For 2013 Toyota Avalon goes fastback

NEW YORK -- Toyota unveiled a redesigned 2013 Avalon today that departs dramatically from the full-size sedan's previous styling.
With fastback lines penned by Toyota's Calty design studio in Southern California, and engineered at the automaker's technical center in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Avalon is the first Toyota vehicle developed entirely in North America, said Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager.
The new Avalon "will lead an exciting new era of design and driving excitement for Toyota," Carter said.
The full-sized sedan market continues to shrink but automakers such as Hyundai and Chevrolet are targeting the segment with new or redesigned models.
The large-sedan segment is forecast to shrink further as a percentage of the overall U.S. market, to 2.9 percent in 2017 from 3.6 percent in 2011, AutoPacific Inc. says.
U.S. sales of the Avalon rose 2 percent last year to 28,925 units.
Among the revamped Avalon's features are 10 standard airbags, blind-spot warning system, preclusion warnings, a hand-stitched instrument panel and a sport-driving mode with quicker throttle response and more dynamic steering inputs.
The 2013 Avalon will carry a price similar to its current $33,955 sticker, including shipping, when it goes on sale this fall, Carter said.
The Avalon will ride on a 111-inch wheelbase, the same as the current model, but will have a 2.3-inch shorter overall length because of shorter front and rear overhangs. Although slightly narrower and shorter in height, rear-seat legroom is still spacious.
Toyota said the redesigned Avalon will be powered by a V-6 engine, but did not give performance specifics.
Toyota estimates it reduced the weight of the Avalon by 120 pounds over the current model.Automobile News

At N.Y. auto show Toyota to unveil 'all-new' sedan

LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Corp. will unveil an "all-new" sedan next week likely at the New York auto show that will be a replacement for the full-sized Avalon.
Dealers who had watched the preview of the car last year said Toyota called it the Avalon successor that is due this fall.
According to a dealer the sedan represents a dramatic styling change for the brand.
Toyota has previously declined to comment on future plans and spokesmen weren't immediately available for comment today.
A teaser sketch of the vehicle released today shows fastback styling similar to the coupe-sedan lines of the Volkswagen CC, Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS.
In a statement, Toyota called the sedan's styling "elegant yet athletic."
The sedan is one of 19 new or redesigned U.S. models coming from the Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands this year. The automaker is trying to rebound from two years of declining sales due to the unintended-acceleration recall crisis in 2010 and the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
The Avalon has been Toyota's mainstay full-sized sedan since 1995, when it replaced the Cressida as the brand's top-line vehicle. Sales of the car, now in its third generation, have tapered off as the segment has slumped.
Last year, the Avalon accounted for 28,935 U.S. sales -- less than a third of the peak of 104,078 reached in 2000. This year's demand is up 76 percent through February.
The debut will take place at 10:30 a.m. EDT on April 5, Toyota said.Automobile News

To semi urban rural India Toyota to take Etios twins

Since the launch of Toyota Etios twins in Indian car market, Toyota India has been happy and what made the firm happier was the news that both its Etios car were doing well in India. Now, Toyota India is all set to get its Toyota Etios Liva and Toyota Etios sedan into the semi urban rural India or let’s just say the budget car segment of the car market in the country. These cars have been carefully developed and company has taken care of its high quality and made it highly reliable. The prices of both these cars are a bit on the high side, that was the main reason why these cars were stuck to the urban areas of India. But now it’s time for Toyota to push these cars to budget segment as well.
However, Toyota Etios Liva hatchback and Toyota Etios sedan are the most affordable Toyota cars in India, therefore there shouldn’t be any problem for the company to push these cars forward and lure the consumers in semi urban and rural India. Furthermore, Toyota India is planning to open up more dealerships and service centers in small towns of the country. Right now, Toyota will focus on highly promising towns such as Asansol, Tirupur and more in Punjab.
One more reason behind Toyota planning to go into the semi urban and rural area with its Etios twins is that both its Toyota Etios sedan and Etios Liva hatchback are respectable sellers in urban parts of India, but these cars have the potential to do better than its current sales. Hence, Toyota is concentrating on semi urban and rural India with Etios sedan and Etios Liva hatchback, which could fetch more sales to the company. Both Toyota Etios twins are offered in petrol as well as diesel engine options.Automobile News