Toyota Aurion: Model Update

Jay Williams - 22/September/2009

Melbourne, Australia –  Toyota Australia has released details of its upgrades to the V6-powered Aurion.

Changes to the Toyota Aurion include better comfort, more convenience and safety features as well as raising specification levels.

Styling changes for Aurion include a new front bumper, faster-acting LED stop and tail lights and new wheel designs across the range, including ten-spoke alloy wheels on entry-level AT-X.

Aurion's new front bumper features changes to the radiator grilles, lower aperture grilles, headlamps and fog-lamp surrounds (foglamps will be fitted as standard on Prodigy, Sportivo and Presara models).

Senior executive director of sales and marketing, Mr David Buttner said “designers have crafted a stronger, more distinctive look for Aurion that advances the original design's premium character.”

Mr.Buttner also said "The original Aurion face was a simple, yet bold, double-concave architecture,  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."

"New 17-inch, split five-spoke alloy wheels for Sportivo SX6 and ZR6 complement the new styling elements with a more lightweight feel."

The updated V6 Aurion also gains some fresh new interior colour combinations to its premium interior. Toyota has also made changes to the Aurion's instruments, audio systems, lighting and in-cabin storage. While the Prodigy and Presara models create a prestige, sports-luxury appearance, enhanced by the new linear satin woodgrain finish.

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 of heated exterior mirrors and auto-tilt exterior mirror on reverse. Interior comfort improvements include adopting dual-zone climate controlled air-conditioning.

Aurion's audio systems have been upgraded across the board. All models gain a Bluetooth hands-free telephone kit and most models have a Bluetooth audio system. A  3.5mm auxiliary audio input in the front centre-console box for an iPod or MP3 player is also added.

Prodigy and the two Sportivo models have a new "display" audio system with 4.3-inch colour LCD display, reverse camera capability, six-CD multi-changer and a USB/iPod auxiliary audio input.

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.

Front-door scuff plates are branded "Aurion" on top-of-the-line Presara and "Sportivo" on the two Sportivo models.

Toyota Aurion has a 3.5-litre, 200kW, Dual VVT-i engine and is mated to a six-speed transmission that features sequential-like shifting. Fuel economy of the updated Toyota Aurion is 9.9 litres per 100km, depending on driving conditions/style.

Aurion model and price list:
AT-X $35,490 (+$500)
Prodigy $40,990 (+$1,000)
Sportivo SX6 $39,990 (+$1,000)
Sportivo ZR6 $42,990 (no change)
Presara $49,990 (no change)

Added options:
Reverse camera & display audio (AT-X) $500
Moonroof (Prodigy, Sportivo models) $1,800
Moonroof & satellite navigation (Sportivo ZR6) $4,500
Metallic paint (AT-X, Prodigy, Sportivo SX6) $425

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