Smart Motorist

The new Avensis made its world premiere at this year's Paris Motor Show and has been presented to the press in Milan (Italy). Building on the success of the previous models, the third generation of Toyota's family model features more powerful and cleaner engines, emits less Carbon dioxide (CO2) and uses less fuel. The Toyota Optimal Drive technology is applied to the third generation D-segment model through a new range of petrol engines, upgraded diesel engines and advanced new transmissions. The result for the overall European Avensis fleet is an average CO2 reduction per vehicle down to 153.5 grams per kilometer.

Toyota's European flagship, the Avensis, is stepping into the limelight. Toyota has released complete specifications and all new photos of the 2009 Avensis, set to go on-sale in Europe on January 1 starting at just 15,760 pounds ($23,333 U.S.).

Engine, fuel consumption and emissions:

Toyota has renewed the Avensis from bumper to bumper. The car rides on more sophisticated suspension; it’s propelled by reconfigured engines labelled Optimal Drive, which are claimed to deliver improved power, fuel consumption and emissions; and it has an all-new interior fashioned from higher-quality materials. Also improved are its safety and the gadgets and fittings that come as standard. And if Toyota’s numbers are to be believed, it should prove cheaper to run than its predecessor and many of its rivals too.

Thankfully, under the skin things have moved forward quite dramatically. The Avensis is the second car in the Toyota line-up (the iQ was the first) to benefit from its Optimal Drive fuel-saving features that use low-friction, lightweight components and new engine technology to cut carbon dioxide emissions and boost power.

The Optimal Drive technology is made possible by an engine and transmission line-up that features low friction components, lightweight compact design and enhanced combustion efficiency. On the new petrol engines, the technology has maximised efficiency, power and torque through the Valvematic technology that allows optimal valve lift and timing to generate higher performance. It decreases CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by ten percent to 26 percent depending on powertrain, and increases at the same time power by three percent to 20 percent. (ATZonline coverage of the New Valve Timing and Lift System Valvematic)

The 1.6-litre Valvematic power has been increased by 20 percent compared to the previous 1.6 VVT-i - up to 97 kW, with torque up to 160 Newton meters at 4400 rpm. The CO2 emission level of the saloon body type is reduced to 152 grams per kilometer. The new 1.8-litre Valvematic offers a choice of a new six-speed manual transmission or the new continuously variable transmission (CVT) Multidrive S. The engine's power has been increased by 14 percent compared to the previous 1.8-litre VVT-i - up to 108 kW, with torque up to 180 Newton meters at 4000 rpm. The CO2 emission level is down by ten percent to 154 grams per kilometer when combined with the manual transmission and by 16 percent to 157 grams per kilometer when combined with the CVT. At the top of the petrol range is the 2.0-litre Valvematic, which also comes with either the six-speed manual transmission or the Multidrive S. Its improved performance gives 112 kW and 196 Newton meters torque at 4000 rpm. The CO2 emission level is down by 15 percent to 163 grams per kilometer when combined with the manual transmission and by 26 percent to 164 grams per kilometer when combined with the CVT.

Advanced new transmissions – diesel automatic for the first time New Avensis uses a range of advanced transmissions that strike a balance between responsiveness, smoothness and fuel efficiency.

Most impressive is how clean the new engines are. Benefiting from Toyota's Optimal Drive technology, new petrol power plants, upgraded diesel units and fresh transmissions cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to an average of 153.5g/km. However, this figure masks the fact that the 130bhp 2.0 D-4D turbo diesel engine, with a six-speed manual gearbox, emits just 134g/km in saloon form, or 136g/km in Tourer guise - leaving rivals trailing. As well as the two-liter diesel, there's also a 2.2-litre unit offered in 150bhp or 180bhp guises.

If the diesel engine's cleanliness is impressive, the petrol engine's is even more so with its Valvematic technology. This is a variable valve lift system, fitted as standard to both 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines, enabling power to rise by 3% to 20% while also cutting CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by between 10% and 26%.

