TINY TOY; Legroom and power put the bad old days in the shade.(Tyota lends prototypes sedan car)(Brief article)

Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Toyota lent us prototypes of its upcoming B-segment anti-Fit, the Yaris. We first sampled a stripped-down five-speed-manual Liftback expected to sell for about $11,500. If you remember small hatches from the '80s, the new Toyota's upright seating position makes it roomier than you would imagine.

The 1.5-liter 106-hp four also gives the Yaris more gumption than old Tercels-fully 40 hp more than an '82 and 10 hp more than a '99 model. No one will mistake Yaris for a hot hatch, but the 2293-pound three-door gets up to 80-plus mph and cruises easily there, ...

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