The King is dead. The Toyota Corolla was the world's top selling car - ever. And now it has gone. It's a particularly brave move on the part of Toyota after all these years and the many incarnations of the Corolla. Customers knew what they were buying, and judging by the sales figures, it was just what they wanted. But time has moved on; the buying public are better educated in motoring matters and a safe, reliable, non-offensive car just isn't enough any more.
So, there is a new King in town, the new Toyota Auris. Styled at Toyota's European Design Centre, ED2 (as was the latest Yaris), and built at Toyota's factory in Burnaston, near Derby, it's no surprise that the Auris has a European look to it. Auris marks a break with the past, an emphasis that the Auris is a new beginning for Toyota's family hatchback range. A new beginning with different values.
The Auris is built on an all-new platform and will be available in both three-door and five-door body styles, with the latter available from February 1st; the three-door cars follow on from the start of April. The look is similar to the Yaris - short and tall - thus maximising interior space in the smallest possible exterior space. Class-leading height means more headroom and comfort for all passengers, even those in the back. Toyota says the Auris was designed from the inside out, so as to make best available use of the internal space, an example being the exhaust design that allows for a flat floor. And like the Yaris, the Auris is said to have excellent aerodynamics, bringing benefits in terms of fuel economy and low noise levels.
The Auris range will start with the three-door 1.4 VVT-i T2 at £11,995 running up to the flagship of the range, the five-door 2.2-litre D4-D 175bhp T180 at £18,795. There are two petrol engines, the 96bhp 1.4 VVT-i, and the 122bhp 1.6-litre VVT-I, along with three diesel options from the Toyota D4-D range, the 89bhp 1.4, the 124bhp 2-litre and of course the 175bhp 2.2.
The Toyota Auris adopts Toyota's Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS) which enables impact forces from an accident to be channelled away from the passenger compartment. Add in nine airbags (standard on all Auris models) including driver's knee air bag, and impact absorbing qualities built into the bonnet, front bumper and radiator mounts, along with a crushable structure at the rear edge of the bonnet, and it's no surprise the Auris sailed through the Euro NCAP safety tests. Indeed, Auris became the fifth Toyota to pick up the top 5-star award, while also scoring four stars for child occupant protection and three stars for pedestrian safety.
It's a Toyota so you know the Auris will be well-equipped. All models have air conditioning, electric front windows and door mirrors, central locking and an MP3 playing CD system. T3 versions additionally include 16-inch alloy wheels, heated door mirrors, electric rear windows (for five-door models), extra speakers and steering wheel mounted audio controls. The T Spirit grade ups the equipment levels to include automatic headlamps and wipers, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry/start and cruise control. Finally the top of the range T180 adds in 17-inch alloy wheels, better interior trim, smoked headlamp lenses and a sunroof. We assume there will be a sporty derivative in the future too.
Toyota expects to sell 22,000 examples of the Auris in the UK in 2007. Long live the King? We'll have to see for ourselves when we drive the new Auris later this year.
Trevor Nicosia - 26 Jan 2007
