Toyota has revealed the new Auris at the Geneva motor show. The latest version of the hatchback will be available with a choice of petrol hybrid engines, but no diesel options.
Speaking at the reveal, Johan Van Zyl, boss of Toyota Motor Europe said that the decision to axe the diesel version was based on customer demand, noting that 41 percent of Toyota’s European sales in 2017 were hybrid models.
The new Auris will be offered with three powertrain choices. The only conventional option is a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor making 116hp, while the other two are hybrid systems – the 123hp, 1.8-litre motor currently used in the C-HR and Prius, and a new 2.0-litre engine that makes 180hp.
Speaking about the decision to remove diesel engines from its passenger cars in Europe, Van Zyl said, “Customer demand is a clear sign that our petrol-electric hybrids are a strong and popular alternative.”
The new Auris is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. Van Zyl said, “TNGA gives the car rigidity and a low centre of gravity. These are the qualities you need for outstanding comfort, handling and driving pleasure.”
The hatchback is 4,370mm long, 1,790mm wide and 1,435mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2,640mm. That makes it 40mm longer and 30mm wider than the outgoing model, but 25mm lower.
The redesigned front-end features a grille that Toyota says is shaped like a catamaran hull, and it also sports new LED headlights and daytime running lights. At the back, the rear windscreen gets an increase in rake and a roof spoiler that is standard on all trim levels.
The Auris will be built at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in Derbyshire, UK. Last year, the firm invested £240 million to prepare the plant for the transition to the TNGA platform.
The new Auris may also share a bunch of its characteristics with the upcoming Corolla sedan that will also be sold in that market.
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