Here Wigo: Toyota PH to launch sub-P500k hatchback in February

If the new city car looks overtly familiar, it’s because Daihatsu also penned Toyota’s small MPV, the Avanza.

Toyota is firing on all cylinders.

Barely a month after the launch of the all-new Corolla Altis, Toyota is already planning to take on the A-segment market that it once dominated.

In February, Toyota Motor Philippines is to launch the Wigo, a new hatchback codeveloped with Daihatsu primarily for the Indonesian low-cost green car sector. Indonesia will not charge luxury tax for these vehicles, thus making their pricing more attractive.

As for the Philippines, Toyota has been moving its cars steadily upmarket by adding more features and upscale styling cues, in line with the gradual increase in vehicle prices in general. That creates a big space for entry-level cars, a space that upstarts from Korea, China, and even Mitsubishi and Suzuki, are happily jumping into. Well, Toyota is not about to take it with an idling engine.

Here’s a sneak peek on this little hatchback expected to push Toyota’s plan for Philippine domination.

What is it: It is Toyota’s new city-car hatchback, developed with Daihatsu and primarily geared toward the Indonesian economy car market, and about to tackle selected Asean markets.

Design: The Wigo follows the familiar Toyota template of a one-box body with large headlamps and a tall greenhouse area. It’s a logical progression of styling cues we’ve seen in the Echo and Yaris hatchbacks. If the new city car looks overtly familiar, it’s because Daihatsu also penned Toyota’s small MPV, the Avanza.

The Wigo is expected to feature 14-inch alloy wheels, front foglamps, and such niceties as chrome garnish on the foglight surrounds and the door handles.

Inside, the new car will feature basic one-DIN or two-DIN audio units with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, driver-controllable power windows and power mirrors, features that are not standard for all vehicles in this class. Upgrades such as navigation systems will be dealer options. With its 3600-millimeter length, 1600-mm width and 1520-mm height, it’s a close match for the Mitsubishi Mirage (3710-mm length x 1665-mm width x 1500-mm height). Wheelbase is dead even, at 2450 mm. Toyota figures that it will have the edge when it comes to ease of ingress/egress and favorable seat position. Dual SRS airbags should be standard on all variants.

Engine and transmission: Wigo will be powered by a 1-liter inline three-cylinder engine. The long-stroke engine generates a modest 64.11 horsepower and 86 Newton-meters of torque. The payoff is expected in the fuel economy. As it is a participant in Indonesia’s low-cost green car program, the mandated fuel economy is at least 20 kilometer per liter. Transmission choices are five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

Suspension: The Wigo will feature MacPherson struts up front with coil springs, electric power steering and torsion-beam axle at the rear. Brakes will be discs (vented discs for the AT models) up front with rear drums. Thirteen-inch steel wheels will be fitted on the base models, with 14-inch alloys on the upper variants. A TRD kit with side skirts, and front and rear bumper trim will be available soon after launch.

Built in: Astra Daihatsu factory in Indonesia

Price: Wigo 1.0 G A/T P534,000, 1.0G M/T P499,000, 1.0E M/T P448,000