subject: Toyota Previa Engines: Defying Odds [print this page] Toyota Previa Engines: Defying Odds Toyota Previa Engines: Defying Odds
This MPV from Japanese automaker, Toyota, is the largest minivan in companys arsenal. A successor of Toyota Van, Previa was launched with aim of offering breakthrough, future technology in family vehicles. Toyota launched Previa in 1990 and by 2008 its three generations have been launched, currently its been replaced in North American market by Toyota Sienna. First generation Previa was produced from 1990 till 2000. It was launched in 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual transmissions. Toyota Pervia engine was offered either as 2.4 litre petrol or 2.2 litre diesel engine. A supercharged version of petrol engine was also offered. First generation Toyota Pervia is among the few Front Mid engine minivans with all wheel drive system.
Pervia underwent massive design changes and employed many technological enhancements to give it a more modern and luxurious look & feel. Toyota changed its layout from front mid engine, four wheel drive to front engine front wheel drive, also known as FF layout. Toyota produced second generation of Pervia from 2000 till 2006 in 4 speed auto and 5 speed manual gearbox configurations. This time around Toyota Pervia engines were offered in 2.0 litre diesel and 2.4 litre petrol engines, though a special 3.0 litre V6 petrol version was also launched in Japanese market only, which was also imported to North American market by different importing firms. First generation of hybrid Toyota Previa was also launched in same time frame.
Third generation Pervia was launched in 2006 and came equipped with 4 and 6 speed auto gearboxes with 2.4 litre and 3.5 litre V6 petrol engines, mainly launched in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The 2.4 litre Toyota Pervia engine was criticized for its unresponsiveness and inability to support a big and heavy frame, despite this fact, Pervia remained a top seller in Australian market. Second generation of hybrid Pervia was launched in same time frame as the third generation normal Pervia.
Second and third generation Pervia were not launched in North American market because of risk of brand cannibalization, Toyota Sienna is produced and sold in that region, however in European market Toyota pulled out Pervia because of diminishing profit margins in minivan category, mainly catalyzed by aggressive pricing of Ford Galaxy and VW Sharan. Despite not garnering the expected response, Toyota Pervia engines, especially the V6s launched in second and third generation, ensured sustenance of Pervias brand name in minivan category.
