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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 9, 2011 · 16 Toyota Yaris gets makeover k inside d and d out for f new 2012 model d l year Continued d from f Page 15 routes taking us into the rolling hills of the Beauce region, outside Quebec City. Exterior styling has really been improved this time around with the Yaris. Toyota has not been known to be on the cutting-edge when it comes to exterior design, but as one colleague asked me when he saw the new Yaris, "When was the last time a Toyota product was the best looking in its class?" Subcompacts tend to look alike, but the restyled Yaris stands out from the crowd with a new face that emphasizes the wider stance and an upwards-sweeping beltline that expresses forward momentum. One distinctive change is a move to a single wiper system for the front windshield. Current Yaris owners will notice the 2012 model has a much more upscale look to the cabin than before. A major overhaul was made to the gauge layout, which now sits where it should be, right in front of the driver rather than atop the centre stack. Yaris fans will also notice that the track for the front seats has been redesigned with more notches, making it easier to find just the right driving position, while the driver's seat height adjusts to 60 mm from 45 mm. The seatback thickness has also been reduced, allowing for more knee room for rear seat passengers. Meanwhile, cargo capacity behind the rear seat has been increased by 25 per cent to 286 litres from 274 and 60/40 split folding rear seats are now standard on all models if you need more room to carry oversized or long items. The power train is unchanged with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 106 hp and 103 lb/ft of torque. Standard is a five-speed manual transmission with a fourspeed automatic available as a $1,000 option. Although horsepower is limited, the Yaris moves along fairly well when pushed. But the noise level at speed is pronounced as the engine is forced to rev highly. A six-speed tranny, as is offered in many competitors, would improve the lot here tremendously. So, too, would fuel economy be improved from the 6.8/5.5L/100 city/hwy numbers that Toyota has announced. The manual does 6.6/5.2L/100 km city/hwy. Mechanical changes have improved the Yaris's ride and handling for 2012. The brakes are larger than on previous generations and a more rigid body structure not only contributes to protection for the occupants, but also helps in the handling department. The Yaris is among the shortest vehicles in the class and that is a good thing when it comes to handling. It also has a short turning circle of 9.4 metres, which is important in tight city parking lots and the like. And although this is an entry-level vehicle, safety doesn't get the short shrift. In fact, the new Yaris has a class-leading nine air bags along with the standard Toyota Star Safety System, which includes vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology. The hallmark of the Yaris in the past has been its reliability and Toyota is playing up that fact with a new advertising campaign trumpeting "Epic Reliability". That feeling of reliability and value for the dollar will be key to bringing customers into the Yaris fold. JYSK celebrates 50 stores in Canada with Ford car contest JYSK Bed · Bath · Home - the Scandinavian-based retailer with over 1850 locations worldwide, will celebrate their 50th store in Canada with the BIG 50 CONTEST. Starting November 10th to 30th customers can enter for a chance to Win 1 of 2 Ford Fiestas or 1 of 2, $2,000 JYSK Gift Cards. JYSK is also offering Big Savings on a wide selection of products as part of the BIG 50 Event. There are now 50 JYSK locations across Canada including an online and B2B store. The first Canadian store opened 15 years ago in Port Coquitlam, BC. Since then, the company expanded rapidly and now has a coast-tocoast presence from British Columbia to Nova Scotia with plans for further growth over the next several years. In addition to the "brick-and-mortar" stores, JYSK ships anywhere in Canada from its Online Store at www.jysk.ca "At JYSK you don't have to sacrifice comfort and style for affordability. JYSK, customers will find everything they need for their home at great prices; from furniture and mattresses to towels, bed linen and drapes. Duvets and pillows are a JYSK trademark since we are the world's largest buyers of these products. We carry a great assortment of gifts, and décor items, and because we buy very large volumes around the world, we can offer our customers the lowest prices possible." stated Lynne Williams, JYSK's Director of Advertising. g