2012 Toyota Aurion: first look from New Zealand | CarAdvice

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2012 Toyota Aurion: first look from New Zealand

TOYOTA AURION
By Tim Beissmann
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The 2012 Toyota Aurion has been launched in New Zealand, giving us an early look at the Camry-based large car before it goes on sale in Australia in mid April.

Toyota New Zealand’s website features front three-quarter images of three new Aurion models: the entry-level AT-X, the mid-range Touring and the performance-themed Sportivo SX6. The range-topping Sportivo ZR6 is also available, but is not pictured.

Toyota Australia’s Mike Breen confirmed local production of the new Aurion for our market has already commenced, and said the models sold here would look “pretty much” identical to those available in New Zealand.

While there will be some subtle specification differences between our Aurions and the ones sold across the ditch, Breen admits the NZ cars give a good indication of what to expect from the new model when it launches here in about six weeks’ time.

The Aurion AT-X (above) features a classy five-slat chrome grille, a clean front bumper and a wide lower air intake. The NZ-spec car comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, and a touchscreen display with AUX and USB ports and Bluetooth phone connectivity with audio streaming.

The Touring (below) gets a sportier black mesh grille, fog lights, 17-inch alloys and leather upholstery.

The Sportivo SX6 (top) inherits the Touring’s mesh grille and adds an aggressive lower front bumper with gaping black side intakes containing fog lights, rear diffuser with dual exhaust system, sports suspension, and sports seats and pedals. A blind-spot monitoring system is available on the top-spec Sportivo ZR6 in New Zealand.

The Aurion carries over the outgoing model’s 3.5-litre V6 engine, and continues to produce 200kW of power. Its combined cycle fuel consumption in New Zealand is officially rated at 9.3 litres per 100km, down from the outgoing model’s 9.9L/100km rating in Australia.

Full Australian specifications will be revealed closer to the launch of the updated Aurion in mid April.

Toyota sold 8916 Aurions in Australia last year, down 24 per cent from the previous year. Sales are again down 6.3 per cent so far in 2012 as customers hold off for the new model.

Follow this link for more images – including interior shots – of the new Toyota Aurion in left-hand-drive specification.


 

  • Monq

    The new Camry doesn’t look good in photos..

    But saw a few driving around, they look actually quite nice..

    • AJS

      I agree. The photo’s make it look a bit guppy-ish. But in the flesh its quite handsome.

  • Darryl

    Do NZ ones not come from Australia, or have they just launched it before it actually becomes available over there?

  • Steve

    NZ cars come direct from japan etc, they get alot of different models we dont get dont really no why

    • hh

      Maybe due to differences in tariffs, so there’s more room in terms of profit margins and so business cases can be made for more models.

    • James

      No they don’t, Camry/Aurion for NZ is made here in Altona then shipped over.

    • O123

      NZ uses different rules to us. Where as any car in Aus must be ADR compliant, Another useless piece of legislation really.

    • MisterZed

      lol – why would NZ take cars from Japan when they’re made right here?  They would save a fortune in shipping costs by taking them from Australia.

  • Martin Clarke

    AT-X gives a passing resemblence to a Lexus. Not a bad thing IMHO.

  • nugsdad

    I’m always stuck behind them doing 47km/h. I’d never seen the front of one before

    • al

      Haha, so true. Toyota drivers are the new Volvo drivers

  • Estiff95

    Let me guess on the sportivo, no 18″ rims, no drl’s ?

  • JD

    looks like the lexus es300 (post 2007 models)

    • MisterZed

      Um, there’s no such thing as a post 2007 ES300. The ES300 was discontinued nearly 10 years ago. Then came the ES330, then ES350.

      • JD

        ok let me rephrase it 

        looks similar to the post 2007 Lexus ES range

  • save it for the track

    blind spot monitoring only in the top spec?? And still no audible spoken reminders to tell those very skillful Toyota drivers that they are in drive or reverse?? Given the number of elderly and other types that have a preponderence to crash onto footpaths and through shop windows whilst in their corolla, camry or aurion. All models could do with as much assistance devices as possible.

    • Owler

      Blind spot alerts don’t help if you’re deaf.

      • Blueberry

        Yes they do as an indicator light also flashes in the exterior mirror

        • ?????????

          If they can see the indicator flashing in the mirror they shouldn’t need blind spot alerts!! or is the basic design that flawed that htere is still major blind spots???

          • !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

            You don’t get it you imbicile (sorry that came out unexpectedly). An LED light mounted in the wing mirrors glows/lights up when another car is in the proximity of your blind spot.

          • ?????????

