TOYOTA

took the wraps of its new Auris hybrid hatchback (above) which, along with petrol versions, will be built at the Japanese giant’s plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, ready for sale in the first quarter of next year.

But it also delivered a shock by announcing the death knell for diesel.

Toyota will end sales of all diesel cars in Britain and Europe by the end of this decade and plans to boost petrol- electric hybrids in their place.

Last year 45 per cent of Toyota UK sales were hybrid and fewer than 7 per cent were diesel, plummeting to 4.5 per cent in January.