A seismic shift in the car industry is a rare occurrence, but the introduction of a model that breaks previous notions and barriers will have a significant impact on both consumers and manufacturers.  One such event was the introduction yesterday of Toyota’s new Innova.  The Innova is the second vehicle in Toyota’s Innovative Multipurpose Vehicle (IMV) project.  The first to use the IMV platform was the all-new Hilux unveiled last December, and the third will be the Fortuner SUV that will be released later this year.  The IMV represents Toyota’s assault on the commercial vehicle segment, and a powerful effort to cement its leadership position.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) Chairman George S.K. Ty and TMP President Nobuharu Tabata led the ceremonies marking the roll-off from the production line of the first units of Innova.  The Innova is a minivan based on a robust frame chassis.  There is space for eight within its cabin: two bucket seats up front, a middle bench good for three, and a rear bench that can seat two comfortably or three in a pinch.  The Innova is the replacement of the venerable Revo, and yet it surpasses that model and others in its class.  For one, the shape is no longer two-box affair that has been the norm for the AUV class.  The sleek and simple lines flow smoothly from the sharply-slanted nose, with a large greenhouse.                  

Two engines are available, a 2.0 liter VVT-i unit good for 136 bhp and 182 Nm, and a 2.5-liter common rail turbodiesel that produces 102 bhp and 260 Nm (AT)/200 Nm (MT).  The entry-level J and mid-grade E come with 5-speed manual only, while the upscale G has either the manual or 4-speed automatic.  Front discs and rear drum brakes take care of the stopping duties.  Tires are 205/65 R 15.

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