2009 Venza Raises the Traditional Passenger Car to New Heights
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 • Burton Manor, Livonia

Social Hour 5:30 p.m.
Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Presentation 7:30 p.m.

The new 2009 Toyota Venza was developed as a completely new vehicle, offering a unique blend of refinement and functionality. It combines the styling, comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV, giving customers a stylish alternative to the traditional sedan.

All aspects of Venza’s engineering and design were targeted specifically for the North American market. Primarily engineered at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Venza’s styling design was the creation of Toyota’s Calty Design Studios in Newport Beach, California and in Ann Arbor. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), in Georgetown, Kentucky, also home of the Camry, Solara and Avalon, manufactures the Venza. More than seventy percent of Venza’s components come from North American suppliers.

Concept
The development focus of the Venza design team was to shift away from the more traditional SUV styling themes that tend to dominate the crossover segment. This blending of car-like handling and SUV cargo capacity demonstrates not only the current state of Toyota’s product development process, but also the direction of Toyota’s design philosophy.

Venza uses a single grade strategy that offers three distinct characters in one vehicle – utility, sporty, and luxury – with excellent fuel economy, innovative design, outstanding front and rear headroom and excellent value. Venza development targeted the emerging market section that demands sleek styling, excellent handling and road manners, combined with a high level of utility. To meet those needs, Venza offers bold and expressive styling; on-road performance; a luxurious and refined interior; and SUV-like flexibility such as all-wheel drive (AWD), foldable rear seats, a large cargo area, and a higher driver sightline. A sweeping rocker design allows occupants better ingress/egress than a traditional sedan or SUV.

Styling
The exterior design of the four-door Venza features an imposing front end with a distinctive grille, headlights, fog lamps and 20” tires for an aggressive, yet classy appearance. The back appearance includes an angled rear hatch, spoiler and wide wraparound taillights that interconnect with the hatch door.

On the inside, Calty designers and TTC engineers also made comfort, refinement and utility a priority for the five-passenger Venza. The creative interior design incorporates a unique 60/60 IP design, giving both the driver and the front passenger accessibility to 60 percent of the IP from either seating position.

Packaging
Overall vehicle height sets Venza apart from others in the crossover class. Its higher ride height and sight line helps to significantly improve driver visibility in comparison to most sedans, as well as allows easier ingress/egress when compared to most SUVs, all without sacrificing overall interior roominess. Venza’s unique packaging provides a spacious interior that comfortably seats five passengers, while providing abundant SUV-like cargo space behind the second row of seats.

The rear hatch provides a very low cargo height to ensure easy loading and unloading of luggage and outdoor gear. The 60/40 split rear seats fold flat with one-touch levers, providing additional storage space for extra long items such as surfboards, skis, camping gear and gardening equipment.

An extra long center console extends from the IP and slopes down to a center compartment. The unique sliding console cover opens to reveal an illuminated storage well deep enough to hold a large purse. The center console also contains an MP3/cell phone storage compartment with wire management and illuminated dual cup holders.

Performance
The sleek and sporty styling, refined interior and outstanding utility features complement the 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. The available 3.5-liter V6 engine 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.

Safety
Venza is equipped with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including a total of seven airbags. It is also the first car with Toyota’s STAR Safety System™, featuring anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and vehicle stability control. Front active headrests are included as standard equipment.

Options
Venza offers an impressive list of comfort and utility features, many of which are new to the Toyota lineup, or are typically found only on luxury vehicles. High intensity discharge headlamps with an automatic high beam automatically detect oncoming vehicles and switches the headlamps from high- to low-beam. A navigation system equipped with a premium JBL Synthesis 13-speaker audio system includes integrated satellite radio capability, music streaming via Bluetooth® technology and XM® “real-time” traffic. The optional panoramic roof is a first for the Toyota brand, and features a front glass panel with a power tilt/slide function and a fixed panel over the rear seats.

Venza establishes an exciting new niche, representing a unique combination of the finest attributes of Toyota’s diverse vehicle lineup. It will cater to buyers who are looking for the value and reliability of a sedan, luxurious comfort and upscale refinement, and the utility and functionality of an SUV, together in one very stylish and sporty package. Venza raises the bar for ride comfort and utility, and represents Toyota’s latest commitment to driving change in the marketplace.

The SAE Detroit Section Meeting featuring the 2009 Toyota Venza will take place on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at Burton Manor in Livonia.

A social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 and the presentation at 7:30.

For tickets, see your company representative, or click here to order online.

2009 Toyota Venza


Venza uses a single grade strategy that offers three distinct characters in one vehicle – utility, sporty, and luxury – with excellent fuel economy.


A navigation system equipped with a premium JBL Synthesis 13-speaker audio system that includes integrated satellite radio capability.


Also included is an iPod® pocket and plug in—right in the console.