Toyota Platz

This article is about the Echo sedan, for the Echo hatchback, see Toyota Vitz

The Toyota Platz and the Toyota Echo sedan are small vehicles manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation based on the Toyota Vitz, the vehicle's hatchback variant. The first generation car was known as the Platz in Japan and Echo in North America.

Toyota replaced the American Echo with the Yaris.

History

Introduced in North America in 2000 as a sedan or coupé, The Echo's running gear is shared with the Toyota bB and ist, sold in the United States as the Scion xA and xB, and the Japan-only Toyota Will Vi. The same CP platform is the base for the Japanese-only Probox and Succeed wagons.

In the United States, the Echo sold 50,000 examples, with just half that many in 2003[citation needed]. The Echo was an element of Toyota Project Genesis, a failed effort to bring younger buyers to the marque in the United States. The Echo sold in high volumes in Canada, where smaller cars are more popular than in the US[citation needed]. In Canada, Toyota also offered a 3-door version of the Echo, which was identical to the European-market Toyota Vitz. It was the predecessor to the current North American Toyota Yaris, sharing many identical features, such as being Toyota's entry-level car at the time of its "existence", and the odd (and somewhat controversial) center placement of the speedometer and gauges, as opposed to in front of the steering wheel. Power options on the Echo are a rare find.Most are just equipped with manual windows and locks,A/C,and a six speaker audio system with a CD and/or a cassette player.