The Toyota Opa was a compact car produced from January 2000 to August 2005 and sold only in Japan. It was shown as a prototype at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1999, and it was created by turning the V50 Vista Ardeo wagon into a five-door hatchback. Its name comes from the Portuguese exclamation for surprise.
Toyota Opa at a glance
| Maker | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Production | January 2000 – August 2005 |
| Market | Japan |
| Class | Compact five-door hatchback |
| Base | V50 Vista Ardeo wagon |
| First engine | 1.8-litre 1ZZ-FE |
| Second engine | 2.0-litre 1AZ-FSE with CVT |
| Shifter | Mounted on the lower dashboard |
| Navigation | Optional from January 2001 |
| Sold through | Toyopet Store |
| Name | Portuguese exclamation of surprise |
Based on one source, and a short one: the English Wikipedia article on the Toyota Opa.
History of the Toyota Opa
Concept and launch
The Opa was introduced as a prototype at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1999 and went into production in January 2000. It was the result of converting the V50 Vista Ardeo wagon into a five-door hatchback, which gave it a tall, boxy body with a large tailgate. Toyota positioned it as a larger companion to the Caldina station wagon, sold alongside it at Toyopet Store dealers.
The walk-through cabin
The most distinctive feature was the transmission shifter, moved from the floor between the front seats to the lower part of the dashboard. That freed the floor and let passengers walk from either front seat to the rear of the car, a practical idea for tight parking spaces where doors cannot open fully. The Opa was initially available with the 1.8-litre 1ZZ-FE engine, and in August 2000 the 2.0-litre 1AZ-FSE joined the range with a continuously variable transmission. From January 2001 GPS navigation could be ordered as an option.
Place in the range
The Opa was one of several Japanese tall wagons and compact MPVs that appeared around 2000, aimed at buyers who wanted space and a high seating position in a small footprint. It never became a big seller and was discontinued in August 2005 without a direct successor, as Toyota concentrated on the Ipsum, Nadia and Gaia family and the new sliding-door minivans.
Design and features
- Dashboard shifter: the gear lever sits on the lower dashboard, leaving a walk-through floor.
- Vista Ardeo base: a tall hatchback built from the Vista Ardeo wagon.
- Two engine sizes: 1.8-litre 1ZZ-FE and 2.0-litre 1AZ-FSE.
- CVT: available with the 2.0-litre engine from August 2000.
Toyota Opa versions
- 1.8 (2000): launch model with the 1ZZ-FE engine.
- 2.0 CVT (2000): 1AZ-FSE engine with a continuously variable transmission.
- Navigation option (2001): GPS navigation offered from January 2001.
The Opa was sold next to the Caldina at Toyopet Store and competed with the Nadia and Gaia. More cars are in the Toyota collection.
Sources
- Toyota Opa, English Wikipedia: origin, engines, equipment
