Toyota Aiming Auris Wagon to Take on Koreans in Europe

ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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will introduce the new Auris Sports TourerToyota Toyota Auris Gen.3Japan, 2012 > present78 versions
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at the Paris Motor Show. It is hoping that the model and espeically its hybrid version will help it compete against HyundaiFiatItaly, 1899 > present159 models
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and KiaKiaRepublic of Korea, 1944 > present52 models
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in Europe. The Auris Sports Tourer will be the only compact wagon offered with a hybrid in Europe. 

As major European automakers have struggled this year, Hyundai and Kia have seen sales increase in Europe. They still sell a fraction of what PSA and Fiat do, but as those automakers lost market share this year, the Koreans have been there to pick up the slack. 

When the Auris Sports Tourer goes on sale early in 2013, the Kia Cee'd SportwagonKia cee'd Gen.2Republic of Korea, 2012 > present61 versions
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will have been on sale for at least four months. The car went on sale just a few weeks ago, and Kia believes that it will be popular among fleet and commercial buyers. It expects the Sportwagon to outsell the five-door version because that is what happened in the last generation. 

Neither the Auris Sports Tourer nor the Cee'd Sportwagon are likely to take over the compact wagon segment, but with the competition currently in the European market, even a minor success if a big deal. 

Toyota Updates Auris, Auris Sports Tourer and Verso to Paris

Source: Automotive News Europe