Toyota Aurion revised model released today

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By Matt Brogan | September 22nd, 2009

Toyota Australia have today released its upgraded Aurion models with the range featuring improvements in comfort, convenience and safety, as well as a rise in specification levels.

The styling changes include a new front mask, faster-acting LED stop and tail lamps, and new wheel designs across the range, including ten-spoke alloy wheels on entry-level AT-X.

Aurion’s new front mask includes new grade-specific bumpers, radiator grilles, lower aperture grilles, headlamps and foglamp surrounds (foglamps are fitted as standard on Prodigy, Sportivo and Presara models).

“The original Aurion face was a simple, yet bold, double-concave architecture,” said Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing, Mr David Buttner. “The facelift design uses ‘X-Form’ architecture, bracketed by the chrome-framed fog lamps.

“The lower grille is now a trapezoid shape, enhancing the stance of the car. The design increases the feeling of prestige with more subtle, flowing surfaces between the basic elements, blending rather than intersecting.

“The grille is wider, with freeform lines and secondary elements to each bar, adding more intricacy and precision.

“The functional areas of the headlamps are captured in twin C-shape pockets, with three horizontal ribs running through the indicators – a cue echoed in the rear lamps.

“The rear lamps have evolved from the twin round design and direct LEDs to a parallelogram design and striking diffused LED illumination.”

The side of the car too is now cleaner and more modern with the removal of body-side mouldings, a look complimented by new 17-inch, split five-spoke alloy wheels on Sportivo SX6 and ZR6 models.

New interior colour combinations freshen cabin decor with Prodigy and Presara models gaining a new linear satin woodgrain finish. Remaining inside Toyota has also upgraded Aurion’s instruments, audio systems, lighting and in-cabin storage across the range.

Safety improvements include improved light distribution performance from Aurion’s low-beam headlamps – both halogen and high-intensity discharge (HID) type. In addition, Aurion Prodigy gains an electro-chromatic interior mirror, power rear sunshade and rain-sensing wipers.

Sportivo ZR6 has the added safety and convenience of heated exterior mirrors and auto-tilt exterior mirror on reverse. Driver’s seat and exterior mirror memory has also been adopted on Sportivo ZR6. Interior comfort improvements include adopting dual-zone climate controlled air-conditioning on Sportivo SX6.

Aurion’s audio systems have been upgraded across the board. All models now have a Bluetooth hands-free telephone kit and 3.5mm auxiliary audio input in the front centre-console box.

Prodigy and the two Sportivo grades have a new “display” audio system with 4.3-inch colour LCD display, reverse camera capability, six-CD multi-changer, USB/iPod auxiliary audio input, and Bluetooth telephone hands-free kit with microphone integrated into the facia.

This audio system is optionally available on AT-X grade.

Presara’s AVN satellite navigation audio has been refined with an additional two speakers (for a total of eight speakers including two dual-cone rear speakers) and auxiliary 3.5mm input. The AVN satellite navigation audio system is optionally available on Sportivo ZR6.

Aurion is still powered by Toyota’s powerful yet efficient 3.5-litre Dual VVT-i V6 engine that delivers 200kW of power via a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy returns are just 9.9 L/100km.

Pricing for the new Aurion models is as follows:

AT-X: $35,490
Prodigy: $40,990
Sportivo SX6: $39,990
Sportivo ZR6: $42,990
Presara: $49,990

06Aurion

About time they updated the Aurion, it was getting a bit long in the tooth, love that brown colour shown. I have an Aurion on lease which has been a great car, but its now up for renewal and I have been hoping for some time that Toyota would bring out a wagon Aurion, but I doubt that is going to happen anytime soon. Test drove a Kluger and I felt I was going back at least 10 years in handling and steering, so I will probably sign up for a Holden Sportwagon.

Come on Toyota, for a car sold worldwide surely you could justify a wagon version of the Aurion/Camry??

