The new Toyota Auris — Pioneering full hybrid technology leads debut of smarter, bolder and more dynamic product

Representing the first step in Toyota's product offensive in the European C-segment, the new Auris is bolder, more dynamic, better equipped and cheaper to run than ever before.

The new Auris reflects Toyota's determination to engineer more appealing, dynamically engaging cars and builds on a long-established reputation for quality, durability and reliability.

It offers a bolder and more confident design, a higher quality interior, improved driving dynamics and efficiency enhancements to its powertrain line-up — including the market-leading technology of its flagship, full hybrid model.

Featuring all-new exterior and interior designs, the new Auris is the lowest car in the mainstream C-segment. Its all-new exterior maximises the benefits of a lower frontal design and an overall height reduction of 55 mm to give the new Auris an excellent aerodynamic performance of just Cd 0.28, contributing to both improved handling stability and reduced fuel consumption.

The front of the new Auris highlights the new face of Toyota. It combines the company's Under Priority grille design style with Keen Look headlamp and LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) detailing to bring more dynamism to the Auris range, and a markedly more powerful road presence.

In profile, an equally dramatic styling change sees a lengthening of the side glazing into three panels, with an available piano black B pillar and a more dynamic treatment of the rear pillar, above a stronger, more pronounced, chrome-trimmed rising belt line.

To the rear, a wider opening tailgate features powerful, convex and concave surfacing, a new, wraparound combination lamp design and a new bumper design which reinforces the new Auris' broad, stable stance.

Enhanced by 'Skyview', one of the biggest panoramic sunroofs in the mainstream C-segment, the new interior design offers more space, greater comfort, improved sensory quality and -through consistency of lighting, font, colour and finish- a greater sense of visual unity throughout the cabin.

The air vent and meter surrounds, centre console and transmission tunnel trim, air condition and audio controls, and door panel trim are all finished in a matching, high quality satin silver finish. On higher grades, the dashboard itself is trimmed in leather.

The tactility of finishes has been improved throughout the cabin. The steering wheel is clad in the highest quality nappa leather with single baseball stitching. The instrument panel upper surface and door trim shoulder areas are finished in soft touch materials. Both assist grips and door grips are finished in a soft texture grain, the door armrests are padded, and the cockpit pillars are trimmed with fabric.

Within this practical, versatile new cabin environment, revised packaging has significantly improved the driving position, and increased rear seat knee room by 20 mm and loadspace length by 90 mm. All hatchback versions offer an increased luggage capacity of 360 litres, and the repackaging of the battery under the rear seat gives the Auris Hybrid loadspace parity with other models in the range.

The new Auris further benefits from a lower ride height, driving position and centre of gravity, and revised steering and suspension — including a wider availability of a double-wishbone system at the rear, for a more comfortable, responsive and engaging driving experience.

Attention has also been paid to weight management. The new Auris features an increased use of high-tensile steel — particularly in the upper part of the body structure. This contributes to a 10% increase in body stiffness, an overall vehicle weight saving of up to 40kg, depending on variant, and has a positive impact by helping to lower the car's centre of gravity overall.

Toyota was the first company to offer a choice of three powertrains in the C-segment, and the new Auris' Hybrid Synergy Drive system features efficiency and dynamic improvements to the company's unique, full hybrid powertrain.

The award-winning 1.8l full hybrid powertrain will be offered alongside a choice of two diesel engines — 1.4d and 2.0d — and two petrol engines — 1.33 and 1.6.

Each powertrain type — petrol, diesel or full hybrid — is expected to represent around 1/3rd of Auris sales overall, illustrating that full-hybrid is now firmly a mainstream option, not a niche proposition.

Designed for Europe, its largest volume market, the new Auris will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK alongside the Avensis, reinforcing the company's commitment to its European operations.

The new Toyota Auris will make its European premiere in Petrol, Diesel and Full Hybrid forms on 27th September at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

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