The Toyota Auris has been comprehensively reworked, now only awaiting its Paris Motor Show debut. It's still a small package, but it's got a big burden: Toyota says it represents a "determination to engineer cars that are more appealing and dynamically engaging to drive while building on its long-established reputation for quality, durability and reliability."
In the appealing corner, the front and back have been sharpened, the stylistic tweaks making for an especially cutting schnoz that helps the new Auris achieve a coefficient of drag of 0.28. The whole car has been lengthened by 30 millimeters (about 1.2 inches) and lowered by 55 millimeters (about 2.2 inches); it's stance is lower than any other "mainstream C-segment" offering, according to the company. More practically, the roof gets Skyview – a huge panorama glass roof and the tailgate gets a wider opening.
Inside, the cabin gets upgraded appointments everywhere: soft-textured door grips, padded armrests on the doors, fabric-trimmed pillars, satin silver finishes, leather trimming on the dash on some models, a soft-touch covering on the IP's upper surface and baseball-stitched nappa leather around the steering wheel. There's also more space due to the new packaging, with rear passengers getting 20 mm more knee room and the boot getting 90 mm more load space – all hatchback models, including the hybrid, boast 360 liters of cargo room (12.7 cubic feet).
Dynamically, that lower stance should be of some assistance, and the use of high-tensile steel increases stiffness, lowers the hatchback's center of gravity and cuts weight by up to 88 pounds. The steering and suspension have also received unnamed revisions to make for a better drive. In addition to the top-flight Hybrid Synergy Drive model, powerplants on offer will be 1.3-liter and 1.6-liter gasoline engines and a 1.4-liter diesel.
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