The third generation Toyota Yaris, launched by the Japanese car giant in 2011, adopts a sportier appearance than its predecessors. The compact city car has more prominent wheel arches and an all-new look at the front, being bolder and sharper. The car is also four inches (10cm) longer and has been reduced in height by almost an inch (2cm). The easy-to-drive Yaris was first produced in 1999 with the idea of being ‘compact outside, spacious inside’ and the new model remains true to that concept. It is still one of the roomiest cars in its class while being urban-friendly when it comes to parking and turning. A panoramic glass roof can be included to increase the spacious feel of the interior. The 2011 Toyota Yaris retains a steeply-sloping belt line on its sides while the Y-shaped graphic at the rear has been modified to give it new style. The model has a more steeply raked windscreen and a larger front quarterlight. There are also shorter front and rear overhangs. The model, manufactured at Toyota’s Valenciennes factory in France, features higher quality trim materials in its cabin and the dashboard has been revised. The main instrumentation now sits directly in the driver’s eyeline behind the steering wheel. There is also a multimedia touchscreen on most models providing Bluetooth, a USB port and a rear parking camera as standard. The new front seats are designed to give better comfort and support and have increased vertical adjustment. Thinner seatbacks throughout the car give more legroom for passengers in the rear seats and more luggage space. The 2011 Toyota Yaris comes with either a 1.0-litre or 1.33-litre petrol engine or a 1.4-litre turbo-diesel unit and there are four model variants, the T2, TR, SR and T Spirit. The three-cylinder 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine, coupled with a five-speed manual transmission, provides 68bhp and torque of 93Nm. Toyota expects fuel consumption of 58.9mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 111g/km. The 1.33-litre Dual VVT-i engine produces 98bhp and 125Nm of torque giving expected economy of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 118g/km. The engine is matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which can be operated with either the gearshift lever or paddle shifts on the steering wheel. The 1.4-litre D-4D engine, working with a six-speed manual transmission, gives 89bhp and maximum torque of 205Nm. Fuel consumption is expected to be 72.4mpg with CO2 emissions likely to be 104g/km. The TR model, available in three-door and five-door body styles, is expected to account for two-thirds of new Yaris sales. Its key features include 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning and vehicle stability control (VSC). The SR has a sportier image while the T Spirit is the top-of-the-range model. If you’re looking for value for money, durability and practicality in a city car, the 2011 Toyota Yaris is definitely a car to consider. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society