Revamped Aygo blows hot and cold

Toyota’s re-engineered Aygo has gone on sale led by special editions and maximum price increases of £40.

Heading the new Aygo line-up are Fire and Ice special edition versions of the car.

The Fire focuses on sporty detailing, whereas the Ice is based on comfort and on-board connectivity.

The Aygo update was first seen at the Brussels show this year alongside its sister cars the Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107.

Highlight among the changes are engine revisions dropping emissions below 100g/km, meaning no annual road tax and no congestion charge for Aygo owners driving in central London.

The 1.0-litre WT-I petrol engine produces 99g/km, compared to the previous model’s 105g/km figure. Fuel efficiency has also improved from the predecessor’s 61.4mpg to 65.7mpg.

Styling updates are led by a new front end following Toyota’s latest design language, in similar style to the latest Yaris supermini.

A wider front bumper with integrated foglights and a large air intake emphasise the lower portion of the car. With other small changes to the upper front grille and a new bonnet design, the new Aygo’s length stretches by 15mm.

Equipment levels on the entry-level Aygo and Aygo+ remain as before, with the Fire and Ice versions joining the line-up.

Fire is equipped with 14-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, a leather steering wheel and gear knob trim, while the Ice gains air conditioning, Alcantara and leather trim, a DAB-ready sound system, Bluetooth and USB ports for music players.

Prices for the new range start at £8,495, with Toyota saying that the Aygo and Aygo+ are both up to £105 cheaper than the 2011 versions. The Aygo Ice adds £40 to the equivalent previous price.

Words by: James Charman