<A HREF="http://toyota.jp/auris/" TARGET="_blank">http://toyota.jp/auris/</A><p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/grade/grade/image/main.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>Press Release:<br><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><br>Toyota Launches Auris Compact in Japan<p>Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today the Japanese launch of the Auris*1, a strategic compact passenger vehicle for both Japan and Europe. In Japan, the Auris is available through "Netz" dealers nationwide; its European release is scheduled for the spring of 2007.<p>Created with "performance you can feel" as its development concept, the Auris is designed to transcend the conventional notion of a compact vehicle, with individuality and exceptional performance that convey its appeal the moment you see it, as well as when you get in and drive it.<p>Under the notion of "a five-meter impression"—with sights set on creating a positive impression even before the car is driven more than five meters—the Auris strives for a sense of expectation from the moment the key is in your hand. It does this with attractive European styling on the outside, innovation and quality that can be immediately sensed on the inside—thanks to a center instrument cluster integrated with a bridged center console—and driving pleasure that can be felt as soon as the engine is started and the car begins to move.<p>A newly developed platform, new 1.8-liter engine and newly designed suspension provide outstanding vehicle performance and engaging driving pleasure, while also achieving balance between excellent maneuverability and a spacious, highly functional interior that rivals that of a medium-class vehicle. The Auris also boasts safety and environmental performance at the top levels of its class*2.<p>*1 The Auris name is derived from the English word "aura" meaning "a distinctive quality or atmosphere," which expresses the distinctive sense of presence of the vehicle.<br>*2 Compared to vehicles of similar engine displacement<p><br>Japanese Market Sales Outline<br>Sales channels "Netz" dealers nationwide <br>Monthly sales targets in Japan 3,000 units <br>Dealer launch events October 28 and 29, 2006 <p>Assembly Plant for Japanese-market Vehicles:<br>Iwate Plant, Kanto Auto Works, Ltd.<p>Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices in Japan (Prices in Hokkaido and Okinawa differ; in yen) <br>Trim Level Engine Powertrain Transmission Price*1<br>(including consumption tax) <br> 150X 1NZ-FE<br>(1.5 liter) Front-engine, <br>front-wheel-drive Super CVT-i*2 1,622,250 <br> "M-package" 1,711,500 <br> "S-package" 1,858,500 <br> 150X Four-wheel-drive 1,832,250 <br> "M-package" 1,921,500 <br> "S-package" 2,068,500 <br> 180G 2ZR-FE<br>(1.8 liter) Front-engine,<br>front-wheel-drive 1,916,250 <br> "S-package" 2,089,500 <br> 180G Four-wheel-drive 2,126,250 <br> "S-package" 2,299,500 <br>*1 Prices listed do not include recycling fees.<br>*2 Super Continuously Variable Transmission-intelligent<p><br>Vehicle Outline<p>Distinctive, European-Style Exterior and Innovative, Highly Functional Interior<p>Exterior<p>Created by ED2 (Toyota Europe Design Development S.A.R.L.), Toyota's European design base located in southern France, and based on the Toyota-brand design philosophy of "Vibrant Clarity," the exterior of the new Auris boasts an individualistic short and wide form that is recognizable at a glance, even from a distance. <p>Combined with headlights extending to the sides, the vehicle's front end has an impressive, unified form that integrates the bumper with the hood to create a front view with a sporty and open feel. <p>The side view, with a low, forward-leaning beltline and sloped quarter pillars, evokes an energetic feeling that expresses the vehicle's powerful driving performance. <p>When viewed from behind, the car's staunch rear creates an impression of action. <p>Interior<p>An advanced image is conveyed through an innovative design that integrates the shape from the center instrument cluster to the bridged center console, using the European architectural form of a "flying buttress"* as a motif. <br>The high position of the gear-shift lever and parking break and a comfortable, close-fitting cockpit create a sporty feel. <p>The main controls, including the gear-shift lever, have been concentrated within easier reach of the driver's seat to enhance operability and functionality. <p>Close attention has been paid to every detail to create a sense of quality from the substantial sound of doors closing to the smooth operational feel of the audio-system and other switches. <br>* A gothic architectural technique that uses arched supports located outside a structure to hold up the roof, thereby creating a more open interior space<p>Outstanding Driving Performance and a Comfortable Ride Refined in Europe<p>A newly developed platform and newly designed suspension achieve outstanding handling and stability as well as a smooth, comfortable ride. The suspension has been tested on roads and circuit courses in Europe to achieve optimal tuning for exceptional performance under various conditions, from high-speed driving on winding roads to highway cruising. <br>High-rigidity body construction ensures steering responsiveness and quiet operation. <p>A 1.8-liter Dual VVT-i (Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) engine that provides excellent acceleration performance, high fuel efficiency and outstanding environmental performance, and a 1.5-liter VVT-i engine that boasts excellent performance and high fuel efficiency are available. <p>The Super CVT-i (Super Continuously Variable Transmission-intelligent) supports outstanding fuel efficiency and smooth driving. An easy-to-operate seven-speed Sports Sequential Shiftmatic transmission that provides the feel of a manual transmission and takes "fun to drive" to a higher level is available on models with the 1.8-liter engine. <p>The four-wheel disk brakes, standard on all vehicles in the series, provide excellent braking performance and feature superior control with a high-quality braking feeling. <p>Spacious and Highly Functional Interior and Superb Maneuverability<p>An excellent package created through the adoption of a newly developed platform allows for a spacious cabin on par with that of a medium-class vehicle and relaxing flat-surfaced legroom in the rear (on two-wheel-drive models), as well as a roomy rear cargo space, while also achieving superb maneuverability. Stow spaces abound. <p>The rear seats, equipped with a reclining function, have backrests that fold in a 60/40 split and a single-motion tilt-down mechanism that allows both the seat cushions and the backrests to easily fold and stow away, creating an expansive and flat cargo space. <p>The Smart Entry & Start System employs a key that does not need to be pulled out to lock and unlock the doors, as well as a push button for starting the engine. <p>An automatic air-conditioner with a pollen-removal mode filters out pollen, dust and other impurities from the air. An additional air conditioning vent is incorporated at the top of the center instrument cluster to enhance comfort throughout the vehicle. <p>Safety and Environmental Performance at the Top of its Class <br>The GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment) construction has been further evolved to create an advanced collision-safety body structure. During collision tests under stricter-than-normal standards, the speed was set at 55km/h, and the vehicle was subjected to omni-directional, vehicle-to-vehicle collision tests with a vehicle up to the 2-ton range. Through the use of a body that effectively absorbs collision impact by diffusing it throughout its structure, Toyota satisfied all independent targets for survival space and dummy injury. <p>The pedestrian-injury-lessening body structure has been evolved to further reduce pedestrian head injuries, pursuing a class-top level of protection. <br>The front-seat structures are based on the WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) concept and come with stronger seat frames and greater backrest give. They were designed based on analyses using THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety), incorporating a structural design that reduces stress on the neck during low-speed rear impact. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>

part 2<br><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>All vehicles in the series have been certified as having emissions levels 75% lower than the 2005 standards under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Approval System for Low-emission Vehicles. The 180G "S-package" vehicles boast fuel efficiency that is 20 percent greater than the Japanese 2010 fuel efficiency standards* and all 1.5-liter vehicles and 1.8-liter four-wheel-drive vehicles achieve fuel efficiency that exceeds those standards by 10 percent, thus qualifying for incentives under the Japanese government's Green Taxation System. <p>Eco-VAS (Eco-Vehicle Assessment System)—Toyota's original comprehensive environmental impact assessment system—was implemented to achieve the overall reduction of environmental impact throughout the vehicle's entire lifecycle as efficiently as possible. Environmental targets were set in the vehicle development stage and a life cycle assessment was carried out, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and other atmospheric pollutants, not just during the use stage, but also through all stages of the vehicle’s life, from manufacture to disposal. <p>A review of the materials, processing methods and adhesives used for interior parts resulted in a reduction in the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) used, thereby also reducing the discomforting odors emitted from such compounds. <p>An Eco Drive Indicator lights up when the vehicle is being efficiently operated to raise the driver's awareness of environmentally considerate driving and contribute to higher fuel efficiency. <p>* Specified by the Japanese Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/grade/grade/gradeval/image/gr_val02.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/grade/grade/gradeval/image/gr_val01.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/grade/grade/gradeval/image/gr_val03.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/grade/grade/gradeval/image/gr_val04.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/grade/grade/gradeval/image/gr_val05.jpg" BORDER="0">

The concept looked so much sportier than this

Yes, it did. Can anyone make the comparison with the Auris and an overwight child?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>geary</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes, it did. Can anyone make the comparison with the Auris and an overwight child?</TD></TR></TABLE><p>The overweight child might have some personality and attitude?<p><br>Seriously. This is already ageing.

it does have some thing wrong with the design

It looks like a stretched Yaris with effed up proportions. *sigh* Just when my hopes were up...<p>Oh well. It's still an improvement, at least. Although I dare say I've finaly found something TOO bulbous for my taste.<p>But damnit, I like that interior a lot.

It's not bad, just bland. We already knew how it looks, so nothing new after all.<p>Forget the boring Corolla: this is the new, (allegedy) exciting Toyota family hatch - the Auris.<p>Designed in Europe, the Auris sticks reasonably close to the Auris Space Concept shown at the Paris motor show in September. It carries over key Yaris styling traits, particulary its nose and high waistline. But it's still a fairly conservative design for a car that was supposed to spice up the brand's image against more stylish rivals.<p>Toyota says the Auris design process was conducted 'from the inside out'. The result is a car that has exactly the same wheelbase as the Corolla it replaces, but is longer, wider and taller.<p>The Auris will come in three- and five-door variants. Two petrol engines will be available - a 1.4-litre 96bhp unit and a 1.6-litre version producing 122bhp. The diesel line-up comprises a 1.4-litre 89bhp engine and 2.0- and 2.2-litre units with 124bhp and 175bhp on tap respectively. Prodigious torque means that the two larger oil-burners will be the fastest models in the range - the 2.2 D-4D can hit 130mph and reach 60mph in 8.1secs.<p>Few details of the car's interior specification have been released, but from the initial images it appears to have a heavily-sculpted dashboard, with a thick central 'bridge' that houses a higher-positioned gearstick and handbrake.<p>Toyota has chosen the Bologna motor show in early December for the Auris's official debut. UK sales will start in February 2007, ahead of the rest of Europe. But curiously - given the car's European design aspirations - it's already on sale in Japan.<p><IMG SRC="http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5345/01yw9.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/3/d9910da94e0846884041c31f484397e3.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/0/ad41834cdf78d0013f05882686d00540.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/1/0c50a31447f187a8577f9aa3d22afe11.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9389/05cv3.jpg" BORDER="0">

Right now i perfer Auris over Corolla but i think this hatchback should be called Corolla more than Auris.<p>(Edit: New pics from carscoop)<p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5435/carscoop20toyota20auris209ks2.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/8765/carscoop20toyota20auris208lq7.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/1926/carscoop20toyota20auris201gk5.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5572/carscoop20toyota20auris207hr8.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/1453/123mf0.png" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/792/carscoop20toyota20auris2011lj4.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3411/carscoop20toyota20auris202bu4.jpg" BORDER="0"><BR><BR>
<i>Modified by Gian86 at 10:28 PM 10/23/2006</i>

When i saw the Japanese version i was soooo dissappointed (and yeah very dated already) as it didnt look like the Auris Space Concept. I was hoping the front and rear bumper from the concept would find its way onto the production car but its the boring ones on it.<p>I noticed that the JDM version doesnt have dual climate control whereas the Euro version does. For some reason the Euro one looks better then the JDM and im worried that coz Australias version is coming from Japan ours wont be like the Euro version meaning we'll miss out on some good stuff.<p>Im hoping this multimode transmission is available in Australia along with a 6speed manual (but im doubting it)

The first picture in this thread has to be the most unflattering and ugly angle of the entire car, and it's on their website? The other pictures certainly show this car isn't that bad, certainly a lot better than the JDM Market one, but the whole front is just so mismatches. From a side on view, this car could be near perfect, it looks amazing, but that side on view just doesn't trasnlate in any other view and it look blooby and boring. The front is just terrible, and the tail lights need reworking IMHO. The inside looks different and pretty cool, quality looks great. Still, the cocept looked pretty cool but as per usual, the production version is a let down styling wise. Better than the current one I must say though.....

Hmm...........<p>So, it looks like the Auris replaces the Allex (Which replaced the Sprinter.) & Corolla RunX in Japan.<p>The Auris looks more like an evolution of the previous generation model.

