Toyota Avensis: Encyclopedia II - Toyota Avensis - 1998

Toyota Avensis - 1998

Toyota introduced the Avensis nameplate on its all-new car which was launched at the end of 1997. Like its predecessor, the Avensis was built at the Burnaston factory in Derby. At the same time, production of the five-door Toyota Corolla also started at this British plant.

The original Avensis had the option of four engines (1.6 L, 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol and a 2.0 L turbodiesel) and three body styles (saloon, hatchback (branded "Liftback" and estate). The station wagon was essentially the Japanese-market second generation Toyota Caldina. All of the range gave solid build quality, excellent reliability, a spacious comfortable interior, generous equipment, smooth ride quality and good refinement, but very little in the way of excitement. A facelift in the summer of 2000 (which saw the engines fitted with variable valve timing) made little difference to this, although a sporty Avensis 2.0 L SR with bodykit and tuned suspension did become available.

The Avensis Verso MPV was introduced in 2002, with room for seven occupants and 2.0 L engines only. The Verso's platform previewed the Avensis second generation. The Avensis Verso won Australia's Best People Mover, where it is simply called Avensis, the other variants not being available in Australia and New Zealand.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "1998", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki