TOYOTA SCOOPS CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD IN JAPAN

Only two weeks after the Yaris won the European Car of the Year 2000 award the Yaris has now become Japanese Car of the Year 1999-2000. The Japanese version of the European-designed car and MPV Verso derivatives took the award by a substantial margin.

This is the third year in succession that a Toyota model has won the award - the first time this has been achieved in the award�s 20-year history. Prius won in 1997-98, followed by Altezza (Lexus IS200) in 1998-99.

Designed at Toyota�s EPOC design centre in Brussels and to be manufactured in Valenciennes, France from 2001, Yaris has won a string of awards this year. These include the Engine of the Year Award for the innovative Yaris 1.0 litre VVT-i engine, the Irish Car of the Year Award, the Norwegian Car of the Year Award and came first in Autocar magazine�s list of its top 100 cars.

The Japanese Car of the Year award�s organisers commended the car, saying every aspect of the Yaris from its styling and interior space to its engine and gearbox is novel with a global perspective. They said: "This result of fresh inspiration is warmly accepted by users around the world."

And Prius Too!
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Japanese Car of the Year Award, the organisers also selected the most impressive winner in the accolade�s history. This honour went to the Prius, Toyota�s revolutionary hybrid petrol/electric car, of which over 30,000 have been sold since its launch in Japan two years ago. Prius will be launched in Europe in 2000.

Concerning Prius, the organisers commented: "Leading the world, this epoch-making mass production vehicle featuring a hybrid system has opened a new automotive future as we head toward the 21st century and its many environmental challenges."

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