"attractive European styling", my ass! That´s where I stopped reading. The rear of the car looks really awkward. I can´t see why anyone interested in a hatch would prefer this over any of it´s competitors since Toyota´s rock hard quality nowadays is anything but. I dislike it immensely, hence it will sell like mad. <br> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthdown.gif" BORDER="0">

25 real life pics of the JDM new Auris:<p><A HREF="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris" TARGET="_blank">http://www.carview.co.jp/magaz...auris</A>/<p>BTW, personally the old model looks much better.<p><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/express_new/corolla_runx/images/ext&int/photo_main_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/express_new/corolla_runx/images/ext&int/3_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/express_new/corolla_runx/images/ext&int/5_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><br><i>Modified by silviaS15 at 7:17 AM 10/23/2006</i><BR><BR>
<i>Modified by silviaS15 at 7:45 AM 10/23/2006</i>

<IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/01_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/02_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/03_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/04_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/06_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/07_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/08_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/11_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/12_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.carview.co.jp/magazine/photo_impression/2006/toyota_auris/images/21_l.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://ssl.durasite.net/www.autobytel-japan.com/special/auris/guide/08.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://ssl.durasite.net/www.autobytel-japan.com/special/auris/guide/07.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://ssl.durasite.net/www.autobytel-japan.com/special/auris/guide/10.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://ssl.durasite.net/www.autobytel-japan.com/special/auris/guide/12.jpg" BORDER="0">

Volvoesque center console.<p><IMG SRC="http://ssl.durasite.net/www.autobytel-japan.com/special/auris/guide/09.jpg" BORDER="0">

Dispite agreeing with all of you and having stated same opinions many many times i do think this will be another hit for Toyota. Reason is it serves its demographic and the type of person who preffered the car over other competitors all these years will do the same here. The interior is perfect though, its just that kind of place that says "hey u old reliable people, this is a Toyota with a twist, a cosy and high quality place to come in and relax". So in a nutshell 1)quality: must be great, its a Corolla 2) interior: great and inviting 2) styling : the ever so familar Corolla style...so yeah, thats it, it will sell. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/all_coholic.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>ps: lets not forget reliability

I see nothing wrong with it. Not exciting yet not something to be dismal about.<p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3411/carscoop20toyota20auris202bu4.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>Best one I've seen from the list.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Blackraven</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I see nothing wrong with it. Not exciting yet not something to be dismal about.<p><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3411/carscoop20toyota20auris202bu4.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>Best one I've seen from the list.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>that looks pretty good, certainly and at least up to par with any car from competitor...<p>but forget about that... interior is amazing. Blows away everything within 50% of its price range. Notice instrument cluster from concept? Still there... High quality materials, cloth/leather everywhere.<p>1.6 engine with 126hp? This will be huge hit.... cant wait for it to start selling.<p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/customize/auris/image/main.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><br>And how about opening the doors via watch? Who needs that key!<p><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/dop/function/image/01-p01.jpg" BORDER="0">

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Volvoesque center console.<p><IMG SRC="http://ssl.durasite.net/www.autobytel-japan.com/special/auris/guide/09.jpg" BORDER="0"></TD></TR></TABLE><p>both have empty space behind console, but they are nothing alike...<p><IMG SRC="http://www.autoblog.com.es/fotos/volvo/s40int1.jpg" BORDER="0">

I never would have thought that I would be one of the few to speak in favor of a Toyota, but I actually like it. The interior looks quite nice. It has a slight edge to it, but is more tasteful than the Civic. And while the exterior styling doesn't wow me, it looks better than the Yaris or Camry and should age nicely. I think of the current crop of compacts, the Civic is going to look the most dated in a few years. It just doesn't have a look that will age nicely. Plus I love hatchbacks and hope America gets this as the new Corolla. As much as I like the Mazda3 and think it will probably still be the head of the class, its real world fuel economy numbers are rather disapointing compared to the rest of the class.

Something tells me this will replace the Matrix here in NA. Those spypics of the new Matrix/Vibe have the same shape to them and Toyota recently trademarked the Auris name over here as well from what I've heard.<p>It may not be the most stylish one in the segment but it doesn't look bad. The interior actually looks really good, probably the nicest in its class. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0">

Matrix is slightly bigger and spy shots are bigger... It is basically first gen Corolla Verso platform.

Another thing, in Japan, 2WD versions have torsion beam back suspension, while 4WD have double wishbone setup... suggestive for Europe? :-).

I personally the Auris could be a preview of the 2009 Toyota Corolla for the US market coming in January 2008. They could restyle the back end so it neatly integrates a full trunk for the four-door sedan version, and the new second-generation Matrix could be based off this platform, though the body design will more resemble the current Matrix than a stretch Auris hatchback.

That console is going to be a ***** to clean and will be a dust magnet. I prefer auris for the hatch and corolla for the sedan. I just hope that the version for NA isn't that bland as this one, which in my view doesn't have a lot of character to it. Sure it looks nice, but it feels like a larger yaris for some reason. hmm where is the passenger side airbag? assuming it comes out from the lower glove box? the rear is ok, not distinct enough, I feel like I have seen it somewhere, perhaps previous gen honda eu civic hatch. 2.2 diesel looks like the winner in performance, but the 2.0 might be the stronger seller. Any reason why no higher petrol engines? 1.8 or 2.0? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0"> have these engines fallen out of favour in the eu market already?

Here's the brochure for the Auris<p><A HREF="http://gazoo.com/nvis2/cata_2.asp?cd=8611&Frame=btm" TARGET="_blank">http://gazoo.com/nvis2/cata_2....e=btm</A><p><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Ascariss</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm where is the passenger side airbag? assuming it comes out from the lower glove box?</TD></TR></TABLE><p>The page below might help.<br><A HREF="http://gazoo.com/nvis/im/cata/8611/8611-15.jpg" TARGET="_blank">http://gazoo.com/nvis/im/cata/8611/8611-15.jpg</A><p>There's probably an opening in the area in between the windscreen & upper glovebox for the passenger airbag to burst through.<p>

It's UGLY waste of a anticipated design

I kinda like it. Althought it reminds of a Yaris + euro Corolla hatchback.

still dissapointing for a car that was so "exciting" it required a name change; it's attractive enough and won't offend anyone, but it's so bloody unimaginitive. personally (and i don't think i'm being pig-headed either) i think <I>I</I> could have done a better job with the exterior, and other designers on CSS, like domino or knihc, could have done better jobs still. there's just nothing about the exterior design that makes you say to yourself, "oh wow, what a neat touch, how'd they think of that?" instead, you look at it and say "hmmm. it's a car."<p>the inside, however, looks like it was actually designed by someone with talent. looks just like the concept, which is nice; i personally really like the center console design, and the grab handle flowing into the door release on each door is a nice touch. i like the double glovebox; should be useful.<p>overall, IMO, a decent design outside that gets the job done but is really not as exciting as it could have been, while the inside is very good with some neat touches.<p>regardless of the styling, though, it'll sell by the boatload.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Ascariss</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That console is going to be a ***** to clean and will be a dust magnet. I prefer auris for the hatch and corolla for the sedan. I just hope that the version for NA isn't that bland as this one, which in my view doesn't have a lot of character to it. Sure it looks nice, but it feels like a larger yaris for some reason. hmm where is the passenger side airbag? assuming it comes out from the lower glove box? the rear is ok, not distinct enough, I feel like I have seen it somewhere, perhaps previous gen honda eu civic hatch. 2.2 diesel looks like the winner in performance, but the 2.0 might be the stronger seller. Any reason why no higher petrol engines? 1.8 or 2.0? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0"> have these engines fallen out of favour in the eu market already?</TD></TR></TABLE><p>there might be an TS version later on... but question is who needs strong petrol anymore when you have 400nm diesel. Its passing times should be significantly better than any 4cly petrol they can put in there...<p>With 1.6 delivering 124hp (dual VVTi), that will probably be 90% of petrol sales. Most people in Europe consider 0-100kmh in 10secs to be pretty fast or at least, fast enough.

Hmm... warming up to it again, thanks to, actually, a very decent interior. Unlike the Camry, the interior is great. Unlike the Camry, the exterior isn't.<p>Couldn't they put this interior and camry's exterior together?<p>I still think it looks old, but at least its better.

personally im on the side of the exterior isnt that bad, i mean its nothing radical, but its definitely not ugly, its just bland, but seems sort of classy, atleast inthese clearly higher model ones being shown.<p>love the interior, central counsel particularly reminds me of the Carrera GT, i also wonder a bit how the linkage of the tranny works, i mean i see you can fill cables up the central counsel tunnel, but it seems like itll need numerous attachment points for the cables, i hope it doesnt affect transmission "feel," or is it since ive been doing math HW for 4 hours straight and its now almost 2 am, im just not thinking straight <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/bonk.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>nevertheless stylistically loving the interior <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0">

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>NEDesign22</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's UGLY waste of a anticipated design</TD></TR></TABLE><p>ya and hello to you too. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/bangin.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/all_coholic.gif" BORDER="0">

To me the body has grown but the wheels look too small for it... for me a lower roofline might help

optional packages from Toyota:<p><IMG SRC="http://www.auto-g.jp/image.html?image=news/200610/24/custom02/01_b.jpg" BORDER="0">

<IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5435/carscoop20toyota20auris209ks2.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>Are those floor areas lit with blue LED's?<p>One thing I like is the neat instruments, which look a little like the instruments in the concept Sportivo coupe that TMCA produced a couple of years ago. And Toyota think they're going to knock the Golf off in Europe with this? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/laugh2.gif" BORDER="0"> Might actually generate more Golf sales here in Oz!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>NewModelHunta</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5435/carscoop20toyota20auris209ks2.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>Are those floor areas lit with blue LED's?<p></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Yes, there are lots of options and accessories on Japanese market cars. These lights were offered as accessories since the early 1990's as I remember.

European rav4 has orange leds for front footwells standard.... so we will see....<p>I have an feeling that European version will have even more equipment than JDM...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>NewModelHunta</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[img] And Toyota think they're going to knock the Golf off in Europe with this? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/laugh2.gif" BORDER="0"> Might actually generate more Golf sales here in Oz!</TD></TR></TABLE><p>The Golf has already being knocked off and beaten by the Focus in Europe mate <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/cool.gif" BORDER="0"> Besides the Corolla always managed better sales globally than the Golf, despite not having such a great following in Europe

here's the TRD (toyota racing development) edition<br><A HREF="http://www.trdparts.jp/list_auris.html" TARGET="_blank">http://www.trdparts.jp/list_auris.html</A>

Someone, anyone, please kill the TRD name. I beg anyone to change it to someone a little more creative and les crap.<p>The TRD Auris does look nice though if that's any comphensation?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Hornbag</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Someone, anyone, please kill the TRD name. I beg anyone to change it to someone a little more creative and les crap.<p>The TRD Auris does look nice though if that's any comphensation?</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Mate, I hate the name TRD too... but It already worked in the USA, I assume it will have no troubles making its name in Australia.....

Dammit.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>The Golf has already being knocked off and beaten by the Focus in Europe mate <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/cool.gif" BORDER="0"> Besides the Corolla always managed better sales globally than the Golf, despite not having such a great following in Europe</TD></TR></TABLE><p>is it really? I never heard of Focus beating Golf in Europe?

i thought the megane was the bestseller in europe...? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0">

Oh no lets not get into the Golf/Corolla/Focus debate again...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>SV</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i thought the megane was the bestseller in europe...? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0"> </TD></TR></TABLE><p>Like Hornbag said lets not get into this again. Facts are facts. But no,the Megane is not the bestseller, Renault is the best selling brand in Europe(if im not mistaken)..but not the Megane from what i know

Megane was bestseller only for a year, about 3 years ago.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Like Hornbag said lets not get into this again. Facts are facts. But no,the Megane is not the bestseller, Renault is the best selling brand in Europe(if im not mistaken)..but not the Megane from what i know</TD></TR></TABLE><p>it is not discussion, i just never heard that Focus is THE best seller in Europe? Where did you see this "fact"? Golf outsells it in Germany 3x1 and Ford barely sells in Eastern Europe, so where?<p>Looking on google, Ford sold 442,000 units in 2005 while I found that VW sold "more than half million" Golfs during 10 months of 2005.<p>I dont know about Megane in 2005, but I saw they sold around 50,000 in September 2005, which doesnt show well for Focus.<p>This is not the argument - just dont know where did you get those facts?

spwolf your sources usually tend to say different things from mine. I did not check sales charts or whatever, what i do know is what i often read in magazines and websites, saying that the Focus is Europe's best selling car and that it has become the standard for others to follow. Even on tv i have heard exactly the same thing. Now i dont know if at this moment the Golf managed to come on top. If u see the advertising campaign for VW in UK id say they are not on top. They slashed their prices and made these "funny" commercials where VW employees embarrasignly tell customers how cheap the Golf and Polo are now..in one two ppl even take a lying detector device to make sure he is not lying. Does that sound as if VW is king of the hill in sales?<br>Anyway that is what i know but in no way does the Golf sell so much better (if at all better) than the Focus. In Germany you say?? Please mate if the Golf doesnt sell more in Germany where will it sell. And even there the Focus is everywhere and the new Civic is selling loads <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/beerchug.gif" BORDER="0">

The Focus is a best seller in UK, but I don't think it's the best selling car in Europe. Maybe it is for the last few quarters. Last year it definately wasn't the best sold car in Europe.

Best seller in its class i mean. In any way im not disputing u or anyone else, like i said its what i have heard repeatedly from the media and it wasnt for UK only (which is a given its the best seller here) <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0"> <br> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/beerchug.gif" BORDER="0">

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>NewModelHunta</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><IMG SRC="http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5435/carscoop20toyota20auris209ks2.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>Are those floor areas lit with blue LED's?<p>One thing I like is the neat instruments, which look a little like the instruments in the concept Sportivo coupe that TMCA produced a couple of years ago. And Toyota think they're going to knock the Golf off in Europe with this? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/laugh2.gif" BORDER="0"> Might actually generate more Golf sales here in Oz!</TD></TR></TABLE><p>a bit off topic but this is from the 28-page JDM Estima/Previa accessory brochure.<p>those LED lights could even project onto the ground outside once the sliding doors are opened, kinda cool<p><IMG SRC="http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7551/lily002xu4.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2117/lily004yk0.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><IMG SRC="http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2104/lily005yd1.jpg" BORDER="0">

Those led lights are pretty sweet and a great idea IMO if they are in fact genuine? Good for finding lost stuff on the floor at night while also looking the part.

A British review(yes, already).<p>Rather positive, which is surprising given that Japanese(and Korean) cars don't usually get positive reviews from the UK press.<p><A HREF="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/motoringpreviews/203699/toyota_auris.html" TARGET="_blank">http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/n....html</A><p>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>neoTNT</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ultimately, the Auris offers a whole lot more than the car which it replaces. It’s a Corolla that has ditched the med-iocrity, toned up its muscles, become much more athletic and taken a course in style and aesthetics. It will land in UK showrooms by next February. Rivals, you have been warned.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>source: autoexpress

Umm..that parking brake looks...interesting. Nonetheless, that's a review from AutoExpress if you know what I mean <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"> . The Auris is certainly a big step up from the previous Corolla that's for sure. But IMO, not enough to knock its rivals down.

A more trust worthy review from Autocar:<br><A HREF="http://www.autocarmagazine.com/FirstDrive_Summary.asp?RT_ID=223015" TARGET="_blank">http://www.autocarmagazine.com...23015</A><p>What is it?<br>The new Toyota Corolla. Only, as you'll have noticed, it's now called the Auris. Considering just how successful the Corolla name has been, someone at Toyota must have taken a deep breath before deciding to change it. But, says the company, the new name signals the extent of the differences between the old Corolla and its replacement.<p>Underneath, the Auris is the same as the Japanese-market Corolla, the 10th generation of which has just gone on sale. But for the Auris these mechanicals are covered by a European-designed skin that targets the Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 307, Ford Focus and friends.<p><br>What’s it like?<br>Pretty good, is the quick answer. Not as wilfully radical as the latest Honda Civic, but more rounded, and certainly way more interesting than the car it replaces. The Auris has been benchmarked against the Golf Mk5, whose position in the premium hatchback firmament it covets.<p>The Toyota kicks off in Japan with a 1.5-litre engine or an all-new, eco-friendly 1.8, both engines linked to a continuously variable transmission.<p>At this point things become tricky, because this isn’t the specification that will be available in Europe, but the 96bhp 1.4 and 122bhp 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder engines that are headed for the UK from February next year may not be so different in the grand scheme of things.<p>The redesigned suspension will also remain unchanged for European markets, with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear axle.<p>Inside, the most striking feature of the roomy and comfortable cabin is the wonderfully bold free-standing centre console. This clever bit of design raises the gearlever up to what Toyota claims is the perfect height, leaving room for a small tray underneath for oddments. The handbrake has also been neatly integrated into this console.<p>On Japanese roads, the Auris is none too shabby to drive. It steers very naturally with good feedback, grips well and shows impressive body control over bumps, dips and less-than-perfect surfaces. It’s hard to catch it out. Turn-in is faithful and all-round stability is good.<p>Sounds great, only it’s not hugely involving. The Civic is sharper and more fun to drive.<p>Comfort is something else the Auris does well and the ride quality is relaxingly supple. The brakes work well, too, with a strong, well modulated pedal action.<p>For what it’s worth, the 1.5-litre base Japanese-market Auris is almost as quick and feels more agile than the new 1.8, despite the handicap of electric power steering. Perhaps the same will apply for the European market’s base-model 1.4.<p>The new 1797cc twin-cam developed for the Japanese market is free-revving, crisp and smooth in its power delivery. The UK-bound 1.6 should also have the same characteristics as it benefits from the same dual VVT-i variable valve timing used on the 1.8-litre model that we drove.<p>Three diesels will also be available (1.4, 2.0 and 2.2 D-4D) and transmissions will be a mixture of five-speed and six-speed manual ’boxes, with the MultiMode paddle-shift automatic available as an option. Fortunately the sluggish, whining CVT is not on the way.<p>Should I buy one?<br>The Auris is more than just a new name. This car is new from the ground up, and a significant step closer to class-leading European hatches such as the Golf and Focus. But we'll have to wait until we drive a UK-spec car on UK roads for a definitive verdict.<p><IMG SRC="http://www.autocarmagazine.com/Car/Toyota/Auris/10116693910.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autocarmagazine.com/Car/Toyota/Auris/101166939152.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>It looks good in red.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>-R8-</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Umm..that parking brake looks...interesting. Nonetheless, that's a review from AutoExpress if you know what I mean <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"> . The Auris is certainly a big step up from the previous Corolla that's for sure. But IMO, not enough to knock its rivals down.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>what do you consider by knocking its rivals down? It will probably raise, already competitive, sales in Europe by some 30%-40%.<p>Toyota doesnt have home market in Europe, so its sales will never be as large as companies that do - imagine Ford without UK or German sales, or Peugot without French sales, etc...<p>Sales going up by some 30%-40% will probably ruffle some feathers...

Some pics<p><IMG SRC="http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/5300/1aurisfj2.jpg" BORDER="0"> <p><IMG SRC="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/932/2aurisfy8.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><br>from elmundo.es<BR><BR>
<i>Modified by Chicho at 7:24 PM 12/7/2006</i>

What were they thinking?? It's so boring that I almost fell asleep trying to post these pics.<p><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2061206.003/2061206.003.1L.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2061206.003/2061206.003.mini1L.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2061206.003/2061206.003.mini3L.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2061206.003/2061206.003.mini7L.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2061206.003/2061206.003.mini6L.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2061206.003/2061206.003.mini9L.jpg" BORDER="0">

Public debut for new Toyota Auris at the Bologna Motor Show<p>The new Toyota Auris makes its European debut this week at the Bologna motor show in Italy, ahead of UK sales starting on 1 February next year. Designed and built in Europe, the new C-segment family hatchback marks significant advances in dynamic ability, interior style and practicality and safety.<p>The unveiling of the production model follows the presentation of Toyota’s Auris Space Concept at the Paris motor show earlier this year. Full details of UK specifications and pricing will be announced closer to the model’s on-sale date.<br>NEW CHASSIS<p>Auris is built on an all-new platform and is larger in every dimension than the Toyota Corolla. A special focus on reducing NVH characteristics make it one of the quietest cars in its class, with strengthening of the underbody reducing boom and road noise and efficient aerodynamics cutting the level of wind noise.<br>SUSPENSION AND STEERING<p>New suspension systems have been developed for the Auris with an L-arm MacPherson strut arrangement at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.<p>In line with its position as the performance flagship of the range, the Auris D-4D 180 makes exclusive use of a new double wishbone rear suspension and rear anti-roll bar for more dynamic driving character.<p>All versions of the Auris adopt Electric Power Steering (EPS), giving excellent response to driver inputs.<br>INTERIOR DESIGN<p>As witnessed in the Auris Space Concept, the designers have worked from the inside out, in order to make best use of the space available for storage points and passenger comfort. A key feature of their innovative approach is a striking bridge-shaped console that raises the gear lever higher on the dashboard, closer to the driver, and integrates the handbrake, creating more open space below.<p>Auris also adopts Toyota’s EasyFlat system that allows simple one-touch folding of the rear seats to create a larger, flat-floored load area. Boot capacity is 354 litres and the 10 storage areas around the cabin have a combined capacity of 32 litres.<p>Comfort for rear seat passengers is increased thanks to a larger couple distance between the front and rear seats than in the Corolla, giving extra legroom. Head and shoulder room are also better, due to the Auris’s greater cabin height. Clever design has also eliminated the tunnel carrying the exhaust system, giving a flat rear floor and thus more comfortable accommodation for any centre rear seat passenger.<br>SAFETY<p>The strong body structure uses Toyota’s MICS (Minimum Intrusion Cabin System) to provide effective challenging and absorption of impact forces away from the passenger cell in the event of an impact.<p>Up to nine airbags will be fitted, with a driver’s knee airbag provided as standard – a first-in-class feature. Active safety elements on all versions include ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), with higher grade models additionally equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) systems.<br>ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS<p>Auris will be launched with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, with outputs ranging from 89bhp (90 DIN hp) for the 1.4-litre D-4D 90 to 175bhp (177 DIN hp) for the<br>2.2-litre D-4D 180.<p>The D-4D 180, already a star performer in the Avensis, RAV4 and Verso, endows Auris with a strong mixture of power, fuel efficiency and low emissions. Using Toyota’s D-CAT clean diesel technology, it achieves unmatched low levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, far below the levels set by Euro IV. Preliminary performance data show nought to 62mph acceleration takes 6.2 seconds and combined cycle fuel consumption is 45.6mpg.

There's some interesting surfacing going on with the way the car flares at both the front and rear end, but unfortunately it doesn't integrate very well with the overall body shape, which is too similar to the outgoing Corolla in terms of proportions, while the detailing is typical of Toyota's bland, boring approach to design. <p>I think they've missed an opportunity to show that they could come up with a stylish, forward thinking design and break the image of Toyota as staid and sensible. What a shame they weren't as brave with this car as they were with the 1st and 2nd gen. Yaris.

It's not ugly, but oh man, it's certainly underwhelming. Toyota's designers must've had a look at their competition and with the resources they've got, there's really no excuse coming up with a less-than-amazing result.<p>I remember reading an article in MOTOR mag (Australia) where it talked about the complicated process in getting a final product looking as close to what the initial design proposal. Toyota has a history of playing it safe, and discounting a number of other occasions, when there are changes needed, the response is slow.<p>The clean design can look good in certain angles (and with the right wheel size) but it looks so similar to the previous generation that it's clearly an evolutionary design.<p>The story about Toyota bosses rushing to out-do the sharp lines of the Euro-Civic? Total and utter BS, IMO. No one in their right mind would scrap or alter a design when it's close to production - time means money, and the cost would've been too great. Again, another example of Toyota playing it too safe. Not that it doesn't work in terms of sales and profits, but it's a disappointment all the same.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Fortunately the sluggish, whining CVT is not on the way.<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Umm....tell that to Nissan/JATCO and the improved CVTs their making.<br>

Is that 6.2 sec 0-100kmh an typo? Thats seems pretty low. Probably 8.2?<p>That version will also get wishbone suspension at back...<p>As to the images, looks ok - I cant wait to see it in person. Interior looks awesome.

I doubt that this would come to the US as a Toyota Corolla (grandma would need a couple of heart pills first) but I wonder if Toyota is consdiering this as a Scion xA replacement. The xA was not a huge hit here and I can't help but wonder if it is because it is a little too weird and small. This would go well against the Versa and looks conservative enough for our market.

(1) It's too large to go against the Versa.<br>(2) It has been confirmed that the xD does not remotely resemble the Auris.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>anonms</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(1) It's too large to go against the Versa.<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Too large???? They're same sized.<p>Toyota Auris<br>Overall length 4.220mm<br>Overall width 1.760mm<br>Overall height 1.515mm<p>Nissan Versa:<br>Overall length 4.295mm<br>Overall width 1.694mm<br>Overall height 1.534mm<br>

Well, it might be the same size as the Versa, but while the Versa is a cheap car, also made & feels cheap and, as far as i know, derived from the Micra platform (the 1.69 width hinting at that), the Auris is a rather premium (at least intended, and will definetly not be cheap) true compact.<p>At least in europe, the Qashqai is fighting for Nissan in the compact car segment.

Auris premium car? Sometimes it seems like all cars are premium. Anyway, I think it won't be much more expensive than a Tiida when they'll get Europe.<p>Versa (Tiida) will be sold here as an Almera replacement. In fact, Almera is going to be replaced with three cars: Note, Qashai and Versa.

