第三代丰田雅力士上市已经有五年了，如果算上2010年在日本上市的Vitz车型，就有六年了。最近谍照记者拍到了正在测试的新一代雅力士。不过，由于这辆测试车采用了现行版的三门车身并进行了伪装，因此看不出什么，预计新一代雅力士除了将继续保持三门版外，还将继续推出更实用的五门版车型。目前的潮流是新一代车型的车身尺寸都比老款车更大，预计新一代雅力士的车身尺寸也将增加，从而提供更大内部空间。丰田将进一步增加新车轴距（目前是2510毫米）以增加后排乘客腿部空间。同时，更大车身也使得车厢内储物容积进一步扩展，现行版在后排椅背直立情况下为286立升，放平后为768立升。有传言称，丰田计划增加一款取自2017雅力士WRC版本的衍生车型，但该车不会很快发布，该车至少会比标准版晚一年发布。有报道称，该车功率将达到180马力，可能搭载1.5升涡轮增压引擎或采用混动模式。而标准版第四代雅力士将于明年底或2018年初亮相。

Next-gen Toyota Yaris test mule spied for the first time
The third-generation Toyota Yaris has been around for five years, six if we’re taking into account the Vitz-badged model launched at home in Japan back in mid-2010. With life cycles getting shorter and shorter these days, it’s no wonder testing of a replacement has already commenced. There’s not much to say about the car because it essentially an early mule carrying a camouflaged body of the current Yaris in the three-door body style likely to soldier on alongside the more practical five-door model.

With today’s cars getting bigger and bigger than their predecessors, chances are the new Yaris will also grow in size to provide a roomier cabin. Toyota will decide to implement part of the stretch into the wheelbase (now at 2,510 mm) to enable more legroom for passengers sitting in the back. The larger body should pay dividends in terms of cargo capacity, currently standing at 286 liters with the rear seats up and 768 liters once folded.

A spicy version derived from the 2017 Yaris WRC program has been mooted, but it probably won’t arrive from day one as Toyota will likely wait at least a year before coming out with the crown jewel of the range. Reports say the hot hatch will have as much as 180 horsepower coming from either a turbocharged 1.5-liter taken or from a hybrid setup.

Meanwhile, the standard fourth-gen Yaris should see the light of day towards the end of 2017 or early 2018.