Toyota Aurion fuel figures

Toyota's fuel-economy figures for the new V6 Aurion are impressive.

It has confirmed details of the most powerful and fuel-efficient six-cylinder engine in a locally-made car, even though its V6 Aurion will not hit showrooms until November.

Toyota Australia says the high-tech imported V6 will have 200kW and fuel economy of 9.9 litres/100km, measured to the Australian Design Rule standard test 81/01.

It will also comply with the latest Euro 4 emission standards.

The economy is a big boost as Toyota tries to drive home a double-edged attack on the new Commodore and updated Falcon BFII.

Even so, the company says the timing is not planned to keep people out of GM Holden showrooms or put the Aurion on to shopping lists early.

"We had to submit the figures to the government for the Australian Design Rules," Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen says.

"Since they were going to be in the public domain we thought we might as well release them."

The numbers are good, and better than both the VE and BFII, and show an improvement on the economy side from the 11.2 litres/100km that Toyota managed with its last local V6 car, the Avalon.

"That's as the engine comes. I think with the new generation of engines from Toyota we have the specific aim of improving fuel efficiency. There is no special tweaking or testing for the ADR runs," Breen says.

The Aurion is in final testing on roads around Melbourne with only the barest of taping over the lights and badges.

Although Toyota has revealed its power and economy numbers, it is not talking about the Aurion's exact performance. But insiders at the company hint that the Aurion will be just as quick, or quicker, than the Falcon and Commodore.

"Among the Aussie six-cylinder family cars, it will be the leader in performance, delivering the power demanded by Australia's large-car motorists," Toyota's executive director of sales and marketing Dave Buttner says.