The reason TOyota gave the Corolla hatchback a new name is that they want to move the image from boring car to, well, premium. TOyotas are already getting quite expensive

Toyota is getting more expensive as their competitors do. <p>So premium cars can't be boring?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Chicho</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Toyota is getting more expensive as their competitors do. <p>So premium cars can't be boring? </TD></TR></TABLE><p>I didn't say I agree whit Toyota on the name change thing - still, of course, evreything is getting more expensive, but Toyota has left many competitiors, if you compare prices.<p>At least inAustria, Yaris e.g. is one of the most expensive small cars, just overshadowed by VW Polo maybe (and ofcourse MINI, but that's a different league). Last Corolla was also rather at the top end of class - and people are paying that, as Toyota is synonimous for quality for many people.<p>And for sure it is the most premium japanese brand with Lexus in the background.<br>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>mick78</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, it might be the same size as the Versa, but while the Versa is a cheap car, also made & feels cheap and, as far as i know, derived from the Micra platform (the 1.69 width hinting at that), the Auris is a rather premium (at least intended, and will definetly not be cheap) true compact.<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>I'm not sure you've seen a Versa in person. Its definately not on the cheap side, especially compared to its competition. Quality is there.<p>As for the Auris I see it somewhat competing with the Versa/Tiida in the Europe and JDM market as its "one" of the Alerma replacements. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/embeer.gif" BORDER="0">

The Dash Design is a Cheap Porsche Carrera GT Ripoff, but it's still incredibly good looking. I like it! <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>Exterior is a Bit bland. But it's better than the previous model so that's good. And it's not dreadful, in fact it's quite nice, even if it can't match a Mazda 3. But trully, Its good looking. <p>Does anyone know anything about that watch/key thing? Seems like a good idea, but the watch is pretty horrid... but it could be a great solution, a genuine solution to a genuine problem <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>I'm almost sold. There's nothing I heavily dislike, and a lot of things I do like.

I don't really love that dash (yeah a lot of Porsche in it) but overall the car looks pretty good. And from some of those shots, rear interior seams so big for such a small car.

thats because Versa is Megane and not Micra based, not matter what press releases say.<p>:-).<p>While Yaris has been always very expensive in Europe, for an small car, new Clio and Corsa are now priced very much alike, while new Yaris kept the similar price as before.<p>Thats what I expect from Auris as well - bigger and better car, for about the same price. Same thing happened with new Rav4 as well.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>anonms</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(2) It has been confirmed that the xD does not remotely resemble the Auris.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>However, it's very likely the upcoming Scion xD is based on the Auris platform, even if the body shape is not the same.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thats because Versa is Megane and not Micra based, not matter what press releases say.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Actually, the Sentra is Megane based, which itself sits a class above the VErsa - the Versa uses the Note platform, which (among others ) is used with different wheelbases in Micra, Renault Modus & Clio and partly in the Dacia Logan....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>mick78</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Actually, the Sentra is Megane based, which itself sits a class above the VErsa - the Versa uses the Note platform, which (among others ) is used with different wheelbases in Micra, Renault Modus & Clio and partly in the Dacia Logan....</TD></TR></TABLE><p>That's right <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0">

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>MtViewGuy188</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>However, it's very likely the upcoming Scion xD is based on the Auris platform, even if the body shape is not the same. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>I think it's either the Corolla platform or an extended Yaris platform... the Auris is somewhat big for a subcompact, unless Toyota's aiming for the xD to go against the Versa, which really shouldn't be a subcompact, contrary to how Nissan markets it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>anonms</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>I think it's either the Corolla platform or an extended Yaris platform... the Auris is somewhat big for a subcompact, unless Toyota's aiming for the xD to go against the Versa, which really shouldn't be a subcompact, contrary to how Nissan markets it.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Isn't the Auris sharing platform with the Corolla? So it would make no difference.

No, the Auris sits on an enlarged Corolla platform. Mechanics are the same, I believe, but size isn't.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>anonms</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No, the Auris sits on an enlarged Corolla platform. Mechanics are the same, I believe, but size isn't.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>I'm pretty sure wheelbase is the same - track width ofcourse could be different.

three door Auris (if ve discard musclar plastic)<p><IMG SRC="http://images2.fotosik.pl/311/b2a218f9d13a67f2.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://images4.fotosik.pl/266/859595dfb36cc556.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://images3.fotosik.pl/310/f0708a1c63ce5875.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><br>...and who could be that funny named driver of red&white one? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/eek2.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/eek2.gif" BORDER="0"> ... grandpa himself or just a coincidence? or my be some relative .... <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0">

But the front door seems to be the same as in the 5 door, which means, pretty short for a 3 door vehicle - aren't this Ice racer anyway somehow shortened versions of normal cars?

WOW cant believe there is already a racing version out even though it aint on sale in Europe yet.<p>If this is the 3-door version... that suxs... im hoping its gotta longer wheelbase and the front doors are longer.<p>This looks cool though

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>mick78</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Isn't the Auris sharing platform with the Corolla? So it would make no difference.</TD></TR></TABLE><br>Yes, the Auris/Blade uses a modified 10th gen Corolla platform, specifically the wide track Chinese/Taiwan/ASEAN/Euro Corolla sedan. <p>Both the Auris/Blade and the Chinese/Taiwan/ASEAN/Euro Corolla sedan have more muscular sides with subtle fender flares to contain its wider track compared to the slightly narrower more slab sided JDM Corolla sedan/wagon.<br>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>drugmirko</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>...and who could be that funny named driver of red&white one? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/eek2.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/eek2.gif" BORDER="0"> ... grandpa himself or just a coincidence? or my be some relative .... <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/nixweiss.gif" BORDER="0"> </TD></TR></TABLE><br>Its Alain Prost... <br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_422/car_photo_211200_5.jpg" BORDER="0">

nothing too exciting... ok and competent but will turn no heads

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>AM2</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><br>Its Alain Prost... <br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>grandpa rules!!<IMG SRC="http://www.car-caffe.com/forum/images/smiles/b020.gif" BORDER="0"><IMG SRC="http://www.car-caffe.com/forum/images/smiles/b020.gif" BORDER="0"><IMG SRC="http://www.car-caffe.com/forum/images/smiles/b020.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/ylsuper.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/ylsuper.gif" BORDER="0"> <p><br> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/biggrin.gif" BORDER="0">

EURO Ncap just released the crash test results, excellent one, as to expect, 5 stars.. <br>Seems to show no weak points, knee airbags also get their praise.<br> <A HREF="http://www.euroncap.com/images/results/small_family_cars/car_276_2006/Toyota%20Auris%20Datasheet.pdf" TARGET="_blank">http://www.euroncap.com/images...t.pdf</A>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>mick78</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Actually, the Sentra is Megane based, which itself sits a class above the VErsa - the Versa uses the Note platform, which (among others ) is used with different wheelbases in Micra, Renault Modus & Clio and partly in the Dacia Logan....</TD></TR></TABLE><p>yes, thats what PR's say... (Logan uses '96 Clio platform btw).<p>However, Versa is the same size, same wheelbase as Megane, has same powertrain options and interior and exterior looks very similar and completly opposite from Micra.<p>I see hundreds of Meganes daily, and there is no way of mistaking Versa for anything but Megane clone.

I did find out that pricing of Auris will be actually slightly less than comparable old Corolla Hatch, which is pretty awesome news.<p>World domination continues.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>yes, thats what PR's say... (Logan uses '96 Clio platform btw).<p>However, Versa is the same size, same wheelbase as Megane, has same powertrain options and interior and exterior looks very similar and completly opposite from Micra.<p>I see hundreds of Meganes daily, and there is no way of mistaking Versa for anything but Megane clone.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>And still we have to say that the Versa uses the stretched (as well uses in the Note) Micra platform, which mostly is narrower than the Megane. So is Versa, the most obvious indicator for the smaller platform. And the design of the Megane, though not 100% my business, still looks very different to the Versa (in which market can you actually see Versa & Megane side by side?), so i don't think you'd easily mix them up.<p>HOwever, there was a Clio MY 96, but the previous generation,the one i think you are refering to for the Logan,came out in 1998, and no, the Logan is based on the new platfrom (or precisly: florpan) with old axles (i think Megane front and Clio back, or other way round, not 100% sure - but a mixture). This is what i meant by partly based. But the fixed points are from the new one, and that defines platform to me.

The 3door<p><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/1/97d6ca854c7fb6278f0a91a10deaca41.jpg" BORDER="0"><br>autoweek.nl<p>And a few more pics.<p><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/e/314b94f31ff0802fa16b7ac754ca5c2e.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/9/d46c824b5d5e5f8d428fe06d5de3ee59.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/2/29442a86974f9dc833f08c62721eb7b2.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/3/d8bfafda50487aa4a7d9f0d11a136473.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/e/c97c5dc1e165b9d5491479933014aace.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/4/d9b1a20515888716699a1a732f450cc4.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>The interior looks great, the rest is boring.

What a sad face.<p><IMG SRC="http://www.japanesecarfans.com/news/2070117.005/2070117.005.mini5L.jpg" BORDER="0">

AUTOCAR<p><IMG SRC="http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8973/corpx0.jpg" BORDER="0"><p>For Build quality, smooth engine, interior space, kit<p>Against Dull to drive, feels slow, lack of oddment space<p><A HREF="http://www.autocarmagazine.com/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Toyota-Auris-1.6-VVT-i-T-Spirit/223862" TARGET="_blank">http://www.autocarmagazine.com...23862</A>/<p>Toyota’s success is based solely on being the best at making cars, but not making the best cars. Think of the last time a Toyota qualified as the unequivocal leader in any specific category. Unless you run a Land Cruiser Amazon in darkest Africa, we suggest this might prove a difficult task.<p>Enter the Auris. Pronounce it as you will (the name is derived from the Latin for gold, Aurum, and is therefore supposed to be ow-ris).This is Toyota’s latest attempt to prove to the world that it can produce machines that engage the emotions as effectively as they already appeal to thrifty wallets. The version tested here is the 1.6 VVT-i 5dr.<p>Ditching the Corolla name for this new car was a move of unprecedented bravery for Toyota. After all, for all its slightly dull connotations, we are talking about the best-selling passenger car range of all time. But take a look at the specification of the Auris and you’ll quickly conclude that this new model marks a small evolutionary step in the development of the family hatchback. <p><B>On the road</B><br>There’s no avoiding the fact that using a simple twist beam for the rear suspension instantly denies the Auris a crucial element of chassis sophistication enjoyed by the VW Golf and Ford Focus.<p>It does everything you’d expect of it, though, and the steering deserves special commendation for being so accurate and sensibly weighted. The car is agile and supple up to a point, but the moment the surface turns nasty the rear axle struggles to deal with deeper ruts.<p>However, chances are that most drivers won’t uncover this slight weakness, because the driver’s seat is among the flattest, least supportive of its type we’ve encountered in many years.<p>It’s also hard not to conclude that Toyota’s decision to design the Auris from the inside out has hampered the chassis to quite a degree. For starters, the higher centre of gravity and relatively supple suspension do bring fairly pronounced levels of body roll without the bonus of a class-leading ride.<p>This naturally results in significant amounts of head toss for all occupants, and that compromises the car’s long-distance comfort. But the most curious corollary of the Auris’s 1515mm height is poor directional stability at speed and an irritating susceptibility to crosswinds.<p>There is a further twist to the Auris chassis. Looking at the range overview, it seems that Toyota has chosen to fit the range-topping 180 T Sport with fully independent rear suspension but make all lesser varieties suffer the ignominy of the aforementioned torsion beam.<p>Perhaps this, more than any other observation, shows that Toyota’s passion really lies in making cars well and making money from them. All Golfs share the same basic (and, it must be said, sophisticated) suspension components. The fact that the Golf doesn’t make much money these days, we are reliably informed by insiders, probably vindicates Toyota’s decision on this matter.<p><B>Design</B><br>Dimensionally, the Auris is slightly taller than the norm, but beneath its two-box shape sit a pair of struts for the front suspension, a torsion beam at the back, and 16in alloy wheels covering four disc brakes with the latest ABS and EBD software. The Auris is a conventional hatchback in a class where history shows that conservatism is rewarded with sales.<p>The engine is more exotic, for the 1598cc dual VVT-i four-cylinder petrol unit boasts the features and specific output we’d normally expect of a Honda. Variable timing of both inlet and exhaust valves helps bring 122bhp at 6000rpm and 116lb ft at a peaky 5200rpm, although 103lb ft of that can be summoned from 2000-6000rpm.<p>However, the five-door Auris weighs 1275kg and this means it can only yield a power-to-weight ratio of 96bhp per tonne. Unsurprisingly, it never feels especially fast.<p>The outright figures are bang on the class average: 0-60mph is a 9.9sec affair, rest to 100mph requires a full 30.7sec and should space and legal conditions prove conducive, you might just see 117mph.<p>It’s as well not to dismiss this powertrain purely on the grounds of diminished punch, though, for its mechanical smoothness is astonishing. There is so little vibration on start-up that owners will need to press the start button with the radio switched off and keep a beady eye on the rev counter. This mechanical refinement is carried through the majority of the rev range, and only over the final 500rpm (the limiter calls time at 6500rpm) is there any hint of strain. It does its best work between 3000 and 6000rpm. <p><B>Interior/Equipment</B><br>Interior space and style were design prerogatives in this project, and most people will find the mixture of raised gearlever console and smart instrument binnacle appealing. But it doesn’t offer the Golf’s feeling of big-car quality, nor are the plastics as soft and squishy.<p>Build quality is exceptional, but the more time you spend with the Auris, the more baffling its quasi-MPV shape and interior trimmings seem.<p>Take the dramatic-looking console that houses the handbrake and gearlever. There’s no denying that it serves as an interesting focal point, but when all’s said and done, the space beneath it is useless. In terms of places to plonk the accoutrements of everyday life, the Auris is well behind the class average.<p>It is a spacious cabin, though, with plenty of head and shoulder room for four adults, and the individual squeezed into the middle of the back seat doesn’t need to be a tiddler, either. The boot has a stated volume of 354 litres.<p>What fuel economy you attain from the 1.6 VVT-i depends entirely on how you drive it. If you want to keep pace with an equivalent turbodiesel, expect to average significantly less than the 30.2mpg we managed.<p>There is another method, though, and that is to follow the orders of the dash-mounted shift indicator. This particular light is concerned with maximising fuel efficiency. It works, but follow its every command and there will be pedestrians waiting to overtake you.<p>The T-Spirit comes with as much equipment as you could reasonably expect: four electric windows, 16in alloys, a six-disc hi-fi and dual-zone climate control. It also has very strong safety credentials with the full gamut of airbags – including a knee bag for the driver – and standard Isofix anchorages in the rear. Pedestrian safety also featured strongly in the design process, so the bonnet can deform to reduce the level of injury. <p>Toyota might have been better served retaining the Corolla badge for this car, as our expectations would have been lower. The Auris has little of the dynamic sparkle or design brilliance shown by the class leaders. It does most things well enough, but in its sop to MPV proportion and detailing it is left rather exposed.<p>WHATCAR<p><IMG SRC="http://www.autocarmagazine.com/App_Themes/AutoCar/SiteImages/verdict/BlackOnYellow/verdict_6_10.gif" BORDER="0"><p>FOR<br>The Auris has a roomy cabin, with space for five. It's well priced, affordable to own and we expect it to be reliable.<br>AGAINST<br>It isn't as classy or refined as the best cars in this class and the looks, cabin and drive are bland.<p><A HREF="http://www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review/toyota-auris/2697" TARGET="_blank">http://www.whatcar.co.uk/car-r.../2697</A>/<p>Performance Performance rating - 3 out of 5<br>Engines need to be worked hard<p>Ride & handling Ride & handling rating - 3 out of 5<br>A competent but uninspiring drive<p>Refinement Refinement rating - 3 out of 5<br>Engine, wind and road noise intrude too often<p>Buying & owning Buying & owning rating - 4 out of 5<br>Most versions keenly priced and affordable to own<p>Quality & reliability Quality & reliability rating - 3 out of 5<br>Should last well, but the cabin is drab<p>Safety & security Safety & security rating - 4 out of 5<br>Lots of airbags, but ESP is an option on most cars<p>Behind the wheel Behind the wheel rating - 3 out of 5<br>A couple of quirks, but generally comfy<p>Space & practicality Space & practicality rating - 4 out of 5<br>Roomy for five, unlike many rivals<p>Equipment Equipment rating - 3 out of 5<br>As much kit as its rivals, but nothing more<p>A big dissapointment it seems... It has lower ratings than the Kia Cee'd on every category. Dreadful. Dull to drive and the cabin is drab. As much kit as its rivals, but nothing more... And the design? Ahhhh, the design. Which design? It looks like a shoes box. I'm very dissapointed by Toyota. The old Corolla was better.

