Jalopnik
Those crazy folks at Toyota sure now how to party. This new year they're going to be debuting a new top-o-the-line Auris SR180 (the Auris being the hatch version of the European Corolla Hatch, and a social disease common in the West Indies). This range topper comes with a 175 horsepower 2.2 liter diesel that scoots the little hatch to 62 mph in a respectable 8.1 seconds while still producing 45.6 MPG in combined cylce driving. Oh, and of course you can get it in the Pure White paint job, which the press release describes as "über-cool." Photos and press release below.
Toyota Auris SR180
• New sports-focused Toyota Auris SR180 flagship model
• Toyota Motorsport lowered suspension and rear spoiler
• Dark-tinted rear privacy glass
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 175bhp 2.2 D-4D engine gives nought to 62mph acceleration in 8.1 seconds
• On sale on 1 January 2008
• Prices £17,995 (three-door) and £18,495 (five-door)
•
A new flagship Toyota Auris hits the streets early next year, giving the range a new sporting edge. The SR180 does not stint on eye-appeal, with Toyota Motorsport lowered suspension springs giving it a ground-hugging stance and a neat new rear spoiler positioned atop the tailgate. Dark-tinted rear privacy glass and five-spoke 17-inch alloys add further to the style factor, while the choice of body colours includes an über-cool Pure White.
The SR180 is far from being all-show-and-no-do. The 2.2-litre D-4D engine generates 175bhp and a maximum 400Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, giving responsive and rewarding driving performance through the six-speed manual transmission. Benchmark acceleration from nought to 62mph is 8.1 seconds, while the D-4D engine's strong fuel efficiency returns an official 45.6mpg in combined cycle driving.
Further driving rewards are delivered by the dedicated, lightweight double wishbone rear suspension, tailored specifically to meet the demands of the model's higher performance characteristics. Vehicle stability control (VSC) with traction control (TRC) are provided as standard.
In keeping with its flagship status, the SR180 has a high equipment specification with automatic dual-zone air conditioning, dusk-sensing headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control all part of the standard package.
The new model is available to order now (for delivery in January), with both three and five-door versions available, priced respectively £17,995 and £18,495 on the road. [Toyota via World Car Fans]
Comments
Isn't this just a Toyota Ist/Scion xD with a diesel?
blah
Arghh, I caught me a case of the auris from a buxomy wench upon the Dry Tortugas. Tis worse than the augur or the marthambles, I swear he.
[generic why isn't this in usdm rant here]
It's sold as the Auris in some European countries now.
Decent 0-60 and gets 45 f**king MPG. Jeezus, what does it have to do, clean your damn laundry as well to avoid getting dissed?
'IF' they sold the diesel over here, I would consider it for a daily commuter, but I guess I'll keep taking it in the AUR'IF'IS at the gas pumps!
well, it doesn't offend or even look TOO bad in the press photos...
but bets anyone that Toyota euthanized the fun factor?
@Seth L: Word up. Bring on the diesels.
Why...WHY are we cursed in this country, Land Of The Free, to not be able to buy an automotive diesel worth a damn. Sure, you could buy a five-year-old Jetta TDI, or an ancient Benz, but otherwise, for the past few years, we've been relegated to driving 3/4-1 tonne trucks for our diesel fix.
You want max MPG??? How about a diesel hybrid, or a diesel Smart For Two? I know, the Smart is itty-bitty, and I don't want to be a bug splat on a Cadillac Suburban, er, Escalade, but still, it' the near-perfect vehicle for 80% of the commuting public.
When I had a motorcycle, I used it for commuting as much as I could, which means in CO, May to about October 'cause we lived at 9K feet of elevation, and I'd ridden in the snow a few times even using cautious riding times. Even then, I was wishing I could have a diesel commuter bike to take my 42-45 MPG '91 Honda ST1100, to the 100 MPG arena.
