Toyota are to produce a Hybrid version of the Auris
- Update September ’09: The Toyota Auris Hybrid has now been revealed at Frankfurt and will go on sale in the second half of 2010.
Toyota are planning on building – in the UK – a Hybrid version of the Toyota Auris. This will feature the same Hybrid platform as the Prius, which will give it a 98bhp petrol engine together with an 80bhp electric motor. But because the Auris is smaller than the Prius, and less well equipped, the new Toyota Auris Hybrid will come in at a lower price, which will pitch it below the Honda Insight – a key marketing advantage.
An extra plus for Toyota is that the Auris’s size and weight will probably make it more economical and less polluting than the Prius. The Prius has headline emissions of 87g/km, and it is certain that the Auris Hybrid will beat this. But those figures are of course skewed by the hidden environmental costs of producing and running a Hybrid, particularly the battery production and disposal. And although we haven’t driven or tested the new Prius yet, our experience on the old Prius was that it doesn’t come close to achieving the sort of economy you could get from say the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic we reviewed recently.
It is expected that the Auris Hybrid will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and will probably be followed by a RAV4 Hybrid.
Mkuk0 says
My company car is a Prius, I got it because of the gizmos, and the tax breaks over my previous diesel were incredible. Having driven it for 6 months now, I love how smooth and quiet it is. I love the gearbox, although the constant revving engine under high throttle took some getting used to. The fuel consumption is better than my old Avensis diesel, and petrol is cheaper so all round this car is a boon for me. I agree the styling is subjective…I like it, nuff said.
João Prates says
I’m passionate about the technology, I’m passionate about cars, I’m not the regular fan-boy 🙂
For example, did you know that from 80 km/h up the Prius (2nd Gen) puts out a CONSTANT 110hp to the wheels? That’s why the acceleration is constant, that’s why people say it’s “dull”. They are far from it.
The acceleration being constant means the force you feel is always the same and therefore you don’t have the typical back and forth on power from changing gears. That’s the opposite of dull.
What other car do you know that can do from 80 km/h up to 170 km/h with 110hp all the time? None. Only Toyota and Lexus cars with HSD system can do this. Constant power output is one of the many marvels of the Prius.
I love the car for what it is technically. I am greatly concerned about the environment, but that does not mean I’m a tree-hugger geek you know, I love technology as well.
I could go on for ever giving you examples of many things the HSD system is unique. I could also talk about Vehicle Life Cycle Assessment and the fact that Toyota is ISO certified on all of its plants and manufacturing processes. That’s why we know FOR A FACT that the total life cycle of the Prius is way better than a regular car, despite the battery manufacturing.
Did you know that the batteries are totally recycled at the end of life too? Oh yeah, that much is also rarely told by the press… There’s a lot more fun on technology than just putting out hundreds of horsepower on gas guzzlers. That much is easy, anyone can do that.
OK, I think I have made my point, and I applaud you for listening. Thank you, good bye, and take care.
João Prates says
First off, thanks for answering my post CarsUK, that’s a very positive point, thank you!
Well, like I said to Frank, I can’t blame you for not liking the exterior design. It’s a matter of taste. I like the space-pod design, some don’t, that’s fine.
Driving a Prius is a learning experience. You can’t expect to get your hands on one and start doing your best MPG right away. That’s why it’s very difficult for you journalists to do well on your short-time test period with the car.
That’s also why the 3rd generation is a major breakthrough, because you can get impressive real world MPG right at first contact.
You also need to understand the Prius has NO gearbox whatsoever. And you need to understand how the transmission work to really get all the joy out of it. Sure thing, the common mortal does not need to know that, but it sure will not get the most out of it if he does not. You are a car journalist, you MUST know how it works, it’s your line of work. How can you tell others about it if you don’t understand it yourself?
Steering too light? I agree. It does get time to get used to. Once you do, it’s ok, but I agree it should be better. The 3rd gen has corrected this also.
For crying out loud, the battery is NOT that dirty to produce, like I said, please read the studies, they are public. The impact of producing the battery is LARGELY overwhelmed by the gains at the driving phase. This has been debunked a million times by credited Universities and Laboratories! It is unforgiveable that journalists from the automotive area still pass this urban myth along!
