2009-2017 Auxio AF
The AF is Auxio’s compact executive sedan. The AF was marketed towards younger buyers and driving enthusiasts alike who wanted the luxury of an Auxio, but the athletics and sportiness of a sports car. So, the AF was designed to be Auxio’s sportiest sedan, and this 3rd generation AF was no exception. It still retains the classic front-engined rear-wheel-drive setup, but on a newer platform. Styling was done by Kiichiro Katayama, who was in charge for the late 2000s-early 2010s design. The front grille was also marked the transition from a smaller grille to a large single grille you see on modern Auxio’s today. This AF became the enthusiast’s choice for an Auxio.
Efficient, reliable, powerful
The Auxio AF came in different engine options for different trims. The AF200 and AF200 Luxury were equipped with a turbocharged 2 litre I4 engine producing 223HP and 203lb-ft of torque on the pre-facelift model, and 225HP and 205lb-ft of torque on the facelifted model. The AF300 and AF300 Luxury came with a naturally aspirated 3 litre I6 engine on the pre-facelift model producing 253HP and 213lb-ft of torque and was changed to a turbocharged 3 litre I6 for the facelifted model producing 324HP and 310lb-ft of torque. The AF300 X-Line has a tuned-up version of the facelifted AF300’s engine producing 347HP and 329lb-ft of torque. The pre-facelift X-Line was the AF350 X-Line featuring a naturally aspirated 3.5 litre I6 producing 335HP and 269lb-ft of torque. Finally, the ultimate AF, the AF450X, featuring a 4.5 litre naturally aspirated high-revving V8 producing 453HP and 345lb-ft of torque.
Pick your poison.
The Auxio AF comes in 7 different variations, from the humble entry-level AF200 all the way to the ultimate sports sedan, the AF450X.
AF200
The AF200 is the entry-level trim of the AF. It can be equipped with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed advanced automatic transmission. AWD is available but cannot be equipped with the manual transmission. Wheels are 17-inch 6-spoke alloy wheels with medium compound tires. Solid disk brakes are standard across all 4 wheels. The interior is made of premium leather with piano black trim. The AF200 also comes standard with a premium AM/FM radio with CD player and 4 premium speakers.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE PRE-FACELIFT AF200 WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND WITHOUT THE AWD SYSTEM) 0-60mph: 7.62s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 43.1mpg, Starting price: $35100***]
On the facelift, changes from the pre-facelift includes standard LED front and rear lights, replacement of the CD player to a premium SatNav system, twin 5-spoke alloy wheel design, along with other changes.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE FACELIFTED AF200 WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND WITHOUT THE AWD SYSTEM) 0-60mph: 7.62s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 46.6mpg, Starting price: $36700**]
Optional extra:
AWD system (also includes viscous LSDs): +$3300
AF200 Luxury
The AF200 Luxury is a step-up from the standard AF200. Changes includes 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, a sunroof, chrome mirrors, fog lights, chrome front side intake inserts, a premium SatNav system, woodgrain interior trim, and adaptive dampers. The 6-speed manual transmission is not offered on this trim and upwards.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE PRE-FACELIFT AF200 LUXURY WITHOUT THE AWD SYSTEM) 0-60mph: 7.86s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 42.3mpg, Starting price: $38200**]
On the facelift, changes from the pre-facelift includes the elimination of the chrome front side intake insert, the AuxioTouch infotainment system, twin 5-spoke alloy wheel design, along with other changes.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE FACELIFTED AF200 LUXURY WITHOUT THE AWD SYSTEM) 0-60mph: 8.23s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 43.8mpg, Starting price: $39800***]
Optional extras:
Black mirrors; +$200
AWD system (also includes viscous LSDs): +$3300
AF300
The AF300 is the mid-level trim of the AF. It includes everything from the AF200 Luxury but adds semi-active sway bars, a 7-speed advanced automatic transmission and aluminium trim in the interior. Unfortunately for all AF300s, AWD is unavailable.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE PRE-FACELIFT AF300) 0-60mph: 7.51s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 28.2mpg, Starting price: $42900**]
On the facelifted model, changes include the AuxioTouch infotainment system, along with other changes, and the addition of the optional AWD system.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE FACELIFTED AF300 WITHOUT THE AWD SYSTEM) 0-60mph: 6.66s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 36.2mpg, Starting price: $44100***]
Optional extras:
Black mirrors: +$200
AF300 Luxury
The AF300 Luxury is the luxurious version of the AF300 introduced in 2010. This is also the most luxurious and most comfortable model of the AF lineup. Changes from the normal AF300 includes an additional sunroof for the rear, electric power steering, additional safety features, and semi-active dampers.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE PRE-FACELIFT AF300 Luxury) 0-60mph: 7.51s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 30.0mpg, Starting price: $46200**]
On the facelifted model, changes includes a new wheel design, the AWD system as standard, along with other changes.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE FACELIFTED AF300 Luxury) 0-60mph: 6.43s, Top Speed: 155mph*, 35.0mpg, Starting price: $52100***]
Optional extras:
Air suspension system: +$1000
AF350/AF300 X-Line
