Toyota Launches New AvensisStrategic Vehicle Born and Raised in Europe Debuts in Japan

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today the nationwide sales launch of the new-generation Avensis sedan and wagon medium-size passenger vehicles through "Toyota Vista" dealers ("Netz Toyota" dealers in Okinawa). Both models will be imported from the United Kingdom.

The Avensis was developed as Toyota's flagship model for the European market under the theme "Toyota's European car that surpasses other European cars" and has been the subject of considerable praise since its launch in various European countries in March.

As Chief Engineer Suguya Fukusato explains: "With a calm and comfortable interior, the Avensis boasts a styling of timeless beauty. The quality of the vehicle has been further improved, adding to the pleasure of owning and driving it. I think that with this launch a new wind blowing from Europe can be felt in Japan."

Deriving its name from the French word "avancer", which means: "to move forward", the Avensis represents the debut in the Japanese market of unique product value hitherto unseen in a European or Japanese car. In addition to superior characteristics as a European car, including striking European styling, excellent driving performance and the highest-rated safety performance in Europe, the Avensis boasts a high degree of perfection made possible only through Toyota's meticulous attention to detail.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. will produce the new Avensis, while TMC will perform option installation at its Tahara Plant in Japan.

Designed by Toyota's European design base ED2 (Toyota Europe Design Development S.A.R.L.), the Avensis exudes an abundant sense of prestige in a dynamic and elegantly crafted exterior.

A new-generation package realizes class-leading cabin space and versatile luggage space inside a stylish exterior.

In addition to a high-rigidity body and a newly designed suspension, the Avensis also features excellent maneuverability and handling stability, as well as high levels of riding comfort perfected through repeated testing in various regions of Europe.

By adopting seven SRS air bags, including a driver's knee airbag, the further developed collision-safety body GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment) and other superior safety functions, the Avensis has achieved a five-star rating under Euro NCAP^*, which is one of the world's strictest collision safety evaluations.

Furthermore, the Avensis boasts a number of standard features that exceed the norm for its class, including automatic air conditioning with independent temperature controls for the driver's and passenger sides, an automatic anti-glare EC rearview mirror and a rain detection system that detects the amount of rain and activates the windshield wipers.

All vehicles achieve ultra-low emission levels and front-wheel-drive vehicles satisfy year 2010 fuel efficiency standards ahead of schedule, exhibiting advanced environmental performance. Front-wheel-drive vehicles qualify for incentives under the Japanese government's Green Taxation System.

Sales Channels

Sales outlets

"Toyota Vista" dealers ("Netz Toyota" dealers in Okinawa)

Monthly sales target

2,000 units

Euro Design and Package

The Avensis seeks a high-prestige design befitting Toyota's flagship model in the European market.

• Remarkable European styling makes use of powerful, taut surfaces and sharp character lines to strike a balance between abundant energy and elegance.
• The dynamic exterior design expresses sophistication and a presence that surpasses European medium-class vehicles.

• The precisely manufactured instrument panel with its minimal gap between components, the door trim and the refined seats create a sense of high-quality and luxury.
• The instrument panel flows in a continuous sweeping movement from the solid center cluster to the door trim to convey a sense of stability and breadth.
• All models feature large, sporty seats for enhanced comfort. The driver's seat is equipped with a seat adjuster that allows for precise adjustments to suit individual preferences.

Advanced Package

• Inside the stylish exterior is an interior space that surpasses all other vehicles in the same class to comfortably accommodate five adults. Meanwhile, the luggage space is large and versatile.
• In addition, the wagon model features rear seats with seat cushions that can be folded away in a 60:40 split, making the flat and spacious cargo space the largest in its class.
• A tonneau cover and partition net serve to further enhance utility of the luggage space.

Euro Performance

• The front suspension uses MacPherson struts, while the rear suspension has a newly designed double-wishbone-type suspension with toe control link.
  The high-rigidity body combined with excellent maneuverability and handling stability realizes high levels of riding comfort.
• A flatter car-bottom surface achieves excellent aerodynamic performance (Cd values of 0.28 in the sedan and 0.29 in the wagon).
• The new Avensis is fitted with the 2.0-liter inline direct injection BEAMS (Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System) 1AZ-FSE D-4 gasoline engine.
  The combination of a direct fuel injection (D-4) system and VVT-i provides powerful driving performance.
• Front-wheel-drive vehicles are equipped with a four-speed Super ECT automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive vehicles with the ECT-iE, a four-speed, intelligent transmission with electronically controlled flex lockup, for smooth and highly responsive acceleration and high fuel efficiency.
• A Sports Sequential Shiftmatic is used on front-wheel-drive vehicles to allow gearshifts with the feel of a manual transmission, for a sporty driving experience.

World Class Safety

• Front-wheel-drive vehicles are equipped with VSC, a vehicle stability control system.
• ABS with EBD^* is standard on all models

  *	Electronic Brake Distribution

• Front-wheel-drive vehicles are fitted with Brake Assist.
• Projector-type discharge headlamps (low beam) are installed on Li and Li "Sports Package" models.

• All models come with an airbag system that comprises front dual-stage SRS airbags, SRS side airbags and a driver's knee airbag intended to enhance driver safety by restraining the lower body (primarily the knees), thus helping to allow the seatbelt to function properly. Li and Li "Sports Package" models also include SRS curtain-shield airbags for all seats.
• Other collision safety features include a GOA collision-safety body further developed by incorporating the concept of compatibility, a pedestrian-injury-lessening body, flashing seat belt warning lamps for both front seating positions and a dedicated ISO-FIX^* compliant child seat anchor point.

  *	An ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard for child seat attachments created to prevent improper installation of child seats, improve vehicle conformity and set an internationally uniform attachment method.

Optimized equipment and functions (standard on all models)

• An eight-speaker audio system and a new digital signal processing system for excellent sound quality
• Automatic air conditioning with independent temperature controls for the driver's and front-passenger sides
• An automatic anti-glare EC rearview mirror that enhances visibility by optimally restricting the level of light reflected by the mirror
• An automatic wiper control system that uses a windshield-surface sensor to detect the amount of rain hitting the windshield and activate the windshield wipers
• An engine immobilizer that prevents the engine from starting except when the valid key with a registered ID code is used, for helping to prevent vehicle theft
• Cruise control for cruising at a desired speed with the flick of a switch (on Li and Li "Sports Package" models)

Advanced environmental features

• All models have achieved a 75% reduction in emissions from year 2000 standards under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Approval System for Ultra Low-emission Vehicles.
• Front-wheel-drive models meet ahead of schedule the government's 2010 fuel efficiency standards.
• By eliminating the use of lead in the fuel tanks and elsewhere, front-wheel-drive models have met ahead of schedule the Japanese automotive industry's voluntary environmental target for January 2006 and thereafter for reducing overall lead usage in vehicles to one-tenth or less of 1996 levels.

Avensis Specifications

(Products described in this and in any attached material are for the Japanese market.)