15 Jan 08
The Venza crossover is already slated for production in Georgetown, Kentucky. Engineered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and styled by Toyota's Calty studio in California and a design team in Ann Arbor, this all-American Toyota is a road-oriented five-seater.
More family saloon than off-roader, the Venza nonetheless has four-wheel-drive, and promises good load-space and strong towing capacity.
Toyota has paid specific attention to ease of loading and ease of access for occupants. Storage/stowage aids include lever-operated flat-folding 60:40-split rear seats - the Venza can easily accommodate extra-long items such as surf boards and skis, says Toyota. Those rear seats can also recline by up to 14 degrees.
The long central console accommodates a large storage bin, as well as climate control functions, an audio input jack, 12-volt power socket and gearshift lever. Standard equipment will include dual-zone air conditioning, a six-CD stereo, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass, remote keyless entry, cruise control, tinted glass and 19-inch alloy wheels; V6 versions get 20-inch wheels and twin exhaust tailpipes.
Safety-wise, there'll be seven airbags (including a driver's knee airbag), traction control, stability control and active head restraints. Further options will include leather upholstery, automatic high beam-dipping headlights, satellite radio, reversing cameras, a power-operated rear door and a panoramic glass roof with sliding section.
Both front- and four-wheel-drive versions will be offered, with a choice of 3.5 V6 (268bhp/246lb ft) and 2.7 four-cylinder petrol engines. Both versions get six-speed automatic transmission with sequential-shift facility.
Check out the rest of our Detroit Motor Show coverage
