Versatile Avensis a winner for Toyota

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Toyota New Zealand is aiming its new Avensis people-mover at fleet users and private buyers.

It says the versatility of the seating in the five-seat Wagon and seven-seat Verso will have widespread appeal. The design of the Avensis follows the worldwide trend towards more flexible, multi-purpose vehicles, combining the performance of a car with the capacity of a wagon.

"The ease with which the seating configurations can be changed in both models makes Avensis one of the most versatile vehicles available in New Zealand," said the company's product manager, Spencer Morris.

"The five-door Wagon will appeal to those wishing to carry large loads in comfort, while the Verso will carry seven people with sufficient room for their luggage."

The Avensis was created at Toyota's European design centre in Belgium, the same studio which created the award-winning Echo range. But Echo stylist Sotiris Kovos, who also penned the original design for the Toyota MR-2 Spyder sports car and Lexus Coupe, didn't have a hand in the Avensis.

Kovos, a 35-year-old Greek who is a graduate of London's Royal College of Art, had by then moved on to Aston Martin, where he penned the supercar agent James Bond will use in the next 007 adventure.

The two Avensis models are powered by a four-cylinder, 2-litre petrol engine mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission mounted on the dashboard.

The twin-cam unit comes with VVT-i, Toyota's variable valve timing system, and develops 110kW at 6000rpm and 192Nm of torque at 4000rpm.

The main feature of the Avensis is its flexible interior, with front, centre and rear seats that move every which way. The rear seats can be removed to create 2492 litres of luggage space - not including the storage compartment under the rear floor that can take two overnight bags.

Toyota says the Avensis Wagon has more luggage room than the Camry. Both vehicles also have their share of cubby-holes and cup-holders. There are two gloveboxes, a centre console box, another box on the right side of the steering column, and four A4-sized door pockets.

Avensis is 4650mm long, 1760mm wide and has a turning circle of 11m. Six exterior colours are available.

The manual Avensis Wagon costs $39,250, the automatic $40,750. The automatic-only Verso costs $45,000.

Optional equipment on the Wagon includes side and curtain airbags for $1500. The Verso offers 16-inch wheels, fog lights, rear air-conditioning and four-spoke steering wheel for an extra $1700.