The flip of the twenty first century was an thrilling time, because the world was thrust into the futuristic-sounding 12 months 2000. Toyota needed to make a splash within the new millennium with its funky WiLL autos. Don’t beat your self up if you happen to don’t acknowledge these wacky little automobiles; they had been solely offered in small numbers in Japan for a number of years, however I bear in mind seeing them in Japanese automotive magazines on the Barnes and Noble journal rack as a child, and I lastly received curious sufficient to analyze their story.
Developed as the results of a three way partnership between Toyota and several other different Japanese corporations, WiLL was meant to be a household of merchandise geared toward these elusive and classy millennials who needed merchandise that categorical their individuality. Other corporations that produced WiLL-branded merchandise embrace Asahi Brewery which produced a WiLL beer, and Matsushita Electric Industrial Company which produced a WiLL PC and fridge. Toyota’s contribution was three specifically designed small automobiles meant to enchantment primarily to ladies of their late 20s, the WiLL Vi, the WiLL Cypha, and the WiLL VS, with the Vi and VS names pronounced as letters, like “vee-eye” and “vee-ess.”
Readers may additionally bear in mind Toyota’s American-market try to lure youthful patrons into its showrooms, a cool little sub-brand known as Scion. Similar to the Scion recipe, Toyota dreamed up the JDM WiLL autos based mostly on pre-existing Toyota platforms, so the Vi and the Cypha had been each based mostly on the JDM Toyota Vitz which was mainly our Toyota Echo on the time, and the VS was based mostly on the Corolla platform. The WiLL-brand autos had been based mostly on Toyotas however by no means had any exterior Toyota badges.
I’m at all times a fan of funky automobiles that take styling and design dangers, and the WiLL trio isn’t any exception. They could all be based mostly on boring Toyota platforms, however not less than they regarded distinctive and thrilling, one thing that couldn’t be mentioned of the usual Toyotas on the time. This video exhibits extra of each the WiLL Vi and the Cypha, although it isn’t in English and there aren’t any English subtitles accessible, nevertheless it’s nonetheless cool to see!
The WiLL Vi is essentially the most comprehensively excellent design of all of the WiLL automobiles, trying concurrently lovely, neo-retro, funky, and kinda ugly in some methods. In an ideal world, I’d like to see the entrance finish of the Cypha slapped onto the physique of the Vi to make the weirdest Y2K Matrix-esque futuristic compact automotive potential, however the WiLL trio all come collectively as a unusual and distinctive trio. The again finish of the Vi showcases among the strangest design ideas I’ve seen put into manufacturing, with the inverted rear window that tucks inward instantly behind the rear headrests. This design forces an ungainly trunk design with exterior hinges, one thing from a a lot earlier time.
On the inside, the WiLL Vi showcases a comfy house with a column-mounted shifter for the usual computerized transmission that frees up house for a couch-like entrance bench seat. The colours and supplies used within the inside are additionally out of Toyota’s norm, with brown particulars, considerate materials and funky corrugations all through. I like that many JDM automobiles lean totally into the lounge-like vibe foregoing any pretense of sportiness. I in all probability wouldn’t purchase one since I discover pleasure in driving, however I actually admire the dedication to framing a automotive inside as a snug place to hang around.
The Cypha is a barely extra conventional tackle the identical platform because the Vi, with a normal hatchback design changing the Vi’s wacky bustle again. Where the Vi’s weirdest attributes are seen from the rear, the Cypha’s entrance finish turns heads. With 4 giant vertically oriented smoked entrance lights that stretch from the underside of the entrance bumper up into the burned wheel arch, it has the face of an NPC automotive from GTA, and I adore it. The inside was much less groundbreaking than the Vi, with extra conventional colours and supplies, entrance bucket seats and a floor-mounted shifter.
The WiLL VS was based mostly on the Corolla, and it leaned into the sporty facet of life. With sharp styling that featured aggressive angles and a particular rear finish, the outside appears sufficiently aggressive, particularly when seen from behind. The rear finish of the VS has an aggressive ahead slant to it that makes the automotive appear to be a scorching hatch regardless of its pedestrian powertrains. The inside appears very completely different than any Toyota inside I’ve ever seen, and virtually looks as if it must be sporting a Pontiac badge with all of the aggressive touches and sharp angles.
The WiLL model and Toyota’s vehicular contributions to it weren’t lengthy for this world, sadly. The WiLL Vi was solely produced in 2000 and 2001, the WiLL VS was solely produced from 2001 to 2004, and the WiLL Cypha was solely produced from 2002 to 2005. I don’t suppose Toyota wants shiny new sub-brands to launch cool automobiles; Toyota can be simply tremendous launching a bunch of wacky but dependable little runabouts, perhaps much more than beginning a brand new model. Starting a brand new model to enchantment to youthful patrons feels cringe to me. Just embrace your weirdness and launch thrilling and frivolous automobiles for weirdos — I dare you.
Source: jalopnik.com