Toyota Motor Marketing Europe, the European marketing arm of Toyota Motor Corporation released a press kit on the new Avensis. Here are the major features:
Over the last four years Toyota Avensis has built a strong reputation and a loyal following among European customers, with more than 450,000 units sold. In 2001, Toyota Avensis took a 5.6% share of the D segment market in Europe.
The new Toyota Avensis aims to build on that success. Toyota plans to sell around 130,000 units in a full year, making it an important contributor to the medium term goal of 800,00 units, or 5% market share, in Europe by 2005.
The new Toyota Avensis is the product of a global Toyota team working in Europe and Japan, each individual highly skilled in design, development, manufacturing and marketing. The initial concept for the new Toyota Avensis was designed in Europe at ED2, Toyota’s Design centre on the Cote d’Azur, southern France. It is a representation of Toyota’s unique design philosophy, ’Vibrant Clarity’.
The new Toyota Avensis is aimed at the heart of the volume D segment. It has an extremely spacious interior within a 4.63m overall length (4.70m: Wagon), thanks to a long wheelbase (2.7m) and clever packaging. The overall width is 1.76m and height 1.48m (Wagon: 1.485m or 1.525m with roof rails).
The new Toyota Avensis will be launched with a choice of three petrol and one diesel engine options. All engines will comply with the forthcoming EURO IV emissions standards.
The full Toyota Avensis engine line-up is:
’ 1.6-litre VVT-i petrol * (81kW/110 DIN hp)
’ 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol (95kW/129 DIN hp)
’ 2.0-litre D-4 direct injection petrol (108kW/147 DIN hp)
’ 2.0-litre D-4D CR diesel ** (85kW/116 DIN hp)
* 1.6-litre engine only available in some countries
** Target figure
The 2.0 D-4D engine from the current generation Toyota Avensis has now a Variable Nozzle Turbocharger, allowing an appreciable gain in power
and torque. In addition to this, the new Toyota Avensis will feature a 2.0 D-4D equipped with the Toyota D-CAT system. — Toyota Corolla Matrix at 2007 SEMA Show.
In the petrol engined-versions, the Toyota Avensis will offer a second generation 2.0-litre direct injection petrol engine, an evolution over the first engine of this kind that Toyota launched in early 1996. Selected models in the range will be offered with the option of a multi-mode automatic transmission, offering drivers the choice of automatic or sequential shift operation.
Handling tuned for European roads
The new Toyota Avensis is the best example yet of collaboration between Toyota Motor Marketing Europe technical centre and Toyota Motor
Corporation engineers.
Throughout its development the new Toyota Avensis was extensively tested on the widest variety of European roads to see how it would perform and to adapt various aspects of its performance to deal with problems particular to these road conditions.
Our concept is to bring excellent handling, superior ride comfort and sharp body control to a higher level. In order to meet this objective, we have decided to adopt a rear double wishbone suspension. This module is derived from the Toyota Celica sports coupe, widely recognised as one of the best handling cars in its class. Suspension settings have, of course, been modified to give a more compliant ride suited to
a family saloon but without compromising handling or stability.
An additional link has been added to give optimised toe control, which improves rear stability under hard cornering and better response. The rear track is 50mm wider than the previous Avensis model and this too contributes to greater stability.
Front suspension uses an independent McPherson strut, already used in the current model. However, the whole architecture was totally redesigned and major modifications were introduced to its geometry. — all-new 2008 Toyota Sequoia.
Voice-activated navigation system
The new Toyota Avensis boasts a wide range of technical innovations including the option of a voice activated satellite navigation system. This recognises a wide variety of commands in two languages, English and German. Voice activation can also be used to control the audio system. The DVD-based system maps the whole of Western Europe on one disc and has the fastest route search time on the market. It also offers drivers a choice of three routes, which can be selected depending on driving conditions. The system works in eight languages.
A higher standard of perceived quality
The new Toyota Avensis is the most complete expression to date of the work of the Toyota Interior Study Team ’ delivering superior quality through both engineering excellence and more subtle perceptions. The Interior Study Team (IST) was established to incorporate concrete proposals in the field of interior quality into the development process of various Toyota projects by focusing on ’perceived quality’ ’
that is the quality conveyed by the touch, feel and sound of interaction with the car. This is particularly relevant to new Avensis in the
mainstream D segment where discerning customers look for an emotional response to the car they drive, without compromising on rational factors such as the engineering quality of the product.
Toyota reliability and durability have become, quite rightly, legendary and this remains a core strength of the new Avensis. But Avensis drivers, and their passengers, will find a more subtle enjoyment from the perceived quality engineered into the car through
attention to detail in the key human senses ’ sight, sound and touch.
New concepts in sound insulation
The new Toyota Avensis is set to be the class benchmark in terms of quietness and absence of vibration. — Toyota's sustainability concepts at Tokyo Show.
The reduction in high frequency noise was achieved by a fully enclosed engine compartment, improved door seal structure and the use of the revolutionary ’Ultra Light Concept’ (ULC) insulator.
While conventional sound insulators cut the noise from outside by making use of the mass effect, ULC excels in sound absorption around the cabin. The result is a noticeable reduction of high frequency noise.
Flat underbody
The engine under cover is also one element of an aerodynamics package which sets out to achieve the best possible flow of air around the car ’ leading to reduced drag, improved performance and fuel economy, and a quieter, smoother drive.
On-board luxury and comfort
The audio system is just one example of the superior quality intrinsic to new Avensis. Other luxury comfort features include the dual-zone air conditioning control, which allows driver and front passenger to pre-select a temperature to create their own individual climate. Another interesting feature is the hot gas heater, which is available for the D-4D diesel engine, which efficiency is at a top level when compared with other European passenger vehicles.
All models in the new Toyota Avensis range will be equipped with high-supportive seats for extra comfort and holding ability. Seat height can be adjusted using a simple ratchet mechanism, which allows more precise positioning than other systems. Optional power seats are available on higher grade specifications with 10-way adjustment for the driver’s seat and four-way adjustment for the front passenger seat. Front seats can also have rheostat-controlled seat heaters.
Other optional equipment includes the automatic wiper sensor, which detects moisture on the windscreen and triggers the wiper sweep. This system uses a small infrared sensor, which avoids intrusion into the driver’s eye-line and is fully automatic with no initial wipe. The wiper sensitivity is adjustable across four pre-set levels.
