Toyota unveils the 2013 Toyota Avalon: Comments

[Drew Dowdell]

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Drew Dowdell

Managing Editor

Cheersandgears.com

April 5th, 2012

Toyota today unveiled the 2013 Toyota Avalon at the New York Auto Show. The Avalon moves to the new Corporate face of Toyota as seen on the Camry while also moving to the new Camry platform introduced late last year.

Toyota calls the styling on the Avalon bold and sporty... which we will leave that judgement up to you. The host of suspension and performance improvements are detailed in the press release on page 2.

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The Sensational New 2013 Toyota Avalon Makes World Debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show

NEW YORK, (April 5, 2012) – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. revealed the all-new 2013 Avalon premium mid-size sedan today at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The new Avalon is re-conceived for the premium mid-size sedan segment with a progressive and emotionally styled exterior design.

When it arrives to dealerships late this year, the new Avalon will offer improved dynamic performance, a greater degree of refinement, and a highly spacious, comfortable interior experience with an abundance of outstanding convenience technologies.

The new 2013 Avalon is the result of a North American-focused design and engineering effort. The new sedan’s dramatic exterior and interior design was conceived by a youthful and talented team at the Calty Design Research Inc. facilities in Southern California and Michigan. The car’s engineering development was principally led by a passionate and dedicated group based at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Continuing a North American focused theme, the 2013 Avalon will be assembled at Toyota’s facility in Georgetown, Ky. True to the future product mission set forth by Toyota Motor Corporation President, Akio Toyoda, the new Avalon’s more stylish, bold, sporty exterior design and luxurious interior styling are matched by an enhanced dynamic package, a combination that foreshadows the more compelling and passionate nature of future Toyota products.

Enhanced Avalon Dynamics

In addition to its stunning design, numerous structural and chassis improvements were made to the new Avalon to enhance the ride quality, straight-line stability and handling. The body structure gains improvements in torsional rigidity thanks to additional and strategically placed welds, improved body bracing, and high-strength steel in key areas in order to provide a stiffer chassis and optimize suspension performance. The new Avalon suspension relies on MacPherson struts with advanced valving and rebound springs to balance handling and agility with ride comfort. Coil spring rate and front and rear sway bar stiffness was increased from the current model to help improve body control and body roll. The Avalon’s electric power steering (EPS) system has been tuned to help deliver enhanced controllability and vehicle agility while also realizing superior linear stability.

The new Avalon offers three distinct drive modes that help tailor dynamic performance to the driver’s needs. The drive modes - Normal, Eco, and Sport -are made available through driver-selectable switches. In Sport mode, throttle response is enhanced and steering effort is weighted from center to offer a sportier character. Eco changes throttle response and A/C power usage to help improve fuel economy. Steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters help provide a sportier drive while in the D or S Mode, where the revised throttle helps improve shift response to help maximize engine power and vehicle performance.

Dynamic Exterior Styling

The new Avalon’s dynamic exterior styling defines a sleek and expressive profile that helps communicate a sense of motion for the vehicle even when it is at rest. The beltline has been lowered to accentuate a strong stance. Compared to its predecessor, the new Avalon is a bit more compact yet displays better proportions with a longer, sloping roofline, flared front fenders, and reduced front and rear overhangs, lower vehicle height, and reduced body-to-tire gap. New 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheel and tire combinations fill the wheel well to enhance the vehicle’s dynamic exterior expression.

Key exterior design elements include the square Double-eye PES (Projector Ellipsoid System) headlamps with HID (High-Intensity Discharge)and elegant DRL (Daytime Running Lights) feature available that provide excellent night time visibility while helping define a narrower, more taut and muscular exterior expression. A wider, more assertive grille design provides a bolder front perspective. At the rear, high-performance LED combination tail lamps are adopted which are more integrated with the revised rear-body styling. The dual rear tailpipe outlets further the more cohesive design theme.

Modern Interior Experience

Design elements enhancing comfort, convenience and technology help create the luxurious experience that will prove tempting to buyers of the next Avalon. The 2013 Avalon offers a modern, spacious, premium interior highlighted by abundant rear seat legroom, while featuring a myriad of available features. Beyond mere dimensions, the new Avalon’s interior design enhances the cabin’s sense of spaciousness and comfort. The front seat’s hip point has been lowered by 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) to help create improved headroom. The new power front seat design with increased side bolstering is more supportive and offers an expanded range of downward adjustment. In addition, the structural components of the sunroof and the headliner design have been optimized to help increase the cabin’s roominess. A concave dash panel design, located in front of the passenger, helps create an expansive feeling. While the rear overhang has been reduced by 1.7 inches, the luggage compartment capacity is 16.0 cubic feet, an increase of 1.6 cubic feet as compared to the outgoing model.

