Toyota Avensis

The Toyota Avensis is a large family car built in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by Japanese automaker Toyota since the 1998 model year. It is the successor of the Carina E and is available as a four-door saloon, five-door liftback and estate. A large MPV called the Toyota Avensis Verso (Toyota Ipsum in Japan and previously the Toyota Picnic in other markets) is built in Japan on a separate platform. The Avensis is the basis for the youth-oriented, U.S.-market Scion tC.

The Toyota Avensis was introduced in 1997, to create a more modern name when compared with the reliable, but dull Toyota Carina E/Toyota Corona. Like its predecessor the Avensis was reliable, and proved a sales success for Toyota Europe. Over the years, the Toyota Avensis has advanced in size, technology, power, and economy to challenge the its established European rivals, the Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Mondeo and Peugeot 407.[citation needed]

First generation (1997–2003)

Toyota introduced the Avensis nameplate on its new model, essentially an extensive revamp of the previous generation Carina E, which was launched at the end of 1997. Like its predecessor, the Avensis was based on the non-European Corona model and built at the Burnaston factory in Derby. At the same time, production of the five-door Toyota Corolla also started at this British plant.