Toyota added two entirely new models to its line-up, and two models with minor changes. The new models are the new Verso - a seven-seater MPV - and a third-generation Prius hybrid. There have been specification changes to the Rav4 and Hilux models. Toyota also announced price reductions on selected Corolla and Avensis models.

The Verso is now bigger than before and comes with seats that fold flat into the floor. The new model has been built on the Auris platform and, as well as styling changes to the exterior which have made the car look a little more upmarket, there has been a lot of work done on the car's interior, a big improvement on the previous version's drab appearance.

Curiously, Toyota appears to have remained loyal to its petrol engine line-up, despite a dramatic shift in buyer behaviour and will offer both the new 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre petrol engines, which are Valvematic engines that increase power by up to 20 per cent while emissions and fuel consumption have improved by up to 12 per cent. The petrol engines consist of a 132bhp 1.6-litre and a 147bhp 1.8- litre, which have CO2 emissions of 161g/km and 164g/km (tax band D) respectively. The most popular engine is likely to be the 2.0-litre diesel, which comes with 125bhp and has CO2 emissions of 143g/km (band C).

Prices for the Verso start from [euro]29,850 for the 1.6-litre Aura version, [euro]33,310 for the 1.8-litre Aura which comes with multidrive (their version of automatic) transmission and [euro]29,150 for the 2.0-litre diesel Aura. All models have air conditioning, seven airbags and VSC+ stability as standard.

The third-generation Prius, which was reviewed recently in Motors, is likely to spark a fair degree of interest as it is now better looking and more powerful than before thanks to a larger 1.8- litre petrol engine and improved battery, while also offering improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

Despite a 24 per cent power increase to 136bhp, the Prius can return 3.9 l/100km and puts out just 89g/km of CO2, which is the lowest emissions of a mainstream passenger car in Ireland so far.

Like the Verso, the new Prius comes with seven airbags, VSC+ stability control and air conditioning, as well as 15in alloy wheels. It costs [euro]25,995 and prices for the various "packs" for the car, which add things like 17in alloy wheels and leather upholstery, have yet to be finalised.

Prices have also yet to be finalised for changes to the Rav4, which has a new 2.0-litre petrol engine that moves it from tax band F to E; in the diesel version power rises from 136bhp to 150bhp, yet the car moves from band E to C in terms of emissions.

Prices for the updated Hilux - which has new model grades and the choice between a 120bhp 2.5-litre diesel or a 171bhp 3.0-litre diesel - start at [euro]21,670, a reduction of [euro]3,760 over the previous equivalent.

As we speculated last week in Motors, prices have been reduced on the Corolla petrol model from [euro]21,670 to [euro]19,500, a drop of [euro]2,170. Toyota will also offer buyers of the Corolla petrol [euro]10,000 worth of prize bonds for one year, giving them the opportunity to win several large cash prizes; one buyer will then get to win the prize bonds.

This offer, which also includes free road tax on the Corolla petrol, applies for cars registered between December 1st 2009 and March 31st 2010. There is also a price reduction for Avensis models of [euro]1,315 on petrol and [euro]1,365 on diesel models. There were, however, no price reductions on Land Cruiser Commercial.

Speaking at last Wednesday's launch of the new models, managing director Dave Shannon said he hoped there would be no more dealers lost from their network: "Stocks are in better shape and our dealers are in better shape heading into January than they were this time last year. . . I think our dealers have a better than average chance of getting through the next 12 to 18 months."

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