The Avalon’s premium interior attains a high level of refinement by reducing wind, engine and road noise inside the cabin. The resultant interior is even significantly quieter and more comfortable than the current Avalon and it creates an ideal environment to enjoy conversation, music or Toyota’s available multimedia system, Entune™. Sound absorbing materials have been strategically placed around the cabin and body structure while not inhibiting a reduction in overall vehicle weight. The windshield and front side-glass panels utilize acoustic glass that helps control sound intrusion into the cabin. Reductions in wind noise have been realized by optimizing exterior shape, specifically cowl and louver sealing, outer mirror shape and position, and wiper-blade position, which have all been developed to dramatically reduce wind noise generation. Exterior gaps and steps have also been minimized to reduce wind noise around the door glass areas.

The new Avalon’s interior utilizes premium materials and a high degree of craftsmanship to offer an upscale experience. Rich, supple leather trims the steering wheel, shift knob, and seat upholstery helping add visual and tactile appeal. Hand-crafted, decorative stitching is adopted for the steering wheel, and soft-touch materials on the dash panel and door trim elevate the vehicle’s sense of tactile luxury. Smoked chrome-metallic accents are applied to the instrument panel, center console, door panel, and steering wheel surfaces to help add distinction and exceptional feel. Available push-button controlled soft white ambient lighting illuminates key regions of the interior to help convey the sense of luxury. The new Avalon’s center console includes a convenient console tray that is ideal for the storage of electronic hand held devices. The new Avalon’s console area is equipped with a USB port, AUX input terminal and three 12-volt power outlets to help facilitate device interface and charging.

The new Avalon will offer innovative technologies such as advanced capacitive touch switches with positioning and sensitivity that makes them ideal for vehicle system controls. Other premium in-car technologies include three color display screens that support the multi-information display, the audio/navigation interface, and the climate control panel. An easy to use Display Audio system with 6.1 inch touchscreen is standard on the new Avalon; while a JBL Synthesis Premium Audio system, HDD Premium Navigation with 7” screen, dynamic radar cruise control, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a three-zone air conditioning system are also on the list of available features and equipment.

Safety

Like all Toyota models, the new Avalon will feature Toyota’s Star Safety System™ standard, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, and Smart Stop Technology brake-override system.

The new Avalon helps to prioritize occupant safety with a best-in-class10 airbags system. A Pre-collision system is also available that is designed to “sense” an impending frontal collision and can help mitigate damage. A variable ratio brake pedal is adopted that varies the initial and final pedal effort ratios to help realize excellent brake pedal feel.

In addition to a rearview monitor, Avalon offers an available Blind Spot Monitoring system which is designed to help detect vehicles behind the outer mirrors and to help alert drivers in addition to a new Rear Cross Traffic Alert system (RCTA) that can alert drivers of cross traffic when they are backing up.

Key Dimensional Comparison

2013 Avalon

2012 Avalon

Overall Length

195.3 in. (4960 mm)

197.6 in. (5020 mm)

Overall Width

72.2 in. (1835 mm)

72.8 in. (1850 mm)

Overall Height

57.5 in. (1460 mm)

58.5 in. (1485 mm)

Wheelbase

111 in. (2820 mm)

111 in. (2820 mm)

Front Tread

62.6 in. (1590 mm)

62.2 in. (1580 mm)

Rear Tread

62.2 in. (1580 mm)

61.6 in. (1565 mm)

Front Overhang

38.8 in. (985 mm)

39.4 in. (1000 mm)

Rear Overhang

45.5 in. (1155 mm)

47.2 in. (1200 mm)

Curb Weight

3,497 lbs. (estimated)

3,616 lbs. (Avalon model)

View full article

[ZL-1]

Yuck... Personally I think the Impala blows this out of the water. Even the LaCrosse, which has been around for a few years now looks much better than this thing IMHO...

[z28luvr01]

Great job grifting the rear-end from the last-gen Azera and the front from the current Sonata hybrid!

Next please

[Robert Hall]

The taillights remind me of the last generation Sonata. The upper grille is vaguely Honda-ish. The 6-window fastback sedan profile seems to be the trend these days...so many similar rooflines.

[Drew Dowdell]

The only thing bold about this reveal is that they didn't paint the car beige.

[frogger]

Meh.. I like the dash, that's about it

[William Maley]

Aside from the awful front end.. I really like the new Avalon

[Blake Noble]

I'm getting this wierd "XTS rip-off" vibe from the profile shots of the new Avalon.

The front fascia, especially the lower grille, is also very derivative of recent Ford and Hyundai designs.

