Tuesday, August 19, 2008

2003 Toyota Avensis Estate













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.

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.

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