THIS is Toyota’s Corolla replacement – and not even the name is being carried over. Instead, the firm’s lower-medium model will be called Auris when it goes on sale in February.

Designed on an all-new platform, the Auris has styling hints from the Yaris supermini and will be powered by a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines, with a range-topping D-4D diesel with 180bhp arriving later next year. Three and five-door hatchbacks will be available.

The Auris is being charged with growing fleet business for the firm. Currently, fleet sales account for 39% of Corolla sales and Toyota wants the Auris to raise that figure to nearer 60% – the same level as the Avensis. For the year-to-date, Corolla fleet sales are down by 31%.

Tim Copland, general manager of Toyota Fleet, said: ‘The Auris provides us with a huge opportunity in the lower-medium sector and we are aiming to drive user-chooser volumes to a far greater degree. Feedback from customers and the industry on the Auris concept we showed at Paris has been extremely encouraging.’