2012 Toyota Tacoma to start at $17,685

Prices on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma pickup will start at $17,685, including an $810 destination charge, the company said on Wednesday. That's a $510 increase over last year's price.

The new model sports a refreshed exterior with a redesigned hood, grille, headlights, upper and lower bumper, fog lights and antenna. Inside, buyers will find a new center instrument panel with a revised gauge cluster and a new steering wheel. A high-contrast black center console, switch-plate covers, dash and upper door trim are now standard. Heavy-duty all-weather flooring is available for Access and Double Cab models, while TRD Sport and Off-Road models get water-resistant fabric-protection seats.

The Tacoma will be one of Toyota's first vehicles to feature the Entune multimedia system. Entune is a collection of apps and data services such Bing and Pandora, with three years of service. When a smartphone is connected, all of the features are operated by the vehicle controls or by voice recognition.

Two engine choices are available for 2012. A 2.7-liter I4 is standard, making 159 hp, while a 236-hp, 4.0-liter V6 is optional. Both engines get variable valve timing. The V6 can be controlled with either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic. The four-cylinder model gets either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

The top model--which has the V6, four-wheel drive and the double cab--comes in at $28,645.

By Jake Lingeman