Toyota Verso MPV likely to be produced in China in 2011

Shanghai September 15 (Gasgoo.com) The Toyota Verso MPV is expected to be introduced to China next year for local production at Guangzhou Toyota, a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp and Guangzhou Automobile Group, a source inside the JV said, autohome.com.cn reported on Wednesday.

The joint venture executives had actually denied the report that the Verso MPV would be assembled locally. But at the beginning of this year, a patent application filled by the Japanese automaker for producing the Verso MPV in China was disclosed. Some Chinese medias even got spy pictures of the car being tested. It is indisputable that Guangzhou Auto is lacking in MPV models.

Based on the platform of Toyota Corolla, the Verso MPV is available in five-seat and seven-seat versions, suitable for family use. At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Toyota launched the third generation of Verso which had undergone many changes since its first launch in 2000. With a wheelbase 30mm longer than its previous generation, the new model has more cargo space behind the third-row seat.

Data show that the third generation Verso is being sold overseas with three different engines raging from a gasoline 1.6L VVT-I (132hp with 160Nm of torque) up to a 1.8L version (147hp with 180Nm), and the 2.0L diesel engine with 126hp and a torque of 340Nm, all stuck together with either a 6 speed manual gear box or a CVT.