Toyota Corolla wagon, hybrid not for Oz

Toyota has partially revealed its new Corolla wagon ahead of its global debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show later this month, but Toyota Australia says it wouldn’t sell in big enough numbers here to justify a local release.

Dubbed the Auris Tourer - the Corolla is badged as the Auris in some markets - the new wagon is claimed to be the world's first C-segment hybrid wagon.

It will also be offered with a number of conventional petrol and diesel engines in Europe, but Toyota Australia's Public Relations Manager, Mike Breen, said the Corolla wagon will not be introduced locally in any form.

"The Corolla wagon is built in the UK for the European market. We do not believe the likely volume would justify the cost to get the car to Australia,” he said.

"In any case, the RAV4 sold here offers the space of a five-seat wagon while the Prius v provides the flexibility of a five-seater with additional luggage space or a seven-seater," contended Mr Breen.

Few details on the European-styled Corolla wagon have been revealed by Toyota, which would only say "The Tourer’s styling follows similar cues to its hatchback sister model, but without compromising load space."

Australian deliveries of the new Corolla hatchback will begin in late October after its launch at the Australian International Motor Show.

The 11th generation Corolla hatch, which will be followed on sale within 12 months by a redesigned Corolla sedan, will be offered with an upgraded 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, matched to both manual and – for the first time – CVT automatic transmissions.

European customers also get the option of a 1.4-litre diesel engine, with a 2.0-litre BMW-built turbo-diesel joining the fray by 2014, but diesel engines are unlikely to be added to the Australian roster as Toyota puts all of its passenger car eggs in the hybrid basket here.

The technology flagship of the new Auris/Corolla line-up will be the hybrid version, but Mr Breen told motoring.com.au that hybrid Corollas have also been scuppered for the Australian market as they impinge on the burgeoning Prius franchise.

"We have no plans to introduce the Corolla Hybrid to Australia," stated Mr Breen.

"We have opted for the Prius family, which spans a wide range of buyer demographics. The Prius c city-car (which is not sold in Europe) appeals to young singles and couples. The Prius v seven-seater is aimed at families and the third-generation Prius hatch ... is a little bit bigger than a Corolla.  We also offer the locally built Camry Hybrid."