2001 Toyota SPARKY

INCOMING IN NOVEMBER


In the works,

The Toyota Sparky is an analogue of the Daihatsu Atrai7 model, manufactured by Toyota as part of an authorized OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) production of borrowed models. The exterior design of the base Daihatsu Atrai model was significantly improved by designer Giugiaro, making the resulting vehicle look more elegant. At least, he managed to somewhat challenge the established perception of what a small "one-box" type car should look like. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the larger Atrai7, and therefore the Sparky, boasts the most spacious interior in its class – this allowed for the inclusion of an additional row of seats, with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The engine was of a single type – a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder DOHC engine.

A distinctive feature of the front interior layout of the Toyota Sparky, as well as the Daihatsu Atrai7, is that the automatic transmission control lever was moved to the steering column to allow for a bench-type front seat. This seat was positioned in such a way that it allowed for easy movement from left to right and vice versa without leaving the cabin. It should also be noted that the second and third row seats folded in half and could be stowed away. This made it possible to obtain a spacious luggage compartment with a flat floor. And most importantly, the passenger in the rear (third) row was no less comfortable than if they were in the same position in a 2-liter class minivan. Equipment included a basic X version and a full-featured G version with rationally selected equipment packages. Standard features included power windows and air conditioning. More expensive versions offered a sunroof, alloy wheels, wood trim, a leather steering wheel, a navigation system, dual-zone air conditioning, etc. The Toyota Sparky's powertrain is similar to the Daihatsu Atrai7 – a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve gasoline engine borrowed from the Daihatsu Storia (Toyota Duet). This engine is noted for its reliable performance and fuel efficiency. Maximum power of 90 horsepower is achieved at 6000 rpm, while the engine is quite torquey – maximum torque is 123 Nm (at 4400 rpm). It works in conjunction with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, the latter even featuring a sport mode. Regarding fuel consumption, the minivan can travel up to 14-16 kilometers on one liter of gasoline (6.25-7.14 l/100 km). In 2002, the engine power was increased to 92 horsepower, while fuel efficiency also improved – to 14.6-17 km/l.

The Toyota Sparky/Daihatsu Atrai7 is built on the same platform as the Atrai Wagon, but modified to accommodate the increased size and weight. It has an independent, spring-type front suspension with MacPherson struts, and a dependent, spring-type rear suspension with trailing arms. Rear-wheel drive models have the body code S221G, while all-wheel drive models have the code S231G. Brakes are disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The car is equipped with rack-and-pinion steering with hydraulic power assist. The dimensions of the Toyota Sparky are as follows: length 3765 mm, width 1515 mm, height 1895 mm. The wheelbase is 2430 mm. The minimum turning radius is 4.4 m. The interior dimensions are 2585 x 1310 x 1265 mm (L x W x H). Door configuration: two hinged doors + sliding doors on both sides + tailgate. In addition to the ability to fold the 2nd and 3rd rows, longitudinal adjustment of the second-row seats is also provided (480 mm).

Toyota Sparky safety features include two airbags for the driver and front passenger, front seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, three-point seat belts for the rear seats, side impact protection, and a reinforced body. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) was available as an option. From 2002, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assist became standard on top-of-the-line models (optional for lower-priced versions).

Overal