Well, essentually it is <I>just</I> a Corolla so I guess you can't expect too much. But then again, everything that made the Corolla a big seller is still there, and for the most part Toyota have made the perfect car for what people want.<p>Bring on the test comparisin!

Autoexpress gave it 4 Stars.<br>Carkeys liked it.<br>4Car gave it 4 stars.<p>I will see it in person in 2-3 weeks, it will be interesting. Already got few pre-orders, which is unusual for Corolla.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Already got few pre-orders, which is unusual for Corolla.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>They must have got their pension early!

My friend swears he saw one down here in San Diego. Maybe they're focus grouping it or seeing how it fares on American roads?

Autoexpress and 4car are less trust worthy than Autocar and Whatcar, but these verdicts are generally subjective anyway. I'm curious what Jeremy Clarkson of TopGear will say about it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I'm curious what Jeremy Clarkson of TopGear will say about it. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>Im not...im SURE he hates it <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/biggrin.gif" BORDER="0">

That's going to be one very very very good review to watch! But you never know, he could suprise us and love it..... <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/cwm13.gif" BORDER="0">

No way! He's gonna whip Toyota's butt on this one. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/laugh2.gif" BORDER="0">

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Autoexpress and 4car are less trust worthy than Autocar and Whatcar, but these verdicts are generally subjective anyway. I'm curious what Jeremy Clarkson of TopGear will say about it. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>autocar and whatcar are the same test :-).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No way! He's gonna whip Toyota's butt on this one. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/laugh2.gif" BORDER="0"> </TD></TR></TABLE><p>who knows, he usually does opposite of everyone else...

well it's bland and i just read a review (autobild family) that talks about cheap plastics inside... <p>i really can't see this car being a hit

Mate which cars DO u like??

oh i like some cars :) just i don't like all of them. i mean the auris looks bland. i haven't seen it live but i don't really find it interisting. doesn't mean i hate it but i really don't think of it as being appealing, even if it never breaks down.<p>for example in the C segment i like the new bravo, i think tha astra and the civic are good cars AND are good looking, the 147 is great but getting old. the a3 is nice but overpriced. and the focus is ok (great to drive, although i don't love the looks too much. not that it looks bad it just doesn't turn my head. and ford is always cheap with the equipment on it's small cars). i also liked the looks of the pre-facelift 5door megane, but not the interior. the pre facelift 307 was ok in sporty versions even if it was a little too "fat"<p>see :)?

OK <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"> <br>But i have doubts about the review that said Auris had cheap plastics. Not that a Toyota is above all doubt or anything, just that so far quality have been top notch, especially in Corollas. I think it looks bland as well though, no doubt about it although interior is top<br>

well toyotas are usually well put together but aren't always filled with top notch materials.. ie the old yaris was well built but a little "plasticky".<p>what the article says is something like this (translated):<p>speaking of the interior <p>"...but before turning on the engine we look around the cabin. like on the yaris we find the practical double glove compartment in front of the passenger seat, but - unfortunately- even the quality of the plastics is the same: excellent for a "citycar", just above acceptable for the C segment"<p>and carmagazine says:<p>"However, we were mightily disappointed by the large swathes of tacky, black plastic on the dash. There's not even an excuse for soft-touch plastics here - just an expanse of shininess. 'Regular customers didn't mind it in our clinics', said an engineer. Just goes to show the danger in trusting clinics, we say."<p><br> i've also read on another magazine that it's better than the corolla inside, but i've never been in a corolla so i wouldn't be able to say how significant that is.<p><br>PS oh i actually like the c30 too

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OK <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"> <br>But i have doubts about the review that said Auris had cheap plastics. Not that a Toyota is above all doubt or anything, just that so far quality have been top notch, especially in Corollas. I think it looks bland as well though, no doubt about it although interior is top<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>its hard to comment without seeing the car really... In AutoExpress they also commented how interior is bland, but thats just stupid - I dont know how much different an interior can be while still being functional. From the pics, Corolla interior looks top notch.<p>It will be interesting to see how fold flat seats work as well, if it is as good and as easy as in Rav4, it is huge selling feature just there...<p>I will test drive one in 2 weeks, so we will see...

After seeing the Auris and the Corolla, I have to say there is nothing new. Corolla is just like little facelifted old( current ) corolla and "All New" Auris is just Corolla Hatchback with new name. Pretty boring. and i hate the Yaris-like face of tha Auris.<p>You Have to buy Linea Sol Plus to get all the things you got in the old Linea Sol. They are saying the price isn´t going to rise much. but they just compares old Linea Sol with New Linea Sol. and you get less gadgets.

Yeah i agree. Btw u did understand that by bland i was describing the car itself, and by top the interior design right? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/beerchug.gif" BORDER="0">

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah i agree. Btw u did understand that by bland i was describing the car itself, and by top the interior design right? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/beerchug.gif" BORDER="0"> </TD></TR></TABLE><p>as much as I remember, they specifically reffered to interior... How there is nothing new and not spacious (mind you - one button fold flat seats, and double storage bins are first), which is just dumb.<p>It is hard to understand what really happens - is that they are using to driving expensive cars or what?<p>For instance, few reviews pointed diesel as noisy - the same diesel that is the quietest 4cly diesel I have ever driven in Avensis, considerably quieter than more powerful unit in Rav4. Again, it is hard to see why - is it because they also drove petrol engine before? Possibly... Then again, different reviewer points out how refined the whole car and engines are.<p>How do 2 different journalists come up with 2 different stories really?<p>How do you sit in Golf interior and call Auris interior boring really? I mean that takes a lot of courage itself :-).<p>I will let you guys know what I think, as I have quite nice experience in Toyota products :-)

AutoExpress just tested the Auris against the Focus, Golf and the Civic. The Civic was first, the Focus was second, the Golf was third and the Auris was placed last. I was surprised. <br>I was going to post the link, but I had to register to continue viewing. You can check it out on their website.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CaymanS</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">AutoExpress just tested the Auris against the Focus, Golf and the Civic. The Civic was first, the Focus was second, the Golf was third and the Auris was placed last. I was surprised. <br>I was going to post the link, but I had to register to continue viewing. You can check it out on their website.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>thats what we were talking about above...

Stupid me. Sorry for the heads-up.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><br>How do you sit in Golf interior and call Auris interior boring really? I mean that takes a lot of courage itself :-).<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Sorry mate, The Auris might have an okay interior but you're comparing it with a VAG Interior? VAG is in another league in that sense to Toyota, Mazda, Nissan - Anything. The Auris might have an okay interior for its price, but The Golf is two leagues ahead in terms of materials, design, functionality, function, ergonomics, quality and build.<p>That said, It seems Toyota have gotten arround to doing a reasonably good interior for the Auris - an effort a lot more convincing than Camry's and Aurion's. More in line with the great Rav4 and Yaris interiors - dare I say, even better? I'll wait and see...<p>The exterior on the other hand....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Sorry mate, The Auris might have an okay interior but you're comparing it with a VAG Interior? VAG is in another league in that sense to Toyota, Mazda, Nissan - Anything. The Auris might have an okay interior for its price, but The Golf is two leagues ahead in terms of materials, design, functionality, function, ergonomics, quality and build.<p>That said, It seems Toyota have gotten arround to doing a reasonably good interior for the Auris - an effort a lot more convincing than Camry's and Aurion's. More in line with the great Rav4 and Yaris interiors - dare I say, even better? I'll wait and see...<p>The exterior on the other hand....</TD></TR></TABLE><p>huh? VW has pretty crappy interiors, especially Golf. It shares interior design with 10 different cars. It is bland and boring.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">huh? VW has pretty crappy interiors, especially Golf. It shares interior design with 10 different cars. It is bland and boring.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>That may be so, but they're still in a different league compared to Toyota interiors.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>huh? VW has pretty crappy interiors, especially Golf. It shares interior design with 10 different cars. It is bland and boring.</TD></TR></TABLE>Crappy....<p>You may think its boring and W/E, but thats in your opinion.<p>But to call it cheap and crappy, thats just absolute BS. VW is known for having quality interiors and the MK5 Golf/Jetta is no exception.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>FRDesign</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Crappy....<p>You may think its boring and W/E, but thats in your opinion.<p>But to call it cheap and crappy, thats just absolute BS. VW is known for having quality interiors and the MK5 Golf/Jetta is no exception.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>What he said ^^.<p><br>Saying a VW has a bad quality, crappy interior, is like saying Toyotas are unreliable, Ferrari's are slow, Renaults are unsafe, Land Rovers are un-capable, Porsches are unpleasant to drive or Rolls Royce's are mainstream.<p>Volkswagen has the best name for interior designs and Quality, and I fully agree. You may not like it, but it still doesn't put any other car ahead in any terms. In fact, VWs are in another league in terms of Quality and design inside (And IMO, outside too). <p>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">huh? VW has pretty crappy interiors, especially Golf. It shares interior design with 10 different cars. It is bland and boring.</TD></TR></TABLE><p><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>FRDesign</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Crappy....<p>You may think its boring and W/E, but thats in your opinion.<p>But to call it cheap and crappy, thats just absolute BS. VW is known for having quality interiors and the MK5 Golf/Jetta is no exception.</TD></TR></TABLE><p><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What he said ^^.<p><br>Saying a VW has a bad quality, crappy interior, is like saying Toyotas are unreliable, Ferrari's are slow, Renaults are unsafe, Land Rovers are un-capable, Porsches are unpleasant to drive or Rolls Royce's are mainstream.<p>Volkswagen has the best name for interior designs and Quality, and I fully agree. You may not like it, but it still doesn't put any other car ahead in any terms. In fact, VWs are in another league in terms of Quality and design inside (And IMO, outside too). </TD></TR></TABLE><p>Yep, I agree as well. I've worked in Toyota dealerships for years, and I know Toyota product inside/out. But VW's design, styling, technology and ergonomics just blow Toyota well and truly out of the water! The new Corolla (Auris) interior, let alone the exterior, imho look a million times worse than the current ZZE-12x model. But hey, that's my opinion. The ZZE-122 Corolla Ultima we have at the moment is a lovely vehicle, but the new Corolla put us off so much... it's just one of many reasons why the missus and I decided to buy (order) a new Golf GTI. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.germancarfans.com/images/forums/biggrin.gif" BORDER="0">

