The Toyota Avensis is an automobile built in Burnaston, Derbyshire, United Kingdom for Toyota, and succeeded the Carina E in 1997 for the 1998 model year. It is available as a four-door saloon, five-door hatchback and estate. An MPV called the Toyota Avensis Verso (Toyota Ipsum in Japan and previously the Toyota Picnic in other markets) is built in Japan on a separate platform. The car is meant to be a competitor to the Volkswagen Passat in Europe and is the basis for the youth-oriented, North American-market Scion tC.

1998

Toyota introduced the Avensis nameplate on its all-new car which was launched at the end of 1997. Like its predecessor, the Avensis was built at the Burnaston factory in Derby. At the same time, production of the five-door Toyota Corolla also started at this British plant.

The original Avensis had the option of four engines (1.6 L, 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol and a 2.0 L turbodiesel) and three body styles (saloon, hatchback {branded "Liftback" and estate}). The station wagon was essentially the Japanese-market second generation Toyota Caldina. All of the range gave solid build quality, excellent reliability, a spacious comfortable interior, generous equipment, smooth ride quality and good refinement, but very little in the way of excitement. A facelift in the summer of 2000 (which saw the engines fitted with variable valve timing) made little difference to this, although a sporty Avensis 2.0 L SR with bodykit and tuned suspension did become available.

The Avensis Verso MPV was introduced in 2002, with room for seven occupants and 2.0 L engines only. The Verso's platform previewed the Avensis second generation. The Avensis Verso won Australia's Best People Mover, where it is simply called Avensis, the other variants not being available in Australia and New Zealand.

2003

The second generation Toyota Avensis was launched in early 2003 in an all-new format; this time it offered more in the way of driver involvement. The 1.6 L, 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol and 2.0 L turbodiesel engines were carried over from the previous Avensis, and the 2.4 L four cylinder from the Camry was also added to the range. This was the first Avensis that is exported to Japan. Due to the Camry wagon ending production, the Avensis wagon is exported to New Zealand, in both 1.8L and 2.0L forms.

In the 2004 European Car of the Year contest, the Avensis was just edged out of the top three by the Fiat Panda, Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3.

Following the withdrawal of the Toyota Camry in 2004 (2005 in Switzerland), the Avensis became the largest Toyota saloon sold in Europe.

In Spain there are currently two models available, Sol and Executive. The latter model is equivalent to the T Spirit in the UK market. In Ireland there are four trim levels - Aura, Strata, Luna, and Sol.

The original 115 PS (85 kW) D-4D engine has been complemented with a 2.2 L D-4D in 150 PS (110 kW) and 177 PS (130 kW) versions. Newer versions have dropped the "D-4D" and "2.0" badging from the front wings and tailgate respectively.

The Avensis Verso continued to be available alongside the new Avensis until 2006. A replacement to take over from the Avensis Verso and Previa has yet to be unveiled, but is rumoured to feature Toyota's 2.2 L D-4D engine.

2006

The new Toyota Avensis will be available in june 2006. Some changes to the old model are the inclusion of lights in the side-mirrors, an mp3/wma/asl enhanced audio system, new frontbumper, the frontlights under clear glass, a new "grill" and for the D-4D versions a different grill, backlights will be much bigger, new materials and clothing within the Avensis, prepared for NAVI TNS 310, multi display with boardcomputer will be integrated in optitron display and many new details like lightsensors and the seat for the non-driver can be changed in height, many changes to the driver experience.

Starting from September a new set of D-4D replacement will come out with 126Hp, 300Nm and a particle filter.

External links

• Toyota Avensis - images and information

Toyota vehicles | Mid-size cars | Front wheel drive vehicles | Hatchbacks | Sedans | Station wagons

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