No-one says the Prius is a planet savior. If someone does say it, then that someone is an idiot. We only say that driving the Prius is a small part of a million things we can do in our everyday life that HELP and prevent from damaging our planet too much. Just like using power saving lamps. Does using energy saver lamps save the planet? No. Does it help? Certainly!
I urge you to drive the new Prius. The Dynamic Press Launch ends this Friday in Sweden. There are several test trials planned for the UK as I am aware. It should not be difficult for a journalist like you to get in one of them.
Again, the most important message: Please try to study the Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Learn about it, learn how the transmission work, learn about the MGs and the ICE, learn about the PSD, and contemplate the magnificent engineering feat that’s your to drive. Once you know how it works, you get back to me and say “ohhhh now I see…” 😉
CarsUK says
We hear what you are saying, and you are obviously passionate about the Prius. As soon as Toyota send us a 3rd Gen car to test we will let you know. Who knows, maybe we’ll end up by agreeing with you!
João Prates says
Sorry Frank, but you’re dead wrong, not me. Try to back up your statements and show some facts instead of your own opinion ok? Nothing of what you say disproves what I said earlier.
I’m not even remotely concerned about making any statement. I ask you the same I asked the author. Do some research before you speak up. The Prius is BY FAR the most efficient vehicle on sale.
Current generation Prius vehicle efficiency measured tank to wheel is an impressive 37%. No other car, diesel or otherwise, comes even close.
I can’t say anything about the design, that’s completely subjective. I like it. You don’t, that’s fine by me.
What do you mean “It doesn’t even use the most efficient part to drive the engine.”??? Do you know anything at all about the HSD system? Do you know anything at all about automotive engineering period?
Go on and stay with your jargon and your Clarkson made concepts if you want, you’re the one missing the knowledge. I would advise you to try and think with your own head instead though.
The Prius HSD won engineering acclaims all over the world, and still is the benchmark to beat. You would be amazed if you only understood 10% of it. But I guess with your attitude you won’t get even 1%. It’s a shame.
Take care,
João Prates
Frank says
What a load of twaddle! (sorry Jaoa!) Youre so wrong. The Prius is about making a statement. Its nowhere near as efficient as a good diesel. The cvt boxes are horrible. The Prius is ugly. It doesn’t even use the most efficient part to drive the engine. I reckon a Mondeo Econetic would be more economical. And in a different league to drive. The whole Prius/hybrid thing is just about marketing to gullible people.
João Prates says
Dear Sirs,
I can take your Ford Fiesta ECOnetic any day you want and beat it to the punch on MPG no matter where or when, and for that I don’t need the next Prius, I can do it with my 2006 Prius. So can anyone, there’s no need for you to be so much biased.
Moreover, what do you mean with “environmental costs of producing and running a Hybrid”? Can you explain it please? Your ignorance speaks louder than your text. Please do youself a favour and read several respected University studies like for example Carnegie Mellon, or the MIT, or even the NASA, or Argonne National Labs, etc, etc, who have more than once debunked that “battery environment impact” myth. You as a reporter should know better than this.
If you don’t like hybrids just say so. If you don’t like Toyota just say so. If that’s not the case then please be better informed so that you don’t misguide your readers.
All the best,
João Prates
CarsUK says
Joao: We can only speak from personal experience. We haven’t driven the new Prius (but expect to soon), but in the old Prius we never averaged better than mid-40s mpg. The styling is subjective, and in our opinion it is not attractive – but there are a lot worse-looking cars than the Prius. It is not nice to drive; the gearbox is unpleasant and the steering too light. Battery tech is moving forward, but the batteries in the Prius are very dirty to produce. As a way of getting more performance from a small engine we applaud the technology. But to pretend the Hybrid in this form is a ‘Planet Saviour’ is, in our opinion, disingenuous at best.
But you obviously love the Prius. And that is really all that matters. If you have a car that gives you all you want at a cost – financially and environmentally – that makes you happy, you can ask for no more than that.
And thanks for taking the time to question our views. That is the joy of life – disparate views. The world would be bland and boring if we all felt the same!