Toyota Stages World Debut Of All-New Venza At 2008 North
American International Auto Show
01/14/2008
January 14, 2008 – Detroit, MI - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new 2009 Venza crossover sedan at
a press conference here today at the 2008 North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS). Venza will raise the crossover
vehicle to new levels by combining a unique blend of sedan
refinement and sport utility vehicle (SUV) functionality.
"The all-new Venza was developed as a vehicle that combines the
styling, comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a
five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV,"
said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and
general manager. "This winning combination will be ideal for
active ‘boomers' and young couples with small families."
All aspects of Venza's engineering and design were targeted
specifically for the North American market where it will be sold
exclusively. Venza was primarily engineered at Toyota Technical
Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and designed at Toyota's Calty
design studios in Newport Beach, Calif. and Ann Arbor, Mich.
Venza will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK),
in Georgetown, Ky.
The development focus of the Venza design team was to create a
new crossover vehicle that shifted away from the more
traditional SUV styling themes that tend to dominate the
segment. Calty designers leaned more heavily on a sleek sedan
concept with a wide stance that featured a sporty exterior and
premium comfort interior but would also be equipped with
important SUV attributes such as cargo space, towing capability
and all-wheel-drive performance.
The exterior design of the
four-door Venza begins with an imposing front end featuring a
distinctive grille, headlights and fog lamps for an aggressive,
yet classy appearance. The front conforms to a sleek and
aerodynamic shape with short overhangs, crisp character lines
and a roofline and ground clearance that are lower than a
typical crossover. From behind, Venza's refined appearance is
complete with an angled rear hatch, rear spoiler and wide
wraparound tail lights that interconnect with the hatch door.
On the inside, Calty designers and TTC engineers made comfort,
refinement and utility a priority for the five-passenger Venza.
A lower rocker design will allow occupants to more easily step
in and out of the vehicle than a typical sedan. Venza will also
feature a higher ride height and hip points that will help
provide significantly better driver visibility than most sedans
and easier ingress and egress than most SUVs.
Venza will feature a spacious interior providing ample room
for all five passengers and abundant SUV-like cargo space behind
the second row of seats. The rear hatch provides a low cargo
height that allows for easy loading and unloading of luggage and
outdoor gear. Easy-to-use levers, one on each side of the rear
cargo area, allow the 60/40 split rear seats to fold flat,
providing additional storage space for extra long items such as
surf boards, skis, camping gear and gardening equipment. For
added passenger comfort, the rear seats recline up to 14
degrees.
A creative interior design complemented with an array of
comfort and convenience features provides Venza with a refined
look and feel that is commonly reserved for a luxury sedan. The
flow of the instrumentation panel (IP) creates a unique 60/60
design that gives both driver and front passenger the look and
feeling that 60 percent of the IP is accessible from their
seating position.
An extra long center console extends from the IP and slopes
down to a center compartment with a unique sliding console
cover. Sliding open the compartment lid reveals a large storage
well deep enough to hold a large purse. The compartment is also
illuminated and equipped with an auxiliary audio jack and
12-volt power point. The upper portion of the center console
houses the gear-shift lever for easy and comfortable driver
access. Climate control functions are centrally located on the
upper center console, providing easy accessibility for both
driver and passenger. The center console also contains an
iPod/MP3 storage compartment with wire management and
illuminated dual cupholders.
All Venza models will be equipped with an array of standard
features including auto dual zone air conditioning, AM/FM
six-disc CD, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio controls,
remote keyless entry, electrochromic rearview mirror with
compass, a multi-information display, cruise control, optitron
gauges, rear wiper, privacy glass, and much more. On V6 models
Venza will come standard with dual exhaust tips and will be the
first Toyota model to ride on standard 20-inch alloy wheels.
Four-cylinder models will come standard with 19-inch alloy
wheels.
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Chrome accents throughout give Venza a refined look and feel.
Models equipped with an optional leather-trimmed interior will
feature wood-grain-type trim and seats stitched with dark piping
that is tastefully coordinated with Venza's standard linear
grain dashboard and steering wheel. An array of storage space
will be available throughout the vehicle to accommodate
passenger belongings. A large storage compartment with an
additional 12-volt power point located on the passenger side of
the front center console will be sizeable enough to contain maps
and magazines.
A panoramic roof will be offered as an option and will be a
first for the Toyota vehicle lineup. The roof will feature
separate glass panels over the front and rear seats. The front
glass panel will have a power tilt/slide function.
Venza will also offer an Automatic High Beam headlight
system, another Toyota first. When high beam headlights are in
use sensors in the Automatic High Beam system will detect
oncoming traffic and automatically switch the headlights to
low-beam. When the Automatic High Beam sensors no longer detect
oncoming traffic the system will switch the headlights back to
high-beam mode.
Additional optional equipment will include a navigation
system equipped with a JBL audio system, integrated satellite
radio capability and Bluetooth® technology; a premium JBL audio
system with AM/FM six-disc CD changer, satellite radio
capability and Bluetooth®, rear seat entertainment system, a
Smart Key System, back-up camera and a power rear door.
The sleek and sporty styling, refined interior and
outstanding utility features are complemented with fun-to-drive
performance attributes expected by owners with active
lifestyles. Aggressive handling typically found in a performance
coupe is well-balanced by the on-road comfort of an upscale
sedan.
Venza will be available in front- and all-wheel-drive
configurations. It will provide drivers and passengers the best
of both worlds by delivering the quiet comfortable ride expected
from a full-size sedan along with the peace-of-mind that comes
with all-wheel-drive.
Power will be generated by an available 3.5-liter V6 that
will produce 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 lb.-ft. of
torque at 4,700 rpm with a towing capability of 3,500 pounds.
Standard power will come from an all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder
engine that will deliver capable performance and provide
excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions. Both engines will
be mated with a six-speed sequential-shift
electronically-controlled automatic transmission.
Venza will be equipped with a comprehensive list of standard
safety features. It will provide a total of seven airbags,
including a driver’s knee airbag, front seat-mounted side
airbags, and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Venza
will also be the first sedan with Toyota's STAR safety system,
featuring anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic
brake-force distribution, brake assist, and vehicle stability
control. Venza will also feature active head rests as standard
equipment.
"Venza will establish an exciting new crossover niche that will
combine the finest attributes of Toyota's diverse vehicle
lineup," said Carter. "It will cater to buyers who are looking
for the value and reliability of a Camry, the comfort and
upscale refinement of an Avalon, and the utility and
functionality of a Highlander SUV in one very stylish and sporty
package."
"When it goes on sale in late 2008, the Venza crossover sedan
will represent Toyota's latest commitment to driving change in
the marketplace."