A few pics from the press drive test in my country. The car is nice, though interior quality is not really amazing and it's rather boring to drive. It's more spacious inside, compared to the old sedan, and more quiet. Overall, a small step forward.<p><A HREF="http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000343sy0.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6447/0000343sy0.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000342sx9.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7238/0000342sx9.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000344kj0.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1065/0000344kj0.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><br><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000345qf2.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4513/0000345qf2.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000346jf0.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/1535/0000346jf0.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000347um8.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/8388/0000347um8.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><br><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000348dz7.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/535/0000348dz7.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000349fv3.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9237/0000349fv3.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000350jy5.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/782/0000350jy5.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><br><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000352vg6.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8296/0000352vg6.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000358zy2.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4493/0000358zy2.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A><A HREF="http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0000356zi9.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3851/0000356zi9.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A>

Not sure that Gearshifter looks so interestingly located now... I thought the whole dash just sloped downwards and the shifter was mounted up high near the dash.... like a Carrera GT...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>huh? VW has pretty crappy interiors, especially Golf. It shares interior design with 10 different cars. It is bland and boring.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Granted, the VW Golf does have a somwhat uninteresting interior theme, although that is made up by the amazing quality that just ozzes from every very shUt-line and material. I've been test driving VWs with my pop and every single one has been amazing inside. It freaking kills the Toyota Corolla in every single regard, the new one might be a step up but we'll wait and see because it'll have to be more than amazing to beat the Golf. Mind you, the Golf is more expensive, but you feel that extra espence in every department over the equivlent Corolla or even Focus.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>huh? VW has pretty crappy interiors, especially Golf. It shares interior design with 10 different cars. It is bland and boring.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Actually one other car shares its design thats the Jetta.<br>Eos has cues from it but what do you expect they are VWs <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0"><p>All Toyota/Lexus' have same interior design too, its called savings and family DNA <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0">

...Not to mention that ALL the switchgear from my previous car, a 1988 Camry Wagon, was shared with my uncle's 2001 Toyota Van, With the Land Cruisers, The Hilux and the Corollas. All the way up into the new century, and they still use some of that switchgear today. Its no wonder Toyota can make Poor Golf Imitations cheaper than what Volkswagen can come up with for a new, high quality vehicle with all the innovation Toyota doesn't have.<p>Mind you, you can pick up a Golf baseline, which is still pretty loaded if you're not too keen on cheap replicas of useless features, for a mere 2 grand more than what you pay for a mid-range Corolla.<p>In my eyes, there's no comparisson. I think Toyota will need a lot more than a vertical handbrake lever to show any similar level of quality and design inside.<p>That said, I'm glad they ditched the air vents from my old Camry.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><br>Volkswagen has the best name for interior designs and Quality, and I fully agree. You may not like it, but it still doesn't put any other car ahead in any terms. In fact, VWs are in another league in terms of Quality and design inside (And IMO, outside too). <p></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Well, VW's quality is great and it better be. It's in the premium segment of mainstream.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not sure that Gearshifter looks so interestingly located now... I thought the whole dash just sloped downwards and the shifter was mounted up high near the dash.... like a Carrera GT...</TD></TR></TABLE><p>these picture are of the Corolla sedan... not the Auris... the interior your talking about is only in the Auris/Corolla Hatch(for Australia)<br>

AURIS X TUMI Special<br><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/tumi/exterior/image/ga_01.jpg" BORDER="0"><br><IMG SRC="http://toyota.jp/auris/tumi/exterior/image/ga_03.jpg" BORDER="0"><p><A HREF="http://toyota.jp/auris/tumi/index.html" TARGET="_blank">http://toyota.jp/auris/tumi/index.html</A><br><A HREF="http://toyota.jp/auris/tumi/sp_equipment/index.html" TARGET="_blank">http://toyota.jp/auris/tumi/sp....html</A><br><A HREF="http://toyota.pod.tv/auris/tumi" TARGET="_blank">http://toyota.pod.tv/auris/tumi</A>/

I just (bothered) to go see the Auris at my local dealer last Friday. Boy what a GOOFY looking car! Looked like a cross breed between a Peugeot 307, a Corolla hatch and a Yaris! Absolutely aweful IMO.<br>What shocked me though was how i truly hated that central column when i saw it up close. It really is the exact opposite of Volvo's genius interior design which pioneered with the S40. The Auris console takes up sooo much space, it just looks like a big hulk of plastick that just sticks there for no reason.

That's a matter of taste I guess, I don't consider it that goofy ... lol Costworthkid.<br>Was this posted ? The three door ?<p><A HREF="http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3drjl5.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1347/3drjl5.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A>

Not sure (Auris didnt really stick to my mind) but it looks more decent in 3-door than 5-door for sure

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A few pics from the press drive test in my country. The car is nice, though interior quality is not really amazing and it's rather boring to drive. It's more spacious inside, compared to the old sedan, and more quiet. Overall, a small step forward.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Wow nice wheel covers on the sedan. Nissan and Toyota both have really nice wheel covers now. Almost makes alloy bling-blingdom obsolete.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...Not to mention that ALL the switchgear from my previous car, a 1988 Camry Wagon, was shared with my uncle's 2001 Toyota Van, With the Land Cruisers, The Hilux and the Corollas. All the way up into the new century, and they still use some of that switchgear today. Its no wonder Toyota can make Poor Golf Imitations cheaper than what Volkswagen can come up with for a new, high quality vehicle with all the innovation Toyota doesn't have.<p>Mind you, you can pick up a Golf baseline, which is still pretty loaded if you're not too keen on cheap replicas of useless features, for a mere 2 grand more than what you pay for a mid-range Corolla.<p>In my eyes, there's no comparisson. I think Toyota will need a lot more than a vertical handbrake lever to show any similar level of quality and design inside.<p>That said, I'm glad they ditched the air vents from my old Camry. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>um, huh? Check 20 yr old Toyota interior, and it will look like from out of factory.<p>Check 3 year old A4 interior, and you will find:<br>a. Peeling leather steering wheel<br>b. burned down buttons<br>c. peeled off letters from the buttons.<p>I dont know what you consider quality, but using it for VW interiors is.....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>tcvfan</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's a matter of taste I guess, I don't consider it that goofy ... lol Costworthkid.<br>Was this posted ? The three door ?<p><A HREF="http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3drjl5.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1347/3drjl5.th.jpg" BORDER="0"></A></TD></TR></TABLE><p>thats 177hp diesel model...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just (bothered) to go see the Auris at my local dealer last Friday. Boy what a GOOFY looking car! Looked like a cross breed between a Peugeot 307, a Corolla hatch and a Yaris! Absolutely aweful IMO.<br>What shocked me though was how i truly hated that central column when i saw it up close. It really is the exact opposite of Volvo's genius interior design which pioneered with the S40. The Auris console takes up sooo much space, it just looks like a big hulk of plastick that just sticks there for no reason.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>my guys came back from the training, where they tested Auris against 10 different cars (compared them)... They said it drives really good, and interior is really good. They pretty much loved it. Lowest part of the car, according to the guys was the back design. <p>They said only Civic looked considerably sharper on the outside, but during driving, Corolla offered better experience.<p>Kind of goes what Autobild said in the first review:<br>- sporty drive yet comfy<br>- interesting interior yet ergonomic and usable<br>- conservative design on the outside<p>and called it great competitor to Golf V, their top of the class pick.<p>We are getting ours in week time so we will see... Guys coming from the training were pretty hyped up with the car.

If the part about sporty drive is true then its the first time i see a reason for the name change! I hope it is.

I haven't read a single review (except the autobild one) which says the new Aurius is a lot more fun to drive than the old Corolla or its close competitors. One thing we know for sure, it's not even close to Focus 2 standards in therms of 'fun to drive' ratio. Judging by how 'normal' the new Corolla sedan was when I tested it, I don't think the Auris can be much better.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I haven't read a single review (except the autobild one) which says the new Aurius is a lot more fun to drive than the old Corolla or its close competitors. One thing we know for sure, it's not even close to Focus 2 standards in therms of 'fun to drive' ratio. Judging by how 'normal' the new Corolla sedan was when I tested it, I don't think the Auris can be much better.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>every review in press that I have read, and I have read over 10 in real magazines, on the paper, said it was sportier than old corolla. But that might be just them writing off the PR list.<p>What convinced me is that guys that went on training, drove ten different models and loved how the Corolla handled. Guys that also drive "old" Corolla daily.<p>That doesnt mean it is the sportiest compact there, just that they loved the balance.<p>It doesnt have to be sportiest model out there - but balance is important. Our customers buying Auris dont want sports hatchback, but that doesnt mean that they wouldnt want car that handles well.<p>Toyota will have 177hp diesel for people wanting sporty, but again, its all good for the reviews, it is not something customers will buy in large percentages, at least not around here, when for the same money they can get base Rav4.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its no wonder Toyota can make Poor Golf Imitations cheaper than what Volkswagen can come up with for a new, high quality vehicle with all the innovation Toyota doesn't have.<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>p.s. Toyota imitating VW? You lost all your credibility there. Many people on these same boards would argue exact opposite (hello Jetta).<p>Why would most sucessful and profitable car maker in the world, imitate VW? I really wouldnt know where in the world would you come up with that argument. Thats pretty funny.<p>I do agree that Audi interiors look great, but VW, Skoda and Seat interiors dont look anywhere close as nice as Audi interiors. And VW, Skoda and Seat interiors look too much alike as well...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>um, huh? Check 20 yr old Toyota interior, and it will look like from out of factory.<p>Check 3 year old A4 interior, and you will find:<br>a. Peeling leather steering wheel<br>b. burned down buttons<br>c. peeled off letters from the buttons.<p>I dont know what you consider quality, but using it for VW interiors is.....</TD></TR></TABLE><p>I dont know mate. Them Toyota (and Nissan and Hyundai and Mitrsubishi and Mazda for that matter) dashbords have been well known to crack under the Aussie sun, and VW interiors dont seem to do that. I am yet to see an Audi/VW interior thats falling appart and torn in any reasonable VW/Audfi I've seen arround (Though, granted, I haven't exactly been shopping for one either).<p>My Camry Dashbord did crack, though nothing major. The tailgate inner pannel rattled hopelessly until I replaced it, and that started rattling hopelessly too, so I just took it off. On your defense, I did do a lot of Dirt road driving. These problems aren't unknown to the other toyota drivers in my family (Although we have all had overall good experiences with our Toyotas).<p><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>spwolf</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>p.s. Toyota imitating VW? You lost all your credibility there. Many people on these same boards would argue exact opposite (hello Jetta).<p>Why would most sucessful and profitable car maker in the world, imitate VW? I really wouldnt know where in the world would you come up with that argument. Thats pretty funny.<br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Well, The corolla was, after all, an imitation exercise on the Volkswagen Golf, and most new features have appeared first on the golf, then on all its Japanese competitors. Don't take that as an attack on Toyota though, its just the way it works.<p>Why would the most successful manufacturer copy VW? Easy. Volkswagen spends millions of dollars developing new technologies. After a few years investigation, they come up with a good technological advance. When it appears in the new VW product, all that Nissan or Toyota, or Mitsubishi, or Holden, or (insert manufacturer here) have to do is to copy that technology and put it straight into their competing vehicle. Whilst Volkswagen customers are paying for the development of a technological development when they buy a Golf, they dont pay for it when they buy a Corolla, which means they get the same thing for less money. Hence, Toyota sells cars cheaper, with the same technologies, and makes more profits out of them. Its a good plan really. <p>Dont take me wrong, please. I am not acussing Toyota of blatantly copying and being unable to be innovative. Its not an accusation to any manufacturer, Its just me pointing out that we can at least give credit to VW for their developments from which many other manufacturers bennefit.<p>Toyota has done well innovating in the area of Hybrids, and that should be mentioned - but in the same manner, it should be mentioned that usually euro-manufacturers are the ones that come up with new technologies. Then the rest follow...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Superfresa</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Well, The corolla was, after all, an imitation exercise on the Volkswagen Golf, and most new features have appeared first on the golf, then on all its Japanese competitors. Don't take that as an attack on Toyota though, its just the way it works.<p>Why would the most successful manufacturer copy VW? Easy. Volkswagen spends millions of dollars developing new technologies. After a few years investigation, they come up with a good technological advance. When it appears in the new VW product, all that Nissan or Toyota, or Mitsubishi, or Holden, or (insert manufacturer here) have to do is to copy that technology and put it straight into their competing vehicle. Whilst Volkswagen customers are paying for the development of a technological development when they buy a Golf, they dont pay for it when they buy a Corolla, which means they get the same thing for less money. Hence, Toyota sells cars cheaper, with the same technologies, and makes more profits out of them. Its a good plan really. <p>Dont take me wrong, please. I am not acussing Toyota of blatantly copying and being unable to be innovative. Its not an accusation to any manufacturer, Its just me pointing out that we can at least give credit to VW for their developments from which many other manufacturers bennefit.<p>Toyota has done well innovating in the area of Hybrids, and that should be mentioned - but in the same manner, it should be mentioned that usually euro-manufacturers are the ones that come up with new technologies. Then the rest follow...</TD></TR></TABLE><p>what developments of VW? I dont get it... give me example. Corolla was copy of Golf? I guess all hachbacks were copy of original Golf? But at the same time, Europe had many sucessful hatchbacks before golf, just not in the same class.<p>What are the VW developments that other manufacturers copy? I am all ears now. They can patent any innovation they want and get protection. Unless you are talking about innovating the look and feel of interiors and exteriors, which Golf is definetly not doing, and Corolla is very different from Golf in pretty much everything.

was Golf first hatchback with 4 tires? What else? I cant see Golf innovating any technology.

