The second generation of the Toyota Auris has been launched in Japan. A similar model for mainly European markets will follow later in 2012. This UK-built car will be exhibited at the Paris motor show next month.
The home market Auris will be manufactured at the Takaoka plant in Japan. Europe’s car will be built at the Burnaston plant in the English Midlands.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Aside from minor styling details, the main differences between these five-door hatchbacks will be the engines, though the car for Japan will also be offered with all-wheel drive.
In Japan, Toyota’s 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre engine in combination with front-wheel drive and a CVT is the standard drivetrain. All-wheel drive is optional. Buyers may also pay extra for versions powered by the 2ZR-FAE 1.8-litre engine. This brings with it a six-speed manual gearbox but AWD is not available.
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) will offer its new Auris with the choice of 1.3- and 1.6-litre petrol engines as well as a 1.4-litre diesel. Please see just-auto‘s separate news article for details of the second generation Auris Hyrid.
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) says the Japanese market car is both 3mm longer and 55mm lower than the first generation model. The seats have been lowered by 40mm compared to the old car, and the boot has had its capacity increased to 360 litres (VDA measurement method). Toyota Motor Europe quotes the same numbers for its new Auris, adding that the boot opening is also wider than the current car’s.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataOne of the trim levels in Japan is ‘RS’. This derivative has red stitching for the seats, an optional panoramic roof window extending back to the rear seats and what TMC terms “a retractable jackknife key that can also be used as a fashion accessory”.
A monthly sales target of 2,000 units has been set for the Netz sales channel which has just begun selling the new Auris in the home market.
The Australian importer has issued its own media release for the car. To be sold down under as the Corolla hatchback, this eleventh generation model series will have its local market debut at the Sydney motor show in October. The country was the first export market for the original Corolla. Toyota claims that almost 1.2 million Corolla hatches and sedans have been sold since the 1960s, the model making up one-fifth of all Toyota vehicles bought by Australians in the past 50 years.
Author: Glenn Brooks
