A Toyota trip down memory lane from the classic Carina E to the new Auris Hybrid
This Saturday marks 25 years since the first British-built Toyota rolled out of the Burnaston plant in Derby, so we took an old model for a spin - and checked out the latest one
AS the song says: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
A month of non-stop merriment, party drinks, game after game of televised footie and the roast dinner to end all roast dinners.
But over at Toyota-land, there’s another reason to celebrate.
This Saturday it is 25 years since the first British-built Toyota rolled out of the Burnaston plant in Derby on December 16, 1992.
That’s why the Carina E, the original Burnaston bomber, is our hero photo today.
We drove it back to the factory in the snow to meet the latest model, the Auris Hybrid.
Burnaston is like one big family. More than 200 of the original workforce are still there today.
Factory facts
4 million cars built (Carina, Corolla, Avensis, Auris).
2,448 workers, Derby’s second biggest employer.
£5.5m donated to local charities.
17,000 solar panels (providing enough energy to build 7,000 cars a year).
400 plant and wildlife species at nature reserve.
1 on-site crèche and health centre.
0 landfill waste since 2003.
Dozens of staff are father/son. Dozens more met their future wives and husbands there.
There’s even an on-site crèche and health centre.
The factory churns out 180,000 cars a year — four million-plus in 25 years — and Toyota recently confirmed a further £240million investment on a next-gen production platform, no matter whether it’s a hard or soft Brexit.
Factory boss Marvin Cooke said: “We’ve been here 25 years and we’re determined to be here for the next 25.
"We’re very proud to be in the UK.”
Toyota’s Deeside engine plant also opened in 1992. Made in Britain. Let’s all drink to that.
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IT’S never going to win a beauty pageant, is it?
But there’s a lot to love about the Toyota Carina E, the first car built at Burnaston.
Wind-up windows, cloth seats, five-speed manual, lots of glass, ginormous boot and as comfy as an armchair.
It’s simple – but it works. I even found TalkSport on the radio/cassette player. Result.
Key facts
1993 TOYOTA CARINA E
Price new: £10,339
Engine: 1.6-litre petrol
Economy: 43mpg
0-62mph: 11.2 secs
Top speed: 118mph