NAGOYA -- Toyota Motor Corp. has discontinued production of its Starlet passenger cars to make room for the popular Vitz, Toyota officials said Friday.

But the tiny 1-liter Vitz will also steamroll the Corsa, Corolla II, Cynos and Tercel, all of which cease production today, the officials said.

The Starlet, unveiled in 1973, is the ninth best selling car in Toyota history, with 3.5 million units manufactured. Toyota sold 170,000 Starlets alone in 1998, making it Toyota's fifth-most popular car for the year.

But the nation's No. 1 automaker is apparently making the Vitz a pillar of its domestic marketing scheme and a frontline model in its global operations, the officials said.

Thanks to its 22.5 km per liter fuel efficiency and 845,000 yen price tag, the Vitz has been a hit with Japanese and European consumers since its debut here in January, with 83,000 sold by the end of June.