Toyota's Next Matrix More Powerful, New Name Possible

Toyota is adding its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine to more vehicles as it refreshes its lineup. The engine is in the Toyota Camry and the Scion tC and will also power the new Scion xB with 158 hp. Now, Toyota plans to put it into a radically different version of the Matrix, based on the next Corolla sedan. The new Matrix, already sold in Europe and Japan, will look a lot more like a Mazda3 and could get a new name.

The vehicle is called the Blade in Japan and the company registered that name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. While the Matrix may not be the most significant name in Toyota’s arsenal, replacing it with something with somewhat violent imagery attached might do more harm than good. Plus, it doesn’t really look like a Blade, does it?

[Toyota cuts Matrix with Blade, AutoWeek]

Comments

Like the added power. Don't care for what looks like less storage space and added blind spot where there use to be a window. Will be curious what the final design comes out as. Wonder if Pontiac will get a new Vibe based on this also.

Szerfas,
It's doubtful they'll continue to share the platform and maybe that is the reason for the name change because of the tie-in with the Vibe contractually.not sure.

It's doubtful Pontiac will get another version. The brand focus is moving towards RWD performance.

As a replacement for the Corolla, it looks good, but as a replacement for the Matrix? Well, I am not so sure. It looks good, but it still looks dated or would fit in better with the likes of the smaller Fit and Versa (of course, this would mean it would be with the Yaris that looks far more up-to-date in styling).

Although we keep comparing the Matrix/Blade to the Mazda3 5-door, it isn't a fair comparison--at least not yet . . . possibly. The Matrix is a crossover and the handling is not on par versus the Mazda3 Sport (Mazda3 5-door, Car and Driver, January 2004: 300-ft skidpad is .87g; Matrix XRS (now defunct), Car and Driver, June 2002: 300-ft skidpad is .83g. For comparison, the Scion tC in the August 2004 issue of Car and Driver, had a 300-ft skidpad of .81g and the Civic Si in the March 2006 issue of Car and Driver has a 300-ft skidpad of .91g).

Sure the new Matrix/Blade will have the same 4-cylinder engine found in the Camry and Scion tC, but neither of those cars can match the Mazda3's handling either. So the larger engine is a start, but it's going to have to have the handling before I would consider it comparable to the Mazda3.

Is it a smart move to replace a wagon with a hatchback? It is not really like Toyota to be so out of tradition.
Whatever the case be, just at least have a AWD option, and preferably shift-it-yourself tranny.

The Matrix IS a hatchback. In Europe its the called the Corolla (hatchback), and it loses the side skirt styling the Matrix has. In the Matrix looks better than the European corolla hatch ever did.

Blade sounds weird.....I think of vampires;)

Actually, our Matrix is not sold in Europe. This particular car, the Blade, is sold as the Auris in the UK and France. See: http://toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/generic_editorial.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0799232605.1171432612@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddkehffdgfcfngcfkmdfkidffk.0&navRoot=toyota_1024_root&portal=null&nodiv=TRUE&edname=AU1_exp&id=MSR_AURIS&catname=%2ftoyota_root%2fTopNav%2fNew+Cars&zone=Zone+Auris&menuid=70297&sr=Mall

The Corolla is currently offered as a sedan, and 3 and 5-door hatchback and wagon in France. That wagon looks much more conservative than the Matrix.

I think Toyota should keep the currently Matrix line-up with 2wd and 4wd. They already have two hatchbacks with Scion's xB and xD.

The Scion xD looks similar to the Mazda2 (not the one on this site, but the Mazda2 sold in Europe).
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/02/new_mazda2_for_.html

Tor

Wagons are a bit different from hatchbacks.

To me, wagons are like the Outback(Legacy based ones) from Subaru, HHR from Chevy; while hatchbacks are more like the Versa from Nissan, Caliber from Dodge.

either way it doesn't look that competitive in the market that it wants to play in. too little too late

If Pontiac do bet a replacement, it will also have to change it like to fit in with the Toyota version. The new name for Pontiac's version will be "Viblation."

What's with Toyota using all these movie names? Highlander, Matrix, and now Blade...

The current Matrix is significantly different than the Toyota Corolla hatch (previous version). They are essentially the same vehicle, but they look different.

Similarly expect the new Matrix to look different than the current Corolla Hatches.