It’s been six years since the Toyota Racing School (TRS) opened in the country. It presented an opportunity for aspiring car racers to learn both basic and advanced motorsport skills while having fun, competencies that would be necessary on the maiden season of the local Toyota Vios Cup. Both the school and the one-make race series managed to get six adrenaline-charged seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone into the pits.
All equipment and cars are disinfected prior to use
After a year in hiatus, TRS is staging a much-anticipated comeback. The changes start with a new name, as the school now reopens as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy Philippines (TGR Academy). According to the carmaker, TGR Academy aims to continuously develop Filipino racers who are competitive on the global level, as well as promote the love for motorsport.
“We’ve had a year of break because of the pandemic, but we’re back and it’s going to be very exciting season this year,” said TGR Academy instructor and race veteran JP Tuason. “We’ve got new drivers training already with us. So, we’re looking at about 30 cars on the grid at the season this year.”
Aspiring racers are mentored by the country's race veterans and previous Vios Cup winners
As in the previous iteration, courses are divided into two levels. The first level is the Basic Circuit Car Class, where students learn the fundamental skills and essential safety rules for properly driving a race car around the track, including threshold braking, downshifting, racing line, and track lapping. Level two is the Advanced Circuit Class, which arms racers with the knowledge they would need to secure a podium finish, culminating in a mock race to get a feel of the competition.
Unlike before, however, TGR Academy reformatted its processes to fit into the new normal. Online registration was mandatory and video conferencing was used in parts of the race class. Students are no longer allowed to share the vehicles they use with other participants.
Participants get to apply the lessons they learned in a mock race at Clark International Speedway
Everyone had to be tested upon entering Clark International Speedway prior to the on-ground training component. Each batch of students were assigned a dedicated time slot, with instructions relayed through two-way radios. And as part of health protocols, every piece of equipment was disinfected before use.
Philippine Autocross champion Iñigo Anton signed up for both Levels 1 and 2. “Even though I’ve been racing for a long time, I still learn here. The classes and learnings made me a smoother and faster driver,“ he enthused. “It’s such a good program and hopefully, those people who are interested to join in racing, in general, would explore the program and start their journey here.”
Even with his experience, racer Iñigo Anton says signing up for the course sharpens his skills
Even newcomers were impressed. “I enrolled in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy because I want to put my foot in the door in the world of racing," says racing neophyte Aleksa Meily. “I was very inspired after watching Formula 1, and I thought, ‘Why don’t I try it, instead of just watching in front of the screen?’.”
Students who successfully complete the course become eligible for the next season of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup in July, which is set to introduce a new batch of contenders. It also brings back the Super Sporting class, where the country’s seasoned racers take a crack at driving the Vios to victory.
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Know more about Toyota Vios 2024
Competing in the subcompact sedan segment, the Toyota Vios 2024 is the top sales contributor for the Japanese automaker. The price for the Toyota Vios in the Philippines ranges from PHP 732,000 to PHP 1,054,000. A total of 7 Toyota Vios variants are offered, with the top-of-the-line Vios G CVT variant coming with a tag of PHP 1,039,000. Two engine options are available in the range, which can be connected to either a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Dimensions-wise, the subcompact sedan spans 4,425 mm in length, 1,730 mm in width, and 1,475 mm in height. The main rivals of the Toyota vehicle include the Honda City, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, and Nissan Almera.
The Toyota Vios is not only the best-selling model in the Japanese automaker's lineup, but the entire Philippine market. It serves as a reliable subcompact sedan for those who are looking for a daily driver. Also, the Vios is proudly Philippine-assembled which supports Filipino automotive workers. Now, the vehicle is competing in its respective class head high using the refreshed body released by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) in the country in 2020.
>>> New and used Toyota Vios 2024 for sale in the Philippines
Toyota Vios Launch
In 2002, Toyota introduced the first-generation Vios in the Philippines. A few years later in 2007, the second-generation sedan was launched. This version gained the "Batman" nickname due to the shape of its grille.
Several years onwards In 2013, Toyota brought in the third-gen Toyota Vios. It has grown in size, and it also came with a larger engine. The Toyota-made sedan was given a major update in 2018. It bore a new exterior design, and it also gained the upmarket Prime variants as well.
More recently in 2020, Toyota Motor Philippines launched another refresh of the Toyota Vios model. It's fitted with sportier fascia, a new grille, a new pair of headlamps, a revised foglamp housing, and a new lower grille, among others.
In March of 2021, TMP then introduced the Toyota Vios GR-S.
