Toyota Hybrids Cleaning U.K. Air One Car at A Time

Auris Hybrid being the car doing the heavy lifting.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - July 24, 2014



The second generation Toyota Auris - released for the 2012 MY - design focus was on improved driving dynamics and feedback with lower weight, improved aerodynamics, new suspension geometry, improved suspension and steering tuning, and even an improved hybrid drivetrain.



The Auris Hybrid not only leads on the CO2 emissions front at 84g/km when equipped with the smallish 15-inch wheels, its NOx and particulate is almost nill.



Toyota global lineup, the second generation Auris displays the new global family “face” including extra emphasis placed on the lower grille opening, slimmer headlamp lenses, and signature LED DRLs for trims so equipped. Global meaning the same description would also emulate the new Yaris, Corolla, Camry, and Avalon.



The Auris’s interior is larger and more comfortable. It is also a hint at the next generation 2015 Toyota Prius.

Within the Hybrid-specific instrument cluster, the Auris Hybrid has Eco Drive Support Monitor design, a hybrid blue shift-by-wire gear lever and hybrid-exclusive instrument panel detailing.



Icon versions have a hybrid blue brushed aluminium instrument panel finish, while leather panel inserts are available for the Icon Plus and Excel models.



The air vents, audio panel, transmission tunnel, steering wheel and gear lever all have a silver colored trim, while on higher grade models the dashboard itself is leather trimmed with raised and contrasting color stitching.



The steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather with single baseball stitching. The assist grips and door grips have a soft texture grain and the door armrests are padded. <-- Something any number of Toyota’s in the states could use!

2013 Toyota Auris Hybrid interior quality detail





Headliner and A-pillar cloth like material. Something the North American Prius needs badly.

The front seats have longer fore and aft travel and an increase in height adjustment range. Seat height has been reduced by 40mm and the steering wheel tilt angle lowered by two degrees.



The new slimmer front seat design increases rear seat knee-room by almost an inch and rear access has been made easier with wider opening doors. The loadspace length has been increased by 2 inches and the tailgate opening is almost 4 inches wider.

The rear hatch. I know of at least five members that would die for this efficient autombile!

In the drivetrain space, the Auris Hybrid drivetrain uptake is breaking initial 30 percent purchase targets by almost double demonstrating how far hybrids have progressed from being a niche technology to becoming a mainstream automobile.



The Auris Hybrid uses the Prius atkinsonized 1.8L I4 mated to two electric motor with a combined 134 HP. The new drivetrain - third generation Prius - has improved fuel efficiency by 6 percent.



The UKs pollution problem



Britain’s inner city’s are polluted. Not as bad as Beijing air polluted but not good and not expected to meet clean air targets for at least another 15 years according to recent U.K. government reports. While much of the high NOx has to do with Euro III and lower emissions control technologies on the turbo diesels of the past. The new Euro VI TDs are much cleaner by comparison.



I digress. The gasoline fueled and super clean Toyota Hybrid lineup is clearly leading the way to cleaner air in Europe as they emit virtually no NOx.



Statistics released by Defra* show NO2 levels in the greater London, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire are unlikely to comply with EU levels until at least 2030 – five years or more beyond the Government’s last projection. The World Health Organisation highlights NO2 as a significant air pollutant that contributes to respiratory diseases, in particular among children suffering from asthma.



Older diesel vehicles in particular are a significant contributor to NOx pollution and also emit more particulates. Again, mostly the Pre Euro IV vehicles, not the latest Euro VI complaint TDs.



Toyota’s Hybrid system, available in Prius, Prius+, Auris, Auris Touring Sports and Yaris models in the UK, creates only minimal amounts of NOx and minimal particulates in the size the study measured, and already conforms with the more stringent, up-coming Euro VI vehicle emissions standards.



Where Prius Plug-in is concerned, the electric range is even greater, and achievable at higher speeds, making very short range locally emissions-free commuting a reality.



In a prepared statement, the company issued the following:

Quote:

“People are well aware of the benefits of the low CO2 emissions benefit with our hybrids, and the importance of reducing GHGs. The impact of NOx on air quality and public health is a growing concern, and it’s an area where, Toyota’s hybrid technology performs strongly.”

* Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, updated projections for nitrogen dioxide compliance, July 2014.

Toyota Hybrids Cleaning U.K. Air One Car at A Time