The History Of Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon is a full-size car produced by Toyota in the United States, and is the flagship sedan of Toyota in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East. It was also produced in Australia until July 2005; it was replaced in November 2006 by the Toyota Aurion. It is a front-wheel drive four-door sedan. The first Toyota Avalon rolled off the assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky on February 21, 1994 as a 1995 model. A second-generation model was released in the United States and Japan in 1999. In 2000, the Toyota Avalon was the first Toyota model to feature a non-touch screen navigation system.

The Avalon filled the gap left by the cancellation of the Toyota Cressida in the American market in 1992. While the Cressida was an upper-level midsize rear-wheel drive car with a straight-6 engine, the Avalon is front-wheel drive, powered by a V6 engine. (The Toyota Camry, which was slotted below the Cressida and Avalon, was initially a compact, but later was stretched to midsize; hence, the Avalon was introduced as a large car.)

The 1995 Avalon was a completely new model, built in the same plant as the Camry. It was positioned higher than the Camry, making it Toyota's flagship. The Avalon was based on a stretched Camry platform and had a 3.0litre V6 engine making 192hp (140kW) and 210lb·ft (285N·m) of torque. For 1997, the Avalon's power rating increased to 200hp (150kW), and torque increased to 214lb·ft (290N·m). Toyota made minor updates to the front and rear fascias in 1998.

The Avalon was available with a front bench seat for full six-passenger seating, and its column shifter was the first such feature in an American Toyota car since the 1982 Corona. Side airbags and seatbelt pretensioners were optional, as was traction control. The 1MZ-FE engine with VVT-i was used in the Avalon. Output was 210 hp (156 kW) at 5800 rpm with 222 ft·lbf (328 N·m) of torque at 4400 rpm. Early versions of the VVT-i 1MZ used a dual throttle body, cast aluminum intake manifold, and EGR block-off plates on the exhaust manifolds. Later versions used an ABS plastic intake manifold for further weight reduction and decreased cost. These versions may also have drive-by-wire (electronic) throttle control.

Australia (2000–05)

In 1999, Toyota sold the old tooling for the Avalon to Toyota Australia, which launched this Avalon as an "all-new" model in June 2000. The Australian Avalon therefore had an identical body to the original 1995 Avalon. The Avalon performed poorly in Australia; critics called the car "boring," and sales were tepid. It did not help that the car was front-wheel drive and available only as a sedan with a 3.0litre V6 and automatic transmission. By contrast, its intended rivals, the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, offered a wider range of body styles and engine/ transmission options.

The Australian model was built in the Melbourne suburb of Altona, made in both right-hand drive (for Australia, New Zealand and some parts of Asia) and left-hand drive for the Middle East. The Camry was also made at this plant.

Buyers preferred the V6-powered Camry instead. The 2004 facelift failed to lift sales, with many criticizing the new front styling as "hideous" and "Falcon AU-ish." Toyota Australia marketed it towards taxi fleets, against the Ford Falcon, with a specially developed dual-fuel (LPG and petrol) engine. Eventually, the Avalon was laid to rest in mid-2005. In November 2006, Toyota introduced its replacement for the Avalon, the Toyota Aurion.

The second-generation Avalon grew larger in almost every respect. It was still based on the stretched Camry platform and had a 3.0litre V6, shared with the Toyota Sienna, Lexus RX300, Lexus ES, and the Toyota Highlander, making 210hp (157kW) and 220lb·ft (298N·m). of torque. However, its size and body styling were too similar to the Camry.

This Avalon was available in two trims: the basic XL and the upscale XLS. The Avalon received a minor facelift for the 2003 model year, with a new grille and modified headlights and taillights. The minor interior changes included a woodgrain-style trimmed steering wheel for the XLS, slightly modified gauges, and a chrome emblem steering wheel added onto the XL (once only standard for the XLS).

The Avalon had an available middle seat in the front, allowing up to six passengers—a distinguishable characteristic of large sized cars. However, it was not very practical, and was more suitable for small items like books than an actual person. Dual climate control, stability control, larger (16-inch) wheels, and driver's and passenger's power seats were also available.

This second-generation Avalon also featured a built-in 115V AC power inverter, the first car with such a feature. This feature was dropped in the third-generation Avalon; yet, the Toyota Matrix and Scion models now offer this feature.

This second-generation Avalon was exported to the Japanese market, where it was labeled the Toyota Pronard. Due to poor sales, Toyota did not export the third-generation Avalon to Japan; thus, the Toyota Pronard has been discontinued.

Toyota's third-generation Avalon underwent a complete redesign in 2005, and was unveiled to the public at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The new Avalon was larger than previous Avalons in every aspect, and featured less-conservative styling. The redesign also dropped the availability of a front bench seat, a feature once common among large American sedans such as Buicks. The Avalon features a 3.5 L 280hp (209kW) V6 engine. The 3.5litre engine is shared with many other Toyota models, including the Lexus ES 350, Lexus GS 350/ GS 450h, Lexus IS 350, Lexus RX 350, Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota Venza. The current Avalon is available in XL, Touring, XLS, and Limited trim levels, the XL being the most basic and the Limited the most expensive.

The XL introduces standard options such as dual-climate automatic temperature control, steering wheel-mounted audio and climate controls, cruise control, and an in-dash 6-CD stereo system. The Touring trim offers faux aluminum and black leather interior, sport-tuned suspension, and a standard trunk lip-mounted spoiler. The XLS introduces standard cargo nets, a power moonroof, and a Homelink transceiver. The high-end Limited trim offers air-vented seats, Toyota's "Smart Key System" with push-button start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and an upgraded audio system with Bluetooth integration. An optional navigation system is optional for every trim other than the XL version.

Due to changes in the SAE's testing procedures, power has dropped to 268hp (200kW) and torque has dropped to 248lb·ft (336N·m) for the 2006 model year. Stability control is optional on all trim levels, and a keyless remote start is optional.

Car and Driver, which had called previous Avalons "Japanese Buicks," rated it at the top of a group of large premium sedans in 2005.

For 2008, the Avalon received a mild mid-cycle refresh. Changes include slightly restyled front and rear fascias, a six-speed automatic transmission (replacing the previous five-speed), chrome handles for the Limited trim, restyled alloy wheels for the Touring and XLS trims, a built-in remote key, upgraded brakes, and an upgraded audio system.

The 2009 Avalon offers a few changes. Electronic stability control is standard on all trim levels, and the Touring version is no longer available. XLS and Limited leather seats now offer a Dark Charcoal color, and the Indigo Ink Pearl exterior color has been replaced with Cocoa Bean Metallic.