Features a more aggressive front fascia

Several brochure scans of the Toyota Vitz/Yaris facelift have surfaced the web, prior to this year's official introduction.

The attached pics depict the Vitz available in Japan and other Asian countries but most likely the same updates will be carried over to the Yaris sold in Europe. The most significant change is the more aggressive front fascia with a larger trapezoidal grille and darkened headlamps creating a bolder look.

The rear bumper has also gone through minor surgery together with the taillights and the alloy wheel designs. These brochure scans show Toyota has also prepared similar revisions for the RS trim fitted with black alloys, a different front grille pattern and restyled fog lights while the interior gets red stitching.

A full reveal of both Vitz and Yaris facelifts should occur in the weeks to come.

The Toyota Yaris will receive a significant makeover this summer in Europe, with the most striking change being the adoption of a new front end inspired by the recently unveiled Aygo. Alongside the updated face, Toyota says the Yaris will get an improved interior and upgraded dynamics.

Building on Toyota’s “Under Priority” and “Keen Look” design language, the facelifted Yaris integrates a distinctive cross-shape, centered around the front logo, that separates the redesigned upper and lower grilles.

At the rear, the Yaris features restyled LED taillights, a diffuser and a reshaped license plate area. Cabin upgrades have been inspired by customer feedback and involve three key areas: roominess and dynamism, perceived quality levels, and colors and equipment. Toyota says improvements have been operated in all these three areas.

Under the skin, the suspension has been revised in order to provide better comfort and handling, with noise levels having been diminished as well. The Yaris will be offered with a similar engine lineup in Europe including 1.0-liter and 1.3-liter petrol engines (Toyota doesn’t say whether these are the all-new engines announced earlier this month), a 1.4 D-4D diesel unit and the Hybrid powertrain.

Toyota will apply a similar makeover to the Japanese market Vitz supermini, although the JDM model features a slightly more restrained front end with a smaller grille. Feel free to tell us what version you like better after taking a look at both models in the photos and videos posted below.

Following the preview photo released last month, Toyota has returned with more photos and details of the facelifted Yaris for Europe, whose main design feature is the Aygo-inspired front end. While the model is aimed primarily at European consumers, many of the changes implemented in terms of design and platform will benefit the Japanese-market Toyota Vitz as well.

The front end of the car features Toyota’s “Keen Look and Under Priority” design concepts enhanced by the cross-shaped structure with the top and bottom parts separated. The headlamp clusters incorporate new projector lamp technology for both high and low beams, and LED daytime Running Lights (DRL).

Viewed from the sides, the new Yaris features a new door belt moulding, optional, electrically-folding door mirrors and a choice of four new, 15- and 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear end features a redesigned bumper incorporating a diffuser, new LED taillights and sculpted license place garnish.

On the inside, the quality of materials has been improved “both in feel and appearance”, while the equipment and choice of colors have also been diversified. The center console has been raised by 23mm (0.9 inches) to reduce the length of the gear shift lever by 30mm (1.2 inches) for improved gear changing ergonomics.

Additionally, a closed storage area has been added and the console touch screen has been increased in size from 6.1 inches to 7 inches, along with the upgrade to the latest, Toyota Touch 2 multimedia systems. The facelifted Yaris also features a range of all-new seat trims, with a new fabric pattern and color for each grade.

Toyota also says the facelifted Yaris features a more comfortable suspension, as well as efficient handling and driving pleasure, thanks to the addition of a new, stiffer torsion beam at the rear combined with softer coil springs and a new long polyurethane bound stopper. Softer coil springs have also been fitted to the front, while sound insulation is also said to have improved.

The Yaris will continue to be available with two gasoline engines (1.0-liter and 1.33-liter), a 1.4-liter D-4D diesel and a hybrid version. Rated at 3.3 l/100 km (71.3 mpg US), the latter currently makes up for almost 1 out of 3 Yaris sales. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine has undergone a major revamp, featuring a thermal efficiency of over 37 percent. This translates into low CO2 emissions (99 g/km, 95 g/km with the Stop & Start system)

What makes a car's design, or in this case, redesign, have a "distinct European flavor", as mentioned in Toyota USA's press blurb about the facelifted 2015 Yaris? While we give you a moment to think about it, let's see what's new for the Yaris.

The North American model encompasses the same styling tweaks as the European specification car introduced back in May and which include a bolder and more interesting fascia employing the brand's "X" shape, defined by the new lights and the front grille with Toyota's logo placed in the center.

At the back, there's a restyled bumper and different graphics for the light clusters.

Toyota vaguely states that interior improvements include a "sporty new dashboard design and new softer materials throughout".

The rest of the changes concern the retuned suspension, a more rigid body structure and additional sound insulation.

There's only one engine available in the States, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline mill producing 106hp at 6,000 rpm and 103 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm, paired to either a standard five-speed manual gearbox or an optional four-speed automatic.

The Yaris is offered in base L, premium LE and sporty SE models, all of which can be optionally fitted for the first time with a dealer-installed factory navigation system.

MSRPs range from $14,485 for the three-door L with a manual gearbox to $17,620 for the five-door SE with an automatic, excluding (*) an $825 delivery and processing fee.