2009 Toyota Avensis: 35 High-Res Photos and Details

*Click Here For The First Video of The 2009 Toyota Avensis

The all-new third generation Toyota Avensis made its world premiere at the Paris motor show. Toyota’s European flagship model will go on sale across the continent in January 2009 where it will be offered with two body-styles, sedan and station-wagon. Designed in Europe, the Avensis’ exterior styling is deliberately inspired from the latest generation Lexus models (which in turn take a few styling cues from the Bavarian brotherhood) as Toyota wanted to offer an executive feel to its mid-size model. While the new Avensis is definitely less boring than its boxy predecessor, it won’t be winning any beauty contests. –Continued

Inside, previous Avensis buyers will feel right at home as Toyota’s approach was more evolutionary. The dashboard retains the wannabe-premium feel with Toyota claiming that the materials used in the cabin were chosen “to express prestige and dynamism”. Buyers can choose from a set of different finishes for the centre console, including black metallic paint and a titanium finish. On higher grade models, the console has a graphic finish inspired by Takesumi, which Toyota says is a charcoal made from bamboo.

Within the range, features that will be available will include dual zone automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, full-map touch-screen satellite navigation with Bluetooth, Smart Entry and Start system, a panoramic roof for the station-wagon models and an 11-speaker premium audio system with the 10Gb hard disc drive. All Avensis models will come equipped with seven airbags as standard, including a driver’s knee airbag.

Built on a new platform, the 2009 Avensis is 50mm longer than the previous generation model, giving an overall length of 4,695 for the sedan and 4,765 for the station-wagon. Both have a 2,700mm wheelbase and are 1,480mm tall – the same height as the current Avensis. Thanks to the new platform, the track has been increased by between 30 and 45mm, while the car’s width has grown by 50mm to 1,810mm. The boot capacity is 509 liters for the sedan and 543 liters for the estate/station wagon.

At launch, a total of five different engines will be available including a new 147 HP 1.8-liter Valvematic gasoline unit mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox or the Multidrive S CVT transmission which can operate like a seven-speed automatic. Oddly enough, there’s also a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that develops just 5HP more than the 1.8 at 152 HP. The diesel range consists of a 130 HP 2.0-liter unit and the 2.2-liter engine available with 150 and 180 HP.

Related Story: 2009 Toyota Avensis Video

New Hyundai i20 Supermini: Photo Galore

Set to be launched early in 2009, the i20 took its place for the first time on Hyundai’s stand at the Paris Auto Show. The Korean brand’s new proposal that replaces the aging Getz will compete in the European supermini segment against the Ford Fiesta and its ilk. Initially, the i20 will be offered in Europe as a 5-door hatchback with the 3-door variant scheduled to be introduced in January 2009. -Continued

At launch, the i20’s line-up will include three gasoline engines (78PS 1.2-liter, 100PS 1.4-liter and 126PS 1.6-liter) and four diesels (1.4 with 75 and 90 PS, and 1.6 with 115 and 128PS). With the exception of the flagship 1.6 diesel which comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox, all the i20s are mated to a 5-speed stick shift as standard with the 1.4 and 1.6 gasoline model being offered optionally with a four-speed conventional automatic transmission.

At the Paris Show Hyundai also unveiled an eco-conscious concept version of the i20 named Blue that’s equipped with a 1.4 CRDi diesel consuming on average a mere 3.75 liters/100km that translates to 63.7 MPG US. You can read more about the i20 Blue here and on the i20 by clicking here.