GENEVA - Toyota launches three distinctive new cars at Geneva.

Toyota takes the wraps off new versions of its British-built Auris and Avensis at the Geneva motor show on Tuesday 3 March and reveals the new 1.2T turbo petrol engine that will make its debut in Auris this year.

It also presents the production-ready Mirai fuel cell saloon that will be introduced in the UK and other selected European markets later in 2015.

New Auris

The Auris range of hatchbacks and Touring Sports wagons has been extensively revised for 2015 to increase its appeal to a wider range of customers. The engine line-up in particular has been redrawn with the introduction of the new 1.2T turbo petrol unit and a new 1.6-litre D-4D diesel. The established 1.4 D-4D diesel has been substantially upgraded to give improved emissions and fuel economy.

Auris remains unique in its class in being available with full hybrid, petrol and diesel powertrains. Where hybrid is concerned, the smooth, refined, reliable and highly efficient Toyota system has sealed its status as a mainstream rather than niche choice, powering more than 50 per cent of all new Auris sold in western Europe in 2014.

All Auris powertrains now meet Euro 6 emissions standards.

Auris further gains refreshed exterior and interior styling. In the cabin the focus is on higher levels of ensory quality, using premium quality trims and finishes. Additional measures to reduce NVH levels have been taken and detail adjustments to steering and suspension have improved handling, comfort and driver involvement.

New Avensis

The new Avensis – saloon and Touring Sports – has been conceived as a model that can meet the demands of private buyers for more prestige and luxury and fleet/business users’ priorities for extra sportiness and style.

Toyota’s programme of improvements thus focuses on five main areas: styling, sensory quality, safety, equipment/value for money and driving pleasure/running costs.

Avensis benefits from new exterior styling, including the adoption of new LED lamp technology, while the cabin is all-new, with higher levels of quality and comfort and new colour-ways. Where safety is concerned, Avensis adopts the new Toyota Safety Sense package across the range.

A new equipment grade structure promises class-leading equipment levels and wider use of advanced technologies, including a new eight-inch multimedia screen.

Like Auris, the engine line-up becomes fully Euro 6 compliant, with two new D-4D diesel units and significant improvements to the efficiency of the established Valvematic petrol engines.

1.2 turbo petrol engine

Toyota’s all-new, direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine makes its debut in new Auris, part of a programme of 14 new engine introductions Toyota is making globally between April 2014 and the end of this year.

The four-cylinder unit, like the 1.0-litre engine that powers new Aygo, is able to switch between different operating cycles to achieve optimum efficiency or performance, according to driving conditions.

Compact and lightweight, it produces 114bhp and 185Nm of torque, giving 0 – 62mph acceleration in 10.1 seconds. Provisional (pre-homologation) data indicate combined cycle fuel economy of 60.1mpg with 109g/km CO₂ emissions.

Mirai fuel cell saloon

Mirai, Toyota’s ground-breaking hydrogen fuel cell saloon, is being shown in Europe for the first time in full production guise. Its arrival follows its market launch in Japan late last year and precedes its staged introduction in the UK and other selected European markets from around September this year.