Toyota takes the wraps off British-built Auris hybrid

Toyota is showing off the hybrid version its mid-sized Auris. The new car will be manufactured at the company's UK plant at Burnaston, making it the first hybrid to be manufactured in the Britain and, according to the company, the first "full hybrid" to be made in Europe.

Another interesting aspect of the Auris hybrid – badged HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) - is that it is a variant of an existing car, rather than a free-standing model in its own right. That's more in line with the usual practice of Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus; the Toyota-badged Prius, for example, is available only as a hybrid.

The Auris' drivetrain consists of an 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor, which, combined, deliver 134 horsepower. Two versions are available; one emits 89g/km according to official tests, the other 92g/km. That's almost as good as the 87g/km achieved by Smart's tiny Fortwo diesel, usually considered to be the cleanest car on the market, at least according to this measure