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Toyota has unveiled a host of new models for 2006, including its important new
large car, the Aurion, at the Melbourne International Motor Show.
The all-new Australian-built six-cylinder sedan is being previewed a few
months out from launch in order to allow potential Australian large car buyers
to know the vehicle is soon to be available.
The Aurion was styled to suit Australian tastes.
It is due for release in the second half of 2006, replacing the discontinued
Avalon sedan as Toyota’s offering in the large car segment.
Toyota’s stand also features a Sportivo concept vehicle and a partially
revealed Aurion Future Performance Concept (FPC). The concept cars provide
styling hints about the sports and performance models in the Aurion line-up.
The FPC model is a pointer to a new Aurion-based performance sedan, due for
local launch in the first half of 2007.
Styled by Toyota Style Australia and developed by Toyota Australia engineers,
the new vehicle will be unique in the Toyota world and will feature styling cues
taken from Toyota’s Formula One car.
It will be powered by a sports-tuned supercharged 3.5-litre V6 and will offer
a complete package with the accent on excitement and athletic driving dynamics.
The supercharged engine will be displayed on the Toyota stand throughout the
show.
The supercharged 2GR-FE engine was developed and tuned in Australia by a team
of Toyota engineers working closely with local suppliers
It draws on motorsport engineering principles to deliver a new level of
refined power and responsiveness to the performance car market.
Toyota has also just launched a new RAV4 that brings more versatility,
interior space, aerodynamics, driveability, safety, comfort, ride and handling,
fuel economy and feature levels to the compact sports utility vehicle market.
It is built on an all-new platform with a longer wheelbase and wider track,
offering 20 per cent more interior space, including improved rear head clearance
and legroom.
RAV4 combines modern, rugged styling with high levels of passive safety and
Toyota’s Driver Assist Technology (DAT) package that includes Toyota Australia
firsts of Active All-Wheel Drive and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with
steering assist.
RAV4’s Active AWD is also lighter and more compact, helping to improve fuel
economy.
The system engages the rear wheels only when necessary for traction or
cornering control. This results in reduced mechanical drag, further improving
fuel economy and enhancing acceleration.
Toyota will next month launch a new Yaris sedan which has advanced packaging
efficiency and high levels of active and passive safety.
The launch of Yaris sedan follows the successful launch of a 12-model Yaris
hatchback range in October 2005, which has proven popular in its first months on
sale.
Yaris sedan has made its Australian debut at the Melbourne International
Motor Show.
The car features all-new exterior and interior styling, and has more interior
and boot space than the sedan model it replaces.
Yaris sedan has an improved 1.5-litre VVT-i engine that can be matched to a
five-speed manual transmission or an electronically controlled four-speed
automatic transmission with a gated shift.
New-generation Tarago is yet another new Toyota vehicle slated for release in
2006 to make its Australian debut at the Melbourne show.
It is the fourth full-model change for the Tarago family, which was launched
in Australia in 1983.
The new eight-seat Tarago has a new exterior and interior design and improved
interior space.
It also has more power, improved handling, higher feature levels, higher
levels of active and passive safety, and better interior seating flexibility and
cargo space utility.
Motorsport once again features prominently on Toyota’s stand at the show,
with the new performance sedan flanked by Toyota’s Formula One car and the
innovative Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC) concept vehicle.
The MTRC is a hydrogen-powered concept featuring a pollution-free fuel cell
stack that emits only water and provides electricity for four electric motors,
each driving one of the car’s wheels.
The vehicle uses an adaptive suspension system that monitors road conditions
and adjusts settings according to road surfaces, allowing MTRC to compete on
smooth racetracks, narrow street circuits or off-road courses.
‘Intelligent’ tyres use built-in sensors to adapt to the road conditions and
are designed to maximise grip on any surface, while a jet fighter-style heads-up
display (HUD) also helps the driver anticipate road surface changes.
The other model on the Toyota stand will be the world’s most popular hybrid
vehicle, the Prius.
With fuel prices continuing to rise, Prius’ popularity has continued to soar
in 2005, with Toyota selling 1423 vehicles in Australia, an increase of 30 per
cent over 2004.
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