AVENSIS À PARIS

World premiere for Toyota’s third generation flagship model; production-ready iQ and Urban Cruiser also on display

An all new, British-built, Toyota Avensis will make its world debut on 2 October at the fashionable Paris motor show.

Taking centre stage on the Toyota stand Avensis has a sleek design that reflects the car’s strong and dynamic character.

New Avensis is the third generation of the model to be built at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. Due to go on sale in January 2009 it features engines that are both more powerful and emit less CO2, a crucial factor in today’s new car market, and it retains the high quality, refinement and equipment levels that are an established Avensis hallmark. Full details and pricing will be announced later in the year

Joining new Avensis will be two other new cars due on sale in early next year: The diminutive iQ and rugged Urban Cruiser, both showcased in design concept form at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, appear in Paris in final production trim.

Measuring less than three metres long, the iQ is not just the world’s smallest premium four seater, it has all the dynamic and safety attributes of bigger cars. What is small about iQ is its CO2 emissions, which start at a mere 99g/km.

Importantly for a car of this size, iQ will offer 360° protection to all occupants with high levels of active and passive safety, including the world’s first curtain shield airbags installed behind the rear seats.

Another show highlight is the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel All Wheel Drive (AWD) Urban Cruiser. With its rugged exterior design, high level of safety equipment and CO2 emissions level of only 133g/km for the AWD version, the Urban Cruiser is set to bring a mix of fun and practicality to the growing urban all-roader market.