Toyota Debuts New Auris Compact Hatchback and Wagon for Europe [2012 Paris Auto Show]

If you've ever noticed how relentlessly boring the U.S.-market Toyota Corolla is, we forgive you. That car is as exciting as a piece of dry toast, but it looks even more so compared to its cousin, the Auris, which was just redesigned for Europe. The Auris is roughly the same size as the Corolla, and, internally, Toyota groups the two cars together, but the Auris actually has some style. Fitting, then, that the new Auris hatchback and first-ever Auris Touring Sports wagon made their auto-show debuts in couture-happy Paris.  The Auris five-door hatchback and wagon both wear handsome sheetmetal that falls somewhere stylistically between Toyota's current look and that of Lexus. There are lots of sharp lines mixed with curvaceous and sweeping elements like the prow of the hood and subtle wheel arch flares, and the look makes the old Auris look a bit, er, Corolla-like. The C- and D-pillar treatments, as well as the car's rear end (the hatch and wagon's hindquarters are pretty much identical excepting length) brings to mind the Lexus CT200h hybrid hatchback we get here in the States. Inside, the upscale look continues with more Lexus-like cues: The dashboard's shapes and black-over-silver theme wouldn't look out of place in an IS350. That said, what kind of relative of the Corolla would the Auris be if it didn't sport a standalone digital clock somewhere on the center stack. That 1980s fugitive is mounted high, next to the center air vents—perhaps Toyota deemed the ticker so old as to be hip or ironic. Needless to say, the clock is about the only topical element shared between the Auris and our Corolla. Both Auris variants will be available with a range of gas and diesel powertrains, and a hybrid model also is in the mix. Toyota boasts that the Auris Touring Sports is the first C-segment wagon that offers buyers the choice of a full hybrid system. This pair of Auris models may stay in Europe, but it looks as though some of their pleated visuals will filter over to the updated Corolla coming for 2014. We've spotted camouflaged test mules of that car, and the sedan will receive styling updates that bring it in line with the larger Camry. Photography by Marc Urbano and The Manufacturer Read full story » from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 647533