See all Motoring NewsToyota is celebrating the 20th birthday of a car that has become one of its best-sellers - the Yaris. The original Yaris, the replacement for those decades of Starlets, was launched in 1998, to no small critical acclaim. It went on to become European Car of the Year in 2000 (only the second-ever Japanese car to do so) and is now Toyota's best-selling car across the Continent.
To celebrate the milestone, Toyota is launching a special Y20 Yaris edition, which comes with extra equipment and unique paint.
The first Y20 models will be available with the same, distinctive, metallic gold paint used on that original 1998 car, although this time it can be had with a contrasting dark grey roof. Other colours will also be available, including silver, pearl or black bodywork colours with that dark grey finish for the roof.
The Y20 also gets special alloy wheels - 16-inch rims, with ten machined-face spokes. There are also dark grey side mouldings, front grille, door mirror casings and fog light surrounds, plus some chrome highlighting. The Y20 also gets unique badging, colour-keyed shark's fin antenna and dark-tinted privacy glass on the rear windows.
There's more dark grey on the inside, with that colour found on the centre console, steering wheel inserts and new chequer-pattern fabric upholstery. There's satin chrome for other items, such as the air vent surrounds, the audio speakers and the gear knob, plus special Y20 badges and unique floor mats.
The Y20 also gets a new touchscreen multimedia system, which will spread out to the rest of the Yaris range. It's been designed to be easier to connect your smartphone to, and will make it easier to use your phone's apps - safely - through the car's systems, especially the phone's navigation.
Prices for the Y20 edition start from €19,740 or from €190 per month on a finance package.
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