Spy Shots: ‘05 Toyota Avalon - - Upgrades in size and style for Toyota’s biggest sedan - - by Hans Lehmann/Hidden Image - - Source: The Car Connection





The current Toyota Avalon is often noted to have the quiet ride and interior comfort of Lexus sedans, but at a Toyota price. Despite that, the Avalon sells in relatively small numbers, possibly because the Toyota Camry is so much cheaper than the Avalon, or possibly because the Avalon has somewhat dated, squared-off styling. Word from insiders in Japan, however, reports that the next generation Avalon will have much more modern styling, with a long, rounded roofline sweeping into a high tail. The windshield slopes down to a fairly short, curving hood, and tall, narrow headlights sweep up the front fenders. The overall result is a thoroughly new, modern look for Toyota's flagship sedan.

Along with the new styling comes an upgrade to the latest Camry platform, since the current Avalon is now built on the last-generation Camry platform. The new Avalon will be stretched in length for extra interior room. Rear-seat legroom is said to be equal to or more than the big Lexus LS430. The engine will also be upgraded to a new 3.5-liter V-6 producing 270 hp.

This artist's sketch gives an idea of what this new, longer Avalon will look like when it is introduced for the 2005 model year.

 

3.5 liter V6 with 270HP ?

Wow! Supposedly they would not follow the HP war...

 

WOOF ... That's a cool looking car ... Aren't they endangering their core market though?

I doubt old farts will like this

 

Looks like a giant prius and where the hell did that engine come from? They go around putting nothing in the camry sedan/coupe and all of a sudden 270? Doesn't sound very Toyota like.

 

Looks alot like a Maxima...

 

Part Dodge Intrepid/part Maxima

 

looks like a shit to me

 

True and agreed.

 

Yeap. I certainly do see some Intrepid here.

 

Avalons sell well to their target market (Buick customers). They are huge, floaty and have more than enough power.

Toyota is has a 3.3 liter V-6 and seems a new 3.0 liter V-6 for the next GS. So now they will have a 3.5 as well.

Though Toyota has tried to stay out the silly hp war, they may HAVE too enter it. Even the Galant advertises it's largest engine in class, a 3.8 liter V-6. WIth Nissan putting the 3.5 VQ in everything from tricycles to vans and even GM/Ford stepping up, I guess toyota will follow suit.

Or whip more arse with hybrids.

 

And that car is yuuuuuck to me.

 

Not a fan. :thumbsdn:

HP boost is pretty nice however.

 

 

Intrpeid/300m

 

Rear looks horrible:thumbsdn:

 

copycat!!!! front is from G35C, body to rear is Interpid.

When can Toyota stop copying?

 

How can you say that when all you can see from that pic is the side, plus its not even a real pic of it jsut an artists rendering....

Anyway, that engine is nice, but i was realy suprised when it said tghat the rear seat would be as big or biger then an LS 430....
Ugly as hell from the side in that pic though.

 

Looks like an inteprid

 

:thumbsdn:

 

Shut the fuck up.

 

My thought's exactly, except not nearly as exciting. Typical Toyota, though that HP rating isn't. First time in a long time they've impressed me with something. Shame I can't say the same about the styling.

 

Ugh, my Dad won't like that styling that is for sure. He is a big fan of the current Avalon. 270hp is really nice though.

 

I guess I just pissed off a Toyota b*tch.

 

don't look good....

 

I hope so.

 

(07:27 April 06, 2004)

Avalon is Toyota's geezer pleaser; average buyer is 61


By MARK RECHTIN | Automotive News



LOS ANGELES -- With the Avalon sedan, Toyota is happily embracing its inner geezer.

The average age of the buyer of premium mid-sized sedans has stayed at 48 since 2001, according to the Power Information Network. Meanwhile, the average age of the Avalon buyer has crept up from 56 to 61.

That's still much younger than the typical Buick Century buyer, who is 67 years old. But it is much older than the typical Toyota buyer, who is in the mid-40s. And it puts the Avalon on the top 10 list of U.S. vehicles with the oldest buyers.

Not that Toyota has a problem with this. "Avalon was intended to give Camry buyers an opportunity to stay loyal to the Toyota franchise and Camry buyers aren't exactly spring chickens either," said Ernest Bastien, corporate manager in Toyota's vehicle operations group.

But by attracting so many 60ish customers, the Avalon may be putting off younger buyers. Sales have fallen sharply since the current version debuted in spring 2000. Avalon sales totaled 50,911 units last year, down from 104,078 units in 2000.

"Avalon is the best Buick sold in America, but that's a good thing," said Eric Noble, president of The Car Lab consulting firm in Orange, Calif.

Toyota executives admit that the Avalon's styling is conservative. Rumor has it that the Avalon will be styled differently when it is redesigned in 2005.

Lincoln Merrihew, analyst with Compete Automotive in Boston, says that would be a mistake. "There is a large part of the U.S. population that will stop buying at that price point, and they are currently buying domestic," he said. "At some point, a buyer reaches a crest, and Avalon is not a bad plateau."

 

my grandparents have 2....

and a camry.....

 

Daaaaammmmmmmnnnnnnn


They are BIG pimpin

I bet at the association meetings they give them shit for having so many whips

 

My Dad has an 04, he is always telling me how great a car it is compared to his last Buick.

 

Toyota better get some younger buyers in their cars, before all their loyal customers start dieing off

I guess that's why the Scion brand is out.

 

My dad has bought 2, my uncle 2 as well. They seem to love these. I don't get it, but he's in the right age group at least!

My family has been a Toyota family for a good 20 years now. We've had Corollas, Tercels, Cressidas, Celicas, Avalons. Why they don't step up to the Lexus interior is beyond me -- but they've always seen cars more for their function then comfort.

I should note that before the Avalon my dad drove a Sedan Deville, my uncle a El Dorado (they seem to shop for cars together for some reason). They like those large boxy boring cars. They both like the Toyota over their Cadillacs.

 

Avalon is sporty, Infiniti stole the tailights!!!! Just kidding

 

My aunt and uncle have one. They luv it.

 

Hehehe, lol.

 

 

Looks like Avalon will still beat Buick at it's own game (or atleast it's old game). Not bad looking; conservative and safe (not necessarily a bad thing), don't like the ultra generic grill.

 

i like the cadillac grill and lexus profile. looks nice.

 

Stretched out Prius?

 

 

I would take it over an es300.