Geneva 2014: Toyota shows playful Aygo hatchback

If we have the Wigo, Toyota Europe gets the Aygo. Like the Wigo, Aygo is an A-segment hatchback with a 1.0-liter engine. Only it gets a more adventurous design, even more so than the first-generation car. And it isn’t produced by Daihatsu.

Aygo gets a characteristic X-theme design that seeks to evoke Japanese elements, especially the robot anime face. This car is already a Transformers character without having to change into a robot. David Terai, chief engineer explains: “There seems to be an implicit agreement amongst vehicle planners, stylists and engineers that drivers of small cars don’t spend much time behind the wheel anyway, and that therefore they won’t mind having to compromise. I simply cannot believe that this is true. I am convinced that these drivers -just like any other- want a car that they can be proud of, and I took it as my task to create such a car.” The new design is called J-playful.

The Aygo has 10 exterior components that can be swapped out for different colors, allowing for cost-efficient customization. The cabin gets height-adjustable seats, matt-finish materials, a 7-inch touch screen.

From the first generation car, the new Aygo has lengthened by 25mm, with a still compact 3455m total length. Height drops by 5mm to improve aerodynamics. Aygo is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, reportedly one of the lightest in its class.