By Peter Lyon

08th February 2005

Thanks to a longer wheelbase and wider track, the newcomer is now a genuine five-seater. What's more, its interior is more versatile; not only do the rear chairs slide, as before, but the seatbacks now fold, too, creating a flat load space. Carrying capacity is further boosted by a larger, more practical boot.

As with the redesigned exterior, the next-generation Yaris's cabin is more stylish than that of the outgoing model, and features a revised instrument panel with centrally mounted speedometer, plus new-look rev counter and gauges.

A "keyless-go" system is also included, which allows the driver to start up the car merely by pressing a dash-mounted button, so long as they have the blipper close by. Despite the dramatic visual changes, the engine line-up will remain largely unaltered. This means there will be two petrol variants - a 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre - plus a 1.4-litre D-4D diesel.

Both manual and automatic gearboxes will be available, although it's not clear whether Toyota's controversial clutchless manual transmission will be retained for use in the forthcoming machine.

In Japan, a 1.5-litre RS-badged car offering 109bhp has been confirmed, as has a four-wheel-drive variant. These models are expected to offer a fuel-saving stop-start system, which automatically cuts the engine when the vehicle is stationary.

The suspension has been reworked to give more cornering stability, grip and ride comfort. And the car also features re-vised brakes, with both EBD and ABS
now standard-fit.

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