Toyota brings Supra and Camry back to Europe, baptizes Auris in Corolla and sends the Highlander to us in two years.
Never before has there been a larger and probably more expensive poster promotion in Germany than in the year 2007 that of Toyota. At that time, the Japanese carmaker tried in a gigantic marketing campaign to push a new name in the consciousness of the population: Auris. Before that, the compact model was known as Corolla for decades, as everywhere else in the world. Nobody really understood the show of strength. The Auris was not really successful either. Now you row back. The Auris is again called Corolla and, like Prius, C-HR and RAV4, is based on the global TNGA platform. This improves the package, safety and comfort, and reduces weight and consumption.
The Corolla will be available in three body styles, as a five-door hatchback and as a station wagon. The latter is to keep the Avensis customers with the brand with almost similar interior dimensions. Toyota discontinued its mid-range station wagon last year. In this segment, the future Camry - second comeback of a big name - to take its position. The sedan is one of the best selling cars worldwide. In Germany, the Camry will receive the new 2,5-liter hybrid drive of the RAV4 and should consume less than four liters of fuel. Toyota plans to appeal to the business and fleet customers with the Camry, who are tired of the diesel issue.
Neither the RAV4 nor the Camry Toyota promises a plug-in hybrid version. * Too high would be additional cost and weight, too low would be the efficiency improvement over a normal hybrid and too poor were the sales figures of the Prius plug-in. No, Toyota is still fully committed to hybrid in terms of volume motorization and already sells more than half of its vehicles with this technology. In some cases like the RAV4 it is over 80 percent. *
The comeback number three - after 17 years - is called Supra, more precisely: GR Supra. The acronym stands for Gazoo Racing, Toyota's sports department. The two-seater GT was developed together with BMW, wearing under his body even Bavarian technology in the form of the inline six-cylinder turbo petrol engine B58. Supra fans, however, still have to be patient. Only at the end of the year is the market launch on the plan. And according to the allocation key, 2019 should only have 300 copies. Next Bad News: All GR Supra are already sold. And those who speculate on a convertible will also be disappointed. It stays with the coupe.
So much powder Toyota 2019 shoots - including the Prius facelift, there are seven new models - as cautious 2020 continues, at least in Germany. Renewed is the built in France small car Yaris. In this segment too, the Japanese want to consolidate their hybrid share. Likewise, the relationship with the French PSA Group is deepened. Already next year there should be a "Japanese Berlingo". Toyota derives its version from the practical high-roof combination. Name: still unknown, but certainly something similar to the Transporter / Bus Proace.
For years, many people have been wondering why a sustainability-driven company like Toyota is not finally putting a battery electric car on the road? That's exactly what 2020 is supposed to happen as well. What kind of vehicle this is, there is only speculation. Probably a compact crossover model. Toyota does not pay extravagance. For even a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) must earn money.
And because Japan's biggest automaker will be the main sponsor of the upcoming three Olympic Summer and Winter Games, and the next one will be in 2020 in Tokyo this summer, it's all about making future mobility more visible. Industry experts therefore expect the debut of the second generation of the Mirai. The fuel cell sedan would come but only 2021 to Germany, about the same time with the next Prius.
* Update:
We have learned from well-informed sources, there will be in the near future a 300 PS strong RAV4 plug-in hybrid. / tbd