The AF350 X-Line was Auxio’s first X-Line vehicle. This X-Line trim was meant to be a watered-down version of the fully-fledged X cars by Auxio’s X Division. But make no mistake, these cars are still true sport sedans. The X-Line trim comes standard with a viscous rear differential, new 18-inch twin 5-spoke alloy wheels with wider tires, vented disk brakes, a sportier-tuned suspension, aluminium interior trim and a new body kit. The AF350 X-Line was discontinued in 2012.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE AF350 X-Line) 0-60mph: 6.3s, Top Speed: 168mph*, 23.6mpg, Starting price: $46600**]
The AF300 X-Line picked off right where the AF350 X-Line ended. Introduced in 2013 as part of the facelift, changes from the pre-facelift X-Line includes a new body kit, another sunroof for the rear instead of the standard one sunroof, the replacement of the viscous LSD with the geared LSD, and a carbon rear lip spoiler instead of the body-coloured one. The AF300 X-Line also now comes with an AWD system as well. There are other changes as well.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE AF300 X-Line) 0-60mph: 6.07s, Top Speed: 168mph*, 34.3mpg, Starting price: $47000***]
AF350 X-Line Suzuka Edition
In 2012, Auxio introduced an even sportier version of the X-Line, the AF350 X-Line Suzuka Edition. A little history of Auxio and the Suzuka circuit. Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan is where Auxio developed and tests all its performance cars. Suzuka, Japan is also where the Auxio X-Division is located. Changes from the standard X-Line includes new 19-inch twin 7-spoke wheels with wider sport compound tires, a new front bumper with canard-like bumps to simulate the aerodynamics of canards and decrease lift, larger carbon rear spoiler, carbon exterior trim to replace the chrome ones, tinted headlights, red X-Line badge, red brake calipers, red side mirror caps, sportier and stiffer tuned suspension, removed the 168mph electronic speed limiter, removed the rear centre seat making it a 4-seater, lighter seats, carbon fibre interior trim, alcantara headliner, carbon interior trim, thicker roll-bars, and semi-active dampers. All this made the Suzuka Edition to be the Auxio’s ultimate naturally aspirated Inline 6 sports sedan. This was the swansong of the naturally aspirated Inline 6 Auxio sedan. The Suzuka Edition was sadly discontinued in 2013 as Auxio discontinued all naturally aspirated Inline 6 engines. Only 5000 of these were made for the entire world.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE AF350 X-LINE SUZUKA EDITION) 0-60mph: 5.95s, Top Speed: 182mph, 21.9mpg, Starting price: $51600 (in 2012)]
AF450X
Introduced as a facelifted model only in 2013, the Auxio AF450X is the apex predator of the 3rd generation AF. Aiming straight for the German sport sedans, the AF450X threw out its I6 for a V8 engine. It also has a new body kit, a F1-style rear fog light, new concave twin 5-spoke 19-inch wheels with wider sport compound tires, geared LSDs, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the removal of the rear centre seat, lighter seats, alcantara steering wheel and headliner, carbon interior trim, larger vented disk brakes with 4 pistons in the front and 2 in the back, more stiffer and sportier tuned suspension and semi-active dampers.
[(NOTE: THESE FIGURES ARE FOR THE AF450X) 0-60mph: 4.6s, Top Speed: 199mph, 21.6mpg, Starting price: $68000***]
Optional extras:
Carbon exterior package: +$5000
NOTES
*Electronically limited top speed
**Price in 2009 money
***Price in 2013 money
Midlife facelift
In 2013, Auxio introduced a facelift to the AF, bringing new looks and new technology to the table. Let’s start with the design. The headlights are now standard with LEDs, with its first iteration of Auxio’s design language starting with the LED patterns. Then towards the lower fascia where the lower grille and the side intake are changed the be sportier and more modern.
Another drastic difference is the sides where the fenders and the doors have a body line added to it to improve its aesthetic. This is because we moved the chrome trim piece towards the lower part of the doors to improve its aesthetic. And from that chrome trim on the side, we transition to the rear of the facelifted AF where its chrome trim is moved to the faux rear diffuser to give it a cleaner and sleeker look to it. Then look at the taillights, where they are now LEDs as well. All this adds to the timeless design of the 3rd generation Auxio AF.
Mechanically, the facelift improved all the engines for more power and better efficiency. On all 6-cylinder models, a gear was added to its advanced automatic transmission, totaling to a 7-speed advanced automatic. Another change from the pre-facelift model is the replacement of the variable hydraulic power steering with the electric variable power steering. The facelift also removed the naturally aspirated Inline-6 engines and replaced it with the turbocharged unit. This also includes the X-Line, where its 3.5 litre naturally aspirated Inline 6 was replaced with a smaller but more powerful 3 litre turbocharged Inline 6, which results in a name change “AF300 X-Line”. This means that 2013 is where all the naturally aspirated Inline 6 engines are discontinued. On all models, additional airbags and more active safety features are added. This facelift also introduced the ultimate AF, the AF450X. This featured a naturally aspirated 4.5 litre V8 derived from the AQ full-sized luxury sedan and the AL executive sedan. Another change includes AWD on all 6-cylinder model while in the previous years, AWD was only available on the 4-cylinder models.
Interior changes from the pre-facelift model includes a premium SatNav system on the entry-level AF200 and a premium infotainment system on the rest of the lineup.
Success
Production of the 3rd generation Auxio AF ended in 2018. The AF still remained Auxio’s best selling model. Even though the current market is saturated with SUVs and crossovers, the AF continued along with its next generation introduced in 2018 as well. The AF continued its pursuit as the ideal sports sedan, an affordable luxury car, and as a respected Auxio family member.