The diesel line-up, the new Optimal Drive D-4D engines all meet the Euro 5 standard. Power is present at lower speeds and less frequent gear shifting is needed. The low speed torque performance is increased by up to 5.5 percent depending on engine. The Optimal Drive D-4D engines use the latest piezoelectric technology. The solenoid injectors have been replaced by new efficient piezoelectric injectors, which control more accurately the fuel volume and the timing of the injection. The combination with the increased injection pressure of 2000 bar leads to a shorter injection time. Also contributing to CO2, Nitrogen oxide (NO2), fuel consumption and particulate matter reduction is a new shape of the combustion chamber that optimizes the combustion process, and the adoption of a low viscosity oil to reduce the level of friction. These new diesel engine technology features lead to CO2 and fuel consumption level reduction from one percent to ten percent compared to the outgoing model.

The 2.0-litre engine, available with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), delivers power via a six-speed manual transmission. It produces 93 kW and 300 Newton metres torque between 1800 and 2400 rpm. Emissions are reduced to 134 grams per kilometre when equipped with Oxidation Catalytic Converter, and to 139 grams per kilometre when fitted with the DPF. The 2.2-litre, equipped as standard with a DPF when ordered with the six-speed manual transmission, delivers 110 kW while torque has been increased to 340 Newton meters between 2000 and 2800 rpm. CO2 emissions are reduced to 147 grams per kilometer. A new six-speed automatic transmission is also available. Combined with this transmission, the engine is equipped with the emissions control technology called Diesel - Clean Advanced Technology (D-CAT), delivering a CO2 emission level of 169 grams per kilometer. The 2.2 D-4D 180 features an all-aluminium construction, a high-pressure piezoelectric common-rail system, electrically-activated turbocharger, the latest generation ceramic glow plugs and D-CAT. With 130 kW of power and a torque delivery of 400 Newton meters across a range from 2000 to 2800 rpm, this is among the most powerful diesel cars in the D-segment. It delivers zero kilometers per hour to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.5 seconds with a CO2 emission level of 157 grams per kilometers.

The challenge was to develop these engines to give excellent performance and low CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, while at the same time achieving a substantial reduction in the level of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. Together the new diesel engine technology features deliver a reduction in CO2 and fuel consumption levels between one and 10 per cent compared to the previous generation Avensis; the 2.2-litre D-4D 150 and 2.2-litre 150/180 D-CAT engines all meet Euro V emissions standards.

All new Avensis have an electric motorized parking brake, operated by a switch slightly awkwardly placed under the dash to the right of the steering wheel. It requires you to push it, counter intuitively to lock the brakes, then pull to switch them off. But, get used to it, and it does disengage as you drive off, so that’s no real hardship.

Having thought diesel was the way to go; our real surprise was the next car we drove, a one-up-from-base TR spec 1.8 Valvematic manual.

This is a new chain-cam engine that, as well as having variable valve timing also has continuously variable lift for the intake valves by means of a screw thread actuator mechanism. This allows more precise control of the flow of air into the engine giving multiple benefits of improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, increased power and better engine response.

Interior, exterior and safety

Rolling off the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, England, the third-generation Avensis is a complete redesign featuring new looks, new technology and new drive trains. The new Avensis receives a major overhaul in the style department, with all-new front and rear fascias, a new grille and new headlights/taillights on both the sedan and wagon models. The new design is much sharper and edgier than the outgoing car, but the evolution is clear. Inside, the dash has been redesigned with a new gauge cluster, revised center stack and a new steering wheel.

New Avensis is available in saloon and tourer body styles with four equipment grades: T2, TR, T4, and T Spirit.

The Toyota is better inside, where a nicely designed cabin — including an elegant wheel, attractively lit instruments and a neat cup holder and centre armrest — shows sophistication. The TR trim, likely to be the most popular, has an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, Bluetooth, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, an excellent six-speaker stereo and steering-wheel-mounted controls. Most of what the long-distance traveler needs, in fact.

In addition to new looks, the Avensis picks up some new toys as well. A satellite-based navigation system is now optional, as is a built-in hard drive for storing all your music in-car. On the safety side, a new Pre-Crash Safety system is optional on the top trim level and is packaged with Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist/Lane Departure Warning.

Acknowledgement:
http://www.atzonline.com
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk
http://www.duemotori.com
http://www.channel4.com
http://www.carkeys.co.uk
http://wot.motortrend.com
http://www.timesonline.co.uk