Toyota Raum
Encyclopedia
The Toyota Raum is a small, five-seat mini MPV
that first appeared in May 1997. The second generation was released in May 2003. It is currently sold only in Japan
.
The vehicle's name is German
for chamber, berth, room, space, expanse, scope, area, or sphere and attempts to emphasize the vast amount of space it contains relative to its size. This is because the front doors on both the driver and passenger sides open conventionally, but the rear doors slide open rearward and attach to the top and bottom of the door openings and interlock to the front doors. The Raum uses a similar door approach also used on the Peugeot 1007
, which is a 3-door hatchback with side sliding doors on both sides.
There is no door jamb between the front and rear doors that the doors attach to on the passenger side, and the passenger front seat folds flat upon itself and then can be folded forward while still being attached to the floor at the front bottom of the seat. The rear seats can be folded flat with a 60:40 split or can also be folded forward individually for a rear flat cargo floor.
The automatic transmission gear selector is dashboard mounted, thereby freeing up the flat floor space between the front seats, allowing movement to the back seat from inside the vehicle.
The first generation car was equipped with EBD
brakes on top level G and E packages, with a later addition to the C package. A minor facelift was done August 1999.
A complete body change was released for sale May 12, 2003 and shared the platform with the Toyota Vitz
. Side impact protection was further enhanced. The passenger side rear door can be opened electronically and by remote control key fob. The engine used in the second generation model is shared with the Toyota Prius
.
On October 20, 2003, the vehicle won the Japan Good Design Award
with a special mention for people with physical disabilities. A new trim level was added in 2004, called the C Package NEO Edition, (NEW ERA OPENING). The DVD navigational system was upgraded to HDD on December 5, 2006. On January 7, 2009, a in-car cabin air filter was added and HID
headlamps.
For model year 2007 on Japanese models only, G-BOOK
, a subscription telematics
service, is offered as an option.
Prices for the 2009 model start at ¥ 1,596,000 with the top level starting at ¥ 1,984,500.
Mini MPV
Mini MPV is a car classification used to describe superminis or subcompacts which have taller build, fitting below the compact MPV and large MPV classifications....
that first appeared in May 1997. The second generation was released in May 2003. It is currently sold only in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The vehicle's name is German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for chamber, berth, room, space, expanse, scope, area, or sphere and attempts to emphasize the vast amount of space it contains relative to its size. This is because the front doors on both the driver and passenger sides open conventionally, but the rear doors slide open rearward and attach to the top and bottom of the door openings and interlock to the front doors. The Raum uses a similar door approach also used on the Peugeot 1007
Peugeot 1007
The Peugeot 1007 is a hatchback produced by the French automobile manufacturer Peugeot from 2004 to 2009. It was based on the same platform as the Peugeot 206 and Citroën C3.-Design:...
, which is a 3-door hatchback with side sliding doors on both sides.
There is no door jamb between the front and rear doors that the doors attach to on the passenger side, and the passenger front seat folds flat upon itself and then can be folded forward while still being attached to the floor at the front bottom of the seat. The rear seats can be folded flat with a 60:40 split or can also be folded forward individually for a rear flat cargo floor.
The automatic transmission gear selector is dashboard mounted, thereby freeing up the flat floor space between the front seats, allowing movement to the back seat from inside the vehicle.
The first generation car was equipped with EBD
Electronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
brakes on top level G and E packages, with a later addition to the C package. A minor facelift was done August 1999.
A complete body change was released for sale May 12, 2003 and shared the platform with the Toyota Vitz
Toyota Vitz
The Toyota Vitz is a line of three- and five-door hatchback subcompact cars produced since 1998 by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Now in its third generation, the name "Toyota Vitz" has been used consistently in Japan, with most international markets receiving the same vehicle under...
. Side impact protection was further enhanced. The passenger side rear door can be opened electronically and by remote control key fob. The engine used in the second generation model is shared with the Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
.
On October 20, 2003, the vehicle won the Japan Good Design Award
Good Design Award
The is Japanese comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system, operated by Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization . The system has its origins in the “Good Design Selection System” instituted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan in 1957.The award system...
with a special mention for people with physical disabilities. A new trim level was added in 2004, called the C Package NEO Edition, (NEW ERA OPENING). The DVD navigational system was upgraded to HDD on December 5, 2006. On January 7, 2009, a in-car cabin air filter was added and HID
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
headlamps.
For model year 2007 on Japanese models only, G-BOOK
G-Book
G-Book is a telematics subscription service currently provided by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan for its Toyota- and Lexus-branded vehicles. G-Book allows users to link with cellphones , personal digital assistants 's, personal computers and G-Book equipped cars across Japan...
, a subscription telematics
Telematics
Telematics typically is any integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known as ICT...
service, is offered as an option.
Prices for the 2009 model start at ¥ 1,596,000 with the top level starting at ¥ 1,984,500.