Toyota reveals new Auris 07 | 03 | 2018

    TOYOTA HAS REVEALED its all-new Auris range at Geneva, and strengthened its commitment to a hybrid future by confirming it will no longer offer diesel power on its models. The new Auris — which will go on-sale at Scottish dealerships towards the end of 2018 priced from around £20,000 — will be built at the company’s UK plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. (Related: Toyota Aygo gets 2018 facelift)

    The new Auris, which will go head-to-head with the likes of the VW Golf and Ford Focus, uses Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) chassis components. That means sharing technology with the latest Prius hybrid and C-HR crossover models. (Related: 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser on sale)

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    There’s no denying the latest Auris has a rather dramatic new look. With a 40mm longer wheelbase than the model it replaces, increasing cabin space, it’s clear the newcomer carries some of the styling from C-HR and new Supra. And while the new Auris also sits 25mm lower and 30mm wider than the previous model, the front overhang has been reduced by 20mm. This subtly improves the car’s proportions.

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    Toyota is keeping the newcomer’s interiors under wraps — the show cars had darkened windows — but there’s no getting away from the significant exterior improvements.

    The new model benefits from slim headlamps and tail-lights, which incorporate LED tech. There’s also a lower grille — which Toyota says has been designed to emphasise the latest car’s width — plus aggressive front and rear bumpers.

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    There are further changes and improvements under the bonnet. Out goes the previous model’s range of petrol engines and a single hybrid, to be replaced by a choice of electrified powertrains and just a single conventional option.

    The range will include a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, but Toyota has yet to confirm performance or output details. It’s the same engine as in the C-HR, where it delivers 114bhp.

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    Unquestionably, the big selling hybrid will be the 120bhp 1.8-litre as seen in the Prius and C-HR. According to Toyota, this unit can be driven on electricity alone “up to 50% of the time during everyday commuting”.

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    The new range will also include a new 177bhp 2.0-litre hybrid. Utilising steering wheel-mounted shift paddles to allow the driver to take manual control of the car’s CVT transmission. Toyota says this powerplant is intended to deliver greater focus on performance to better exploit the TNGA platform’s benefits.

    Related: Lexus previews new UX crossover

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    Jim McGill

     

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