he calm before the storm” is a time-worn cliché, but it’s an apt description for a relatively quiet, even dormant period in Toyota, Lexus and Scion new product release cadence that started last year and continued into 2010. The latter reported the launch of the 2nd-generation Scion tC and Lexus CT 200h, plus mid-life facelifts for Toyota Corolla and Lexus IS as the only notable North American news. The 2011-2012 period, on the other hand, promises to be far more active, with expected new releases that include the Toyota Plug-in Prius, a full-electric derivative of the Scion iQ, 7 all-new hybrid models, 4 next-generation versions of current hybrids, plus new next-generation versions of 4 of Toyota’s core, mainstream model lines: Camry, RAV4, Tacoma and Yaris. For the latter, however, Toyota jumped the gun a bit and officially released its third generation in Japan on 22 December, under the Vitz nameplate.

Not that this was a surprise, given that images were leaked as far back as mid-October from not one, but two different sources, camouflaged test mules appeared in early November and, about a month later, Toyota itself got into the teaser image game with the original iteration of the official Toyota Vitz microsite.

Toyota Japan issued a fairly-detailed English language press release on the newest Vitz, but, nevertheless, we’ll review the most important points. Debuting strictly as a 5-door hatchback with styling that foregoes the rounded, jellybean look of the previous two generations for a more angular style reminiscent of the Peugeot 308, the new Vitz/Yaris is also, in old-school Detroit parlance, longer-lower-wider than its predecessor. The graphic below informs us of a 50 mm longer wheelbase, 100 mm increase in overall length and 20 mm lower height. That translate

New photos of the 2013 Lexus GS interior have been posted to Estonian mega-site Delfi, and they reveal plenty of previously unseen detail  to start with, here’s a gallery of selected interior images

Lexus has just released information on the 2012 CT 200h, which is entering its second model year after a brief 2011 production run.

As to be expected with a brand new model, not much has changed — the CT will be getting a new Vehicle Proximity Notification System (which helps alert pedestrians and cyclists of an oncoming vehicle under certain conditions by emitting a low audible warning sound), and a new Nebula Gray Pearl exterior color will replace Smoky Granite Mica.

The bigger news is official information on the CT 200h F-Sport package, which will be available on the existing Premium model and even though I already shared the option list, here it is again for completion’s sake:

Liking the look of this, especially the front-end and wheels, though it’s too bad the wheel size didn’t increase to 18″. I’m figuring the unique suspension mentioned are the springs and swaybars from the expected CT F-Sport accessories.

Australia’s set to get the F-Sport package some time in the first half of 2011, and I would expect some variation of this to show up in Europe & North America as well.

As it happens, The Motor RWe knew it was coming — today, Lexus pulled the covers off and revealed the CT 200h F-Sport package at the the Australian International Motor Show — some photos first of all:eport was attending the autoshow and snapped some live photos