'09 Toyota Avensis

[escapen]

Here is the first shot of the rear...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnV...ensis-2009.jpg
The first official photo of the next-generation Toyota Avensis has been leaked into the internet well before the mid-size sedan’s scheduled debut at the 2008 Paris International Motor Show on October 2. The Avensis, which you could call Toyota’s European equivalent of the American Camry (the two models share nothing in common), has been fully redesigned featuring a crispier and more dynamic styling than the outgoing model. We don’t have all the details in our hands yet, but in previous talks we had with Toyota Europe’s people, the new Avensis will get a new line-up of engines with lower consumption and reduced CO2 figures.

I think Ford of Europe and European GM can look at this car and continue and sigh a sigh of relief because their Mondeo and Insignia are way more stylish and should do more for european buyers. This looks like a current Mazda3 but ugly because its a Toyota~!

[N8s07ss]

That looks like a Mazda 3 to you? Hmmm.

[autofan]

It looks better than any Camry we've ever had here.

[Bravada]

It's AVENSIS!!! Please check the spelling in the thread's title. Aventis makes drugs.

There's a lot of the departed Matsuda Atenza (Mazda6) in the rear. As for the rest, it looks as if they were trying to salvage as much as they could from the old model (actually, the handles look the same!)

The old Avensis is a really good-looking car and did rank quite highly at the beginning of its lifetime, but was quickly outclassed. I do agree this one does not look to have what it takes to defeat the Mondeo or C5 (Insignia is still terra incognita to me, with rear headroom and build quality issues).

PS. I am surprised they wouldn't retire the Avensis platform and merge it with the Camry this time, as European midsizers are now getting much larger, in line with North American counterparts.

[Higher Rhymes]

Avensis comes in AWD. That's how they made the Scion drift car if you were wondering.
It's been out way longer than the Mazda3.
We didnt get the TC in awd becuase Toyota flaked like bums.

But the one pictured looks wayyyy American.. which is funny to me.

[escapen]

Originally Posted by N8s07ss

That looks like a Mazda 3 to you? Hmmm.

The wondow line does... not much else though, i bet the front will mix the Auris with other boring Toyota-isms

Originally Posted by Bravada

It's AVENSIS!!! Please check the spelling in the thread's title. Aventis makes drugs.

There's a lot of the departed Matsuda Atenza (Mazda6) in the rear. As for the rest, it looks as if they were trying to salvage as much as they could from the old model (actually, the handles look the same!)

The old Avensis is a really good-looking car and did rank quite highly at the beginning of its lifetime, but was quickly outclassed. I do agree this one does not look to have what it takes to defeat the Mondeo or C5 (Insignia is still terra incognita to me, with rear headroom and build quality issues).

PS. I am surprised they wouldn't retire the Avensis platform and merge it with the Camry this time, as European midsizers are now getting much larger, in line with North American counterparts.

I doubt the AvenSIS will be anywhere near the size of our current Camry, the American midsized market is growing in size every time a new car hits the market. The next Camry is said to spawn a LWD model for the Avalon or just to be called Camry LWD. Id have to see a 2009 Acura TSX and the newest NA Accord side by side too, because its your euro accord and I think people still here would pass it up because we still have to have larger sedans

[Ttple]

Originally Posted by autofan

It looks better than any Camry we've ever had here.

Every car Europe gets looks better than what we get.

[Bravada]

I doubt the AvenSIS will be anywhere near the size of our current Camry, the American midsized market is growing in size every time a new car hits the market.

