Toyota Will Awaken Starlet's Name, But In Hybrid Or EV

Toyota Scarlet (Doc.Toyota Global)

JAKARTA - The rise of a number of legendary models is nothing new in the automotive world, such as Ford returning the name Puma and Renault with a 5 hatchback.

Toyota seems to be making this approach by raising a name like Starlet, an iconic hatchback that once graced the streets of Indonesia in the 1990s to early 2000s.

According to a report from Best Car, Saturday, April 20, it said that the latest Starlet will be revealed in the year around 2026. Although it has not been confirmed, it is likely that this model will be presented in the form of an Electric Vehicle (EV).

But with current developments, it is possible that this model will be equipped with hybrid technology before turning it into pure electricity. What's more, Toyota doesn't yet have an EV platform for subcompact vehicles.

Thus, it is likely that the model will use the TNGA-B platform which can accommodate hybrid systems. However, Toyota is currently looking for various options in presenting this iconic hatchback.

Toyota Starlet was sold in Indonesia starting in 1985 through its third generation, P70. Unfortunately, sales were stopped in 1998 before being replaced by Yaris in 2006.

However, the name of the Starlet is not completely lost in the global automotive industry. This badge still adorns South Africa's market with a base from the Suzuki Baleno sold in India. In this country with the largest population, Toyota markets it with the name Glanza.