Japan Report: Toyota Rolls Out Lexus V-6 Powered Blade Master G
Wolfsburg, watch out. Toyota unleashed this spectacular 3.5-liter V-6 version of the Blade hatchback in Tokyo today.
Across the Pacific, the Blade is the upspec version of the Auris, the Corolla-based hatch that Toyota launched last year. The Blade gets more muscular styling than the Auris and higher-grade double wishbone rear suspension to let it handle more power.
Normally, the Blade comes equipped with Toyota's ubiquitous 2.4-liter, four-cylinder twin-cam giving 165 brake horsepower. But as Japan's scoop jocks correctly predicted, Toyota also had this flagship V-6 version in the wings, the Blade Master G.
Conceived as a full Volkswagen Golf-bashing premium hatch, this V-6 motivated Blade Master G bangs out 276 bhp and 254 pound feet of torque, courtesy of a detuned version of the 2GR-FE 3456 cc unit from the Lexus IS350.
The conversion to V6 grunt brings a unique front end with bigger, deeper grille to provide more visual punch and an upgrade to lower profile 17-inch alloys.
Shoehorning in the bigger six cylinder engine reportedly ups curb weight by just 176 pounds, but still we imagine that this Blade Master G must be pretty nose heavy.
Inside, a six-speed sequential auto with steering wheel paddle shifters is standard issue, along with full luxury kit.
Aimed at Golf R32 wannabe buyers at one end of the spectrum and downsizing, former Crown-owning boomers at the other, this Toyota Blade Master G hits the road in Tokyo for the equivalent of $27,725. For better or worse, however, the splendidly named hatch won't be coming anywhere near America...
Comments
Sammy B
If that thing turns into the next Matrix, I'll be one happy V6 Blade driver!
Toyota: Make it so.
Don
Sounds like a rapper.
Blade Master G! A'ight? A'ight.
Steve
Wow. Am I reading this correctly... that it's RWD?
Wow. Neat car. It'd get me into the showroom!
Max
Its not RWD. The V6 is transversely mounted like in the Camry. RWD or not, this will be one hot hatch. That motor is a monster.
shevwitt
4wd please :D
Andy
That’s a lot nicer than the Matrix we have here. A LOT nicer…
Steven J Ewing
I would love to see this come here as a Matrix redux. I've always been fond of this body style.
The Matrix was a decent seller upon first introduction, but now has grown quite long in the tooth. I'd be happy to see this show up in the states and send the Dodge Caliber into the history books.
G Means Go: Toyota Builds Excitement in Japan With Blade Mas
[...] While Toyota’s been following the US-market line of boring car buyers into a vegetative state, then taking their money, in Japan they’re playing mix-and-match with stuff in their parts bin to quicken buyers’ collective pulse. In Japan, Toyota’s offering a hotted-up version of its Blade hatch — itself a sportier variant of the Corolla-based Auris hatch. Removing the Blade’s standard 2.4-liter four, ToMoCo replaced it with the same 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 as powers the Lexus IS350 in the US. The result is the Blade Master G. The hot hatch produces 276 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque. The engine swap puts an modest extra 176 lbs on the Blade’s front section, which Winding Road surmises will likely give it the nose of a 1989 Barolo Monprivato, though not quite in those terms. A six-speed sequential auto with paddle shifters, 17-inch alloys and a deeper-inset grille complete the package. Nodding off is likely not an option. [Winding Road] [...]
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