AYGO FRUGAL – TOYOTA’S SMALLEST COMPETITOR WINS PETROL CATEGORY OVERALL IN 2011 TOTAL ECONOMY RUN

It may be the smallest model in Toyota’s local line-up, but the diminutive Aygo – introduced to South Africa less than six months ago – has already proven it is up for any big challenge.

With its cheeky attitude, depicted by its youthful styling, it has won over the hearts of hundreds of South Africans, and more than a thousand Aygo’s have found owners – making it one of the most popular entry level vehicles in South Africa.

Now the Aygo has proven its frugality and fuel efficiency again by claiming the overall petrol category victory in the 2011 Total Economy Run, the 35th running of the event, staged in and around Thaba ‘Nchu in the Free State.

An Aygo Wild in the hands of the Team Total rally duo Craig Trott and Robbie Coetzee, who normally pilots a Total sponsored Toyota RunX in Class A6 of the South African National Rally Championship, returned a consumption figure of 5.191 litres/100km on the pair’s debut entry to this event. Another highlight of the pair’s feat was the fact that Coetzee, who normally navigates for Trott, was doing the driving!

To further emphasize the Aygo’s fuel efficiency the Team Total lady rally crew Angela Shields and Stefanie Botha (they campaign a Class A6 Toyota RunX in Total colours) placed third overall in the petrol category with a consumption figure of 5.371 litres/100km.

The Aygo is equipped with Toyota’s acclaimed 3 cylinder 1 litre petrol engine that has won its category in the World Engine of the Year competition for four years running. It uses novel engineering solutions such as resin air intakes, engine cover and fuel injector ramps to save weight and space, without compromising durability or power delivery.

It is mounted atop a unique engine mounting system that absorbs engine vibrations and is linked to two side-mounted braces that is aligned with the engine’s centre of gravity. At 67 kg the engine, equipped with variable valve timing (VVT-i), 12 valves and double overhead camshafts, is the lightest internal combustion engine in a passenger vehicle, delivering a tax-beating CO2 emission figure of only 109 g/km.

To further prove Toyota’s green credentials a Toyota Prius, piloted by the celebrity couple Rian and Michelle Garforth-Venter, won the Hybrid Category with an overall consumption figure of 6.065 litres/100km, which included 6 penalties.

4th August 2011