Toyota's Next Matrix More Powerful, New Name Possible

Toyota is adding its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine to more vehicles as it refreshes its lineup. The engine is in the Toyota Camry and the Scion tC and will also power the new Scion xB with 158 hp. Now, Toyota plans to put it into a radically different version of the Matrix, based on the next Corolla sedan. The new Matrix, already sold in Europe and Japan, will look a lot more like a Mazda3 and could get a new name.

The vehicle is called the Blade in Japan and the company registered that name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. While the Matrix may not be the most significant name in Toyota’s arsenal, replacing it with something with somewhat violent imagery attached might do more harm than good. Plus, it doesn’t really look like a Blade, does it?

[Toyota cuts Matrix with Blade, AutoWeek]