Toyota Avensis to be axed by 2020

Facts have emerged that Toyota, the Japanese based automaker, is planning to pull the plug on the Avensis model by 2020. What this implies is that customers of the current Toyota Avensis will have to turn their heads towards a new model in the segment as the company is planning to say goodbye to the model in the next six years.

The announcement hasn’t been officially made just yet but according to checks by BusinessDay, the model in question is out of the carmaker’s plans of introducing a new hybrid model in the mid-sized segment.

“Do we plan to introduce an Avensis hybrid? No. Do we have a plan to introduce in the next five to seven years a hybrid model in the mid-sized segment? The answer is clearly, yes,” said Didier Leroy, Toyota European boss, told our source.

However, Toyota will not be exiting the segment as it will introduce a brand new car which will also become available in a sedan and an estate body style. It currently remains unknown on what platform it will be built and what engines it will be using, but one thing is for sure: it will come with a hybrid version.

The current Avensis, which is the third-generation, was introduced in 2009 and, depending on the market, it is available with a 1.6-litre engine, with a 1.8-litre, 2.0-litre with 150 HP, a 2.0-litre D-4D with 125 HP, with 148 HP and 174 HP depending on the market. Units can be connected to a 6-speed manual, to a CVT or to a 6-speed automatic.