Toyota announces future launch of petrol-electric Auris Hybrid

Toyota recently confirmed that it will offer this year a petrol-electric hybrid adaptation of the Auris with a vast range of upgrades.

The new car, to be named Auris Hybrid, will provide Toyota an additional low carbon emission car model on its range together with the Prius. Under the current UK government scheme, Auris Hybrid and Prius can be registered to the London Congestion Charge to get full discounts.

Auris Hybrid is expected to be less pricey than the Prius, but it will not have such low emission than that of Prius – which produces 89g/km of carbon dioxide.

In related news, Toyota today is introducing vast enhancements to the Auris range, which includes handling tweaks and a new SR equipment grade, even before the launch of Auris Hybrid.

Toyota said that it had used consumer feedbacks from the UK to adjust the handling of the Auris to better suit road conditions in Europe. The automaker further said that the changes made to the Auris resulted in more stability at higher speed and improved ride comfort.

For this year, the standard Auris range will be offered in T2, TR and SR specifications. The Auris SR model will have a 1.6-litre petrol engine, and will come with a six-speed manual gearbox, rear roof spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheel, amber-lit dashboard instruments and darkened headlamp glass.

The new standard Auris will have design changes as well, which include swept back headlamps and indicator repeater fixed in the door mirrors. The car will also have a soft-touch material to cover the top of the instrument binnacle and glove compartment.