Photo: Toyota
Without providing technical specifications for the car, Toyota Australia has announced that the Corolla will get a hybrid version in hatchback form.
This is, of course, the European Auris model that has been available for a couple of years and even boasts a wagon derivative.
Toyota was the first carmaker to offer diesel, gasoline and hybrid versions of the same car. Last year, the company sold 18% more hybrids to Europeans and the success is mainly due to the Corolla hatchback.
Toyota Australia says the hybrid drive will consume about a third less fuel than the conventional model. For this market, that means the l/100km figure will go down from 6.1 to 4.1. However, the Auris Hybrid is listed as getting 3.5 l/100km according to the European Driving Cycle.
The Japanse automaker can't pull any fast ones on us with the engine, as it's guaranteed to be a 1.8-liter rated at 73 kW and matched to an electric motor generating 60 more kW. The powertrain isn't as advanced as that of the Prius, nor is the aero, but the Auris will be much cheaper.
“The combination of Toyota’s hybrid technology and Australia’s best-selling car gives us a unique opportunity to broaden the market appeal of both,” said Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb. “Corolla hybrid hatch will offer all the advantages of Australia’s favorite car, coupled with the hybrid system’s established performance, reliability, durability and exceptionally low running costs. This addition to the Corolla range will be fun to drive - and fun to own with fuel economy and emissions that are superior to its direct competitors, especially diesel.”
For the record, Corolla Hybrid hatchbacks will be imported from Japan, not Britain where they are made for the European market.
The Corolla was Australia's top-selling car last year for the third year running with 42,073 units shifted. Australia’s best-selling hybrid vehicle is Camry with 5,881 sales last year, an increase of 11.2 percent over the previous year.
Toyota was the first carmaker to offer diesel, gasoline and hybrid versions of the same car. Last year, the company sold 18% more hybrids to Europeans and the success is mainly due to the Corolla hatchback.
Toyota Australia says the hybrid drive will consume about a third less fuel than the conventional model. For this market, that means the l/100km figure will go down from 6.1 to 4.1. However, the Auris Hybrid is listed as getting 3.5 l/100km according to the European Driving Cycle.
The Japanse automaker can't pull any fast ones on us with the engine, as it's guaranteed to be a 1.8-liter rated at 73 kW and matched to an electric motor generating 60 more kW. The powertrain isn't as advanced as that of the Prius, nor is the aero, but the Auris will be much cheaper.
“The combination of Toyota’s hybrid technology and Australia’s best-selling car gives us a unique opportunity to broaden the market appeal of both,” said Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb. “Corolla hybrid hatch will offer all the advantages of Australia’s favorite car, coupled with the hybrid system’s established performance, reliability, durability and exceptionally low running costs. This addition to the Corolla range will be fun to drive - and fun to own with fuel economy and emissions that are superior to its direct competitors, especially diesel.”
For the record, Corolla Hybrid hatchbacks will be imported from Japan, not Britain where they are made for the European market.
The Corolla was Australia's top-selling car last year for the third year running with 42,073 units shifted. Australia’s best-selling hybrid vehicle is Camry with 5,881 sales last year, an increase of 11.2 percent over the previous year.
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