New Toyota Auris: more details revealed

New details about the 2013 Toyota Auris have been released ahead of its world debut at the Paris Motor Show on  September 27th.

The British-built machine will be launched in the UK in January 2013. Its confident design adopts the new face of Toyota, which made its debut on the new Toyota Yaris, and is also seen on the new Toyota Verso.

The interior has been designed to give the driver and passengers more more space than the current model, while high quality materials offer improved quality.

And by reducing the car’s weight, improving the chassis design and adjusting the aerodynamics, engineers have delivered a car that offers better dynamic performance, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions.

At launch, four engines will be available, including 98bhp 1.33 and 130bhp 1.6-litre petrol units. There will also be an 89bhp 1.4 D-4D diesel. The popular 134bhp 1.8-litre full hybrid will also be available, giving combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg.

All engines use a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, except the 1.8 litre hybrid, which is equipped with Toyota’s seamless E-CVT automatic. Toyota’s Multdrive S CVT gearbox is also available, as an option with the 1.6-litre petrol.

Every model in the range achieves lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than before. Stop & Start engine technology features on the 1.33 petrol and 1.4 D-4D diesl engines, helping reduce fuel consumption around town.

Overall, the new Auris is 30mm longer than the car it replaces at 4,275mm, while the wheelbase remains the same at 2,600mm.

Front and rear overhangs have been increased by 15mm, yet it remains one of the most compact cars in its class.

The car’s overall height has been lowered by 55mm (45mm in the cabin and 10mm in the ride height), making new Auris one of the lowest cars in its segment.

Extensive use of high tensile steel in the bodyshell has helped cut the car’s overall weight by up to 40kg, and the reduction in vehicle height has lowered its centre of gravity.

Easier access and loading have been achieved by widening the openings for both the rear doors and tailgate and adding an extra 50mm to the loadspace length. The boot is more flexible in design, too, with a dual-level floor and 60:40 split-folding rear seats on all versions, including Auris Hybrid. Luggage capacity has increased to 360 litres on all models.

Inside, The cleaner design introduces stronger shapes, improved functionality and high quality materials.

By accentuating the horizontal, the new dashboard emphasises the width and spaciousness of the cabin, with driver-focused arrangement of the instruments and switchgear.

The driver-oriented design is further expressed in the strong curve of the hood over the instrument binnacle, which flows down the side of the centre console to help create a cockpit feel.

The sporty feel is further enhanced by with satin silver trim, while on higher grade models the dashboard itself is cloaked with leather.

Soft touch materials finish on the instrument panel’s upper surface and the door trim shoulder areas, and the A-pillars are fabric trimmed.

The gear knob has a new design and the steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather with single baseball stitching.

The new front seats have longer fore and aft travel and an increase in height adjustment range. A new front sports seat design has also been introduced, with extra lateral support.

Entry level and mid-range models feature seats with a new fabric covering; sports grade models add contrasting red panels, and on higher grade models a combination of black velour with leather bolsters is used.

An Ice Grey leather option will be exclusive to Auris Hybrid.

Under the skin, significant changes have been made to ensure the new Auris is rewarding to drive.

Extra bracing and reinforcements to the car’s underbody, front and rear structures and suspension have made the body more rigid.

This combines with the lower overall vehicle height and ground clearance and the lower position of the front seats to bring down the car’s centre of gravity, improving stability at speed and cornering agility.

The reduction in the centre gravity allows for the spring rates and anti-roll bar diameter to be reduced, while the design of the front MacPherson strut suspension has been revised with the aim of delivering class-leading ride comfort, with improved body control and steering response.

Improvements have been made to the electric power steering: a new control unit suppresses changes in steering force to further improve feel and accuracy; and a high gear ratio gives greater responsiveness, making new Auris feel more agile.

Extensive improvements to NVH measures mean that the new model is not only more comfortable, but also noticeably quieter. Extensive soundproofing in the engine bay, front wheel arches and dashboard has reduced engine and road noise intrusion in the cabin.

[youtube width=”580″ height=”360″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Fcuhryy5I[/youtube]

 

5 comments

  1. The 2`nd generation Auris is beautifull,had a previous hybrid,changed to a yaris hybrid,had I known this was coming,maybe I would of waited for one,great to drive,but not a looker,this is…
    Looks better for loosing the small dahboard quater light windows.smoother lines.classy cockpit,nice.

  2. Currently own an Auris. The one thing that has been missing from the specs published is the width. When garaging my current Auris I have 25mm between each door mirror and the garage door post – so the width will be a doorstopper for me when choosing my next car.
    Does the new Auris retain the width of the current Auris (1760mm)??

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