Toyota Aqua

For the export-model Aqua, see Toyota Prius C.

The Toyota Aqua (Japanese: トヨタ・アクア, Hepburn: Toyota Akua) is a full hybrid electric subcompact/supermini hatchback (B-segment) manufactured and marketed by Toyota since 2011. The nameplate is exclusive to the Japanese domestic market, as the vehicle was exported to overseas markets as the Prius c, leveraging the popularity of the Prius hybrid car nameplate and marketed as the smaller alternative to the Prius liftback.

Toyota Aqua
2011 Toyota Aqua (NHP10, Japan)
Overview
Manufacturer	Toyota
Also called	Toyota Prius c (2011–2021)
Production	December 2011^[1] – present
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact car/Supermini (B)
Body style	5-door hatchback

The Aqua is considered the most successful nameplate launch in Japan in the last 20 years.^[2] As of January 2017^[update], the Aqua/Prius c is the second highest-selling Toyota hybrid model after the regular Prius, with 1,380,100 units sold worldwide. Japan as Aqua's market leader has sold 1,154,500 units of the model through January 2017.^[3] The Aqua was the best-selling (non-kei) car in Japan for three years in a row, from 2013 to 2015.^[4][5][6]

The name Aqua means 'water' in Latin. The name was meant to associate the car with an "image of clean transparency" and "something that is universally cherished".^[7]

First generation (NHP10; 2011)

Main article: Toyota Prius C

The production version of the first-generation Aqua was unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Its design was previously previewed by the Prius c concept car which was unveiled at the January 2011 North American International Auto Show. The first facelift was announced in December 2014, along with a crossover-inspired variant called the X-URBAN.^[8] A second facelift was introduced in June 2017, with the crossover-inspired variant redesigned and renamed as the Aqua Crossover.^[9]

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  2011 Aqua (pre-facelift)

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  2015 Aqua (first facelift)

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  2017 Aqua (second facelift)

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  2018 Aqua Crossover

Second generation (XP210; 2021)

Second generation (XP210)
2021 Aqua X with optional projector headlights and fog lights (MXPK11, Japan)
Overview
Production	2021–present
Assembly	Japan: Kanegasaki, Iwate (TMEJ)
Designer	Shingo Tomooka (project chief designer)^[10] Yoshihiro Shimada, Syota Ito and Mika Ueno (exterior)^[10] Ryota Fujishima and Ai Murai (interior)^[10]
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (E-Four)
Platform	TNGA: GA-B^[11]
Related	Toyota Yaris (XP210) Toyota Yaris Cross Toyota Sienta (XP210)
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol hybrid: 1490 cc M15A-FXE I3 (MXPK10/11/15/16)
Electric motor	1NM AC synchronous (front) 1MM AC synchronous (rear)
Power output	67 kW (90 hp; 91 PS) (petrol engine only) 59 kW (79 hp; 80 PS) (1NM electric motor) 3.9–4.7 kW (5.2–6.3 hp; 5.3–6.4 PS) (1MM electric motor) 85 kW (114 hp; 116 PS) (combined system output)
Transmission	eCVT
Hybrid drivetrain	Power-split
Battery	5.0 Ah nickel–hydrogen (X, G, Z, GR Sport grades) 4.3 Ah lithium-ion (B grade)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,600 mm (102.4 in)
Length	4,050–4,095 mm (159.4–161.2 in)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1,485–1,505 mm (58.5–59.3 in)
Curb weight	1,080–1,230 kg (2,381–2,712 lb)

The second-generation Aqua was unveiled on 19 July 2021 and went on sale on the same day. Built on the GA-B platform shared with the XP210 series Yaris, the wheelbase has been extended by 50 mm (2.0 in) compared to the previous generation. It retained the 1,695 mm (66.7 in) width, allowing it to remain in the "compact car" category of Japanese government dimension regulations.^[12] It was initially offered in four grade levels: B, X, G and Z.^[13] The GR Sport grade was added later in late November 2022.^[14][15][16]

According to Toyota, the second-generation Aqua is the world's first vehicle to use a high-output bipolar nickel–hydrogen battery as its electric drive battery, offering twice the output of the standard nickel-metal hydride battery equipped to the outgoing Aqua. The battery also delivers improved accelerator responsiveness and enables linear and smooth acceleration from low speeds, according to the carmaker. The speed range at which the vehicle can operate solely on electrical power has also been increased.^[13] This battery is used on the X, G, Z and GR Sport grades, while the B grade used the lithium-ion unit.

