Toyota is claiming that the new 2013 Avalon will be a sporty large car. Don't expect the 2013 Avalon to run with an M5, but a 240-hp 528i or even a 300-hp 535i is certainly within its grasp. In fact,the Avalon will definitely beat the 528i on power and should at least come very close to matching the 535i. Toyota hasn't released power figures for the 2013 Avalon, but the 2012 model gets 268-hp so it's not out of the realm of possibility for Toyota to bump that to the magic 300-hp number.
The body structure gains improvements in torsional rigidity thanks to additional welds, improved body bracing, and high-strength steel in key, while the suspension benefits from a retuned MacPherson strut setup with advanced valving and rebound springs. 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 will have adjustable driving dynamics, paddle shifters and be powered by a six-cylinder powerplant. I think it's safe to say that Toyota is making moves here and would be more than happy to sell a vehicle with a lower barrier of entry than the $59,000 mark upheld by the Audi.
On the interior, it's all about comfort, refinement, quietness, luxury, convenience and technology. While that sounds like a tall order, the specifics seem to point to the Avalon's being able to deliver on the promise.
Leather interior, smoked-chrome metallic accents throughout, available soft-white ambient lighting, new front power seat design with increased side bolstering, more front headroom and a larger trunk (16.0 cubic feet of capacity) are highlights.
One area that distinguishes certain premium and luxury sedans is how quiet the cabin is. With the 2013 Avalon, designers and engineers took left nothing to chance, adding sound-absorbing materials, acoustic glass, optimizing exterior shape and minimizing exterior gaps. The result, says Toyota, is an interior that is "significantly quieter" than the current Avalon.
Not surprisingly, attempted answers to the riddle led to rumors that Carter was teasing the all-new Avalon. In addition to a more swoopy body style, rumors also state that Toyota's flagship sedan will get hybrid a powertrain, which would likely be needed to beat the Fiat 500's fuel economy of 30/38 mpg city/highway. Regardless, the new sedan is set to debut in a little over a week, so expect more teaser images from Toyota.
Think of it like this. When Mercedes-Benz introduced the very sexy Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class way back when, it was soon followed up by Volkswagen's Passat CC. If you couldn't spring the cash for the proper CLS, you made do with the CC AND you had one helluva product on your hands.
More Pictures of 2013 Toyota Avalon :
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