At the end of last month, Toyota Ireland was running in second place in the Irish car sales charts, just 136 behind Volkswagen. As of the end of October figures, Toyota is running about 1.35 per cent below the current market but it expects new models and traditional aftersales values to boost its market outlook in 2013.Toyota Ireland has stubbornly refused to enter the ‘pre-reg’ car sales market because in the words of the managing director Dave Shannon, “eventually pre-registration sales hurt the brand and car buyers lose out on residual values”.
He continued, “Our own surveys show that Toyota is number one for customer service and for aftersales in the Irish market. This is something that we work at constantly and protect in the interests of our customers”.
Mr. Shannon also told the Auto Trade Journal that it will not be joining the current frenzy and offering more than their long established 3-years warranty.
As far as predictions on the size of the 2013 Irish new car market, he said that Toyota Ireland believes it will be in the regain of 74,000 units, a drop of about 6,000 on this year.
Speaking at the launch of the all-new Auris, and new Yaris Hybrid (see full details on both below), Dave Shannon was confident about Toyota Ireland’s prospects. On the new Yaris Hybrid he said: “We are proud to be the first in Ireland to offer a B-segment Hybrid car, especially one with such generous features and inherent beauty as the Yaris Hybrid.
And at a time when fuel costs continue to increase, Irish B-segment drivers can now take advantage of exceptional fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions inherent in the new Yaris Hybrid”. He expects this attractive new model offering to consolidate Toyota’s strong position in the B segment.
And on the new Toyota Auris, he added “We are also very excited about the huge potential the all-new Auris holds for the Toyota brand next year and beyond. The car’s exceptional design is very much representative of the changing face of the Toyota brand, which when coupled with its generous specification we believe makes it ideally suited to the Irish motoring market. We fully expect it to be embraced wholeheartedly by the Irish driving public.”
Van lights to shine bright again
Toyota has traditionally been a top three player in the Irish light commercials market, but with SUV commercial sales having slowed dramatically and the legendary Hiace van ceasing production, it has slipped to a still credible fourth in this sector.
However, Toyota Ireland will be back on the growth trail later next year with a new light commercial offering. Toyota Motor Europe has made an agreement with PSA Peugeot Citroen, which allows Toyota to sell a new Pro Ace van with a choice of five, six or seven cubic metre capacity. It is really a re-badged Peugeot Expert/Citroen Dispatch.
However, in about 18 months time, when the next generation of this van is launched, it will be a equal joint development between Toyota and PSA. At this time there are no short-term plans to offer other PSA light commercials in the Toyota range.
Toyota’s all-New Auris and new Yaris Hybrid models
Toyota Ireland launched two exciting new generation models of the hugely popular Auris and the market-leading B-segment Yaris, including the addition of a hybrid variant to the Yaris product range, making it the only full hybrid powertrain vehicle in the B-segment in Ireland.
In addition to these two new introductions, next year promises to be a bumper year for Toyota with the launch of new models including the Prius + (a seven seater version) and the Auris Tourer next summer, which was shown at the Paris Motor Show last month. You can also expect to see a hybrid version of the Tourer.
All-new Toyota Auris
Representing the first step in Toyota’s product offensive in the C-Segment, the new Toyota Auris with a starting price of €18,995 for the Auris Terra 1.3 litre petrol. The diesel prices start at €20,995. And the very highly specced Auris Hybrid has an entry level price is €26,460. Both the diesel and hybrid version will slot in to the expected new Band A2 for vehicle registration tax (VRT).
It is bolder, more dynamic, sits lower on the road, is better equipped and cheaper to run than ever before. And it needs to be because sales of the out-going model were down about 14 per cent for the year to date at the end of last month.
However, expect the new model’s bolder, more confident and sleek styling, and a higher quality interior design to grab the attention of more buyers in 2013. Add to that the improved driving dynamics and further enhancements to the technical leadership of its flagship, full hybrid model.
Aerodynamic improvements, weight savings and engine enhancements have seen fuel consumption and CO2 emission reductions across the range, further lowering running costs and the total cost of ownership.
With a significantly improved standard equipment specification, the all-new Auris is available in five grades; Terra, Aura, Luna Auris Hybrid and Auris Hybrid Luxury. Four engine options are available, including 1.33l Dual VVT-I, 1.6l Valvematic petrol engine (with MultiDrive Transmsision), 1.4l D-4D diesel engine and Full Hybrid Synergy Drive with a 1.8 litre VVT-i petrol engine and 60 kW (82bhp) electric motor.
Toyota is the world’s leading producer of C-segment vehicles, with 39 million units sold in over 140 countries since the introduction of the Corolla in 1966. The launch of the Auris Hybrid in 2011 made Toyota the first manufacturer to offer a choice of three powertrains in the C-segment.
Designed for the European market, its largest volume market, the new Auris will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK alongside the Avensis, reinforcing the company’s commitment to its European operations.
The Auris has 14,703 units sold in Ireland since its launch in 2007. In Europe for the first months of this year, Toyota has put in a great performance by increasing market share from 3 to 3.7 per cent in a declining market.
New Toyota Yaris Hybrid
The new Yaris Hybrid is the first full hybrid vehicle to go on sale in the Irish B-segment, bringing the benefits of full hybrid technology to a wider range of customers than ever before. It has an entry level price of €18,950.
I believe that the Yaris Hybrid is the only new car sold in Ireland with an internal combustion engine that will be eligible for the planned new Band A1 VRT segment.
Representing a significant engineering breakthrough in the packaging of the full hybrid powertrain, the new Yaris Hybrid embodies the first downsizing of Toyota’s proven Hybrid Synergy Drive® (HSD) technology. It combines a substantially re-engineered 1.5 litre petrol engine with a lighter, more compact electric motor, transaxle, inverter and battery pack.
With low fuel consumption, a low environmental impact, strong acceleration, great manoeuvrability and unique EV capabilities, the Yaris Hybrid represents the ultimate urban car. Its highly efficient powertrain offers the best balance of performance and fuel consumption/CO2 emissions in the B segment, delivering an average fuel consumption of just 3.5 l/100 km and segment-best CO2 emissions of only 79 g/km, whilst allowing customers frequent, all-electric driving periods that emit no NOx, PM or CO2 emissions.
The Yaris Hybrid differentiates itself from other Yaris derivatives with an exclusive, aerodynamically efficient exterior design which instantly identifies it as the flagship of the Yaris model range. It combines a new, more aggressive, Under Priority frontal design element–the distinctive new face of the Toyota family–with a Keen Look detailing reinforced by hybrid-specific LED lights.
On board, drivers will benefit from a driver-focused cockpit with hybrid-exclusive detailing and trim finishes. Steering wheel-mounted audio and Bluetooth switchgear, front power windows, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), driver’s seat height adjustment, hybrid-blue stitching to the upholstery, climate control and the Toyota Touch on-board multimedia system are also fitted as standard.
With the aforementioned starting price of only €18,950, the Yaris Hybrid is competitively priced in the B-segment, comparing particularly favourably against diesel powered vehicles. However, customer convenience is not compromised, with features such as dual climate control, automatic transmission, full electric drive and ‘stop and start’ fitted as standard across the model range.
The car comes in a choice of two grades – Yaris Hybrid and Yaris Hybrid Luxury, and is available with a choice of unique, 15” aerodynamic wheel caps or 16 aluminium alloys, and a range of eight body colours including a model-specific new pearl white finish execution.
The Yaris has 55,960 units sold in Ireland since its launch in 1999. It is now the only B-segment car to offer customers the choice of 3 different powertrain types – full hybrid, diesel or petrol.
