New Matrix coming Spring '08

New Matrix coming Spring '08

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/13/new-matrix-coming-spring-08/

Another article with a spy shot:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070213/FREE/70212007/1528/pipes

Ugly. Looks like the yaris hatchback and mazda 3 wagon bumped uglies.
And I'm sick of Toyota getting lazy and putting the 2AZ-FE in everything. Make a new, better engine that gets more than 150hp out of 2.4l!

qft

(glances down)...nope not exciting...

They should keep that wing on the back like the one in the spy shot. That would be hawt.

:thumbsdow

for the market the matrix is in, it looks like a nice car. this is not going to be tuner car.

Toyota has seemed to abandon any type of fast or tuner car. They're all about fuel efficiency now and even more hardcore on quality. The only hotrods they have left on the lot are the trucks...if you can even consider them. It's a shame, but it's also the reason their stock price is hovering around 135 bucks a share and they have a greater market value than Walmart.

I just hope they don't succumb to the same fate as the big 3 when it comes to cars. You will always have a small car market and a market for a small sporty alternative to something like a Mustang or Corvette. The Supra priced a lot of people out and they didn't make the Celica Alltracs or MR2 turbo 3s-gtes long enough. I think if they build a hot motor 4 cyl. and keep it under 20k they'll sell. Hopefully, they'll be an up level powertrain option for this new generation Corolla/Matrix.

hooray for corolla station wagons

Design is awesome but man why are they killing the power??? stupid gas prices lol.... for a 2.4 with only 158hp? that's just dissapointing

companies are in the business to make money. the auto market will have its ups and downs and trends will set the market. since people are all over the gas thing right now, cars will be more fuel efficient and have less horsepower.

Yeah, that's what got them to where they are now.They made their name as far as fuel economy goes in the late 70s and early 80s.

I just hope they keep something even a little exciting. You've got the S/C'd Ecotec GM variants, Civic SI, the Spec V's coming back. I'd hope Toyota would keep something along those lines to compete. I 'd love to see the return of the Alltrac line too, but I'm more likely going to win the Powerball than see that happen!

Not too bad but I still wouldn't own one myself.

doesnt really look that promising.... stylings still a bit bland

no, the Japan Blade does not have the 2.4L here in Japan, the AWD versions have a 2.0Lw/a 6-speed manual available, the others use the same 1.8L used in the US variants also available with a 4-speed auto or the 5-speed manual. the BLADE XSR is good to go it takes off damn good and handles extremely well on curves, i know this info because my Staff Sgt. bought one recently and i went with him when he bought it. BTW the XSR is a 1.8L with a 5-speed, but it has a closer ratio than the US 5-speeds due to the driving differences over here.