News Car News 09/12/2009 at 1:49 pm
Toyota Auris Hybrid concept.
Toyota will unveil the new Auris Hybrid and gas-electric Lexus LF-CH at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show, signaling the direction of the company’s hybrids for European customers. With its small and sporty concept hybrids, Toyota aims at the biggest part of the European market. Five-door hatchbacks are the best selling type of car in Europe.
The Toyota Prius dominates the US hybrid market, and has been the No. 1 selling passenger car in Japan for the past four months. But Europe’s fuel-efficient offerings primarily are comprised of diesel vehicles, increasingly combined with micro-hybrid stop-start functionality. Toyota hopes hybrid hatchbacks—smaller and with sharper design features compared to jelly-bean-like US hybrid offerings—will attract Europeans to gas-electric cars.
Toyota Auris Hybrid
Toyota Auris Hybrid concept.
Toyota applies its third-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive system to the Toyota Auris—a hatchback that shares a platform with the Toyota Corolla. The company made styling changes and lowered the ride height to improve aerodynamics. A larger, more efficient rear spoiler is also fitted. These aerodynamic elements target a drag coefficient of 0.28—compared to the Prius’s 0.25.
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Tags: Corolla, Diesel Vehicles, Drag Coefficient, Electric Cars, European Customers, Europeans, Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Hybrid Synergy Drive, Hybrid Toyota, Hybrids, Jelly Bean, Lexus Lf, Passenger Car, Prius, Rear Spoiler, Third Generation, Toyota Auris, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius
