Toyota Auris Hybrid – details

The Toyota Auris Hybrid, which will debut at Frankfurt

The Auris Hybrid will be the first Toyota Hybrid to be built in Europe – at Toyota’s UK plant. Scheduled to go on sale in the second half of 2010, the Auris hybrid utilises the same powertrain as the third-gen Prius, namely a 1.8 litre, 97bhp petrol engine with a bank of nickel-metal hydride batteries and an electric motor. This will give the Auris Hybrid a 0-60 mph time of around 10 seconds and emissions below the critical 100g/km (not 99g/km, by any chance?).

Toyota has made a number of aerodynamic changes to the Auris to improve efficiency, including front-end modifications to improve airflow, a lower ride height, a rear diffuser and a big rear spoiler. Toyota has also fitted ‘Turbulence Reducing’ 18″ alloys and low rolling resistance tyres.

Also in the mix are solar panels – although how much use they’ll be in the UK is anyone’s guess. There are solar panels on the roof to aid battery charging and a solar panel on the dash for running mobiles and iPods. And as every little helps, Toyota has fitted LED lights front and rear.

The interior gets a tweak, with blue Gaucholino leather seats with light blue accent stitching and pearl white facings on the air vents and centre console. You also get a set of alloy pedals (just so your foot doesn’t slip off under the violent acceleration) and ‘Hybrid Blue’ instrument lighting. Oh, and we mustn’t forget the flat-bottomed steering wheel, just so you can get in even if you’ve got thighs like Will Carling.

And although you don’t really associate hybrid cars with excessive cabin noise, Toyota has made comprehensive use of soundproofing materials, and full thickness glazing and an acoustic windscreen reduce wind noise at cruising speed. So there.

1,798

97

~10 (target)

Permanent magnet synchronous motor

Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission

Nickel-metal hydride

<100

4,245

1,760

1,515

2,600

By Cars UK