I don't think the Avensis would be, just like in the case of the European Accord, they are rehashing the old platform once again. That said:

CAMRY
Wheelbase - 2776 mm
Length - 4805 mm
Width - 1820 mm
Height - 1470 mm

MALIBU
Wheelbase - 2852 mm
Length - 4872 mm
Width - 1786 mm
Height - 1450 mm

ACCORD (USDM)
Wheelbase - 2799 mm
Length - 4930 mm
Width - 1847 mm
Height - 1476 mm


MONDEO
Wheelbase - 2850 mm
Length - 4884 mm
Width - 1886 mm
Height - 1500 mm

C5
Wheelbase - 2815 mm
Length - 4779 mm
Width - 1860 mm
Height - 1451 mm

INSIGNIA
Wheelbase - 2737 mm
Length - 4830 mm
Width - 1856 mm
Height - 1498 mm


As you can see, apart from the overlong Accord body, the dimensions of new-gen European and American-market midsizers are comparable, and both could perhaps compete with each other on that basis alone. Moreover, I don't think either will grow that much anymore for fuel efficiency concerns, and also because there isn't much more room needed.

I guess it would be a good time for automakers to reap the obvious savings and start building "global" midsize cars, and I understand Toyota's decision, as there are other factors, but still, it would have been sensbile.

[mgescuro]

I see about 4-5 different cars blended into this so-called Avensis.
And why the heck are the door handles so damn large? I mean, they don't get any larger unless you're in a full sized truck!!

Yet another generic-mobile from Toyota.
They just can't seem to help themselves.

[paul8488]

The Avensis is probably my least favourite sedan on the market in Europe. To use the description put forth in a recent Genesis review, it's the generic car they use in gas station ads, with no badges. There's just nothing at all that I like about it... it's too upright and square. The grille looks like a tacked-on afterthought (like it's sliding off the car), the taillights are a goofy shape, the body is slab-sided... it's a very undynamic looking car.

That said I did lots of testing on one on a high-speed track a few years back, and it's certainly a competent vehicle. The interior is very likeable... classy and comfortable and very well appointed and finished. It's stable and quiet and composed, even at 220 km/h. Style-wise it's pretty much what many have come to think of Buick, whether it's true or not... competent but totally unengaging, with a face that few will hate but no one will love.

[Bravada]

I totally disagree, to me it is a brilliant design, a nice throwback to the 1940s/1950s (as if Toyota was ever there), especially with the liftback/fastback model. It reminds me of a modern reinterpretation of the FSO Warszawa, the most popular Polish-built vehicle of the 1950s. It is classy and rather elegant, and not as anodyne as most Japanese sedans before. It does look quite European.

[paul8488]

I know Bravada, it's funny how we almost always disagree! I don't do it on purpose just to disagree with you... and I know you don't do that either. We just have absolutely 100% polar opposite tastes!

I think we agreed once, on the C5...

Watever. Makes the discussions here that much more interesting. I'm not even a huge Toyota hater... I basically don't mind alot of what they do. I just don't get any sort of emotional reaction from an Avensis.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I totally disagree, to me it is a brilliant design, a nice throwback to the 1940s/1950s (as if Toyota was ever there), especially with the liftback/fastback model. It reminds me of a modern reinterpretation of the FSO Warszawa, the most popular Polish-built vehicle of the 1950s. It is classy and rather elegant, and not as anodyne as most Japanese sedans before. It does look quite European.

You like this...


...but not that?


At seems you change your taste as often as your avatar.

[Bravada]

I never ever liked the Panzerwagen Vectra, with its sharp lines, and I have always liked the Avensis, with its flowing lines, recessed greenhouse (i.e. pronounced shoulder line) and more "baroque" decals. Let's face it - NOBODY ever liked the Vectra sedan. It was almost made only to propel the sales of the GTS.

[powervette]

There are bland cars as previous gen Mondeo that I completely don't care about. They are boring and are almost invisible for me. Unfortunately Avensis is among those bland cars that make me want vomit every time I see them. The worst thing is the popularity of Avensis. They are everywhere. Every Polish bold guy in his fifties and every woman wearing a cheesy hat and gloves desire to have a new shiny silver Avensis. They treat it as an automotive perfection which gives them the joy of making 5 thousand kilometers per year without any quality issues.
My friend who recently bought new Audi A4 said Avensis was a bathtub. To me it's the best comparison of Avensis I have ever heard of.