Toyota Auris Hybrid – Frankfurt debut

We reported back in June that Toyota are planning on building an Auris Hybrid. Well, it’s taken Toyota a fair while to catch up with the story, but ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of weeks they’ve confirmed that the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept will show.

Toyota are calling this the first application of their Hybrid Synergy Drive in a mainstream model. Which makes us wonder if Toyota don’t consider the Prius a mainstream model. They’re also calling this a concept, but we know that Toyota will be producing the Auris Hybrid in the UK next year, so take this as a pretty much production-ready car.

Putting the HSD in the Auris is probably a pretty good move. It is a smaller car than the Prius and – with the same drivetrain – will undoubtedly achieve lower emissions and better economy when packaged in the Auris. Toyota are committing themselves to pushing forward with the whole Hybrid Synergy drive across their range, so expect the Rav4 to be the next car to feature a Hybrid version.

Toyota will also be bringing along a plug-in version of the Prius to Frankfurt; a titivated LS and GS and the first view of the IS with the sports pack – the Lexus IS-F.

Nice to see one Japanese maker making a big effort despite the economic mess. But of course, the star of the Toyota offerings will probably be the Lexus LF-Ch, a hybrid compact from Toyota’s premium stable.