Major car brand's smallest motor bought by 300,000 drivers unveiled with new look… & will be hybrid-only

The Sun

2 days ago

A MAJOR car brand has unveiled a new look for its smallest motor due to be rolled-out later this year.
The tiny Toyota Aygo X has received a mid-life update, with its mini 1.0L petrol engine being swapped out for a hybrid powertrain, borrowed from its big brother, the Yaris.
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When it arrives in the UK later this year, it will be the smallest entirely hybrid car on sale in the country.
Toyota will also discontinue its manual gearbox petrol version, making the Aygo X hybrid-only.
The Japanese carmaker has found a great deal of popularity with its "A-segment" city car, selling nearly 300,000 since they were introduced in 2022.
Now, its refreshed Aygo X could attract even more buyers with its 114bhp 1.5L petrol-electric hybrid setup - borrowed from the larger and more expensive Yaris and Yaris Cross.
However, the design has been adapted from these other motors, due to the Aygo's tight dimnesions.
For example, while battery cells are usually found parallel in the Yaris, the Aygo X will have them placed as two stacks alongside each other underneath the rear seats.
The auxiliary battery will also be moved under the boot storage in order to not cramp the space inside the tiny motor.
In terms of power, this new hybrid setup churns out a respectable 114bhp, far more than the 71bhp seen in the current Aygo.
Toyota says this means the Aygo X will be able to go from 0-62mph in "less than 10 seconds".
The new motor is also expected to boast fuel economy figures beyond 70mpg, reports Car Magazine.
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On top of this all, Toyota says the new Aygo X will have CO2 emissions of just 86g/km, the lowest of any car that does not need to be plugged in.
The iconic Japanese carmaker has also claimed to have made the Aygo quieter and more comfortable through increased noise insulation, especially on the top-spec model - which will come with thicker glass.
On its exterior, the updated Aygo X boasts new sharp LED headlights as well as a redesigned front bumper.
The motor stretches 76mm longer than its predecessor, primarily to accommodate the larger hybrid powertrain.
World's largest car maker hatching plans to invest £40 million in a new assembly line in UK
The world's largest car maker is planning to invest a whopping £40million for a new assembly line in the UK.
The Toyota plant at Burnaston could be in line for a major investment, as the company weighs moving production for the US market from Japan to Derbyshire.
The car maker plans to invest around £41 million to set up a new production line dedicated to making GR Corollas, according to Reuters.
Toyota has denied that Trump tariffs are behind the potential shift, despite taxes on Britain being 10 per cent compared to Japan's 25 per cent.
In light of the potential move, Japanese automaker Toyota revealed that new cars could be added to the European market.
Currently, the GR Corolla is only available in Japan and is exported to North America and select other markets.
Burnaston plant currently produces the Corolla hatchback and estate for the UK and European markets, but production rates could significantly improve with the proposed investment.
A new production line could be operational within 12 months, with reports suggesting that Japanese engineers may temporarily relocate to Derbyshire to assist with the transition.
On top of a new bonnet, there is also an option to have a retractable canvas roof.
If you're feeling like splashing out some more cash, there's also a newly introduced GR Sport trim level for the Aygo X, said to be "inspired by Toyota's motorsport teams".
In the cabin, there aren't many changes to come with the update - although a new seven-inch digital instrument cluster has been added.
There is also expected to be a new wireless smartphone charger for higher-spec cars.
Prices and specifications have yet to be fully announced for the Aygo X, although experts have said to expect a "healthy increase" on top of the car's current starting price of £16,845.