Devilmaycare

Agree with you on that one, Toyota would have a very popular car if they had wagon versions of the Aurion/Camry. Fleets would love them, and families are certainly moving away from 4wds back into wagons.

ZX10

+1
Although if you speak to Toyota, they will tell you there is a Aurion wagon. They call it Kluger.
Meanwhile the rest of the world CAN tell the difference.

Lexustime

I work in fleet/leasing, and we still have businesses enquiring on Camry wagons, and they havn’t existed for 7 years! Last 12 months has seen a big enquriy boost on wagons in general from novated (user chooser) and company leases, the Holden Sportwagon is very popular, so is Mazda6 and funnily enough the VW Passat. Toyota would have a hit with a Camry and Aurion wagon.

ZX10

Lexustime, out of curiosity – how many leases are taken out on Klugers?
confuse

australia demographics show lots of young families increasing. Smart car company would look at sell vehicle that:
1. look good
2. go good
3. have big room
4. no take much petrol
5. give lot for money

Carnival sell good because it give much for not much.
aurion wagon not kluger!!! can sell good if it got good price.

Jon Leong

There is actually a sort of Camry-aurion wagon in both US and Japan’s tyota line up. In US its called the Venza and in Japan its call the Mark X zio.
it should be the same platform as it runs 2.4 or 3.5 through the Front wheels. (or maybe its a 2wd kluger platform?? or are they the same?) its also availble in 6 or 7 seat form. so they can also replace that stupid avensis verso. (to compete with honda oddyssey, and the soon to release subaru exiga)
have a look the the photos of it… I think toyta aus should bring it in…
I would buy one if they do… especially if it look the same as Japanese sports spec.
http://toyota.jp/markxzio/exterior/garally/index.html
http://www.toyota.com/venza/photo-gallery.html

S

Its based on the Camry platform. Has a 2.7l or 3.5l engine, and only available as a 5 seater. It’s also available in AWD.

Jon Leong

I’ve just checked. The Japanese one is available in 6 and 7 seater form. In Japan, its a direct competitor for Honda Odyssey and subaru exiga. available with 2.4 and 3.5 (same as camry) The US Venza one looks different and its base on the kluger (highlander) platform, sharing the same 2.7 and 3.5 engine, thats why in US its available in 4WD and only available in 5 seats.

KingCobra

With Toyota AU always saying that they have to compete with Camry factories overseas, an Aussie developed Camry wagon would give local operations a point of difference over the foreign factories and maybe help in securing extra export contracts – especially to Europe.

Jon Leong

You know in Europe they don’t want cars as big as camry. They have the Avensis and Avensis wagon (same size as an Accord Euro)which is only being built in UK and only available in europe. Also, Europe is not economically viable place for Aus to do export because its far away, EU have lots of regulation to protect local factories, and Toyota already have lots of plants in Europe.

http://www.emmaspringer.com Emma Springer

The Aurion is a nice looking car. I especially like the blue one because blue is my favourite colour. It’s kind of pricey though.

James W

Saw a couple of higher grade new look Aurion’s on the back of a truck this morning – headed city bound on West Gate freeway… the look is smoother/tidier – but how about some more power for the Sportivo’s? And different alloys for the ZR6 – heard of 18-inch wheels Toyota?

Sumodog

Removal of BSPM’s. That is not to make the car look “cleaner and more modern” – it is cost cutting.

