Monday, November 15, 2010

Derbyshire-built Toyota hybrid leaves the distance

Great British success stories are hard to locate, yet the Toyota Auris Hybrid is one of them. Built in Derbyshire, it’s most likely one of the best hybrids in the world.

Assume, 700 miles to one tank, free road tax and the CO2 emissions of a daffodil. What’s more, it holds crisply, rides softly and beguiles you with its wholesome, common-sense efficiency.

And if you don’t buy into all that self-righteous save-the-whale nonsense, this is the green car for you. Since orthodox is the eco-Auris’s middle name.

Using the similar electric motor, batteries and 1.8 petrol engines as the Prius, you can toddle virtuously round town in eco or electric mode. But if you’ve got to dash up the M6, pop the power switch and you’re set to hit 112.

Sixty in 11 seconds may not amaze, but 70 miles to every gallon does. I managed a real-world average of 63mpg with no trying.

And, yes, there are diesel cars that are similarly parsimonious, but a small number of have the Auris’s charm.

It’s the way all that clever technology demands absolutely not anything from the driver. Just prefer your driving mode.

At £21k Derbyshire’s ingenuity is surely not cheap, but it’s a finely-built, British-made motor that’s deeply remarkable.

They say that hybrids will overtake sales of petrol cars within the decade and if they’re this fine, that’s no awful thing.


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