Superfresa mate sorry but im with the others on this. What u say makes absolutely no sense to me.<br>VW made the Mk1 Golf and it became really succesful so it started a trend but thats it. The GTi was the thing that VW "created" and influenced other makers but still....<br>U say VW introduces a new technolgy and Toyota then applies it on their own cars?? Toyota has some of the most sophisticated technology out there, just look at what they use in Lexus and even their own hybrid technology. So what do they exactly borrow from VW? Nothing<br>Even the recent Golf V is so good because they copied the setup used on the Ford Focus to make it drive so well. Where was the innovation from VW?<br>VW has a good reputation for quality and brand image, thats it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Superfresa mate sorry but im with the others on this. What u say makes absolutely no sense to me.<br>VW made the Mk1 Golf and it became really succesful so it started a trend but thats it. The GTi was the thing that VW "created" and influenced other makers but still....<br>U say VW introduces a new technolgy and Toyota then applies it on their own cars?? Toyota has some of the most sophisticated technology out there, just look at what they use in Lexus and even their own hybrid technology. So what do they exactly borrow from VW? Nothing<br>Even the recent Golf V is so good because they copied the setup used on the Ford Focus to make it drive so well. Where was the innovation from VW?<br>VW has a good reputation for quality and brand image, thats it.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>exactly... i mean VW gas DSG - but it is from supplier and not owned by VW... Besides, Toyota doesnt have DSG transmissions. VW uses PD technology for diesels, while Toyota uses common rail (and VW is switching to common rail). What else? "FSI" was used first on Japanese cars, and Toyota brought it to Europe 4-5 years before it was used in first VW. VW doesnt use VVTi.<p>What else? Toyota doesnt use similar AWD to Audi/VW either.<p>Of course, Corolla's from 20 years ago had multilink back suspension BTW, just to remind some people of that. And Corolla currently uses torsion beam while Golf uses multilink.<p>I dont see anywhere that they match - Polo and Yaris are completly opposite cars. Aygo and Fox even more so. Touran and Corolla Verso, Avensis and Passat??? Toyota had Land Cruisers 50 years before VW entered that market (hint on who copied who?).<p>Even with their other brands - Audi and Lexus's approach to luxury market is complete opposite as well.<p>As example of manufacturers copying each other, there is probably no worse example than Toyota copying VW.

Quality which slipped lately... VWs are not what they used to be. Anyway, going back to the Auris/Corolla, I hate the fact the independent rear suspension available only on the 177hp diesel version is not present on the entire range. Autocar mentioned the 177hp d4d handles a lot better than the standard versions.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>the1</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Quality which slipped lately... VWs are not what they used to be. Anyway, going back to the Auris/Corolla, I hate the fact the independent rear suspension available only on the 177hp diesel version is not present on the entire range. Autocar mentioned the 177hp d4d handles a lot better than the standard versions.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>most definetly... but thats not something that 90% of customers will pay extra for. Biggest difference between torsion beam and multilink for not sports applications is that multilink will handle road imperfections (especially a lot of big ones, one after another) a lot better than torsion beam. I wonder if they managed to improve that as we have horrible roads around our dealership.<p>It will be interesting test drive.<p>From our sales standpoint, and from my view, our main concern with Corolla was price. If wishbone suspension means 500E bigger price, then it is good that they decided against it. <p>I still hope it drives ok though... cant wait to test it next week.

The purpose of discussion is to share ideas and on ocassions, convince others of your ideas. Of course, a good outcome for a discussion is to make someone better informed, and maybe even change their mind. I say that, because that is what has happened here, and I will gladly admit that you are right on this ocassion <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0"><p>One thing though....<p><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>CosworthKid</b> &raquo;</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Toyota has some of the most sophisticated technology out there, just look at what they use in Lexus and even their own hybrid technology. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>...I mentioned Hybrid technology before. But aside from that, what's the so impressive technology that Lexus has? Sorry, I do miss that bit there. <p>But let's stick to the Auris. I have asked this before and I shall again now.<p>What is the talk about some watch mounted remote locking or something? Where can I find info about this idea? It sounds like a legitimately good one, and one of the few these days that actually adresses a problem.<p>A few more questions. Rear seats - Fold flat? Split fold? and Spare wheel - full size?

Fold flat 60/40, spare wheel would depend on local market.<p>And they aren't still using the same switchgear as they were using 17 years ago. Comparing even our Prius to my grandparents' 1990 Camry wagon, all the switchgear is new. They've got even newer switchgear on the 2007 and newer models. The only part that's still the same as on my grandparents' Camry is the rear window switch on Yaris sedans in the U.S. that have the power window option. And all the manual cranks on the Yaris and Corolla are probably still the same. But otherwise, everything's been cosmetically redesigned. With the new generation of Lexuses, I believe some of the switchgear is cosmetically different from the new Toyota switchgear. But Scions (duh) use the same switchgear as Toyotas.<BR><BR>
<i>Modified by anonms at 11:38 PM 2/18/2007</i>

You didn't read what I said. I said my 88 Camry Wagon had the same switchgear as a family member's 97 work van and a few other products as late as 2001. But I never said that the same switchgear is still used today.... Just mentioning that they keep costs down by recycling switchgear for a few years throughout different models....

Oh. Well, that does hold true-- our 2000 Sienna has similar switchgear to the old Camry.

Glad you agree....

BUT It is perfectly natural to recycle switchgear to reduce costs. It's probably the least significant design aspect, as well. Most people probably won't care. It's a window switch. Oh noes, it looks like it came from the 80s. Oh dearie me, such an ancient 5 cm by 2 cm piece of plastic that constitutes a lever. -___-

Mate, did I ever even say it matters? <p>Nope. Just pointed that out.<p>Go to a Land Rover thread, you'll notice that I pay LR out too. Go to a Holden thread - I pay it out too. I light heartedly complain about all the cars I love, so really there is no need to emphatically come out to Toyota's defense in every word I say, because I'm really not accusing it of anything. You can't imagine how well over the Toyota disappointment I am anyway. I almost bought another one last Fortnight....<p>So no wackers mate. I will always point out the mistakes and disadvantages of every car I love, and Toyota is no different. Just take it lightly, because thats the way I mean it <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif" BORDER="0">

Is the 3-door being revealed at Geneva?? It looks alright... but i was hoping for somethin more sleeker in side profile.... and more sharper up front but that aint gonna happen...

<A HREF="http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=auris3af0.jpg" TARGET="_blank">[img=http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1553/auris3af0.th.jpg]</A><br><A HREF="http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=auris4gq8.jpg" TARGET="_blank">[img=http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4509/auris4gq8.th.jpg]</A>

it looks boring... suxs they dont put more effort into making it looks more sleeker or even slightly different to the 5-door.... though change wise its similar to what VW did with the Golf 5-door to 3-door.

VW did a much better job with the Golf though, much better. The Opel Astra kills their with it's gerogeous 3-doors style, and I'd even say Fords horrible looking 3-Door Focus looks better. It's out of proportion, and looks awkward. Horrible. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthdown.gif" BORDER="0">

Could use bigger wheels. Other than that, I find it quite aesthetically pleasing.... well... sorta....

I went to see the Auris in real live today, for the first time. It was a five-door in sorta-silvergrey. I was pleased by the overall appeal. "Nicest Corolla ever" came to my mind. Less boring than the prev. Corolla. And it looked a lot like a 307, which is a good thing.<br>The car did not appear 'goofy' at all (nor groovy) just overall very Avensis-like , that's what it was, a five door Avensis actually. But nothing new, nothing to get excited about. Maybe the extra-large bulky (307)taillights...they look good ! Just a very good an decent car for 2007. '<br>I'd like to see it compared with a Golf in a test.<br>Material used are good, even soft touch on the doors, the dash itself was hard-plastic but ok, and looked very good. I have to agree for once with Cosworthkid about the ugly bulk of plastic in the middle..WHY ?? (or better why not more simplicity like Volvo does) <p>But than again, they did make a nice Corolla with this Auris. :) <br>It looks OK, and that's just my personal opinion.<br>A 'Goovy' looking car I consider the Renault (butt-shaped) Megane. <br>It was nice when new...but now who'd want one?? <p>But what I really liked ....<br>my own car I got back into, a 3 yr old Corolla Verso. (Spacio) More space, more windshield, more light and much better seats.<br>Maybe even equally nice interior(dash). <p><A HREF="http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=oldversorc8.jpg" TARGET="_blank">http://img134.imageshack.us/my...8.jpg</A><p><i>Modified by tcvfan at 7:39 AM 2/23/2007</i><p><br><i>Modified by tcvfan at 7:44 AM 2/23/2007</i><BR><BR>
<i>Modified by tcvfan at 7:46 AM 2/23/2007</i>

I find it even less interesting to look at than its 3 door Corolla predecessor. At least that had the neat reverse angled side window to set it apart from the 5 door. The Auris 3 door has nothing to set it apart from its 5 door brother other than a lack of 2 rear doors.

Agree with you 100%. <p>Judging by the pictures, I'm just not liking anything about this design in either 3, 4 or 5 door configurations. It looks frumpy and bulbous IMO. As you say, horrible.

Some nice pictures here: <br>non horrible...<p><A HREF="http://toyota.pod.tv/auris/tumi" TARGET="_blank">http://toyota.pod.tv/auris/tumi</A>/<p>

Hmmm... saw the Auris at the Motor show in Melbourne - Only the exterior though. It looks better in pictures than in real life. My issue is the lack of surface deffinition and fluency. Mind you, the hatchback does have reasonable proportions. The sedan is plain ugly. I think a Spiced up Hatchback could look alright.

<br>As my previous post, I'm not a fan of the new corolla at all, but I was hoping that at least the hatch would look better in reality than it does in pictures. I held little hope the sedan would look any good at all in the metal.

we got our test one... yeah, car is really good.<p>As I said before, for training 3 of our guys went on to test 10 different cars in the class with Auris, so they can compare them for the customers.<p>All came very impressed overall with the car. Of course they should be (hah!) but they really were...<p>So I finally got to drive test and it was pretty impressive.<p>Exterior look is fine, front looks good, side is ok, and back is strange and bulbous. After seeing it for few times, it becomes OK... but first impression wasnt good for me... At the same time, it really doesnt look like old one, like it does in the pictures.<p>But interior... thats it is the best part. Yes, if you touch the plastics, they are hard. But they look good. Console looks good and normal, it is not spaceship looking like in pics. It just looks interesting and expensive. Optitron meters look really good, expensive and best out of any car I have sat in. Big wow factor. Lots of small details, like nice handbrake, slightly rubberized plastic on the door which feels good, stylish handles, etc, etc.<p>You get feeling that you are sitting in expensive car, not C class hatchback. <p>It drives really good, expensive... and handles good. Shifter looks great, fits in the hand great and feels great when shifting. 1.6 double VVTI engine is dead quiet and has OK pull (diesel is much faster). But most impressive part is lack of noise inside, especially suspension noise, which is trouble for this class cars. It feels expensive when you drive it. Really good.<p>We had one person with A6 Sport line test it and telling us that it handles bad roads better than his A6. Since our test route is full of potholes, this is an big thing for us. He was really impressed.<p>As stats say, it is spacious inside and trunk is fine.<p>There are small issues such as metalic knobs for radio that are stylish and hard to operate and back that looks a bit weird, but overall, it is car that is 2 classes better than old Corolla, for the same price.<p>Funny thing is that we have people lining up to test drive it, I didnt realize that people were waiting for Auris that much and everyone likes it.<p>Its weird. Of course I am impressed, but I am always impressed.<p><br>Compared to other cars, I wasnt able to do 10 cars test myself, but as my guys said, Exterior is fine, only Civic looks really better and classier than any other car in the class, by far. All 3 were impressed with Civic interior. However, Corolla's interior feels the best and complete experience is really good. Civic on the other hand, had the cheapest interior of all, with shiny gray plastics that looked pretty bad and very stiff ride that reveals a lot of noise inside. Nobody was impressed with it on those two. This was "normal" Civic, not some sporty version... Of course, Civic is not really an Auris competitor here, just mentioning it since guys had strong impressions of it.<p>So there you go, my biased look at the car, and they will sell tons at these prices. It is simply class above car.<p>Until you sit in it and drive it, you cant experience it. Old Corolla was reviewed always as having highest quality of interior before, with soft plastics and all, and this is simply 2 notches above, despite hard plastics. You cant even mention them in same sentence.<p>

there are 3 interiors, cheapest one is most basic, mid is what we have and has dual air, and top has few other things in it. Base one probably looks cheaper since HVAC has manual controls, but mid is what we have and what I am impressed with.