Golfschwein

Yes!
Hazyman

agreed

ZX10

Nice looking. I see there are no engine/drive train upgrades. I guess they must still think they are ahead of the game?
Stay tuned for the new falcodores. Then watch T upgrade the donk.
S

Why no shots of the interior or the back? Are those clear tail lights on the Sportivo?
Yanzo

why don’t car makers just make several bodykits for their cars so we can choose which one we want?

still no manual and i think it looks uglier
The Realist

Toyota needs to bring the Crown to Oz – blows away the Aurion / Camry.
Shak

The old Aurion looked like a bloated camry, and this looks like the bloated camry went on a lemon detox diet. i do like the level of spec though, but i would never put my money dwon on this when i could get a commodore with much more power or the falcon with a much better gearbox. C’mon toyota make a wagon and broaden the appeal of your range.
Alex

Like the car, realiable etc, but I wouldn’t spend that amount on Aurion when I can buy a SV6 with more power and better on fuel
eclipse

Subtle styling changes, but overall nice looking new Aurion. In their TRD guise they do look the goods, the sportivo doesn’t really match it with the XR6 or SV6 for street looks. Some oversize spoilers and 19″ rims would get a few more people interested. The big T would probably argue that the RAV4 2.4 is the camry wagon equivalent and the V6 kluger is the aurion wagon equivalent.
ScottB

Midlife facelifts are always so…..lame. They seem to have based their new front bumper design on Ford’s current range though

OzProud

Front bumper design struck me as similar to Ford also in that first photo – but then I thought the eye was perhaps being fooled by the classic ford ‘blue’. Certainly though, the fog (driving?) lights along with the lower grille on the first 2 pics are straight from the Mitsubishi 380 – if your memory doesn’t go back a couple of years then google a 380 pic and have a look.

wizzy

the first few shots, the bumper reminded me straight away of the mitsubishi 380 and the the last shot reminded me of the g series falcons. Great effort Toyota at copying everyone else

Zx10

Very true wizzy, but why reinvent the wheel? Toyota is known for it’s white goods so if they can’t come up with a distinctive and handsome look themselves, they may as well copy other people’s good designs.

Andrew M

The sportivo just got tackier.
sure the base Aurion always looked bland, but the design of the previous Sportivo seemed to flow much much better.

Now it looks like the guys that were fired from TRD were placed in charge of this Aurion face lift.
It still doesnt look like a one piece bumper though, and seems to follow toyotas inability to create a sporty looking front bumper that isnt plastic stuck on plastic
http://skyline The Salesman

So basically Toyota have dug a little deeper into the parts bin and “revised” the shape.
Toyota (like everyone else) are struggling to find buyers for a six pot motor.
No, I am not picking on Toyota. I was at the Aurion road show and I know how well they handle around the Mt Cotton driver training circuit. Selling a six at the moment is like trying to convince someone to buy leprosy. Good luck Toyota.
Dude

c’mmon give em a break…its not that bad….iv seen worse!
Alex

The Aurion and the Camry are so behind the times it’s not funny. They’re cars that I laugh at the owners of because they are obviously painfully boring people or they were talked around by a Toyota salesman.
Longy

i still reckon the TRD version looks the best this still looks cheap
HardMan

Toyota generally don’t fiddle much in mid-life refreshes compared to Ford and Holden. Part of it is that they rely on Japan head office on any new parts whereas Ford and Holden can push through new improvements alot more quickly.
David

Since the global financial crisis most car-makers are now restricting facelifts to just a new bumper and new wheel designs. Whereas a decade or so ago, you’d get completely new sheetmetal. The same thing actually happened back in the mid 90s when Japan was in a recession – updates were much more minimal.
Al Juraj

Still has the fatal flaw – foot brake!
TSI

Best reliable is Aurion
Devil’s Advocate

Yeah, most are sold to the same places that buy the most Commodores and Falcons. The Fleets! It is rather humerous that once fleet sales are taken out of the equation, the big 3 cars are lucky to make it into the top 5! At the end of the day though, a sale is a sale!
Devil’s Advocate

Especially now that Hyundai is snapping at their heels and VW/Audi is going from strength to strength. Now is not the time for Toyota to be complacent. However they do have one thing on their side, the majority of people being creatures of habit, are too afraid of change and have blinkers on that are so tight that they refuse to accept there are other brands out there that may have something better for their purpose. This goes for more than just Toyota owners/drivers…
http://www.caradvice.com.au Matt Brogan

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