Toyota unveiled the next-generation Yaris in Japan last winter. Talk of when it might hit showroom floors was, however, put on the back burner early this spring, due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Happily, Toyota is regaining the ground they lost from the natural disasters, eyeing the return to full production levels in the not too distant future. Feeling renewed upward momentum, Toyota has once again resurrected talk of the new Yaris.

Don Esmond, Senior Vice President Automotive Operations, Toyota, confirmed on July 1 that the revitalized Yaris will be in dealerships "by the end of the year."¹ The automaker's ultimate plan for the Yaris is to bring it up to snuff with the subcompact segment's best-sellers... a very savvy move, considering American consumers are steadfastly shifting their loyalty to compact and subcompact cars.

While few details surrounding the revised next-generation Toyota Yaris have been released at this time, DCH Toyota of Oxnard can tell you that it's expected to be based on the same platform, and hold the same engines as its predecessor. The changes Toyota will implement will be primarily to the body, the interior, and possibly some of the car's key features and capabilities.

Toyota is also expected to add a hybrid-electric variant in Japan, where the Yaris is known as the Vitz. It's possible they'll decide to do the same in the U.S., but, again, we'll have to wait and see.

If you're interested in learning more about forthcoming next-generation Yaris, stay tuned. To learn more about the current 2011 Toyota Yaris, contact DCH Toyota of Oxnard - 1631 Auto Center Drive - Oxnard, CA 93036. We're happy to share specs, compare models, and arrange test drives.

Source: ¹ http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/07/toyota-revised-yaris-subcompact-coming.html