From the 19th In January 2013 the new Toyota Auris is available at dealerships. The third generation of the vehicle, it is clear more confident and agile. also the first time a hybrid model is less expensive than comparable diesel variant. (Photo: Toyota)
"Toyota makes a jump" - said Alain Uyttenhoven, Vice President of Toyota Motor Europe, yet in March at the International Motor Show in Geneva. While he was referring to sales figures for 2012, the engineers of the leap already: The new Auris occurs compared with its predecessor on much more mature. The interior has been completely redesigned to improve the feel of the surface. With very few exceptions, the choice of material is managed. Optional - or contained in the "Executive" trim line - are soft-touch surfaces and a leather covering for the dashboard. This is the new Auris one piece and creates a solid and quality feel. The steering wheel can be order with nappa leather coat.
Sporty, low seating position
Behind the driver sits in the new model generation whopping 40 millimeters lower, the steering wheel was also made flat by two degrees. The Auris ducks ten millimeters closer to the road, the overall height of the vehicle, the developer lowered by 55 millimeters. What at first sounds after limited headroom brings car with 0.277 the lowest drag coefficient of the class and the test proves to be trouble: Even riders over 1.90 meters tall, find a good seating position. The low center of gravity also ensures a more dynamic driving behavior. Large share of this is the modified chassis.
Toyota Auris 3rd Generation Image Gallery
(Click To Enlarge)
(Click To Enlarge)
Revised suspension
On the front and rear axle, the Japanese revised, among other springs, dampers and body shots. It also received the electric steering a more direct ratio and the body was stiff ten percent against twisting. The resulting driving experience in the new Auris can most accurately describe "lightly" with.
In the test particularly liked the 2.0-liter diesel engine. It delivers 91 kW/124 hp and a maximum torque of 310 Newton meters from 1600 to 2400 rpm. The engine comes not of cooperation with BMW, but is an aggregate of the house. Toyota is the top speed of the so-motorized Auris with 200 km / h, accelerates from zero to 100 km / h should be done in ten seconds. The test used the refined diesel engine with 6-speed manual transmission and standard start-stop system - loaded with three people and luggage - on mountainous switchbacks and some through roads around Lisbon around 5.6 liters per 100 kilometers.
The Auris Hybrid
A first in the model range is the Auris Hybrid, or its price tag: With 22,950 euros starting price he is 200 euros cheaper than the equivalent 2.0-liter diesel. Toyota has also calculated according to its own calculations over a useful life of three years, a saving of up to € 2,500 for the hybrid compared to the diesel. These include not only the pure consumption value, but also details of how the lower wear of the brakes, by means of regenerative braking during deceleration or subsequent oil change, when the engine is used less frequently.
Pure electric up to two kilometers
The hybrid is a combination of a 1.8-liter VVT-i petrol engine and electric motor. The system output is 73 kW/136 hp. For the sprint from zero to 100 km / h, the hybrid needed according to the manufacturer 10.9 seconds with top speed at 180 km / h. Consumption was tested at just under five liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. The interplay of the two drives works mostly well - without paying attention to the instruments can not always say with certainty which makes engine just for propulsion. Only the combination of continuously variable transmission sometimes annoying when the engine speed is stable at full load shortly before the limiter stays - but this is not the hybrid thought. It can be for the so-called EV mode to move up to two kilometers on electric power - h with a top speed of about 50 km / Short city stages are local emissions feasible.
Luggage recovered
Inside the hybrids falls on the space-gain: The battery of the drive is now located under the rear seat - the luggage compartment capacity is therefore the same as the petrol and diesel models and is 360 liters. The instrument cluster provides an eco-drive monitor shows the driver the hybrid-related data. Visually, the Hybrid interior is also manifested by a blue-colored E-shift lever. Toyota expects the full hybrid with a third share sale, thus clarifying the importance of hybrids for the carmaker. For the EU market, the Japanese are planning sales of 115,000 vehicles - and thus a proportion of hybrids 15 percent of total sales.
Five trim levels
The new Auris is from 19 January 2013 in five trim levels at the dealers. "Auris", "Auris Cool," "Life," "Life Plus" and "Executive" At launch also a special limited edition model is available, the "Start Edition". Standard in all variants are LED daytime running lights, a hill-start assist and now a comfort indicator. With "Touch & Go" Toyota also offers a navigation system with enhanced connectivity and access to online content and apps. Bluetooth phones can be coupled to the system. In addition, bi-xenon headlights are available with Adaptive Headlights and a panoramic glass roof.
Driver Assistance: Too low demand
When the driver assistance, the Japanese show modest: Although the Auris with an automatic parking system called Sipa (Simple Intelligent Parking Assist) available. So that the vehicle driving by automatically detects a suitable parking and controls it at almost without driver - this only needs to adjust the speed. Safety assistance systems such as adaptive automatic braking assistance but one looks in vain in the options list. Toyota justifies this with insufficient demand for such systems in this segment.
The starting price of the Auris is 15,950 euros for the 1.33-liter Dual VVT-i petrol engine with 73 kW/99 hp and 6-speed manual transmission.
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