Following a sneak preview of the updated Avensis, today Toyota went ahead and officially revealed its Opel Insignia-rival at the Frankfurt Motor Show . The facelift brings cosmetic changes both on the outside and the cabin.

While overall dimensions remain the same as the previous model, the mid-size sedan and the estate (Tourer) version benefit from a fresh face with a redesigned grille that has a chrome upper “lip” and new, narrower headlights that incorporate daytime running lights. At the rear, both body styles gain redesigned tail lamps.

The sedan also sports a new rear bumper design with a center guard and a chrome trim for the license plate, while depending on the trim level, the Avensis is offered with 16-inch steel or 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels. .

In the interior, the dashboard has received some minor tweaks to improve the ease of use of the center console switchgear, while the instruments have white instead of red backlighting. The cabin also gains new upholstery and higher quality trim on parts frequently touched by the driver or passengers, like the door grips, the switchgear and the center console.

Another addition to the 2012 Avensis is the new multimedia system, which is offered in three versions: Touch, Touch and Go and Touch and Go Plus. All versions have a 6.1-inch touch-screen, Bluetooth connectivity, rear-view parking camera, automatic phone book access, audio streaming and vehicle settings display as standard, with features like full map navigation, speed warning, SMS messaging, 3D landmarks, e-mail and an 11-speaker audio system added to the two other versions, depending on specifications and market.

The outgoing model had already received a five-star rating in the EuroNCAP tests. Now Toyota is introducing a longer list of active and passive safety systems in order to offer even better protection. Chief among them is the optional Pre-Crash safety system that uses a radar sensor to scan the road and warn the driver of potential hazards. When the driver brakes, it activates the seatbelt pretensioners and provide added braking power. If it detects that a collision is imminent, it will automatically apply full force braking in order to reduce the severity of the accident.

Other options include an adaptive cruise control and a lane departure warning system, while systems like ABS with EBD and Electronic Stability and Traction Control are standard.

In the powertrain department, Toyota has improved the 124HP 2.0-liter D-4D diesel engine by fitting it with a new turbocharger and modifying the combustion chamber. As a result, average consumption is lower and CO2 emissions reduced by 15%, from 139 to 119 g/km.

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