Toyota Vios Exterior
Up front, the Toyota Vios for the Philippines comes with a front end that mirrors the current designs of high-end models like the Corolla Altis and the Camry. The said design features a wide-slatted grille, flanked by the angular fog lamp housing. For the high-trim GR-S and G, the headlamps are three-tier LEDs with integrated LED daytime running lamps. The rest of the variants get a pair of four-bulb halogen headlights.
For the side and the rear, not much has changed since the previous version. The GR-S stands out from the rest of the variants with its black-colored exterior pieces, rear spoiler, and rear lower bumper with an integrated diffuser.
The Toyota Vios G
Apart from those, the Toyota Vios GR-S for the Philippine market also has different-looking side skirts and a set of GR-S 16-inch alloy wheels. The G variant on the other hand still has a piano black grille, but it gets chrome-plated door handles instead of the black-colored ones found on the GR-S.
The all-new 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S
>>> Related: 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S review by Philkotse
Toyota Vios Interior
The Toyota Vios for the Philippine market can offer seating for up to five occupants including the driver. For the top-spec GR-S and G variants, they both come equipped with automatic air-conditioning. For the most part, the Toyota Vios' dashboard are made out of sturdy plastic, combined with silver-colored accents.
Soft touch points for the Vios are also abundant. The Toyota-made sedan's door cards are made out of a combination of plastic, and a soft, fabric-covered material. There's also the presence of a center elbow-rest.
The Interior Of The Toyota Vios G
As for the seats, most variants except the GR-S come with fabric seats. The GR-S instead has synthetic leather with red contrast stitching, combined with suede pieces.
The rear seats of the Toyota Vios
To keep occupants comfortable, both the GR-S and G Vios variants are equipped with automatic air-conditioning systems. The rest of the trim levels on the other hand come with a manual air-conditioning system.
Inside the Toyota Vios GR-S
>>> Related: Toyota Vios for sale at good prices on Philkotse.com
Features & Technology
For entertainment, the Toyota Vios GR-S, and the Vios G variants for the Philippine market come standard with a 6.75-inch touchscreen headunit. The said headunit is also capable of connecting via Bluetooth, USB, and Aux jack.
The Vios G's touchscreen headunit
The mid-tier XLE and XE trims also have the aforementioned headunit, but these come with a four-piece speaker set instead. The Vios J on the other hand comes standard with a 2-DIN audio unit linked to two speakers.
Besides the aforementioned touchscreen, the GR-S is also equipped with the Gazoo Racing 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display. Other variants do get an Optitron gauge cluster, as well as a multi-information display. The GR-S and the G also come with a push-to-start button, a leather-clad shift lever, and a drive-mode selector. All Vios variants also come standard with a tilt-adjustable steering wheel column.
The tech and convenience features will vary depending on the variant of the Toyota Vios
For safety, the GR-S and G variants are equipped with dual-front airbags, side airbags, curtain shield airbags, and driver's knee airbags. The rest of the trim levels have dual-front airbags, and the airbag for the driver's knee.
Anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, traction control, and hill-start assist are available on all Vios trims. Only the GR-S and G come with a rear-view camera, and only the former has a clearance sonar.
>>> See more: New and used Toyota Vios for sale in the Philippines at the best price
Platform & Chassis
The refreshed Toyota Vios for the Philippine market still uses the same platform as the previous model. As before, higher trim levels have disc brakes all around.
For suspensions, the Vios uses a MacPherson Strut type for the front and a torsion beam-type suspension for the rear. Moreover, the engine is still positioned transversely, with the power sent to the front wheels.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Toyota Vios for the Philippine market has two engine options. The larger one is a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine capable of making up to 106 hp and 140 Nm of torque. This said engine is available on the GR-S and the G Trim. For the former, it is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) only. The Vios G can either come with a CVT or a five-speed manual transmission.
The Toyota Vios G's 1.5-liter mill
The other engine option for the Vios is a 1.3-liter inline-4 engine. At most, this mill can produce up to 98 hp, and 123 Nm of torque. For the XLE, the said engine can be paired with a CVT or a five-speed transmission. The 1.3 XE's sole transmission is a CVT, while the J comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission only.
The gear shift lever of the Vios GR-S
>>> Also check out:
- Toyota Vios 2020 Philippines Review: Join the club
- 2021 MG 5 vs Toyota Vios Comparison: Spec Sheet Battle
Toyota Vios 2024 Price List
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Toyota Vios 1.3 J MT | ₱732,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.3 XE CVT | ₱774,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE MT | ₱862,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE CVT | ₱902,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT | ₱979,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT (White Pearl) | ₱994,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.5 G CVT | ₱1,039,000 |
₱ 732,000 - ₱ 1,055,000
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