Geneva: Toyota Auris HSD
March 2nd, 2010 by Richard Aucock
TOYOTA is launching the first step in its future marketing strategy with the full hybrid Auris HSD.
Within a decade, it plans to offer a hybrid version of every single car it has on sale. The launch of the Ford Focus-rivaling Auris is the first step in that plan.
It is proof that Toyota believes petrol-electric powertains are the drivetrain of the medium term. The introduction of hybrid in a regular 5-door hatchback, rather than a bespoke version, is proof the firm is well on the way towards its goal.
The car will be launched in the UK by the summer, and will come with the added coup of significant UK input. Not only is it assembled here, but the engine is also built in the UK, at Toyota’s North Wales engine plant.
Impressively, despite not being a dedicated hybrid bodyshell, it still manages exceptional economy and emissions stats.
Toyota claims 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 89g/km.
That’s ‘class-best economy’ for the Auris HSD – and, as it’s a full hybrid, it will also be congestion charge exempt.
Great news – but all eyes were nevertheless on something else. Yes, the sleek FT-86 concept, showing in Europe for the first time.
Toyota is still targeting production ‘as soon as possible’, and is hinting at 2012-2013 for the rear-drive Subaru boxer-engined motor. It shares chassis underpinning switch the Subaru too, which should make the business case for it easier…
… and hopefully make it the genuinely affordable rear-drive coupe we’re all crying out for!
By Richard Aucock
Car Dealer Magazine Geneva 2010 coverage
Tags: auris, ft-86, geneva 2010, hybrid, toyota