First Images of GPR Motorsport's Toyota Avensis BTCC Racer

While Toyota has no plans to re-enter the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with an official works team, the Japanese automaker has lent its support to GPR Motorsport that is building a new racing concept based on the European market and British-built Avensis sedan.

Toyota supplied GPR Motorsport with an Avensis donor car and bodyshell to build to the new specifications, which teams will be able to adopt from the 2011 racing season.

The Avensis NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) car will make its track debut in the final round of this year's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on 9 – 10 October, driven by BTCC double champion, James Thompson.

Toyota Announces Details on Recalled European Models, Says up to 1.8 Million Vehicles May Be Affected by Sticky Accelerator

Less than 24 hours after Toyota Motor Europe announced that it would be investigating potential accelerator pedal issues on its European models, the Japanese automaker released details on the affected vehicles. The recall involves a total of eight models. These are listed below:

-AYGO (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)
-iQ (Nov 2008 – Nov 2009)
-Yaris (Nov 2005 – Sep 2009)
-Auris (Oct 2006 – 5 Jan 2010)
-Corolla (Oct 2006 – Dec 2009)
-Verso (Feb 2009 – 5 Jan 2010)
-Avensis (Nov 2008 – Dec 2009)
-RAV4 (Nov 2005 – Nov 2009)

The company said that precise number of involved units is still under investigation, but may reach up to a total of 1.8 million vehicles in the Old Continent, adding that no Lexus or other Toyota models are affected by the recall to solve a potential accelerator pedal issue.

"Toyota's policy is to put its customers first, in all circumstances", said Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"We understand that the current situation is creating concerns, and we deeply regret it. We would also like to reassure customers: the potential accelerator pedal issue only occurs in very rare circumstances. The announced action is a preventive measure aimed to guarantee the highest safety standards to all customers."

According to Toyota, there is a chance that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms on the affected models may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position

Toyota said that the issue is caused because the accelerator pedal mechanisms concerned may become worn.

The Japanese automaker added that only a limited number of incidents have been reported in Europe, and that the company is not aware of any accident resulting from this issue.

Earlier this week, Toyota suspended sales of eight vehicles in the U.S. due to the sticky accelerator problem while the firm also added another 1.1 million vehicles to last fall's recall of 4.3 million vehicles in the USA.

Toyota Avensis gets 132HP 1.6L Petrol and 2.0L Diesel with Auto Transmission

Toyota has enhanced its engine line-up for the UK market Avensis with the introduction of two new powertrains, a 1.6-liter gasoline (already offered in other European countries) and the 2.2-liter D-CAT diesel with a 6-speed automatic transmission - the firm's first diesel automatic passenger car. The 1.6-liter Valvematic petrol produces an output of 132 horsepower and is linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox accelerating the Avensis sedan from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 10.4 seconds and the Tourer in 10.6 seconds.

The new entry-level Avensis returns 43.5mpg UK (36.2mpg US or 6.5 lt/100 km) in combined cycle driving, with 152g/km CO2 emissions. Available in T2 and TR grade saloon and tourer models, the Avensis 1.6L is priced from £16,485.

For the first time, Avensis buyers may also opt to combine Toyota's 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine with a new six-speed automatic transmission.

The four-cylinder unit produces 150 HP at 3,600rpm and maximum torque of 340Nm between 2,000 and 2,800rpm, enabling 0 to 62mph acceleration in 9.5 seconds for the sedan and 9.8 seconds for the Tourer while returning 44.1mpg UK (36.7mpg US or 6.4 lt/100km) in combined cycle driving (42.8mpg UK Tourer).

Prices for the Avensis 2.2 D-CAT Auto start from £21,515.

EuroNCAP's Revised Safety Ratings for Six New Cars Including Mazda6, Avensis and Impreza

The European organization for the assessment of vehicle safety has published the first results under its updated rating system. Up until now, Euro NCAP made three separate ratings available for each vehicle, but with the new system there's an overall rating for every car covering Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment, Safety Assist which takes into account systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and seat belt reminders.

Of the six cars tested under the new ratings system, four managed to achieve Euro NCAP's maximum award of five stars: the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Avensis and Toyota iQ. Citroen's C3 Picasso minivan and the Subaru Impreza were both awarded four stars.

According to Euro NCAP, with the exception of the Subaru Impreza, all the other cars failed to impress on pedestrian protection.