I'd like to take this chance to think GM for the diesel disaster of the early-80's. Thanks, morons. City buses don't help, either.
The Corolla has an image problem in the UK, it's seen as an old person's car and the Auris hasn't managed to shake this off. Maybe if they keep making hotted up versions they might be able to improve the people's perception, like Honda did to an extent with the Civic Type R.
Listen up people, and let me try to explain why Diesel cars are not sold in the US. We regulate tailpipe emissions differently that either the Europeans, or the Asians. We concentrate on reducing NOx, while the rest of the world is reducing CO2. Therefore, the car makers have to spend millions of dollars to re-engineer, and then re-certify their diesels to our standards. Currently, there are very few diesels that can pass the ultra tough California Certification process, which is what the EPA 2010 emissions regulations will become. Most diesels will have to have an added tank of "urea formaldehyde" to help cool the combustion chambers enough to stop the formation of NOx.
BTW, Large trucks will also have to control their NOx and Particulate emissions for 2010. There is talk that the Medium Duty (read the little white cabover delivery truck) will be going gasoline sooner than later.
@UDMAN: Good info. Fuel availability is another issue. Until recently, ultra low sulfur diesel was not available in the US, and modern diesel emissions controls such as particulate traps need ULSD to function properly. Now that ULSD is becoming the standard in the US, that will hopefully open the door for an updated range of US-legal diesels.
Looks like the next-gen Matrix.
@poxpopulus: Yes, the laundry. That and a BJ.
@Spence: Don't they have shots for that...?
@POLAR: Just be sure to use a condom, or else you'll end up like poor Spence.
Toyota is becoming generic in their styling
I saw this first hand at Amlux in Tokyo where they had most of their JDM vehicles on display
@lascauxcaveman: Don't forget the sammich.
@yellofury: Wait, wait, wait..
Becoming generic? Since the MR2 & Supra have vanished (which still bore strong resemblances to other cars) Toyota hasn't had anything non-generic and didn't many years before that outside of those two cars and perhaps the Celica.
Oh cruel gods of automotive marketing, hear my plea. You have but to name your sacrifice and it shall be yours if I may only have the chance to BUY THIS CAR!
Looks like it fell out of a Pixar box.
"nought to 62" and £17,995, so presumably the 45.6 MPG is in imperial gallons, which are 1.201 bigger than US gallons, so it's 45.6 is actually 38 USA mpg.
I'll go out on a limb here and say I like it. There. Done. I'm leaving now.
Are you sure that isn't pronounced ANUS?
@skaz: But I'm trying to lose weight.
The very front of it looks like a bloated M coupe/roadster.
It looks nice enough. Does this share its body with the new matrix? It looks pretty similar.
With the current exchange rate that's a $36,000 USD car. I could buy a new 5-door Rabbit and pay my rent for 3 years for that kind of money.
@DANG!: You have to remember that products will cost more over there. The price in the US would not be the directly translated amount.
When I first glanced at your headline I thought it read "Celebrate the New Year With a New *Anus*".
Auris/Anus. Po-TA-to/Po-TAH-to.
The previous Auris was swoopy (a larger Yaris). This is not!
They managed to turn cute into blah. A Toyota forté.
I agree. It IS the new Matrix (which, disappointingly, is NOT the Blade/Auris), which now explains my comments above.
It's ANURIS!!
I thought the Corolla wagon was a Matrix? In fact, when the first Matrices came out weren't they cristened "Corolla Matrix"?
I like the Matrix. This thing looks like an eager mouse about to leap onto a piece of cheddar.
38mpg isn't very impressive (assuming it is in Imperial gallons, which it likely is), though...and with Diesel running a good 50 cents more a gallon around here, its hardly an improvement over the 35mpg Matrix. Frankly, I don't need "nought to 60" in 8 seconds in a commuter car. Give me a taller rear end, shrink the engine to sub-2 litres, and then lets talk about ~50 mpg.
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