            Sorry to be such an imbicile. But in this age I believe (and know) that a good design will eliminate blind spots..
            Use strongle steel alloys and reduce A, B & C pillars to reduce thickness thus increasing Glass Area.
            Also how can the car tell what my blind spot is? If you possition your mirrors properly (something most people cant do) you reduce / eliminate the blind.
            Those people who are at danger of collision from blind spots are more likely to be those people who DON’T LOOK at the mirrors at all!! So what good would the light do in the daylight for them??
            sorry but I am obviously to much of an imbicile to understand these things :-p

  • Ss1

    Aurions are pretty fast from the 0-100

    • Philthy

      But you’re stuffed once you get there.

    • Phil

      But not “pretty fast” from 40-80kmh thanks to a ridiculously tall 2nd gear and the refusal of the gearbox to go back to 1st gear over even when manually selected.

      • Ss1

        Yeah, the car won’t respond until you push the accelerator when your at abt 60, but as soon as it drops a gear it really goes

    • ?????????

      And that is important in real life because??

    • Andrew

      Haha, compared to what, the Camry?

    • Matthew Werner

      … but not when the average Toyota driver is behind the wheel

  • StiffyHaver

    So the sportivo ZX6 replaces the grande. I wonder if theyll give the option of a non sportivo version with the ATX exterior in aus

    • StiffyHaver

      …Grande is the fully loaded model, I believe it goes by a different name in australia

      • theillestlife

        If im not mistaken, the current gen “grande” spec was the presara or presera”?

        • JD

          yup, we get in ascending price

          ATX, touring special edn, prodigy, sportivo SX6, sportivo ZX6, presara

          more models than NZ

          • JD

            *ZR6

  • Springvale Boi

    Wait for 1-2 years then grab one from Fowles auction for $18k.

    • Gazza

      Yeah the same thing in a commodore $16k and the same in a falcon $13k at least TOYOTA hold there resale value!

  • PoisonEagle

    Well pretty sure its a torque-steering FWD POS. The end.

  • 440 R/T Charger

    Would like to see them offer the 2.5 liter engine so can sell at a lower price…just like the Thai-made Accord…offer the choice of 4cyl or V6

    • Galverstone

      They already offer a 2.5 litre four-cylinder in the Camry. this is essentially the V6 version of the Camry with slight revisions to front and rear styling, hence the term “Camry-based large car” in the opening paragraph.

      • theillestlife

        correct.  in actual fact this IS a camry. in thailand, it is known as the camry V6.

        • Ayu

          Asian markets do not get V6 engines.. For this car

  • http://twitter.com/MINI_CS Ian

    Toyota need to buy the name Kelvinator for its range of white goods.

    • Guest

      I think you’ll find that Electrolux is still using that brand.
      But maybe it’d sell the rights to the Frigidaire brand in Australasia…….it’d be a perfect fit!

      • Infraboy

        Hahahaaa you are so funny!

  • marc

    boring

  • ToyotaGuru

    ZR6, Tim, not ZX6.

  • Slasher

    i wonder if Toyota will bring out a TRD version…

    • JHP

      not going to happen, they had TRD in australia long time ago, but toyota decided to pull them out of oz market, coz no one bought them.

  • Antmindel

    Once again,compared to the Aurion,the Camry is good looking…

  • Leku

    I heard power was bumped up to 204Kw on regular unleaded

    Add premium fuel and you’d get 210Kw

    • !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Or you get a locally built family sedan of a similar price which outputs 270+ KW.

  • Kobe

    Toyota needs to sell the sports models with 18 inch wheels, it makes a huge difference… and oh… with a lowered suspension setup…. the resulting look is so much better and they can just charge an extra 2 grand and many people will still consider it…. performance wise its sufficient, what 0-100 in 6 seconds? for dads and family people thats plenty…  I mean for 40K AUD, not bad.

    • Estiff95

       agree 18′s at least would be a no brainer..holden and ford both offer a sports models with decent specs for their sports model. even the current sportivo colour range is appalling.

  • 42 = The Answer

    Narcolepsy on wheels

  • Andrew

    Still very barge looking and boring, Toyota really need to stop being too safe with their styling and start creating some more aggressive cars, especially the ones they call “sporty” which are anything but sporty!

    • Tup

       They did that with the Rukus and FJ cruiser and all they did was make people cringe! Toyota lost its sporty cred when the canned the Celica and Supra!!

      You want safe and sound, buy toyota – you want exciting and edgy, buy anything but a toyota!

  • Mark Zammit

    Hi All
    Like to test drive a new Aurion or Camry contact Mark at South Morang Toyota 0433837246 or 0394078000

  • Trusted2011

    If with the DVD GPS navigation will be more elegant and impeccable
    guanzhou trusty international eletronic technology co.,ltd

  • Gdrive1

    It is obvious that the comments above are from those who have not owned an Aurion Presara. I do and enjoy the power, comfort, and driveability. 

  • blue

    Toyota have always suffered from being the tall poppy, its about time some people realize they dont have to buy one, if they dont want one.Its really just that easy.