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New 2009 Toyota Avensis - Best New Car: The New 2009 Toyota Avensis unveiled on the Paris motor show at last. But The New 2009 Toyota Avensis looks just like a Lexus IS!

The New 2009 Toyota Avensis was designed at Toyota’s ED2 studio in France, and developed by engineers from Toyota Motor Europe and Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan working in tandem. It’s only 50mm longer than the outgoing car, but Toyota claims increased head-, shoulder-, leg- and kneeroom for passengers.

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New 2009 Toyota Avensis Picture:

Inside, the added dose of desirability, required to take the fight to the much improved Mondeo and Insignia, is harder to see. Softer touch plastics make the surfaces more tactile than in previous Avensis, and panel fit and finish is typically high. However, the new Avensis lacks the richness and variety of cabin materials that distinguishes the new D-segment class leaders; it all still looks a bit too sober and monotone to really impress.

Three petrol versions of the new Avensis will be offered from launch next Spring, ranging from 1.6- to 2.0-litres in size, and from 130- to 150bhp in power output. There will be three four-cylinder diesel options, the smallest a 2.0-litre D-4D option with 125bhp and 229lb ft of torque, and the largest a 2.2 with 175bhp and 295lb ft. Multidrive CVTs are available as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual transmission on the 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrols; a proper six-speed torque converter auto is available on the middle-sitting 148bhp 2.2-litre D-4D diesel.

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New 2009 Toyota Avensis Picture:

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New 2009 Toyota Avensis - Best New Car :Toyota has issued a single photograph of the new Avensis saloon. The new Avensis will arrive officially at the Paris motor show on 2 October 2008 – and this solitary image is all we’ll get from Toyota until then.

What’s new on the third-generation, 2009 Avensis? Well, there will be no hatchback this time round; buyers will have to pick between this four-door saloon and a new, curvier estate. Which is what we suggested in our scoops of the new Avensis.

The new Toyota Avensis looks just like a Lexus IS!

Well spotted. Look past that weird eggshell background of this carefully shot portrait, and you’re left with a crisp-edged, contemporary family saloon – with just a few echos of its posher, bigger brother to remind us that Toyota leaves the proper exec experience to its Lexus arm.

It’s difficult to comment much more on the design from this one rear three-quarter photo that’s been issued, but the new Avensis seems to follow the modern norm in a class that’s flooded with volume models desperate for desirability. Taut body surfaces and rising beltline? Check. Chromed side windows (DLO in designer speak) and remarkably BMW-esque Hoffmeister kink? You bet.

We’ll let you make your own minds up on the design, but Toyota has also issued some early details on the car. The only problem being that they tell us absolutely nothing about the new Avensis – save for the fact that it’s still built in Burnaston, Derbyshire, UK.

Don’t worry, however – CAR as usual has the full lowdown. Click ‘Next’ below to read all about the new Toyota Avensis.

So what else do you know about the new Toyota Avensis?

Both bodystyles will roll into UK dealers in January 2009. Why has the hatchback been dropped? Because Toyota still harbours ambitions to move the Avensis upmarket a notch (think that middle ground occupied by the Honda Accord) – and it reckons the new, as yet unseen estate will cross the gap between saloon and full, squared-off wagon.

This time, the tourer will place the emphasis more on sporty style over outright baggage handling. Expect a significantly faster rear screen angle, insiders promise. [Via]

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New 2009 Toyota Avensis Picture:

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