2012 Toyota Yaris On Sale In Fourth Quarter, AIMS Appearance Confirmed

Toyota Australia has confirmed that its all-new 2012 Yaris will go on sale in Australia later this year. The diminutive hatch will also make an appearance at next month's Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne.

The new Yaris was first revealed in a series of leaked images in October last year, before going on sale in the Japanese market in December as the Vitz hatch.

The new Yaris is the same width as the model currently sold in Australia, but gains an extra 100mm in length, promising improved leg space and storage in the cabin.

The Yaris' height has been cut by 30mm, and the new hatch is also some 30kg lighter, weighing in at around 1000kg depending on the spec.

The 2012 Yaris also gains a new UV-reducing glass in the front doors, developed to reduce up to 99 percent of UV light.

There is also a new centrally-mounted single windscreen wiper with an integrated washer nozzle.

Australian specifications will be released closer to the tiny hatch's local launch, but in Japan, engine options will range from an ultra-efficient 1.3 litre petrol unit to a sportier and more powerful 1.8 litre engine.

In Australia, the Yaris is currently offered with a 63kW 1.3 litre petrol engine and a 80kW 1.5 litre unit.

The Australian International Motor Show opens at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs through until Sunday 10 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Other new models and concepts confirmed for the 2011 AIMS include the Toyota Prius V and Prius C, the new Peugeot 508 sedan and wagon,  the Suzuki Swift S-Concept, the Range Rover Evoque, the Toyota FT-86 II Concept, the Subaru XV Concept, the 2012 Audi A6 and the 2012 Jaguar XF. 

Appearances have also been confirmed for BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics super-hybrid concept, along with the all-new Lamborghini Aventador, the Lexus LF-Gh concept, the Mazda Shinari concept, and a preview of Australian carmaker JOSS Developments' upcoming JT1 supercar.

Follow TMR's coverage of the 2011 show at our special AIMS-dedicated page, and on our Twitter page.