Spied: 2013 Toyota Auris Tourer

Although development of Toyota's upcoming C-Segment family car is well underway in hatchback form, the Japanese marque will surprise customers with a wagon variant of the aforementioned model.

Cue the new Auris/Corolla Tourer. Spied undergoing testing on a secret test-track in Germany, the return of the wagon variant marks a seven year absences when Toyota axed the Corolla wagon back in 2005.

The outline of the new Auris/Corolla boasts a sleeker, sportier side profile compared to the outgoing model.

Following the Toyota-BMW alliance, a 1.6 and 2.0 litre BMW-sourced diesels will be complimented by a series of petrol powerplants. Although a petrol-electric hybrid model is likely to be offered, a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid is rumoured.

Toyota has already confirmed a €265m investment in both the Britain and Turkish plants, where the sedan will be built.

The Auris/Corolla hatchback will launch in Spring 2013 with the Tourer launching in mid-2013, as a 2014 model year.

Via AutoEvolution.com