2009 Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota Launches Redesigned 'Mark X'
Tokyo, Oct 19, 2009; TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces the launch
in Japan today of the redesigned "Mark X", which furthers the series'
"sporty and luxurious" concept by offering enhanced quality in an authentic
rear-wheel-drive sedan.
The Mark X features a dynamic low center of
gravity that is combined with powerful driving performance made possible by
a new 3.5-liter V6 engine. The style and driving performance of this
upscale vehicle are in tune with adult sensibilities, delivering
in-touch-with-the-road steering that responds instantaneously to the
driver's every wish, stability at high speeds and a smooth comfortable
ride.
In addition, the vehicle's environmental performance is at the
top of its class(1). The fuel efficiency of the Relax Selection two-wheel
drive models exceeds the 2010 standards by 15%, qualifying them for
incentives and subsidies under the Japanese government's taxation system
for environmentally considerate vehicles.
The new Marx X, starting
at an appealing 2.38 million yen, comes in a diverse lineup - standard
type, sports type and premium type - to allow drivers to show their
individuality.
Vehicle Outline
I. Rear-wheel drive package
offers dynamic styling and exciting cruising
The design concept
behind the Marx X is "glam tech" - combining the visual "glamour" conveyed
by the vehicle with the "high-tech" expression of its modern and precise
feel. The result is subtle contrast as well as a dynamic and stylish
form.
The vehicle's silhouette is smooth and elegant, with expansive
front and rear pillars to emphasize integration with the
underbody.
The 1,435 mm height and 20 mm expansion for both width
and track give the vehicle a low center of gravity.
Rear-wheel
drive allows a front-and-rear weight distribution ratio of 54:46 for stable
driving.
The bumper's wide opening and deep-set fog lights emphasize
the face's low center of gravity and wide stance, while the three-lamp
linear layout of the headlights and a mesh grille enhance the sense of
vitality.
The combination taillights also have a three-lamp linear
layout, while lights built into the lid of the trunk serve as a statement
of class.
Six refined body colors are available, including the new
Ice Titanium Mica Metallic.
The interior is sporty and dynamic,
combining quality and precision that evokes a feeling of driving
pleasure.
The leather-covered steering wheel's thicker ergonomic
grip and a leather-booted gearshift add to the sporty feel.
The angles of the seat cushion and sides of the front seats have been
optimized for superior hold. The driver's seat also features a
switch-operated motorized lumbar support function that shifts the seatback
forward or back to improve back comfort during driving.
The shoulder
portion of the door trim for the front and rear seats has been pushed
outward by 25 mm (total for left and right), while the distance between the
front seats has been increased by 20 mm, resulting in a roomier
interior.
Sports type (250G S package, 250G S package Relax
Selection, 350S)
- Sporty feel enhanced through tinting of headlights
and combination taillights and through spoilers on front and rear bumpers
and trunk lid
- Interior features modern and robust black theme
-
Paddle shifter gives feel of manual transmission
Premium type
(Premium, Premium L package)
- Special plating on front grille, rocker
moldings and front bumper enhance upscale image
- Steering wheel and
shift knob ornamentation boast wood-grain finish
- Heated front seats
effectively warm shoulders, lower back and legs
- Power Easy Access
System slides driver's seat back and tilts steering wheel upward and
forward, increasing ease of ingress and egress
- Refined
velour-moquette seat covers are treated with mite-suppressing agent that
also prevents static electricity, adding to passenger comfort
II. Sporty cruising performance and high-quality, comfortable
ride
The new 3.5-liter V6 engine is paired with a 6 Super ECT with
a driving response and acceleration management system to provide the ample
and comfortable cruising characteristic of a full-scale rear-wheel drive
sedan.
The 2.5-liter V6 engine (two-wheel drive) models offer
outstanding acceleration, going from zero to 100km/h in just 8.4
seconds(2).
Reduced friction resistance in the suspension and higher
arm rigidity enhance maneuverability and provide in-touch-with-the-road
steering and a smooth, comfortable ride. The sports type models are
equipped with Adaptive Variable Suspension, which combines mono-tube shock
absorbers and computer control of damping force, delivering an exceptional
ride, superior handling and stable cruising performance.
Depending
on the driving conditions, the driver can - at the flick of a switch -
choose between the Sport, Snow and Eco driving modes to optimally control
drive force.
The newly adopted Variable Gear Ratio Steering system,
which controls the angle of the front wheels according to vehicle speed to
improve steering performance, is coupled with optimized electric power
steering, resulting in outstanding handling.
Vehicle Dynamics
Integrated Management coordinates the drive power, steering and brakes to
ensure excellent stability and improve preventive safety.
Expanded
use of vibration-dampening materials limits noise penetration, resulting in
a quiet and comfortable cabin.
