When an automaker is ready to launch a new model into the market, we usually receive a press release along with some initial or teaser photos before we see it in person at a major auto show.
But that's not the case with the U.S. market version of the 2012 Yaris as Toyota quietly unwrapped the car under a tent at the…Lollapalooza annual music festival in Chicago this past weekend while today, the Japanese company announced U.S. pricing without, however, releasing any photos or further details. Strange indeed.
We'll remind you that the new generation of the Yaris was first shown in Japan in December, 2010. Toyota then presented a concept hybrid version at the Geneva Show in March this year before revealing the final production model for Europe in June and for Australia in July at the Melbourne Motor Show.
Toyota said the redesigned 2012 Yaris's base MSRP will range from $14,115 for the L grade three-door liftback fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox to $17,200 for the SE grade five-door liftback with a four-speed automatic transmission.
The aforementioned MSRPs do not include a $760 delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee which lifts prices to $14,875 and $17,960 for the 2012 Yaris L and Yaris SE grades respectively
Toyota said that pricing for the new model is "comparable to a Convenience Package-equipped current generation Yaris" adding that production of the car will start on August 31.
And while Toyota did not announce any further details, Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek was at the Lollapalooza music fest where he managed to get a look at the spec sheet found on the 2012 Yaris LE that was on display.
The LE comes fitted with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Toyota stating on the spec sheet that the manual model will return an estimated fuel efficiency of 30mpg city and 38mpgh highway, while the automatic 30mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
By comparison, the current generation Yaris that also features a 1.5-liter gasoline unit, returns 29mpg/36mpg when equipped with a manual gearbox and 29mpg/35mpg when fitted with an automatic.
While we wait for Toyota to release photos of the North American-specification 2012 Yaris, scroll down for a video and a comprehensive gallery of the European market model.
Photo credit: Toyota / Twitter
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