Toyota plans Paris assault

Toyota has announced its line-up for the Paris Motor Show and it includes the world debut of its new Avensis, plus the first outing for production-ready versions of the iQ and Urban Cruiser.

Other than a single image of the car, few details have been released for the new Avensis. Toyota's D-segment challenger will be built in Britain - like the two generations of Avensis before it - and Toyota claims its engines will emit less CO₂ than before, yet produce more power.

Environmentally conscious buyers will be interested to learn that the pint-sized iQ city car emits as little as 99g/km of carbon dioxide and its debut in showroom-ready format also marks the arrival of the world's first curtain shield airbags, which are mounted behind the two rear seats.

Toyota's new compact SUV is larger than the iQ, though still compact enough to be called a small car. It will be available in two- and four-wheel drive guises with the option of an excellent 1.4-litre turbodiesel engine.

Following the Paris Show, the new Avensis will arrive in showrooms in January, with the iQ and Urban Cruiser going on sale later in 2009.

Shane O' Donoghue