Toyota stays strong on new car scene

WITH 25 years of car-making in Britain celebrated in June, Toyota goes from strength to strength. That first car to roll off production lines back in 1992 was a petrol -powered Carina E.

Today, with £2.5bn of investment behind it, forward-looking Toyota is a pathfinder in hybrid engine design, and the car line-up illustrates its commitment to the technology.

In the first half of this year it sold 30% more hybrid models totalling 22,616 sales. And there was a 43% boost in fleet sales for hybrid Toyota and Lexus models. Globally, Toyota has clocked up no fewer than 10 million hybrid sales.

Across Europe 80% of the recently launched C-HR compact SUV are ordered as a hybrid, a model that has caught the imagination of British buyers with its angular lines and futuristic styling combined with five-door practicality, classy cabin and sharp handling characteristics. It competes in a fiercely fought marketplace against the likes of Nissan Juke and Honda HR-V.

In the super-mini sector, Toyota’s new Yaris is forging ahead and the Yellow Edition Bi-tone with its unmistakable colour-burst paintwork 11 with toning cabin, black alloys and rear privacy glass is grabbing plenty of attention.

It is available with a choice of two engines – the 1.5VVT-iE petrol unit or 1.5-litre petrol hybrid. Prices start at £17,595.

The picture is similarly bright with the Aygo city car. The special edition X-Cite in dazzling red and black packs a high spec including black alloys, air-con and dusk-sensing headlights for £12,520.

If it’s retro fun but latest tech that you are looking for, there’s GT86 coupe with rear drive. It’s a genuine sports car with its own race series, yet it still manages to offer everyday usability and seating for four.

On the family front, the Auris Touring Sports boasts huge carrying capacity with a 1,625-litre load area when rear seats are folded. Priced from £17,555, it presents a tempting package for style-conscious drivers who need to blend space, pace and reasonable running costs.

Still a strong seller is the robust and roomy RAV4, a forerunner in the SUV sector, which starts at £24,765.