Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News

3rd Generation Toyota Avensis: Full Details & Photos

Toyota Avensis

The new third generation Toyota Avensis made a public debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and features a few firsts when you’re talking about Toyota in Europe. The new Avensis is available in two bodystyles - sedan and wagon.

The new Avensis has the same 2700mm wheelbase as the outgoing second generation model, but Toyota claims this is a new platform, or perhaps an enhanced old one which they think deserves the term new. Despite being a D-segment sedan this is significantly shorter than the Camry’s 2776mm wheelbase. But then again apparently this is how the Europeans like their D-segment sedans so it’s quite normal for them.

Despite the same wheelbase, tread has been increased by between 30mm to 45mm and width has gone up by 50mm to 1810mm. The sedan is slightly more aerodynamic than the wagon at 0.28 Cd compared to 0.29 Cd. They are both 1480mm tall. The sedan is 4695mm long while the wagon measures at 4765mm.

The engine range consists from something as small as a 1.6 liter petrol unit all the way up to a 2.2 liter D-4D turbodiesel. All the petrol engine feature Toyota’s new Valvematic technology which incorporates continuously variable valve lift together with VVT-i valve timing control. The 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 Valvematic engines produce 132hp with 160Nm of torque, 147hp with 180Nm of torque and 152hp with 196Nm of torque respectively.

The 1.6 petrol unit only comes with a 6-speed manual but for the 1.8 and 2.0 liter models there is the option for the Multidrive S CVT transmission which succeeds the Super CVT-i transmission. This transmission behaves like a conventional CVT normally but when it senses you are driving hard, it automatically changes to a mode which swaps virtual cogs between 7-speed pre-determined ratios for a more sporty feel.

The oil burners range from a 2.0 liter and two 2.2 liter D-4D engines.These engines feature new piezo injectors and increased common rail pressure at 2,000 bar. The base 2.0 liter diesel produces 126hp and 310Nm of torque between 1800 and 2400rpm. The more sedate of the two 2.2 liter engines is the D-4D 150 which produces 150hp and 340Nm of torque between 2200 and 2800rpm.

The most powerful engine is the 2.2 D-4D 180, featuring 177hp and a massive 400Nm of torque between 2000 to 2800rpm. The D-4D 150 also comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, a first for a Toyota diesel passenger car.

Look after the jump for a photo gallery of the new Avensis.

PHOTO GALLERY: New Toyota Avensis
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

18 Comments »

  1. konoha said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 11:29 am

    1st???!!!!
    UGLY!

  2. ryan_foong80 said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 11:32 am

    not bad i think….

  3. aj3377@hotmail.com said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 12:07 pm

    i like the interior…

  4. zzua said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 12:57 pm

    132hp from a 1.6..

  5. neurra said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 1:01 pm

    7cm diff. for the wheelbase isn’t that much of a significant difference paul.. it’s still kinda big.. can’t wait to look at it real life..

  6. 9211 said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

    Nice design.. looks European.. better than the new but ugly Altis… but the interior not much innovative, the metering looks typical…

  7. hareshi said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 2:29 pm

    almost Ugly But weird… wannabe transformers…

  8. n8cky said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 3:36 pm

    Why do they have to tarik the head lamp like tat????…zzz

  9. ignas said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 3:42 pm

    ugly… my RES turtle still cuter.

  10. jolly_idiot said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 4:15 pm

    Camry size on Altis price?

  11. King Samurai said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 4:59 pm

    Toyota try to copy Honda??? Many Honda resemblance on this car…Look at the steering wheel..looks familiar? Wagon’s extra large moon roof and rear profile..similar to Honda Airwave wagon.

  12. LHQ said,

    October 9, 2008 @ 11:02 pm

    n8cky said,
    October 9, 2008 @ 3:36 pm

    Why do they have to tarik the head lamp like tat????…zzz
    —————————————————————-
    why don’t you ask the same question to the BMW 5 series?

  13. 4G63T DSM said,

    October 10, 2008 @ 8:27 am

    King Samurai said,
    October 9, 2008 @ 4:59 pm

    Toyota try to copy Honda??? Many Honda resemblance on this car…Look at the steering wheel..looks familiar? Wagon’s extra large moon roof and rear profile..similar to Honda Airwave wagon.

    ———

    ? Smells off a Honda Fanboi.
    Seriously you think any car that has an extra large moonroof the same profile apes the Honda? Its not like Honda didn’t ape anyone before. Frankly, I see no resemblence at all.

    This is going to be thrown into the thick of things, with the Mondeo, newly designed Insignia and the E90 BMW.

    Oddly enough, you don’t see a lot of Hondas in Europe….perhaps of thier weakness in diesel powerplants.

  14. mokkf82 said,

    October 10, 2008 @ 1:58 pm

    acceptable la. Looks funny on the design, but driving side, i think it will be comfortable ride

  15. Mayonaise said,

    October 10, 2008 @ 2:29 pm

    Well, at the very least it looks several times better than our Corolla Altis…

  16. torque said,

    October 10, 2008 @ 5:02 pm

    Well…the back design got my vote! Can’t say much about the front thou. Still, I like what I read. “The 1.6 petrol unit only comes with a 6-speed manual”- That’s cool. A six speed for a mere 1.6 litre?! It’ll be a great joy to drive back to kampung but my favorite is the diesel one. 2.2 D-4D 180, featuring 177hp and a massive 400Nm of torque between 2000 to 2800rpm - What a torque! Nice to plunder around the city road…nice effort to Toyota! Question is, bila mau jual sini? People here got bored of your old four speeder ler…I hope UMW don’t simply hike price like our G ye, boleh?

  17. ALPINA BMW said,

    October 15, 2008 @ 3:03 pm

    bad bad bad, when all its competition are so good

  18. farhathaniff said,

    October 22, 2008 @ 6:40 am

    pretty decent. Robotic, futuristic. I dno if its tuneable. The front lights though reminds me of the Lexus RS SUV.

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