2010 Toyota Auris Facelift: New Photo Gallery from European Presentation

We've already seen details and a pair of official photos of Toyota's refreshed 2010 Auris for the European market, but now we have a comprehensive image gallery of both the three- and five-door hatchback versions of the car shot during a media event in Europe.

For 2010, the Auris has been pepped up with a new front end that includes a restyled grille, swept-back headlamps, new bumper and revised bonnet profile, while at the back, the tail lamp clusters are revised and there's a new rear bumper with extended corner sections.

Inside, the new Auris has been upgraded with a new centre console and revised Optitron dials with white illumination, while Toyota also added soft-touch materials on the top of the instrument panel and around the glovebox.

Under the skin, Toyota's engineers fine tuned the Auris' suspension and speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS).

The standard Auris retains its current range of petrol and diesel engines and six-speed manual and MultiMode transmissions.

The facelifted Auris will have its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March alongside the production version of the Auris HSD Hybrid.

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Photos: UP

New Toyota Auris HSD with Prius Hybrid Drivetrain Revealed in Production Guise

Along with the redesigned RAV-4 SUV and the revamped Auris, Toyota's presentation at next month's Geneva Salon will also included the world premiere of the showroom-ready, full hybrid Auris HSD that was first teased through a concept model at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Programmed to be added to the European Auris line-up in July, the HSD will be Toyota's first hybrid model to be built in Europe at the firm's Burnaston factory in the UK.

The Japanese automaker is still keeping details of the powertrain under wraps, but from what we know, the Auris HSD will share the same gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain as the third-generation Prius.

The latter is fitted with a 98HP 1.8 liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled to an electric motor that give it an overall rating of 134 horsepower.

And like the Prius hybrid, the Auris HSD will have the ability to run on battery power alone in zero-emissions mode.

The Auris HSD is based on the freshly facelifted version of the conventionally-powered Auris hatchbacks that will also have their first public outing at the Geneva Show next month.

The styling of the production model is less fancy than the concept, with the HSD featuring new bumpers with flat corners and a different grille than the petrol/diesel-only Auris models.

Facelifted 2010 Toyota Auris: All The Details, Full-Hybrid Version Announced for July

While Toyota's European press department gave us only a pair of photos and no details whatsoever on the revised 2010 Auris pointing towards the Geneva Show for more information, the Japanese firm's UK arm announced the launch of facelifted model releasing pricing as well specifications.

Furthermore, Toyota revealed that the sales of the British-built full hybrid Auris HSD that shares its gasoline-electric drivetrain with the Prius Hybrid will commence in July. We expect to see the production version of the Auris HSD making its world premiere at the Geneva Show in March.

Toyota wants us to believe that Auris has been fully restyled on the outside, but fact is, we doubt that your average buyer will even notice the changes.

These include a new deep front bumper, reshaped headlamps, revised grille and bonnet profile with stronger crease lines plus newly styled 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The revised tail lamp clusters, the new rear bumper with extended corner sections and the integrated turn indicators on the door mirrors complete the exterior makeover.

Inside, Toyota said (but did not show) that a soft-touch material has been introduced across the top of the instrument binnacle and around the glovebox, while the centre console has been revised with changes to the instrument design.

The new white illumination for the Optitron instrument dials and the new cloth upholstery designs round off the interior updates.

Toyota added that the it has also fine-tuned the Auris' suspension and steering systems to improve driver feedback and handling.

With the exception of the Auris HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) that will go on sale in July, the are no changes to the rest of the engine range that comprises a 1.33-litre petrol engine with Toyota Stop & Start technology, a 1.6 Valvematic petrol with manual or MultiMode transmission and 1.4 D-4D diesel, again with manual gearbox or Multimode.

In the UK, the revised Auris in three- and five-door body styles is on sale now with prices ranging from £14,463 to £16,495 - see detailed pricing in the list above.

2010 TOYOTA AURIS FACELIFT

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TOYOTA AURIS HSD HYBRID CONCEPT STUDY