2012 Toyota Yaris First Photo

The Japanese from Toyota have big plans for their new interpretation of the Yaris, a model that is gearing up for a big remodeling for the model year 2012. Expected to be unveiled for the first time at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, the first photos of the car have been leaked in a catalog coming straight from Japan.

The photos, made public by autosblog.fr, bring into the spotlight a much more aggressive Yaris than the one we have gotten used to. This is mostly so because of the bulkier lines of the front part of the car, reminiscent of the Verso S model the Japanese have presented at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. The back end of the car has been also widened and deepened to give an uniform look to the vehicle.

Now, provided that these photos aren't showing some type of tuning experiment, we can safely say the little Yaris has grown up. It's unclear though what will be hidden under the hood of the bulkier Yaris.

However, about one year after the regular ICE-powered version of the model will hit the European markets, Toyota will launch the Yaris hybrid, a model which promises to be more fuel efficient than the iconic Prius.

As it was revealed last year, the Yaris hybrid will average 2.5 l/100 km (94 mpg). Add to that the fact that it will be cheaper than the Prius and the possibility of it looking like the car in these picture does and Toyota might be on to something. More to follow...