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We've had an awesome launch and a riveting first week at the Auris Blog. Those of you out there that are getting in on the action that's heating up on Auris City are sure to be in for a real treat with this week's competition.

This week is all about the Music! So if you're a car lover and think you've got the skills as a music aficianado then put on your dancing shoes and head to the Auris City parking lot to get ready for some musical fun that just might see you win that Apple 30Gb iPod Video that's up for grabs.

I wonder who's going to be this week's Auris All Star?

All I know right now is that if you wanna be the hot shot in Auris City then you're gonna have to be fast when you navigate your way around those corners and be on the ball in this week's Music quizz!

With Week One's gameplay behind us, it's time to congratulate Gareth Richards who snuck up behind Vickar Indurjith to win that fabulous 32 inch LCD HD TV! Well done!

The rest of the contenders didn't walk away empty-handed as they each picked up movie vouchers.

So I'm off to try my hand at the game again, about the 18th time today that I've had a chance to cut those corners, and I must say, I'm, getting addicted too :-)

PS- For all those spy pic enthusiasts, the making of the Auris TV commercial is happening sometime this week so keep your eyes peeled for the lovely Auris in our midst.

The Auris City game already has its first lead contender after just a few days of the new Toyota Auris-inspired virtual game site being launched. We got the inside scoop from Vickar Indurjith and Gareth Richards, two of the top racers at Auris City, who both boast an unbelievable race time of a mere 6.1seconds with Vickar being in the lead by mere milliseconds!

Vickar heard about the Auris City competition on 5fm during the Gareth Cliff breakfast radio show while Gareth was sent the game via email from a friend on Monday afternoon. "I averaged about 2 hours gameplay during the course of Monday, and it’s becoming a crazy addiction for me," says Indurjith when asked about the amount of time he has spent trying to keep the top spot. 

Gareth says he’s also wracked up his fair share of up to a total of 30 gameplays alone on that particular Monday afternoon of gaming. He has been in close contention with Clive Maher who is a shave closer to the competition, literally by 1 sec.

The competition is quite serious and instead of eyes being solely on the prizes up for grabs, the quest for being the top dog are more at stake than anything, and this is what Richards had to say about the matter: "On Wednesday, someone created a profile called the 'GarethBeater', which I thought was quite funny but trust me, Clive isn’t going to be in first for much longer!" 

Vickar Indurjith is 26 and works behind the scenes at Loreal South Africa concocting recipes for the Softsheen Carson brand as he is their Process Expert while Richards, 27, runs a shopfitting and exbition company called Design Crazy. They’re both keen PlayStation gamers and are huge fans of Grand Tourismo. Gareth also has a fetish for the adventurous and is a supermotard racing enthusiast, which is an on- and offroad sport.

When asked to explain their growing fascination with Toyotas and the Auris City site more specifically, this is what Vickar had to say, "I’m a proud owner of a Tazz and even though I probably can’t afford the Auris, I like the way it looks as it’s spunky and interesting, and that’s why it’s fun being able to be part of the brand in someway." Richards on the other hand nearly acquired a Toyota Corolla RXI a while back and has fun poking around the Toyota motor he has installed in his Lotus 7, which is his pet toy over the weekends. 

Both contenders find the site simple and easily navigable and even though they both normally get bored with Flash games, they say the AurisCity game offers extremely good response times and is very interactive which makes for good game play and a fun sport. 

The only thing that Vickar had left to say to anyone wanting to take a shot at first place is, "Catch me if you can…"

There are only 3 Toyota Auris vehicles in the country (that we know of).

In our quest to bring you the most up to date sneak previews of this beauty, we're going to need some help. We want photos - sneak peeks of the Auris out and about in South Africa. Its time to go undercover.

We're asking you to be our eyes and ears for the next few weeks by snapping spy photos of the Toyota Auris if you spot it. At least that way we can share the Auris buzz and all get a chance to see what it looks like in SA, on our roads, with our big African sky as its backdrop.

The paparazzo that sends us the best exterior (and interior if you can get them) pictures will get limited edition Auris paraphernalia and a 2GB iPod Nano - and national acclaim of course. We need to be sure that the photo is taken in SA and by you, so no Photoshopping allowed! Keep it real and make sure your pics stand out from the rest of the crowd just like the Auris does.

Send your pictures or videos to spy(at)aurisblog.com with your name and contact details, and stand in line to get up, close and personal with the Toyota Auris at the exclusive SA launch.

For a quick look at some great international spy shots, try Worldcarfans' Spy Photos . The Auris' here are not mules so look out for the shiny, unencumbered sheet metal when doing your local scouting.

Judging is purely subjective with points being given for clarity, detail and artistic merit. The challenge will end in early August - final date to be confirmed. Toyota employees - sorry, you are excluded from winning but off course not from being a spy :-)

If you like the finer things in life and are techno savvy then you have got to mix and mingle in the AurisCity hub. It’s that hip and happening place where all Toyota car enthusiasts will want to be spotted trying their hand at the 4-week long competition that offers up iPods, LCD TVs and PS3s up for grabs.

Once registered, you will be initiated into all things Auris and be sure to try your hand at the online AurisCity game, which has definitely been getting my thumbs in action over the last few days.

To get started and be part of the action, users need to register online at the AurisCity Licensing Department, upload their photos at the Photo Booth and prepare themselves for the true test of skill and speed in the AurisCity game. Each week users will get to ride around in different venues around Auris City picking up stars which will help them get one step further to the prizes.

You can visit www.auriscity.co.za and explore the virtual inner city of Auris that the cars as well as their drivers are all part of. The virtual world of AurisCity is made up of incredible hangout spots like the Auris Showroom where users can view features, the latest specs and models of the Toyota Auris, and there’s an area where you can check out Pricing & Finance options if you can’t wait to get your hands on the steering wheel of the new Auris.

There are also some stunning desktop images in the Art Gallery. The push-button ignition (or is it a push-to-start button) looks amazing as a backdrop and so do the lit-up dashboard dials.

When users get down to playing the AurisCity game they will be driving their very own Auris through the city streets, navigating their path to various venues. We will be giving out quick hints and clues to help you navigate your way around the different venues in search of those prizes.

It clearly is the destination for all things Auris online so come be part of the fun.

The countdown has begun. The next couple of weeks are going to be full of anticipation & excitement as the Toyota Auris heads to our shores.

So, welcome to Toyota South Africa’s Auris Blog as we give you a behind-the-scenes look at the Auris, opportunities for you to participate in launch events, present some of the best international Auris coverage (its even got its own Wikipedia entry!) and showcase the car in as many ways as possible – basically, let the Auris experience begin long before you actually get behind the wheel. 

We may even be able to get you some preferential test drives!

The launch campaign started yesterday morning, with the ribbon cutting ceremony at Auris City – a virtual city that has its fair share of mad drivers in the inner city driving game. How The Grim Reaper and Gareth Richards have done the course in 9 seconds stuns us – too many video games guys. 

Refreshingly, South Africa is getting the Auris just 6 months after its European launch – not bad for a motoring public that is used to the long wait for sexy new models (car models that is!). Could this be the start of SA not being seen as the poor cousin when it comes to getting new cars?

The range is broad, the roads are long and the car is beautiful. Roll on Auris August.