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  2021 Aqua X (MXPK11, Japan)

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  Interior

Sales

Calendar year	Japan^[17]^[18]
2011	361
2012	266,574
2013	262,367
2014	233,212
2015	215,525
2016	168,208^[19]
2017	131,615^[20]
2018	126,561^[21]
2019	103,803^[22]
2020	59,548^[23]
2021	72,495^[24]
2022	72,084

References

1. "Affiliates (Toyota wholly-owned subsidiaries)-Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc". Toyota. 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
2. Mat Gasnier (12 January 2013). "Japan Full Year 2012: All-new Toyota Aqua tickles Prius". Best Selling Cars Blog. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
3. "Worldwide Sales of Toyota Hybrids Surpass 10 Million Units" (Press release). Toyota City, Japan: Toyota. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017. This latest milestone of 10 million units was achieved just nine months after total sales reached 9 million units at the end of April 2016. The Prius family accounts for 61% of Toyota's total global cumulative hybrid car sales: 6.115 million units, consisting of Prius liftback: 3.9846 million; Aqua, Prius c: 1.3801 million; Prius α, Prius v, Prius +: 614,700; and Prius PHV: 79,300.
4. Henk Bekker (8 January 2015). "2014 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models". Best Selling Cars. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
5. Bekker, Henk (8 January 2016). "2015 (Full Year) Japan: : 30 Best-Selling Car Models". Best Selling Cars. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
6. Gasnier, Mat (17 January 2017). "Japan Full Year 2016: Toyota Prius returns to #1 spot after 3 year-hiatus". Best Selling Cars Blog. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
7. "TMC Launches 'Aqua' in Japan | Toyota | Global Newsroom". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
8. "TOYOTA、アクアをマイナーチェンジ | トヨタ自動車株式会社 公式企業サイト" [TOYOTA makes minor changes to Aqua -A new crossover style "X-URBAN" is available-]. global.toyota. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
9. "Toyota Aqua Aka The Prius C Gets A Facelift And A New Crossover Variant". Carscoops. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
10. "Aqua Design Sketches". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. Toyota. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
11. "Toyota to Launch All-New Aqua". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12. "きたぞ9年半ぶり!! 新型アクア発表発売 かつての王者は捲土重来なるか" [It's been 9 and a half years since then! New Aqua announced and released]. 自動車情報誌「ベストカー」 (in Japanese). 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. "Toyota to Launch All-New Aqua". Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
14. "2代目 アクア GR SPORT発売" [2nd generation Aqua GR SPORT released] (Press release) (in Japanese). Toyota Global. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
15. Padeanu, Adrian (29 November 2022). "2023 Toyota Aqua GR Sport Revealed With Sporty Visual Bits, Hardware Tweaks". Motor1. US: Motorsport Network. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
16. Pappas, Thanos (29 November 2022). "2023 Toyota Aqua Gains The GR Sport Treatment In Japan". Carscoops. US: Carscoops. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
17. "Worldwide Sales of Toyota Hybrids Surpass 9 Million Units" (Press release). Toyota City, Japan: Toyota. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
18. "実績データ（ハイブリッド車グローバル販売）" [Actual data (global sales hybrid vehicles)] (Press release) (in Japanese). Toyota City, Japan: Toyota. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
19. "2016 (Full Year) Japan: 30 Best-Selling Car Models". Car Sales Statistics. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
20. "2017 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models and Mini Cars". Car Sales Statistics. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
21. "2018 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models and Mini Cars". Car Sales Statistics. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
22. "2019 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models". Car Sales Statistics. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
23. "2020 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models". Car Sales Statistics. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
24. "2021 (Full Year) Japan: Best-Selling Car Models". Car Sales Statistics. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

External links

 

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