Fully Wired on the Move with the WiLL Cypha
The Toyota-built WiLL CYPHA (the third vehicle model in the WiLL cross-industry marketing project initiated by Toyota in the late 1990s) is the first car to come standard with an onboard terminal and other equipment for using Toyota’s G-Book subscription information network.
An internal exclusive communications module allows direct one-touch connection. Unlike conventional communication, navigation and car-information services, the communications module works in conjunction with the onboard G-Book terminal and does not require cellphone use for access.
The service fee is a flat 550 yen (about RM165) per month, with a yearly subscription of 6600 yen (about RM1980) and no additional cellphone fees are incurred. Information can be obtained via high-speed communications with a maximum transmission rate of 144 kbps (optional services are available for additional fees).
Navigational maps covering all of Japan and the onboard terminal’s basic software are stored in a 256MB Secure Digital (SD) card. The card can be inserted into E-TOWER terminals (software-distributing kiosks) at convenience stores and other locations to download new maps, music and games.
The G-Book’s Information Centre houses user-customized servers that allow individual subscribers to freely modify screen and menu settings. These services include a Live Navigation Service, Information Service, Entertainment Service, Communication Service (receive/send e-mail which can be read out), and a Safety and Security Service. In the event of an emergency, the G-Book can be used to send location information to the G-Book Centre so that roadside assistance can be dispatched at any time of the day.
On the mechanical side, the Cypha is available with Toyota 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre VVT-i engines and an economy-enhancing Super ECT automatic transmission. A 4WD version is also available with the bigger engine and this drivetrain is the ‘on-demand’ type which operates in FWD when conditions are not slippery.
The suspension has a simple layout of independent MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam suspension with a toe-correct function. The rear suspension in the 4WD model is a four-link suspension with a lateral rod.
As with all new Toyota models, the Cypha meets the tough GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment) collision-safety requirements in body construction. This is a constantly evolving in-house standard and today incorporates the concept of compatibility. It considers the fate of both vehicles in situations where passenger vehicles of differing weights collide, as a means of promoting crash safety for both cars in a collision with a vehicle up to the 2-ton range.
Specifically, in two-car omni-directional collision tests using the Lexus LS420 sedan to simulate the conditions of collision with a heavier vehicle (50% offset frontal collision test at 50 km/h; side collision test at 50km/h; 50% offset rear-end collision test at 50km/h), Toyota’s independent targets for survival space and test dummy injury were all met by the Cypha. Meanwhile, to lessen potential to inflict injury in the event of a collision with a lighter vehicle, a large bumper reinforcement is fitted on the front.
Seat structures that incorporate the WIL (Whiplash Impact Lessening) concept, designed to reduce stress on the neck during low-speed impacts from the rear, are incorporated in the structural design of the front seats.
Also, the outer seating positions in the rear each have a dedicated ISO-FIX-compliant child seat anchor point for easy and secure attachment of child seats. ISO-FIX is an international standard for child seat attachments created to prevent improper installation of child seats, improve vehicle conformity and set an internationally uniform attachment method. For active safety, the air-bag-equipped Cypha has ABS with Brake Assist and EBD.
Adopting a “cyber-capsule” theme that evokes an image of fusion with a network society, the bold 3D form of the Cypha has a design that is suggestive of the city commuter of the future. The dynamic contrast between the rounded cabin and the powerful fenders conveys styling with a prominent sense of presence. At the front, the four vertically-aligned lights of the headlights create an advanced and unique look, while the front-to-rear symmetry of the elliptical fenders emphasizes the stability of the vehicle and portrays a clean, rhythmical side view.
The expansive rear view incorporates powerful fenders linked to a bumper that supports a rounded cabin. And the rear combination lights maintain continuity with the tinted glass of the hatch door, and when illuminated, the light appears to float upwards.
The Cypha comes in seven exterior colours which underline its advanced concept: a yellow that hints at the near future, a blue and a red for freshness and style and a silver and a white for a dynamic look.
The design of the interior is based on a circular theme while pursuing ease of use. A large centre cluster, which includes the G-Book terminal, has the dial-type automatic air conditioner controls (more user-friendly), audio controls, and centre console. The chic interior has a dominant black colour to complement the vivid body colours, while the centre cluster and other features include blue metallic ornamentation to add a casual accent.
In its marketing of the Cypha, Toyota is proposing a new purchasing format designed to suit the values and purchasing behaviour of the younger generation, which is accustomed to communicating with cellphones and PCs. Based on a new and unprecedented concept, P-Way requires users to pay fees according to kilometres covered.
The fees are calculated monthly according to distance-travelled information sent by the G-BOOK terminal to the G-BOOK Centre. Unlike loan-type instalments, these fees represent monthly payments for actual use, similar to those for cellphone use. The fees consist of a basic monthly fee and a variable fee based on the actual distance for which the vehicle is used.
Under the WiLL brand, there are already a number of consumer products ranging from PCs to refrigerators and even cosmetics. With the Cypha, Matsushita (a partner in the WiLL program) and Toyota have developed the WiLL D-snap multimedia camera. Still photos taken with the WiLL D-snap, which uses an SD memory card, can be viewed on the Cypha’s onboard terminal.
Toyota expects to sell up to 1,500 units of the WiLL Cypha in Japan only. There are no plans to export this model although it is always possible that some enterprising private importer will bring in a few. However, the owner won’t be able to access the G-Book services from Malaysia!
