Toyota Auris (2012) first official pictures

Toyota will showcase the new Auris family hatchback at the 2012 Paris motor show from 27 September.

Toyota claim the new car is lighter, more economical and altogether more distinctive than the somewhat forgettable first-gen Auris, but will their efforts be enough to tempt non-geriatrics away from their Astras, Focuses and Golfs? Read on for all the Toyota Auris details.

The frowning nose and more sculpted flanks give the car some visual presence severely lacking from the old car, and the stance should look more sporty: the new Auris is 30mm longer than the old car and a whopping 55mm lower. So, it's more rakish, certainly, but the rear seems to owe an awful lot to one of the Auris's fiercest rivals: hints of Hyundai i30, anyone?

The ingredients are present for a more driver-pleasing Toyota. The new cars benefits from a lower ride height, driving position and centre of gravity, and the steering and suspension have been revised. Plus, the use of high-tensile steel in the body means stiffness is up 10%, and weight is down around 40kg.

Occupants should also be a good deal more comfortable too.  More premium materials are employed on the dashboard, and there's more space too, thanks to the body stretch. There's an extra 20mm of rear kneeroom and loadspace length has gone up by 90mm. All versions get a 360-litre boot - even the hybrid - thanks to the bulky battery pack migrating to under the back seat.

Toyota are very proud that the Auris is the only car in its class to offer three powertrain options: hybrid, petrol and diesel. The hybrid version gets the same electric motor set-up as the Prius; the Auris actually the second best-selling hybrid in Europe, after the Toyota's trend-setting Prius.

Other engine options take the shape of a 1.4-litre diesel and 1.3 and 1.6-litre petrol engines. Toyota says it expecta an even one-third share of sales for each powertrain type in Europe.

Prices haven't been revealed yet, but we'll get the full numbers list when the Auris debuts at the Paris motor show.

By Ollie Kew