain about the Trezia. With the same engine offerings from the new Ractis, convenient tax cuts from the Eco-Car Genzei, and the special specification Trezia dubbed the Type Euro, it seems both the Trezia and the new Ractis are the same. The main difference is the face. The Trezia has an Impreza-like face that looks like a photoshopped Ractis, but it is a reality.

I would really go for the looks of the new Ractis because it strikes a pose more than the Trezia. The Trezia's face seems decent because of its chubby Impreza face. I observed why most Japanese prefer the Trezia rather than the new second-generation Ractis. Is it because of the face? The commercial? The marketing? Doesn't matter. I hope both of these come to the Philippines with different names. The Ractis will be on Europe as the Verso-S while the Trezia, there's a rumor that it may come as the replacement of the Toyota Passo/Daihatsu Boon-based Justy.

Subaru Trezia

2011 Subaru Trezia

With the partnership between Toyota Group and Fuji Heavy Industries because of the "Toyobaru FT-86" project, most of the cars built from Toyota and Daihatsu such as the bB, Coo, Atrai Wagon, Tanto Exe, and Mira were rebadged as Subaru OEMs such as Dex, Dias Wagon, Lucra, and the new Pleo. Now, the partnership between the two companies goes even further as Subaru launched their own version of the new Toyota Ractis (Ractis Verso in Hong Kong and Verso-S in Europe), called the Trezia.

Trezia, coined from the word "treasure", is just one of the precious memories both Toyota and Subaru collaborate each other because of the FT-86 project they promised to work on. And if I said "precious memories", there are some key points you can check on the Trezia. The Subaru Trezia goes like this, a Ractis/Verso-S with the Impreza's face because on the front size, that looks more of a fat Impreza. Since this is one of Subaru's OEM cars since the bB-Coo-based Dex, you may be familiar about how the Trezia looks like because you already noticed on the new Toyota Ractis/Verso-S.

2011 Subaru Trezia

I am very familiar about the Trezia's interior. After checking on the new Ractis' awesome panorama roof, this panorama roof can also be applied on the Trezia, and its applicable on the 1.5L variant.

Since the Trezia is the Subaru version of the new Toyota Ractis/Verso-S, it still offers two different engine types; a 1NR-FE (1.3-litre) and a 1NZ-FE (1.5-litre) engine. However, there's a catch; the Trezia 1.3L variant offers only a normal CVT while the Trezia 1.5L offers a CVT with a 7-speed Manual Mode, providing an edge of sportiness. If the Toyota Ractis has a Sporty Type (take note: The Toyota Ractis 1.5 S), the Subaru Trezia offers Type Euro. The Subaru Trezia 1.5i Type Euro offers a Euro-tuned suspension, sporty rims, orange stitching on the dark interior, Type Euro instrumental cluster, rear disc brake, and Muffler Cutter. The Subaru Trezia Type Euro is guaranteed to be the real hot hatch designed to be more European.

My thoughts about the Trezia:

It is somewhat suspicious that some Japanese car enthusiasts prefer the Trezia rather than the new Ractis. Despite both the Trezia and the second-generation Ractis were made under the partnership between Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries, I never thought why some Japanese like the Trezia rather than the new Ractis because of the Impreza-like front view. I think the new Ractis is much more stylish than the Trezia, but that depends, both the Trezia and the new Ractis are the same.

There is a probability that this may come to Europe to replace the Passo-based Subaru Justy. But we will never know about that. This could be a double whammy! Could Toyota Motor Philippines bring the Toyota Ractis to the Philippines as the new Verso or MotorImage Pilipinas (the official Subaru distributor for Asia, including the Philippines) bring the Subaru Trezia? I could get confused if both the new Ractis/Verso-S and the Trezia clash against each other...

Photo: Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.