Auris Hybrid takes on the future

Published: 19/04/2011

The Auris Hybrid got its chance to earn its colours in the ultimate green challenge before Christmas – the Brighton to London Future Car Challenge.

Behind the wheel of one of the eight Auris’ representing the United Kingdom was Auto Express journalist Dawn Tennant, who took up the task in the magazine’s fleet Auris HSD T-Spirit.

At eight 8am sharp the first car left the starting point, and to maximise the chances of a good result Tennant “switched on the Eco button and had no air-con, heating or radio – that meant braving cold temperatures.

“The first section of the route was the 24 miles to Crawley, West Sussex where we all had an enforced break. The roads were fairly quiet and the skill was to stay at an economical, steady speed and keep the hybrid monitor in the green zone, while using the brakes as little as possible.

“Driving the car in this way had a calming effect,” says Tennant, who “enjoyed the challenge of anticipating events in advance, slowing down early for roundabouts and trying to avoid coming to a complete stop.

“Dicing with Saturday shoppers, buses and black cabs made the second leg from Crawley more stressful. Yet when we finally finished at Waterloo Place, the organisers worked out our fuel economy at an excellent 71.4mpg.”

Tennant’s light-footed driving technique earned her the accolade of second-best Auris in her team, which she admits to being “not bad for my international debut”.

(Source: Auto Express, 5 December)

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