Toyota has announced that they will replace the Matrix in spring 2008 with a sleek hatchback inspired by the brisk-selling Mazda3. The matrix succesor it is expected to be called Blade.

The Blade is allready sold in Japan and it is powered by a 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 161 pounds-feet of torque. That would be a step up from the Matrix's 1.8-liter engine's 126 hp and 122 pounds-feet of torque.