I hate it.

[ocnblu]

Impala destroys this. The only thing I like about it is the low beltline.

[G. David Felt]

WOW, The dash is a chop chop mess, the butt reminds me of Hyundia, The front screams Honda and the C or D pillar depending on how you want to classify it is a major blind spot that idiot lovers of Toyota will buy and ignor and end up hitting other cars.

I find people who buy the Avalon and Camry tend to be just stupid of everything else around them. They seem to take no responsibility for checking over their shoulders and mirrors and doing a safe lane change. This car will sell and we will see plenty of bumps and broken body panels.

Over all, not sure who the Hell at Toyota seems to have the handle on style, but this is a F+ for Failure.

[smk4565]

It is less bland than before, but the only reason the old Avalon sold was because it was super boring and old folks liked it. The seniors might be a little put off by this.

[ocnblu]

Seems as though EVERYBODY'S jumping on the long-roof, 6-window, short deck sedan bandwagon.

GM - XTS and Impala

Toyoduh - Avalon

Ford - Fusion and MKZ

Audi - A7... the inspiration for all this, so soon after its intro?

It seems way too coincidental... but everybody's out at once... corporate spying seems to be alive and well in design houses across the globe.

My runaway favourites are Impala and A7. I'm especially proud of Chevrolet's hot new Impala.

[Drew Dowdell]

+ Altima

[Blake Noble]

Audi - A7... the inspiration for all this, so soon after its intro?

I wouldn't give the A7 that much credit. The Impala has had the six-window glasshouse since 2000 or 1994, depending on how you look at it.

[Robert Hall]

Audi - A7... the inspiration for all this, so soon after its intro?

I wouldn't give the A7 that much credit. The Impala has had the six-window glasshouse since 2000 or 1994, depending on how you look at it.

Yes, but the fastback aspect of the c-pillar flowing into the decklid is quite similar to the A7 and several other recent cars..

[Paolino]

Dear Toyota,

Why are your cars becoming uglier and uglier? I am tired of having to stare at them.

Sinceramente,

Paolo

[ocnblu]

Paulie, just as you fall asleep tonight, you'll hear a whisper... "VERAAAANNNOOOOO....."

answer the call, Paulie...

[Paolino]

Paulie, just as you fall asleep tonight, you'll hear a whisper... "VERAAAANNNOOOOO....."

answer the call, Paulie...

I like the Verano, but if I'm going to spend $26,000 on a car, I rather invest in a 2010 LaCrosse CXL. Remember, I'm 6'3". Granted when I sat in one I had very nice leg room, I still felt as though I was in a small car. The major thing enticing me about the Verano is that gas is $4.21/gallon, for 87 self-serve here.

[G. David Felt]

Paulie, just as you fall asleep tonight, you'll hear a whisper... "VERAAAANNNOOOOO....."

answer the call, Paulie...

Your just way too funny!!!

The Verano is also a great vehicle for us big folks, Me being 6'6" tall if we wanted a small CUV, then this is great. But it is still a small auto.

Edited April 11, 2012 by dfelt

[regfootball]

i like this. like the Impala better, but still. this is ok for toyota.

13 altima is a watermark in my opinion. 38 mpg, large car, 22 grand, all the stuff. looks good. style the camry and accord don't. low price, leases well. will be competitive or superlative mechanically.

[ocnblu]

While Datsun is an agreeable company, imo, the new Altima is too evolutionary when judged against the revolutionary sedans that debuted with it. Evolutionary may have worked since the first redesign of the breakthrough 2002 model, but that template is now at least 11 years old.

Everybody else has gone all stark and FutureThink on us. They've blinded us with science, and my eyesight has been slow to recover, but I'm starting to see the light.

Seeing the new Camry on the road, with it's squared-off, compact-looking body, it has grown on me. The new Fusion looks good, and this Avalon has planted a seed of approval in my brain that is beginning to sprout, which surprises me. I am ready to accept these new designs.

The jar to the brain dealt by first sighting the 2014 Impala was the quickest to mellow into lurve, but the Avalon I now see as a cut-rate Audi A7, down to the shaver grille. There are worse cars to copy, imo.

[regfootball]

camry and avalon are VERY distinctive = this works well for Toyota.

Nissan's Altima being somewhat evolutionary will be a major plus for them. Nissan has established a very predictable design continuity with the Altima now since 03 or 04 and look at the sales go off the chart and it may not knock off Camry but I think the Accord has some trouble.

Still not much digging the new Fusion, even if the MKz has grown on me.

WAYYY too many sedans out there....

[Justin Bimmer]

I'm 6'4" and the regal is A great fit. Then Cruze was an adequate fit.