Toyota Motor Philippines invited Philkotse to the 2022 Gazoo Racing Week, which was held at the Clark International Speedway (CIS). Specifically, we were able to attend the fifth and last day (July 21, 2022) of the aforementioned week-long event, along with other representatives from automotive publications, and influencers.
We had the chance to drive these on the track
The Vios OMR cars: Awesome in their own right
As per the event's name, we have been given the opportunity to try to dip our toes into motorsport racing. This was done with the clear and succinct supervision of Tuason Racing.
Of note, the cars that we got to use at CIS were the Toyota Vios One Make Race (OMR) units. These were the very same cars that are the stars of TMP's Gazoo Racing Vios Cup.
In particular, we got to drive the Vios OMR cars in a timed slalom activity, a follow-the-leader type run on the CIS track, as well as several quarter-mile drag runs.
The Vios OMR cars about to take on a slalom course
From those activities alone, it was proven to us that even the simple and practical Toyota Vios has the props to become a potent track weapon.
Mind you though, the Vios OMR cars were 1.5-liter 5-speed manual and continuously variable transmission (CVT) units that still made 106 horsepower and 140 Nm of torque. That's exactly the same output as the stock Vios 1.5 G.
Those output numbers don't sound impressive, but then again, the amount of stability, controllability, and responsiveness provided by the Vios OMR cars was certainly above your normal sedan. This is thanks to a sports clutch, a set of beefier brakes, a performance intake system, and a performance suspension set.
Lining up for the quarter mile drag race
And even while some of us (like the author), squeezed every drop of driving ability he had just to keep up, we totally felt safe as these Vios OMR cars were equipped with a roll cage, a fire suppression system, a six-point racing harness, and plenty of other racing-oriented safety bits.
And as we've mentioned earlier, the folks from Tuason Racing were also there to oversee the said activities and thus ensuring a safe, fun, and more importantly educational experience at CIS.
The Vios OMR together with the GR Supra
So what does the Vios OMR car feel like to drive, really? Well from the perspective of the author who sat in a true-blue race car for the first time, it wasn’t as comfortable as the regular Vios.
Then again, we understand that sacrifices had to be made in order to keep you safe whilst racing. For instance, getting in and out of the Vios OMR isn’t easy, especially for wide and tall folks. This, of course, is due to the beefy roll cage. It also lacked a rear seat, and the interior was barer compared to the stock car.
Getting strapped was also a fairly complicated ordeal especially for the first time. Though after a few times of getting in and out of the car, we got the hang of it eventually. Also, we’ve had assistance from the Tuason racing dudes, so it wasn’t that difficult.
The Vios OMR is definitely an agile track beast
There were, however, a few comforts on the said race car that we kept. They still had their power windows, their push-to-start buttons, their air-conditioning systems, etc. As for the last feature though, we found out that it was necessary to turn off the air-conditioning as it actually robbed the car of power.
Power was something we really needed to squeeze out of the vehicle. It made enough mind you, though note that the media personalities were actually competing to get the best times in the Gazoo Racing Festival activities.
GR models take center stage
Besides the white-knuckle racing activities though, TMP also displayed a number of their GR models. Included in this are the GR Supra, the GR Rush, GR Fortuner, GR Vios, and the GR Hilux.
Several GR models were displayed at the event
The next-generation 2023 Toyota GR86 was also unveiled at the said event, and so, it was the first time that we've seen it in the metal. TMP says that it will be launched by August, so no details were given in terms of pricing, specs, and variants as of yet.
True pros show us how it's done
And finally, in the afternoon part of the event, the true pro drivers from Tuason Racing, as well as Marlon Stockinger showed us how it's done. This proceeded through ride-along sessions on the CIS course.
Apart from seeing them in action though, we also got to see how the Toyota GR Supra and the Toyota GR Yaris performed on the track as they were driven by a full-fledged racing driver.
The GR Yaris also went on several track runs during the event
For the GR Supra, while we know it can be pretty quick, Stockinger managed to bring out the car’s fun factor by making it perform slides on some of the track's corners.
The GR Yaris in turn showed us that it shows great potential as a track car, despite being a rally-bred beast.
All-in-all, the 2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival was a fun and educational activity that showed us that the brand is truly committed to providing consumers with sporty options. This of course is in keeping with Akio Toyoda’s statement a couple of years ago: “No more boring cars.”
For more car news and automotive industry updates, keep it here on the Philippines’ largest automotive portal.
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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