Diesel out for IS, in for Corolla

RESPONDING to a report in last week’s GoAuto e-news, Toyota and Lexus Australia boss John Conomos said the forthcoming Lexus IS sedan range would be unlikely to offer a diesel model – but that mainstream Toyota small cars, including Corolla, were strong candidates.

"Yes, the IS diesel would be relatively easy to bring to Australia," he told GoAuto. "But a diesel Yaris and Corolla are more likely – the latter first.

"In the next-generation Corolla we’d like to have a look at diesel. Eighty per cent of IS sales in Europe are diesel, but we have categorically no plans for Australia," he said.

Count on a post-2007 introduction for diesel-powered Toyota passenger cars.

Mr Conomos said diesel-electric would be the next step in hybrid technology, "but not in the short term due to their higher initial cost".