The all-new third generation Toyota Avensis made its world premiere at the Paris motor show. Toyota’s European flagship model will go on sale across the continent in January 2009 where it will be offered with two body-styles, sedan and station-wagon. Designed in Europe, the Avensis’ exterior styling is deliberately inspired from the latest generation Lexus models (which in turn take a few styling cues from the Bavarian brotherhood) as Toyota wanted to offer an executive feel to its mid-size model. While the new Avensis is definitely less boring than its boxy predecessor, it won’t be winning any beauty contests. –Continued Inside, previous Avensis buyers will feel right at home as Toyota’s approach was more evolutionary. The dashboard retains the wannabe-premium feel with Toyota claiming that the materials used in the cabin were chosen “to express prestige and dynamism”. Buyers can choose from a set of different finishes for the centre console, including black metallic paint and a titanium finish. On higher grade models, the console has a graphic finish inspired by Takesumi, which Toyota says is a charcoal made from bamboo.
Within the range, features that will be available will include dual zone automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, full-map touch-screen satellite navigation with Bluetooth, Smart Entry and Start system, a panoramic roof for the station-wagon models and an 11-speaker premium audio system with the 10Gb hard disc drive. All Avensis models will come equipped with seven airbags as standard, including a driver’s knee airbag.
Built on a new platform, the 2009 Avensis is 50mm longer than the previous generation model, giving an overall length of 4,695 for the sedan and 4,765 for the station-wagon. Both have a 2,700mm wheelbase and are 1,480mm tall – the same height as the current Avensis. Thanks to the new platform, the track has been increased by between 30 and 45mm, while the car’s width has grown by 50mm to 1,810mm. The boot capacity is 509 liters for the sedan and 543 liters for the estate/station wagon.
At launch, a total of five different engines will be available including a new 147 HP 1.8-liter Valvematic gasoline unit mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox or the Multidrive S CVT transmission which can operate like a seven-speed automatic. Oddly enough, there’s also a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that develops just 5HP more than the 1.8 at 152 HP. The diesel range consists of a 130 HP 2.0-liter unit and the 2.2-liter engine available with 150 and 180 HP.
Related Story: 2009 Toyota Avensis Video
Today, two Avensis models rolled off the line at Toyota's Burnaston Plant in Derbyshire, U.K., marking the official start of production of the firm's new European flagship model. The Burnaston Plant will produce the Avensis in body types, sedan and wagon, to support an annual European sales target of 115,000 vehicles. Designed, engineered and built in Europe, the all-new Avensis will also be launched in Africa, Central & South America, as well as in Oceania. Sales of both body types of the Avensis begin across Europe from January 2009.
The mid-size model's 1.6- and 1.8-liter petrol engines will be produced by Toyota's U.K. plant in Deeside, North Wales, while the 2.0-liter Valvematic will be built in Japan. The Japanese firm's plants in Poland (TMIP and TMMP) will manufacture the 2.0- and 2.2-litre D-4D diesel engines and the new 6-speed automatic transmission