After the announcement of the results, Mitsubishi and Subaru both said that they would change their ESC (electronic stability control) fitment policies for the Lancer and Impreza, as variants of these models without optional ESC were offered in some Euroepan countries.

Euro NCAP's new rating scheme requires all safety equipment, including ESC, to be standard on 85% of volume sales and at least optionally available on every variant.

Toyota Begins Production of New Avensis in the U.K.

Today, two Avensis models rolled off the line at Toyota's Burnaston Plant in Derbyshire, U.K., marking the official start of production of the firm's new European flagship model. The Burnaston Plant will produce the Avensis in body types, sedan and wagon, to support an annual European sales target of 115,000 vehicles. Designed, engineered and built in Europe, the all-new Avensis will also be launched in Africa, Central & South America, as well as in Oceania. Sales of both body types of the Avensis begin across Europe from January 2009.

The mid-size model's 1.6- and 1.8-liter petrol engines will be produced by Toyota's U.K. plant in Deeside, North Wales, while the 2.0-liter Valvematic will be built in Japan. The Japanese firm's plants in Poland (TMIP and TMMP) will manufacture the 2.0- and 2.2-litre D-4D diesel engines and the new 6-speed automatic transmission

Speaking ahead of today's celebrations, Tadashi Arashima, CEO and President of Toyota Motor Europe, said: "The UK has proved to be a valuable economic and business partner. Building on more than 15 years of production history, TMUK's team members continue to deliver the quality, efficiency and flexibility needed to meet the exacting standards of our customers in Europe and around the world."

Video: 2009 Toyota Avensis Sedan and Estate

A couple of weeks ago Toyota took the wraps off its European flagship model, the third generation Avensis at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Now we bring you the first video of the Japanese automaker's new Ford Mondeo and Opel Insignia rival that will be available in two body shapes, a sedan and a wagon. The new Avensis goes on sale in January, with an annual European sales target including Russia, of about 115,000 units. Click through for the video. -Continued

Related Story: 2009 Toyota Avensis High-Resolution Gallery and Details

2009 Toyota Avensis: 35 High-Res Photos and Details

*Click Here For The First Video of The 2009 Toyota Avensis

The all-new third generation Toyota Avensis made its world premiere at the Paris motor show. Toyota’s European flagship model will go on sale across the continent in January 2009 where it will be offered with two body-styles, sedan and station-wagon. Designed in Europe, the Avensis’ exterior styling is deliberately inspired from the latest generation Lexus models (which in turn take a few styling cues from the Bavarian brotherhood) as Toyota wanted to offer an executive feel to its mid-size model. While the new Avensis is definitely less boring than its boxy predecessor, it won’t be winning any beauty contests. –Continued

Inside, previous Avensis buyers will feel right at home as Toyota’s approach was more evolutionary. The dashboard retains the wannabe-premium feel with Toyota claiming that the materials used in the cabin were chosen “to express prestige and dynamism”. Buyers can choose from a set of different finishes for the centre console, including black metallic paint and a titanium finish. On higher grade models, the console has a graphic finish inspired by Takesumi, which Toyota says is a charcoal made from bamboo.

Within the range, features that will be available will include dual zone automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, full-map touch-screen satellite navigation with Bluetooth, Smart Entry and Start system, a panoramic roof for the station-wagon models and an 11-speaker premium audio system with the 10Gb hard disc drive. All Avensis models will come equipped with seven airbags as standard, including a driver’s knee airbag.

Built on a new platform, the 2009 Avensis is 50mm longer than the previous generation model, giving an overall length of 4,695 for the sedan and 4,765 for the station-wagon. Both have a 2,700mm wheelbase and are 1,480mm tall – the same height as the current Avensis. Thanks to the new platform, the track has been increased by between 30 and 45mm, while the car’s width has grown by 50mm to 1,810mm. The boot capacity is 509 liters for the sedan and 543 liters for the estate/station wagon.

At launch, a total of five different engines will be available including a new 147 HP 1.8-liter Valvematic gasoline unit mated to a new six-speed manual gearbox or the Multidrive S CVT transmission which can operate like a seven-speed automatic. Oddly enough, there’s also a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that develops just 5HP more than the 1.8 at 152 HP. The diesel range consists of a 130 HP 2.0-liter unit and the 2.2-liter engine available with 150 and 180 HP.

Related Story: 2009 Toyota Avensis Video