III. Improved safety
features
Outstanding safety performance is achieved by equipping all
vehicle models with seven airbags, including SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) side airbags, SRS curtain shield airbags, and a driver's seat knee
airbag; VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) to control skidding; TRC (Traction
Control) to minimize wheel spin when accelerating; and Active Headrests up
front to reduce stress on the neck in a rear-end collision.
The
vehicle's Pre-Crash Safety System uses millimeter-wave radar to detect
potential collisions and alerts the driver through a warning buzzer and
display. In line with the possibility of collision, the Pre-Crash Brake
Assist system, Pre-Crash Brake system and Pre-Crash Seatbelts minimize
collision damage to achieve a higher level of safety.
When cornering
with the headlights on, the Intelligent AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting
System) shifts the low beams to match the steering angle and vehicle speed,
thereby enhancing visibility in the direction the vehicle is
moving.
The new Radar Cruise Control system, equipped with a
brake-control function, detects and monitors the preceding vehicle,
maintaining a fixed distance, in line with the preceding vehicle's speed,
within a preset speed range.
Hill-start Assist Control prevents the
vehicle from rolling backward when switching from the brake to the
accelerator during a start on a steep hill.
IV. Comfort features
enhance driving pleasure
The multi-information display, which
indicates average fuel efficiency, possible cruising distance and other
data, features enhanced visibility through the adoption of a high-contrast
white, organic electroluminescent (EL) display.
Fully automatic
independent temperature controls for the driver and passenger sides -
standard on all models - feature a function to remove pollen, dust and
other impurities from the air in the cabin. Meanwhile, Plasmacluster
Ions(R)(3) technology combats bacteria and creates a comfortable cabin
atmosphere through the balanced release of positive and negative
ions.
The 480-liter(4) trunk is roomy enough to accommodate four
golf bags.
An HDD navigation system (compatible with the G-BOOK mX
telematics service) features multimedia and other advanced functions such
as Map on Demand, which provides automatic map and information updates and
door-to-door guidance that pinpoints directions to a destination.
The premium models come with a G-BOOK mX telematics
service-compatible HDD navigation system with built-in terrestrial digital
TV tuner and gear-shifting functions for driver support in merging and
exiting and at intersections; 12 speakers optimally placed to provide sound
quality comparable to a live performance.
The Intelligent Parking
Assist system uses ultrasonic sensors installed in the front of the vehicle
to detect parking-space parameters and help the driver parallel park or
back into a parking space by informing the driver when to turn the steering
wheel and where to start backing up.
V. Reduced environmental
impact
Efforts were made to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2
emissions. The 2.5-liter two-wheel-drive models have a fuel efficiency of
13.0km/l(5), while the 3.5-liter two-wheel-drive models have one of
10.2km/l(5), thus placing both at the top of their vehicle
classes(1).
All vehicles in the series achieve emission levels 75%
lower than the 2005 level required under the Japanese Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Approval System for Low-emission
Vehicles.
The Relax Selection two-wheel-drive models have fuel
efficiency that exceeds by 15% the level stipulated in the Japanese 2010
standards set out under the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy,
thereby qualifying them for incentives and subsidies under the Japanese
government's taxation system for environmentally friendly
vehicles.
All 2.5-liter models meet the Japanese 2010 standards and
qualify for subsidies(6).
An Eco Driving Indicator that lights up to
signify fuel-efficient vehicle operation and an Eco Zone Indicator that
shows throttle use - standard on all models - raise driver awareness of
environmentally considerate driving.
Eco-VAS (Eco-Vehicle Assessment
System) - Toyota's original comprehensive environmental impact assessment
system - was implemented to efficiently reduce overall environmental impact
throughout the vehicle's lifecycle.
A review of the materials,
processing methods and adhesives used for interior parts helped reduce the
amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde, as well
as the discomforting odors sometimes resulting from such materials, to
levels below those outlined in the Japan Automobile Manufacturers
Association's "Vehicle Cabin VOC Testing Methods (for Passenger Cars)",
which are the industry's voluntary standards.
The door trim and
carpet are made of low-VOC materials and the front console box is made from
VOC-free water-based urethane synthetic leather.
(1) Compared to
vehicles of similar engine displacement
(2) Based on TMC
calculations
(3) Registered trademark of Sharp Corporation
(4) Based
on Verband der Automobilindustrie measuring method
(5) Measured using
the 10-15 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The fuel efficiency indicated for the
2.5-liter front-wheel drive models is for the 250G model, which weighs
1,410kg.
(6) New-vehicle only, in conjunction with disposal of an
end-of-life vehicle.
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world,
Toyota Motor Corporation , has endeavored since its establishment in 1937
to serve society by creating better products. Today, the Company
manufactures vehicles and parts at 53 production sites in 27 countries and
regions around the globe and is an active member in the communities it
serves. In fiscal 2009, ended March 31, 2009, the Toyota Group sold
approximately 7.56 million vehicles in 170 countries and regions under the
Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu, and Hino brands. For more information, please
visit www.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html.