Toyota braves new fronts with Auris and Vios

Gone were the days where our roads were dominated by Japanese offerings. The sales chart, perhaps, holds the best hint at the latest buying trends. Today in Singapore, four out of five top sellers are Germans. And Toyota, being the last remaining of its breed in the tally, seeks to reclaim its share of the local pie. 

Along the Leng Kee belt, you may have noticed the prominent, newly revamped showroom, which will be officially opened in the following months.

Till then, Toyota has led light onto two brand new models - the Auris and Vios.

Auris - the premium five-door hatchback

As one of the most anticipated models of the year, the Auris has a lot to live up to. The five-door hatchback was built in Wales, U.K. - a first in the local lineup.

Besides the new contemporary styling, the Auris packs a series of features, such as handsfree Intelligent Parking Assist system - a debut for the Japanese marque. Other highlights include auto folding wing mirrors with heater function, auto headlamps, as well as smart entry/start system.

Under the Auris' bonnet is a Dual VVT-i 1.6-litre plant, which punches out 132 horses - a tall figure for any naturally aspirated engine. Yet, the Auris only sips at 17.5km/L. And with a low CO₂ emission of 134g/km, the hatch will garner a $10,000 rebate under the CEVS scheme.

The Auris, too, is pre-packed with an array of safety features which earns it a five-star Euro NCAP rating, such as seven SRS airbags, Anti-lock braking (ABS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC) and Hill-start Assists Control (HAC).

The Auris 1.6 retails at $132,988 (after CEVS rebate), offering good value when you consider the high OMV of $25k. Price includes a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, three-year servicing and Toyota shine plus bodycare programme.

Vios - A re-elevation for compact sedans

With a total of 700,000 units sold worldwide since its debut in 1997, the Vios has proved its worth on local shores and all around the globe. The fourth generation is designed from scratch, and from looks alone it is not hard to tell that it is the most exciting yet.

The new compact sedan incorporates Toyota's latest styling signature - an integrated radiator grille which extends into the headlamp housings. On the inside, it still has the attributes which made its predecessors a hit in its segment - generous cabin and boot space which gave it the practicality for day-to-day runnings. Interior trims are also better contoured to allow for greater allowances. 476 litres of load lugging space is available at the boot, and is further expandable to 506 litres with the rear seats folded (for G grade).

To boast a more driver-centric experience, the Vios has ditched the centre instrument cluster for a trio of cylindrical meters positioned on the driver's flank. While the drivetrain is carried over from the previous generation, the Vios now is more efficient thanks to better aerodynamics.

The new Vios is available in two trims. The E grade carries an OMV of $13k and is priced at $106,988. The G grade has an OMV of $14.6k and goes for $118,176. Both prices are after a $5,000 CEVS rebate, and include five-year unlimited mileage warranty, three-year or 60,000km servicing (whichever comes first) and Toyota shine plus bodycare programme.