Here's the article (on interior noise/quiet and exhaust note):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ID/12578169

Notice the quote at the very end of the article (on page 2):

"Toyota is taking other steps to improve the sound inside its vehicles. These include improving carpet and roof padding to dampen road vibrations and noise from aerodynamic drag, adding extra layers of sound absorption in the windshield, updating engine fuel injectors and adding sound absorption to the exterior dashboard panel."

"“This wasn’t something we would normally do on an entry-level Yaris, or a Scion that costs $11,000,” Crahan said. “But we do it now.”"

 

The upgraded carpet must be coming at a later date. Mine is akin to the felt used on pool tables...........

 

Well, it says they're adding exra layers of carpet paddiing to reduce road noise. Maybe your vehicle does have it, but in order to make up for the cost of that they used a cheaper carpet on the top layer?

Just total speculation on my part, I really have no idea.

 

I shrug enthusiastically.

We all know it takes about 40$ of eDead to make it almost lexus like in sound deadeaning.