Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedans/Saloons, Toyota
Paris Motor Show: Toyota Auris space concept
This interesting concept car from Toyota is making its world debut in Paris, with a new interpretation of Toyota's "VIbrant Clarity" design theme. The Auris emphasizes interior comfort, style and convenience, wrapped in a cab-forward architecture with short front and rear overhangs.
The C-segment Auris concept could herald the next generation of Toyota small cars - stay tuned.
Eric sent us some great live shots of the golden Toyota, plus the photos and press release from the media kit, all displayed for your enjoyment after the jump.
LIVE SHOTS:
PRESS PHOTOS:
PRESS RELEASE:
TOYOTA AURIS SPACE CONCEPT UNVEILED AT PARIS MOTOR SHOW
"Designed from the inside out" is how Toyota describes its new Auris space concept, revealed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show. This world debut signals a new interpretation of the core Toyota design philosophy of Vibrant Clarity, combining a forward-looking and energetic appearance with a clear and rational approach to providing driver and passengers with a spacious and highly practical environment.
Wahei Hirai, Toyota Global Design Managing Officer explains: "The Auris space concept is tall and spacious. The high waistline, short overhangs and forward balance of the cabin architecture ensure it retains a sense of dynamism and agility, a quality we call perfect imbalance."
Auris has a high quality interior, featuring an innovative sculpted, bridged centre console that is both elegant and practical, bringing the gearlever and other controls up to the perfect ergonomic height. This leaves an open section in the lower part of the console that increases the sense of space around the driver and front seat passenger.
The inside-out concept can also be witnessed in the panoramic glass roof, the flat rear passenger floor and high window surfaces, all of which contribute to the overall sense of interior light and space. The exterior is characterised by a powerful front-end treatment with strong vertical lines, wide shoulders and short overhangs, with sports-styled 19-inch alloy wheels, freeform geometric lamps, prominent brake callipers and deep rear bumper with integrated chrome exhausts adding to the dynamic look.
The striking gold exterior paint finish and interior piping reflect the car's name, aurum being the Latin word for gold. The result is a concept with which Toyota aims to reflect both the shift in values of customers in the C segment and its own optimistic brand attitude.
PRESS PHOTOS:
PRESS RELEASE:
TOYOTA AURIS SPACE CONCEPT UNVEILED AT PARIS MOTOR SHOW
"Designed from the inside out" is how Toyota describes its new Auris space concept, revealed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show. This world debut signals a new interpretation of the core Toyota design philosophy of Vibrant Clarity, combining a forward-looking and energetic appearance with a clear and rational approach to providing driver and passengers with a spacious and highly practical environment.
Wahei Hirai, Toyota Global Design Managing Officer explains: "The Auris space concept is tall and spacious. The high waistline, short overhangs and forward balance of the cabin architecture ensure it retains a sense of dynamism and agility, a quality we call perfect imbalance."
Auris has a high quality interior, featuring an innovative sculpted, bridged centre console that is both elegant and practical, bringing the gearlever and other controls up to the perfect ergonomic height. This leaves an open section in the lower part of the console that increases the sense of space around the driver and front seat passenger.
The inside-out concept can also be witnessed in the panoramic glass roof, the flat rear passenger floor and high window surfaces, all of which contribute to the overall sense of interior light and space. The exterior is characterised by a powerful front-end treatment with strong vertical lines, wide shoulders and short overhangs, with sports-styled 19-inch alloy wheels, freeform geometric lamps, prominent brake callipers and deep rear bumper with integrated chrome exhausts adding to the dynamic look.
The striking gold exterior paint finish and interior piping reflect the car's name, aurum being the Latin word for gold. The result is a concept with which Toyota aims to reflect both the shift in values of customers in the C segment and its own optimistic brand attitude.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sam 7:16PM (9/28/2006)
So, this is the new Corolla?
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Judd 7:23PM (9/28/2006)
If this thing has a turbocharged motor, then there's a new player.
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Chad Gallion 7:27PM (9/28/2006)
This looks like one of the nices Toyota concepts I have seen in a while. Actually not bland!
And a hint of McLaren SLR in the nose with that middle emblem?
Cool.
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MattB 7:35PM (9/28/2006)
Imagine this as a sedan and you have the new Corolla. I'd expect the Corolla name to dissappear.
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Whydrive 7:40PM (9/28/2006)
What?? Toyota with a manual transmission? Is that possible?
