Toyota Announces Auris Hybrid for European Market, Sales to Start in Mid-2010

Toyota has confirmed plans to launch a full-hybrid version of its Golf-sized Auris hatchback for the European market in mid-2010. According to the Japanese firm, the Auris Hybrid will be built at its UK-based facility in Burnaston, Derbyshire. The company did not release any technical information but chances are that the Auris will make use of a similar, if not the same, hybrid drivetrain system to the new Prius that combines a 1.8-liter gasoline engine with two electric motors.

"With today's announcement, Toyota has taken a significant step forward in ensuring that full hybrids become more accessible to a wider range of customers," said Tadashi Arashima, CEO and President of Toyota Europe. "Such efforts are crucial if we are to see more low-carbon vehicles on European roads," he added.

In other words, it's safe to assume that the Auris Hybrid will be priced much lower than the Prius, giving Honda's newly introduced Insight Hybrid a run for its money.

The Auris is Toyota's proposal in the all-important for the European market C-segment rivaling the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane, Ford Focus and Opel Astra. It was launched into the European market in the Spring of 2007 replacing the three- and five-door hatchback variants of the Corolla. Since then, it has sold over 370,000 units across the continent.

The Auris is offered with various powertrains in Europe including the newly introduced 101HP 1.33-liter gasoline engine that returns 5.8lt/100km or 40.6mpg US in the European cycle and a range-topping 2.2-liter turbo diesel with 175HP for the sporty Auris SR180 (pictured here) that returns an average of 6.0lt/100km or 39.2mpg.

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Toyota UK Prices Auris Hybrid, Only Slightly Cheaper than Prius, Far More Expensive than Insight

The all-new, British-built Auris Hybrid will arrive at Toyota's UK dealerships in the beginning of July with prices starting from £18,950 on-the-road for the basic T4 and from £20,700 for the better equipped T Spirit model.

The pricing for the hybrid variant of the Auris hatchback is surprisingly close to Toyota's dedicated Prius Hybrid which ranges from £19,505 to £22,610 and far more expensive than the Honda Insight that starts from £16,235.

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2010 Toyota Auris Facelift: New Photo Gallery from European Presentation

We've already seen details and a pair of official photos of Toyota's refreshed 2010 Auris for the European market, but now we have a comprehensive image gallery of both the three- and five-door hatchback versions of the car shot during a media event in Europe.

For 2010, the Auris has been pepped up with a new front end that includes a restyled grille, swept-back headlamps, new bumper and revised bonnet profile, while at the back, the tail lamp clusters are revised and there's a new rear bumper with extended corner sections.

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New Toyota Auris HSD with Prius Hybrid Drivetrain Revealed in Production Guise

Along with the redesigned RAV-4 SUV and the revamped Auris, Toyota's presentation at next month's Geneva Salon will also included the world premiere of the showroom-ready, full hybrid Auris HSD that was first teased through a concept model at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Programmed to be added to the European Auris line-up in July, the HSD will be Toyota's first hybrid model to be built in Europe at the firm's Burnaston factory in the UK.

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Facelifted 2010 Toyota Auris: All The Details, Full-Hybrid Version Announced for July

While Toyota's European press department gave us only a pair of photos and no details whatsoever on the revised 2010 Auris pointing towards the Geneva Show for more information, the Japanese firm's UK arm announced the launch of facelifted model releasing pricing as well specifications.

Furthermore, Toyota revealed that the sales of the British-built full hybrid Auris HSD that shares its gasoline-electric drivetrain with the Prius Hybrid will commence in July. We expect to see the production version of the Auris HSD making its world premiere at the Geneva Show in March.

Toyota wants us to believe that Auris has been fully restyled on the outside, but fact is, we doubt that your average buyer will even notice the changes.

These include a new deep front bumper, reshaped headlamps, revised grille and bonnet profile with stronger crease lines plus newly styled 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The revised tail lamp clusters, the new rear bumper with extended corner sections and the integrated turn indicators on the door mirrors complete the exterior makeover.

Inside, Toyota said (but did not show) that a soft-touch material has been introduced across the top of the instrument binnacle and around the glovebox, while the centre console has been revised with changes to the instrument design.

The new white illumination for the Optitron instrument dials and the new cloth upholstery designs round off the interior updates.

Toyota added that the it has also fine-tuned the Auris' suspension and steering systems to improve driver feedback and handling.

With the exception of the Auris HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) that will go on sale in July, the are no changes to the rest of the engine range that comprises a 1.33-litre petrol engine with Toyota Stop & Start technology, a 1.6 Valvematic petrol with manual or MultiMode transmission and 1.4 D-4D diesel, again with manual gearbox or Multimode.

In the UK, the revised Auris in three- and five-door body styles is on sale now with prices ranging from £14,463 to £16,495 - see detailed pricing in the list above.

2010 TOYOTA AURIS FACELIFT

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TOYOTA AURIS HSD HYBRID CONCEPT STUDY

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Japan: 2010 Toyota Auris Receives a Minor Facelift

Toyota formally launched the mildly facelifted 2010 Auris hatchback in Japan today. According to the automaker, the 2010 model year Auris receives some minor exterior tweaks that include revised grilles (depending on the model grade), front and rear bumpers, headlamps, tail lights and alloy wheels plus a new hood design. Interior refinements come in the form of new color options, upgraded materials and improved standard equipment on certain models.

In addition to the styling mods, the Japanese firm noted that the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine benefits from a revised variable timing system for both inlet and exhaust valves that improves fuel efficiency and power output.

Furthermore, all 1.8L models equipped with a CVT gain new steering-wheel mounted paddle-shifters that allow the driver to flip through the gears at the flick of a finger.

In Japan, the Ford Focus-sized Auris is also available with a smaller 1.5-liter petrol engine. Prices range from 1,622,000 Yen ($18,125 or €12,200) for the base Auris (1.5) 150X FWD to 2,331,000 Yen ($26,050 or €17,500) for the top-of-the-line Auris (1.8) S-Package 4WD.

8:28 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Japan: 2010 Toyota Auris Receives a Minor Facelift

Toyota formally launched the mildly facelifted 2010 Auris hatchback in Japan today. According to the automaker, the 2010 model year Auris receives some minor exterior tweaks that include revised grilles (depending on the model grade), front and rear bumpers, headlamps, tail lights and alloy wheels plus a new hood design. Interior refinements come in the form of new color options, upgraded materials and improved standard equipment on certain models.

In addition to the styling mods, the Japanese firm noted that the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine benefits from a revised variable timing system for both inlet and exhaust valves that improves fuel efficiency and power output.

Furthermore, all 1.8L models equipped with a CVT gain new steering-wheel mounted paddle-shifters that allow the driver to flip through the gears at the flick of a finger.

In Japan, the Ford Focus-sized Auris is also available with a smaller 1.5-liter petrol engine. Prices range from 1,622,000 Yen ($18,125 or €12,200) for the base Auris (1.5) 150X FWD to 2,331,000 Yen ($26,050 or €17,500) for the top-of-the-line Auris (1.8) S-Package 4WD.

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