The new Toyota Verso will enjoy its world debut when it is officially unveiled at the
Geneva Motor Show. Described as a no-compromise MPV by its makers, the well proportioned family mover is having a good go at being all things to all buyes. The new Verso offers more space for kids and kit, class leading safety for those in it - or run over by it for that matter - and quiet refined transit for the whole family. This is all wrapped up in a package that Toyota claims, rides and handles like a more conventional passenger car.
The Verso arrives in the UK this spring with two all new petrol engines, a 1.6-litre and a 1.8-litre, both of which are part of the Toyota Optimal Drive range that have been designed to give more power using less fuel and with lower CO
2. Both units are mated as standard to a six-speed manual gearbox, although buyers of the 1.8-litre unit can opt for a Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) set up called Multidrive S. An updated version of Toyota's 2.0-litre D-4D diesel will also be available. A larger 2.2-litre diesel, which can be had with a new six-speed automatic, comes on stream later in the year.
Toyota has also chosen Geneva for the European premiere of the third generation of Prius, the hybrid powered green machine much beloved of Hollywood A-listers and now with more power and better economy - it goes on sale in the UK in July.
Richard Bott - 27 Feb 2009