Toyota Motor Corporation said it could import to Japan its UK-made Avensis model due to the strong yen, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 13 July. The Avensis is a medium-sized, upmarket sedan powered by a 1.6-litre or 2.2-litre engine. Toyota has sold some Avensis models in Japan since 2003, but demand has been poor because the car was considered expensive compared to rival vehicles. However, since 2007, the exchange rate has dropped from ¥250/£1 to ¥130/£1.