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Richard Warren 9:05PM (9/28/2006)
I like the color and the interior, same ugly nose.
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Tal D 9:24PM (9/28/2006)
send it back
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solomonrex 9:52PM (9/28/2006)
um...? Not bland? It's a golf and civic stuck in a blender, that's all. Most definitely bland. Where's the huge nose of the camry? Or the slab faces of the scions? Looks Very generic - though nothing like the 10 year old corolla styling they have currently.
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ron 10:32PM (9/28/2006)
The negative comments posted above seem eriely similar to comments made about Toyotas, Datsuns, and Hondas in general some 40 years ago when these cars first came upon our shores. No one took the mfgs or their cars seriously back then. They should have!
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Blake 10:35PM (9/28/2006)
I love it. The front could be better, but I don't hate it. I really dig the rest of the car, though. I want one.
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Cliff 11:14PM (9/28/2006)
I like it. Hope it makes it here to the USA. For years and years the Corolla was a full line up car, with sedan, hatch, coupe and wagons. Toyota needs to do that again. Changing the name would be a mistake in the USA. It is a known name that is connected with Toyota reliability. The only reason to change a name is if the vehicle is not selling or has been an embarrassment.
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MikeW 12:00AM (9/29/2006)
This car was in those spy photos a long while back.
Fix the vehicle's lighting, price it @ $16, and toyota has a foil for the nissan versa.
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Derrick 12:28AM (9/29/2006)
Very nice; love the car and styling. Indeed, does look like it might be the upcoming corolla redesign. Or actually...looks somewhat like a redesign of the matrix. The one thing I don't like are the head and tail lights, which are overdone, much like those of the nissan altima...uhg...what's with all the stupid 'star trek' light designs...
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FABIAN 3:24AM (9/29/2006)
NICE GTI. OOPS SORRY, TOYOTA
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aaron 3:34AM (9/29/2006)
is this the result of postponing the launch of new corolla after they've seen and shocked by the awesome, futuristic civic? seriously, this car is so boring, so bland, so-not-dynamic nor solid, and no tension in lines what so ever. sorry...toyota. i am sure it will sell well, but only to those who just does not care other than the toyota badge and probably good build quality. they can do better. what's worse? they try to hide the weakness so much by bunch of attractive photos and some people trip over saying it is the one of the best toyota concept car recently....oh please.
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Jan Andersen 3:41AM (9/29/2006)
Does anybody know of the engine specifications, diesel and petrol?
I have read in another forum that Corolla will be reintroduced as a "mini-lexus" at the end of next year?
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nordschleife 5:23AM (9/29/2006)
@Jan Andersen
New 1.8 dual vvt-i 2ZR-FE engine,as the one fit it on the Yaris T-Sport.
JDM Specs:136 PS@6000rpm 175Nm@4000rpm
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Ed S. 8:57AM (9/29/2006)
I'm nearly 100$ sure this is not the new Corolla. It may be the new Matrix, which would provide a good hint at the size and general shape of the new Corolla. Or it is the new Scion xA. From a design persepctive, this is way too advanced to be the new econobox Corolla. I think it's too small to be the new Matrix, too.
I like it and I think that it fits in perfectly with the theme of the Scion brand, namely, bringing luxury to the 20-something buyer. By luxury I mean spoiling those consumers with the trappings of comport, look andf feel they desire such as available 19" rims, color-keyed interior parts, and other non-traditional design details (next-gen 'altezza-style tails, high mounted shifter, odd textured dash surfaces).
If sold as a Scion, this car WILL BE a smash hit.
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borgie 3:08PM (9/29/2006)
I expected more mindless Toyota bashing and racist comments. You domestic-loving white nerds has to do better. Where's Lithoes when you need some xenophobic entertainment.
I like the design. If it comes as is people will buy it. I mean normal, non-racist Americans, that is. Hope they do more of his new design concept.
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GOT 3:37AM (9/30/2006)
Very nice looking car. There's much beauty to the design. I like that it has bigger 5-lug hubs.
The one problem is the location of those side mirrors. They need to move them higher into the corner of the A-pillar. As it is the car looks dumpy and the belt line saggy. It's even worse on the 2007 Honda Civic sedan side mirrors (which ruin the great design... IMHO). In fact there have several B and C seg' cars lately that are putting the mirrors low on the door panels and it looks bad.
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