Toyota today unveiled the Auris "Space Concept" at the Paris Motor Show. While the automaker has not publicly said it, the car is widely believed to preview the next-generation 2007/2008 Corolla. The concept features panoramic glass roof, wide shoulders and short overhangs, sports-styled 19-inch alloy wheels, freeform geometric lamps, prominent brake callipers and deep rear bumper with integrated chrome exhausts.

The gold exterior paint finish and interior piping reflect the car's name, aurum being the Latin word for gold. Wahei Hirai, Toyota Global Design Managing Officer explains: "The Auris space concept is tall and spacious. The high waistline, short overhangs and forward balance of the cabin architecture ensure it retains a sense of dynamism and agility, a quality we call perfect imbalance."



http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/1-2007-2008-toyota-auris-corolla-concept.jpg

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http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/9-2007-2008-toyota-auris-corolla-concept.jpg

looks like a yaris to me.... but wow that thing is 6-spd

Going by some of the other pictures we've seen so far, that looks like the next Corolla to me. The interior resemblences are especially strong.

Looks too much Yaris for me. That handbrake is neat though.

Nice, I like it.
19" rims??? Even the IS and GS max out at 18's:egads: :D

The design looks outstanding. Much cooler than the Matrix.

looks hot! i'd rock one.

That is soo the next Corolla lol. Like how Honda came out with the Civic Type R Concept when it really was the next Civic hatchback.

I like the design pattern on the dash and the steering wheel but I'm not sure about that pattern on the instrument cluster hood. The gold centre console and the accents on the steering wheel is cool. I like the fuel/temp gauge in the middle of the tach.

Now, bring it over!!

I like it....although I wish they gave the US the 4 door Yaris Hatchback instead of the ugly 2 door hatch.

Yaris/Vitz 4 door hatch
http://24auto.ru/images/news/2005-02-02-vitz_2005.jpg

I like that interior

Funny how it has the Camry LE wheelcovers on that Vitz.

Well, you can always buy Canadian lol. Or get the xA

WAY better than Yaris - I like it. Interior is awesome. And no stupid center guages like Yaris.

I doubt they would change the current corolla that drastically, looks like the next Yaris to me. Also, whats up with that weird material pattern they used on the steering wheel and the dash? It looks like a bunch of diamonds or circles.

Yeah, Camry looked crappy in those mags, turned out great...

Check real pics from show:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/0...ncept (http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/paris-motor-show-toyota-auris-space-concept)/

Real pics show the best what the car is like and I think it looks pretty damn good.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/auris00015.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/auris00007.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/auris00005.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/auris00011.jpg


This is 95% production European Toyota Auris, replacement for 5 door Corolla hatchback.

From:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/0...ncept (http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/paris-motor-show-toyota-auris-space-concept)/

Don't like it. Too "cutsy" like the Yaris.

they should bring that here to replace the xA, looks good.

I like it and would buy it. It looked 10X better than the current Corolla.

I want to see pics of Auris sedan when available.. but if you like hatchbacks I suppose the side and rear look ok. The front is objectionable though IMO, too many lines on the front, odd looking creases on the hood, the headlights look strange.. i dont like the looks of the Yaris and so far dont like the front of the Auris(next Corolla).

I want to see pics of Auris sedan when available.. but if you like hatchbacks I suppose the side and rear look ok. The front is objectionable though IMO, too many lines on the front, odd looking creases on the hood, the headlights look strange.. i dont like the looks of the Yaris and so far dont like the front of the Auris(next Corolla).
there is no Auris sedan. Sedan will continue be called Corolla and will have totally different styling.

this probably costs at least $5k more than xA.

Looks like one good new Matrix.:thumbup::thumbup:

Wish this concept goes to production quickly.:)

I think it looks great. they took care of the C-pillars really well.

best of all, they did away with the center-mounted gauges. :thumbup:

It even has dual zone climate control, this would be a great matrix if the shown in the equipment shown in the concept are available for it

Wow! That looks really cool!

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/images/article_images/Toyota_Design_1_560PX.jpg http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/images/article_images/Toyota_Design_6_560PX.jpg
Secret New Cars Posted: 3:25pm, 13 October 2006


Into the style factory

Toyota threw open the doors of the hi-tech design studio behind its most important forthcoming car – the crucial Corolla-replacement Auris – underlying its ambition to makes cars that are stylish and good-looking as well as reliable and environmentally-conscious. The normally top secret Toyota Europe Design Development centre, or ED2, in the south of France – a suitably James Bond baddie type lair nestling in tranquil woodland overlooking the Cote d’Azur – boasts an impressive back catalogue of concept and production cars since opening in 2000.

ED2's design pedigree

ED2’s ‘Greatest hits 2000-2006’ back catalogue include concepts like the sleek 2003 CS&S roadster (above), the oddball 2004 MTRC race car, the urban compact 2005 Endo as well as the current production Yaris exterior, Land Cruiser and Avensis and the Lexus SC430
A whistle-stop tour of the site did reveal a slick-looking facility with a predictably minimalist reception with designer chairs, a floor-to-ceiling glass-windowed main hall, all the car design tools you could wish for and even a rooftop balcony, with sea view, for inspiration.

The bigger voice

What this visit did suggest is that Toyota is taking design more seriously, as Lance Scott, assistant chief designer explained: “Design has a bigger voice within the whole project conception now. Toyota was built on a reputation of reliability, durability, and never breaking down. But most other companies have that now, so we have to do something more.
“We’re changing our design to get away from this reputation for being very boring and conservative. In the last five years we’ve been developing a new philosophy for both Lexus and Toyota and now the fruits of this philosophy are starting to come into the public eye.”


Moving away from dull design
According to designer Laurent Bouzige – the man behind the striking Endo concept – the fact the design department has been separate from the engineering department for two years has certainly helped the design team express themselves. As to how Toyota’s new design philosophy translates to the finished product is less clear. Trying to define it through nebulous catchphrases like “vibrant clarity” (the idea of pulling together potentially contradictory values like dynamism and rationality), the “J-factor” (drawing on hi-tech and traditional Japanese design traditions), and “PASS” (standing for “Proportion, Architecture, Surface and Something special”) didn’t help vocalise the visual.

Step by step
ED2 is an impressive place and Toyota has definitely woken up to the fact that its cars need to look good as well as be reliable, but the weakest link of the brand that is about to take over the automotive world is still the conservatism of its production design - particularly those cars bound for Europe. The designers’ skills and boldness – judging from their recent concept work – is not in question. The management’s speed in bringing it to market is. Scott deserves the last word: “Our Japanese company is very much step by step – rather than 15 steps forward in one go.”

Words: Guy Bird
source : carmagazine

;)
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