In the appealing corner, the front and back have been sharpened, the stylistic tweaks making for an especially cutting schnoz that helps the new Auris achieve a coefficient of drag of 0.28. The whole car has been lengthened by 30 millimeters (about 1.2 inches) and lowered by 55 millimeters (about 2.2 inches); it’s stance is lower than any other “mainstream C-segment” offering, according to the company. More practically, the roof gets Skyview – a huge panorama glass roof and the tailgate gets a wider opening.
Inside, the cabin gets upgraded appointments everywhere: soft-textured door grips, padded armrests on the doors, fabric-trimmed pillars, satin silver finishes, leather trimming on the dash on some models, a soft-touch covering on the IP’s upper surface and baseball-stitched nappa leather around the steering wheel. There’s also more space due to the new packaging, with rear passengers getting 20 mm more knee room and the boot getting 90 mm more load space – all hatchback models, including the hybrid, boast 360 liters of cargo room (12.7 cubic feet).
Dynamically, that lower stance should be of some assistance, and the use of high-tensile steel increases stiffness, lowers the hatchback’s center of gravity and cuts weight by up to 88 pounds. The steering and suspension have also received unnamed revisions to make for a better drive. In addition to the top-flight Hybrid Synergy Drive model, powerplants on offer will be 1.3-liter and 1.6-liter gasoline engines and a 1.4-liter diesel.
If you’d like even more facts and figures on the 2013 Auris, you’ll find them in the press release below.
– Sharper, more distinctive styling reflecting the new face of Toyota
– Full hybrid, diesel and petrol powertrains to be offered
– Interior distinguished by more cabin and boot space, smart packaging and use of high quality materials
– R&D focus on weight management, chassis design and aerodynamics to improve dynamic performance, fuel consumption and emissions
– New model key to Toyota’s growth in Europe
– All versions of new Auris to be manufactured at Toyota’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire
– Details of UK introduction, specifications and prices to be announced later
20/08/12 — Toyota will unveil the new Auris at the Paris motor show in September, a car that will deliver improved dynamics, more distinctive styling and higher equipment levels, while also being cheaper to run.
New Auris is the latest model to reflect Toyota’s determination to engineer cars that are more appealing and dynamically engaging to drive, while building on its long-established reputation for quality, durability and reliability.
As well as presenting a more confident exterior design and a higher quality interior, new Auris also benefits from improvements to driving dynamics and efficiency enhancements to its powertrain line-up, including the full hybrid system that powers the flagship Auris Hybrid model.
The car’s exterior and interior are all new, and it has the distinction of sitting lower than any other mainstream C-segment model. The overall height is 55mm less than the current model and a lower front end design helps deliver excellent aerodynamic performance with a Cd0.28 drag coefficient, supporting better handling stability and lower fuel consumption.
New Auris adopts the new “face” of Toyota in the design of its grille and the sharp-edged appearance of its headlights and LED daytime running lights, giving the car a more powerful road presence.
In profile there is another dramatic styling change with the extension of the side glazing into three panels. The effect will be rendered even more eye-catching in some versions with a piano black finish for the B-pillars and a dynamic treatment of the C-pillars above a stronger and more pronounced chrome-trimmed rising belt line.
At the rear new Auris has a wider opening tailgate, with an interplay of convex and concave surfaces, a wrap-around combination lamp design and new bumper profile, strengthening the car’s broad stance.
The new interior is more spacious and comfortable, and introduces Skyview, one of the largest panoramic roofs in the segment. Toyota has paid special attention to the sensory quality of the cabin and worked in detail to achieve a greater sense of visual unity through consistency of lighting, colours, finishes, and even the font used for the graphics.
The air vent and meter surrounds, centre console and transmission tunnel trim share a high quality satin silver finish, and on higher grades the dashboard itself is leather trimmed. The tactile quality of the interior surfaces has been improved, with baseball-stitched nappa leather used to trim the steering wheel, and soft touch materials featured on the instrument panel’s upper surface. The assist grips and door grips have a soft texture finish, the door armrests are padded and the pillars are fabric-trimmed.
Smart packaging has improved the driving position and added 20mm to rear seat knee room and 90mm to the loadspace length. All hatchback versions provide more luggage space, at 360 litres. Repositioning of the battery pack beneath the rear seat has ensured Auris Hybrid has the same load capacity as other models in the range.
New Auris further benefits from a lower ride height, driving position and centre of gravity. The steering and suspension have been revised to help give a more comfortable, responsive and enjoyable drive.
Attention has also been paid to weight management, with greater use of high tensile steel, particularly in the upper part of the body structure. This contributes to a 10 per cent increase in body stiffness and an overall vehicle weight saving of up to 40kg (according to version), while also helping to lower the car’s centre of gravity.
Toyota was the first manufacturer to offer a choice of three powertrains in the C-segment and this continues with the new model. Efficiency and dynamic improvements have been made to the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which will be offered in Auris Hybrid. Within the UK the new model will also feature 1.4-litre diesel and 1.33 and 1.6-litre petrol engines. Europe-wide Toyota expects an even one-third share of sales for each powertrain type – full hybrid, diesel and petrol –reflecting how hybrid has matured to become a mainstream rather than a niche choice.
New Auris has been designed for Europe and will be built exclusively at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in the UK, alongside Avensis, supported by investment that demonstrates the company’s commitment to its European operations.
The new model will be given its European premiere on 27 September at the Paris motor show, with petrol, diesel and full hybrid versions on display. Details of UK sales introduction, specifications and prices will be announced at a later date.
New Auris dimensions
NEW AURIS / CHANGE vs CURRENT AURIS
Length (mm) 4,275 +30
Width (mm) 1,760 (unch)
Height (mm) 1,460 -55
Wheelbase (mm) 2,600 (unch)
Loadspace (l) 360 +6 (+127 for Auris Hybrid)
Cd 0.28 -0.01
New Auris heritage
Toyota is the world’s leading producer of C-segment cars, having sold more than 39 million units in more than 140 countries since the introduction of Corolla in 1966. It is also the world’s leading manufacturer of full hybrid cars, with more than 4.3 million sold since the first generation Prius was launched in 1997.
More than 60,000 first generation Auris Hybrid have been sold since it joined the range in 2010, making it the second most successful hybrid model in Europe after Prius.