<br>Well i've driven one, its not exaclty ground breaking, some of the plastics used leave alot to be desired, & it looks band (a Yaris thats put on some weight!)

Cheers for the review, spwolf. What did you think of the interior's practicality/ergonomics? Things like, the way the seats fold (if they do) and so on? Also, How would you rate its handling to, say a new Camry FWD?

spwolf: what colour are u getting? From the cars ive seen i get the impression dark colours as well as goldish ones look better on Auris than silver and lights

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071223.001/toyota-to-debut-auris-sr180-for-new-year

Greyish Selection (JDM)
http://images2.carview.co.jp/news/car/images/img6_20080129_13484253_1_l.jpg

Well, since it is not facelift... let me put it in here.

Toyota is actually going to revamp all of the engines in current Auris. It will be introduced in Bologna in December.

1.33 with 101hp and 6 MT - 20% less consumption and 4 hp more than old 1.4 VVTi
1.6 Valvematic with 132hp and 6 MT - 8% better consumption and 8hp more than 1.6 dual-vvti
1.4 D4D gets 6 MT/MMT and 5% better consumption.
2.0 D4D will get DPF everywhere (it was optional before), and model with DPF will get 7% better fuel consumption.
2.2 D4D 177HP gets 3% better fuel consumption.

Toyota has never been so active before... so you can expect Valvematic engines to come to infiltrate all models at any time, whenever factories start production. They are serious about Valvematic and this just shows it is going to be... everywhere.

Toyota has never been so active before... so you can expect Valvematic engines to come to infiltrate all models at any time, whenever factories start production. They are serious about Valvematic and this just shows it is going to be... everywhere.

where are this new Valvematic engines being made? Is it in Europe or Japan?.

where are this new Valvematic engines being made? Is it in Europe or Japan?.
it doesnt matter scorpio - they can produce old and new engines in same factories - if thats what you are getting at, it wont mater when it comes to what market is getting what.

I think all engines will be introduced with Valvematic within next year at most...

it doesnt matter scorpio - they can produce old and new engines in same factories - if thats what you are getting at, it wont mater when it comes to what market is getting what.

I think all engines will be introduced with Valvematic within next year at most...

I didnt know they would produce new and old engines in the same factory, doesnt make sense to me.

I hope your right about all engines with valvematic within the next year, sounds like a technology that Toyota need

I didnt know they would produce new and old engines in the same factory, doesnt make sense to me.

I hope your right about all engines with valvematic within the next year, sounds like a technology that Toyota need
of course, everything is built for market specifications... ie, we get Japanese Auris built to European specifications which is different than Japanese.

I think 1.5 engine is big for you guys, I am not sure what will happen with that one - maybe they will just replace it with 1.6l ZR engine? But then again, they always had 1.5l and 1.6l engines at the same time...

Hey Scorpy, watch this space. TMCA have quietly indicated that Corolla will have VSC from December 2008 production, so there's a good chance Valvematic will be included in that spec change as well... Dunno what capacity yet, hopefully Toyota wake up and do a 2 litre to compete with Mazda and Mitsubishi. Are you watching this Toyota? Next Mazda3 to have 2.0 and 2.5 litre engines, Lancer has 2.0 and 2.4, c'mon stop concentrating so heavilly on economy, the Corolla needs lots more oooopmh!!!

Hey Scorpy, watch this space. TMCA have quietly indicated that Corolla will have VSC from December 2008 production, so there's a good chance Valvematic will be included in that spec change as well... Dunno what capacity yet, hopefully Toyota wake up and do a 2 litre to compete with Mazda and Mitsubishi. Are you watching this Toyota? Next Mazda3 to have 2.0 and 2.5 litre engines, Lancer has 2.0 and 2.4, c'mon stop concentrating so heavilly on economy, the Corolla needs lots more oooopmh!!!

Yeah ive read about the VSC update for the end of the year. I guess the car will be at the Sydney Motor Show. I was interested in whether the update is for VSC only or whether they were be other changes to the car too (equipment wise). I would like to see them add a new engine (or two) to the car too but i have my doubts and guess theyll do that in 2010 when it gets a facelift.

I too believe it is time that they moved up to 2.0l... theyve been sitting at 1.8l for a while now, i hope they arent planning to stay there because yeah theyll be able to increase kws but they really need to increase torque.

they will probably use 147hp 1.8 Valvematic... makes sense when people worry about fuel usage these days...

That's all i hear from Toyota though: fuel economy. I mean sure it is very important nowadays but more and more it feels as if i am talking about buying a new fridge or other electrical appliance rather than a good emotional car. There was a brief review of the so called "sporty" version of the Auris in TopGear and they said it is absolutely dull, emotion less and not even fast. Many other brands are catching up on the "green" side of things but they also offer emotional vehicles, i just wonder if Toyota selling cars on reliabiliy and fuel efficiency alone will be enough in the near future. I just came back from London and yes, there where as many Toyota Prius cars on the streets as Ford Focus's which is huge but other than the "look at me i am green" Prius i only saw very few Avensis models (mostly fleet). They need to get emotion back into their cars, and i don't mean make them look like the Civic hatch or whatever, they can keep a slightly conservative approach to design but offer something really good to the younger customer just like Volkswagen does with the Golf yet at cheaper prices.

Having owned one once, the number one selling point of a Toyota is not emotion, its efficiency.

Its as plain vanilla a driving experiences as is humanly possible.

Remember, not everyone drives for pleasure. The masses see driving as a chore (or something somewhat less severe but still just as unpleasurable). And it's those people that Toyota targets. Oddly though, I'm happy with driving Toyotas.

The masses see driving as a chore (or something somewhat less severe but still just as unpleasurable). And it's those people that Toyota targets. .

That doesn't cut it for me. The "masses" are getting spoiled for choice and many of them are already "migrating" to other brands from Korea or Europe lately. Even if what you say about some considering driving to be a chore (those should not be driving in the first place) its not as if they step into a Toyota and the car drives on its own to make it a valid excuse. Or its not as if if by making their cars more emotional and targeting more customers they will alienate their current demographic. spwolfx said that the switch from Corolla to Auris in Europe brought a lot of younger customers to the brand so it clearly worked, making the cars feel more special when driven can only be a positive next step for the brand IMHO.

That doesn't cut it for me. The "masses" are getting spoiled for choice and many of them are already "migrating" to other brands from Korea or Europe lately. Even if what you say about some considering driving to be a chore (those should not be driving in the first place) its not as if they step into a Toyota and the car drives on its own to make it a valid excuse. Or its not as if if by making their cars more emotional and targeting more customers they will alienate their current demographic. spwolfx said that the switch from Corolla to Auris in Europe brought a lot of younger customers to the brand so it clearly worked, making the cars feel more special when driven can only be a positive next step for the brand IMHO.
why wouldnt Auris feel special when driven?

There is an 177hp version of Auris in Europe - why exactly it isnt sold in Aussie, I dont know... but 177hp diesel will be a LOT faster vehicle than 180/190hp 4cyl petrol...

Problem is, people talk about those cars, but dont buy them, at least not in Eastern Europe... So it comes down to market and market research...

that 177hp version according to TopGear is extremely dull to drive, has no sense of fun and is not even really fast. To quote a small part from TopGear regarding the SR180: "In fact, the only truly accurate part of the SR180's "sporting flagship" claim is the "ship" bit

I have not driven it myself of course but i trust those in the know how. Besides i was not talking only about the Auris but about the brand in general. Toyota cars are good but not brilliant or great, they seem to do a lot of things well but fall short when compared to some of the competition. I am sure a lot of Toyota owners are happy with their cars and they should be, they are fine vehicles. Just not special or emotional enough and its not just my opinion, everyone i know who buys a Toyota they do so cause they say "they are reliable and don't break down" but when people shop for a non-Toyota car they always talk about how it drives, how it looks, how much space it has, MPH etc. And i will say it again, its not that its a problem for those who buy them (as anonms already said above) but its my personal opinion and its also the main reason why Toyota sales are not so high in Europe. If they are content with their current demographic and sales here then it is all nice and well, they won't tempt me into buying a car but its no real loss to them

that 177hp version according to TopGear is extremely dull to drive, has no sense of fun and is not even really fast. To quote a small part from TopGear regarding the SR180: "In fact, the only truly accurate part of the SR180's "sporting flagship" claim is the "ship" bit

I have not driven it myself of course but i trust those in the know how. Besides i was not talking only about the Auris but about the brand in general. Toyota cars are good but not brilliant or great, they seem to do a lot of things well but fall short when compared to some of the competition. I am sure a lot of Toyota owners are happy with their cars and they should be, they are fine vehicles. Just not special or emotional enough and its not just my opinion, everyone i know who buys a Toyota they do so cause they say "they are reliable and don't break down" but when people shop for a non-Toyota car they always talk about how it drives, how it looks, how much space it has, MPH etc. And i will say it again, its not that its a problem for those who buy them (as anonms already said above) but its my personal opinion and its also the main reason why Toyota sales are not so high in Europe. If they are content with their current demographic and sales here then it is all nice and well, they won't tempt me into buying a car but its no real loss to them
depends on where you read it - britsh mags usually rate Toyota vehicles a lot worse than German for instance.

Auris in this special case, was rated poorly in England, finish last or close to last in every comparo, yet same car is the first car that beat Golf in 25 year history of Autobild. It won something like 4 out of 5 comparos in Autobild that it was run.

I can assure you that Toyota drivers care about how their cars drive, looks and how much space it has... Toyota in Europe has no base, so people buy them because they like them better than other cars.

And Toyota sells pretty good in Europe, after 5-6 years of growth, 2008 was first year when sales went down, and it is mostly because Toyota does not offer big discounts and big fleet discounts (and it wont).

re: 1.33 consumption... I was checking the info again - it seems 1.33 engine in Auris will have 6% worse consumption than 1.0l Yaris. That means around 5.6l/5.7l/100km for 1.33 in Auris (1.6 is 7.1l/100km, 1.4l was 6.9l/100km - new Golf for instance 1.4 80hp has 6.4l). It also means that in Yaris, 1.33 with 101hp will probably have lower consumption than 68hp 1.0l engine as difference between Yaris and Auris 1.4 D4D is 10%...

There is no way such consumption is possible without start/stop system which brings around 8-10% savings. Now, implementing start/stop system in small engine which is base engine for Auris, means that system has to be inexpensive (maybe something like Mazda has recently unveiled - without actual motor starting the engine?), and now we have to wonder if it will be eventually applied to the rest of the range.

As this will become de-facto base engine for Auris and old 1.4l will not be offered in Europe anymore.

Too bad we wont get any official info until November/December when Bologna show is coming...

depends on where you read it - british mags usually rate Toyota vehicles a lot worse than German for instance.

Auris in this special case, was rated poorly in England, finish last or close to last in every comparo, yet same car is the first car that beat Golf in 25 year history of Autobild. It won something like 4 out of 5 comparos in Autobild that it was run.

I can assure you that Toyota drivers care about how their cars drive, looks and how much space it has... Toyota in Europe has no base, so people buy them because they like them better than other cars.
.

Perhaps British mags rate them lower (according to what you say always) cause they care more than anyone else about how good a car feels like when driven compared to the Germans where they have different criteria. As i said the views i expressed where also according to my own preferences, i am sure if i check magazine reviews of cars in Hong Kong they will have different criteria as well and so will reviewers in the US, Australia etc.For instance in Italy they rate style above everything else, to the point where i would not be surprised if Toyota got the lowest marks there. So i give more importance to the British magazine reviews cause they usually give importance to the same things I do.

I disagree on what you say about Toyota drivers caring about how their cars drive or that buyers in Europe buy them because they like em more than other cars. Why do i disagree? Because of what i already mentioned in the previous post, every single person i have known in my life always states the reason for buying a Toyota as because they are reliable and built to last with the exception of friends who bought a Celica which in that case the same reasons applied + the cars looked good & sporty back then. If Toyota felt they had other selling points than those they would make a case out of it and reach out to new customers if they wanted to. Instead they have added the word "green" alongside the word "reliable" in such a big way that everything else seems un-important. They might as well have those 2 words under the Toyota logo at all times.
To finish this concersation (if i may) again i stress that there is nothing bad with Toyota's policy being the way it is and i do not consider Toyota buyers as fools or anything silly like that. It is just not the type of brand i would ever learn how to love or feel good about buying their products cause i truly do feel they have very little emotional factor to offer and that there are other brands which do what Toyota does as good and in some areas even a lot better.