2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

sbell4

I do know what I am talking about and have the track record to prove it. Many on this board who have been here for years will confirm I was 100% correct on the previous Avalon, Camry, 4Runner, Sienna and Solara. If Cliffy still frequents this board he can confirm I sent him a pdf file of the actual 4Runner brochure about two months before they were released.

I have seen a picture of the 2005 Avalon, not a drawing. The interior is Lexus woodgrain and components and the exterior looks similar to GS. It is a 3.5 V6 with 275 horsepower

alpha01

"The latest U.S. Scion is just the European market Aveo"

The Scion tC is the European Avensis, which has otherwise been a platform unavailable here.

Also- sbell4- dont get rattled. You're fine. Those of us who have been around do know that youre almost always on point. And, there are other BBs that have TMMK workers posting identical things to that which you have said. I think its just such a departure from the current Avalon package that people cant believe it. ESPECIALLY for people who have just purchased an Avalon, its going to be quite a blow if the redesign comes out when people have hinted- the Oct/Nov. timeframe.

~alpha

nomad56

Yeah, don't get rattled. I never said ANYONE was wrong. Simply that most contributors speculate based on "speculating", not facts. I was simply throwing in some fact. The artist's "rendering" that most of us have seen is probably fairly acurate, though my Toyo friends are tight-lipped. FYI-they are in the Lexus side of the biz. Oh, as for the 3.5 270 hp, I recall reading this from Toyo, but could NOT find it in my releases, so I will not confirm or deny, but HOPE for this. Peace -nomad56-

fatguycar

>> The Scion tC is the European Avensis, which has otherwise been a platform unavailable here.

Yes - you're right - brain had the night off.

teereeves

sbell4, like alpha01 said, you are fine. Some people need a magnifying glass to see the clues.

What you said, validates what a couple of Toyota dealership owners have confirmed about the look of the next gen Avalon. The same Lexus styling cues(LS front/GS body) Toyota used on the original 1995 Avalon, it make since for Toyota to use similar Lexus/Crown Concept styling cues on the next gen Avalon.

sbell4

I don't post much but when I do it will be from first hand experience of what I have seen and not read. It gets frustrating reading some of the misinformation that is out there sometimes.

bubbaboy

My wife and I want to buy a new Avalon. We are in our 50's and have been driving a '94 Caprice. My wife wants a new car now. I want to wait until the Avalon is redesigned if that will be soon. I just don't want to buy an outdated car. I know that sounds funny since I am replacing a Caprice, but at least we are not buying a Buick or Mercury. Does anyone know if it will really be January 2005 before the 2005 is sold?

sbell4

is the estimated release time but is subject to change.

bubbaboybubba

Sure seems late to introduce a 2005

avalon02wh

Is this the new 05? The picture is small but a nice side view

http://www.1000islandstoyota.com/newsite/pages/spypage.html

coolguyky7

That picture is just a compilation of different cars' parts to speculate what the Avalon will look like. I'd be willing to bet Toyota would never produce an Avalon looking like that.

There is ABSOLUTELY no way the Crown on the website will be the Avalon. It's way too Lexus LSey. For for anywho who thinks it must be the Avalon since it's on the site--how about that PM and CS&S? Just because they are there doesn't mean we'll see them. They are CONCEPTS! (Albeit the Crown may actually be produced, it won't be an Avalon. Besides, the 2000 Avalon really didn't get shown at all until it practically went on sale.)

rctennis3811

I'm still sticking by my statement that the Crown CONCEPT will not be the next generation Avalon or even come here as a Toyota - it will be exclusive to Asia as always because the Avalon replaced the Crown. If the Crown were to come here as a Toyota, it would be in the Future Vehicles section, not the Concepts section on Toyota.com . Also, if Toyota was hinting that this would come here, they would've sent out a press release on pressroom.toyota.com or shown it at any major US auto show. Well, Toyota North America didn't issue a press release or even display the Crown Concept at ANY major US auto show. This car is just on their website to showcase what future designs may look like and hint at what could be coming in the Toyota future. Besides, if they did sell this in the states, who would buy the GS!?!

boomsama

The crown concept, is the Toyota Crown = new car.

bwia

Folks, could the Crown be the next Avalon? Naw! you say...but wait a minute.

I am reading the current issue of Car and Driver where the editor is making a connection between horsepower and front wheel drive. He said front wheel drive cars are not well suited for 300+ horse power engines so there is a trend in Detroit toward rear wheel drive sedans.

Some boardies have speculated that the Crown will never become an Avalon since it is a rear wheel drive car. But since most believe the new Avy will have a 275+ hp engine and by extension if the trend is toward RWD the Crown could well be the next Avalon. If this is so the base price would probably increase to Lexus-like levels.

coolguyky7

I read somewhere that it would require significant changes at the Georgetown plant in order to accommodate a rear wheel drive platform.

mitchnik

if the new Avalon has anything but the 3.3 litre engine Toyota/Lexus are putting in the Highlander and Camry and the ES and RX. At best, an option with the 3.3 standard, but even that I doubt. The Avalon would otherwise be treading on sacred Lexus soil IMHO.

sbell4

It is a 3.5 engine.

sev6

You know what'd been really funny...if the crown turned out to be the Avalon...then I'd laugh my head off....later.

motownusa

The 3.5L engine is a done deal. I just read it in Popular Mechanics magazine. However, it will be in MY 2006 and not 05. It is rated at 270+ Hp. Not exactly a granny mobile. Personally, I think it is a bit of an overkill

moratz

Part of the driving experience is not necessarily the mechanical aspects. I enjoy listening to music while I drive. It would be nice if Avalon offered a CD player that can play MP3 encoded music. Rather than load in 6 CDs one can put in one CD that contains 6-8 CDs worth of music, or a CD with varied musical selections.

mackabee

I'm willing to put money on the table that the Crown concept shown on toyota.com will be the new Avalon.
                     : )
                     Mackabee

coolguyky7

Mackabee...

What makes you think something like that? You're pretty reliable like sbell, but what you're saying contradicts a lot of the things that have been thought so far. What do you know that we don't? :-)

bwia

Mackabee --- although you provide no evidence for your prediction I, am, however inclined to agree with you. Take a close look at these pics again.
http://www.autoweek.com/specials/2003_tokyo/toyota/crown_concept/- - pages/1.htm

The Crown concept does not look materially different from the current Avalon. With the exception of the grill and the rear end the cars’ exterior styling are basically the same.

As I had mentioned in an earlier post if the trend is moving toward rear wheel drive sedans then the Avalon-Crown would be a natural part of this evolution.

I don't think Toyota should worry about the omen "uneasy is the head that wears the crown" since this new Crown is a good fit for the typical Avalon buyer.

motownusa

Toyota Crown is RWD car where as the Avalon is a FWD car. I don't think the next Avalon will be RWD. That will reduce fuel efficiency.

fndlyfmrflyr

The July issue of Popular Mechanics, on page 56, shows a computer generated picture of an 05 Avalon. From the side it looks like a big Prius. Article says 3.5 liter, 270 hp engine.

motownusa

Are you sure that's the 05 Avalon. I read the article and it says that the 3.5 engine will hit the dealership about a year from now which makes it sometime around June or July 2005. If that's the case, the new Avalon would be an 06 rather than 05. If the new Avalon were an 05 then preproduction version has already being produced which I don't think is the case.

fndlyfmrflyr

the article says it is the next generation Avalon. Personally, I don't care what year designation Toyota uses.

If the picture is accurate the looks won't get me into the showroom, but neither did the looks of my current Avalon.

teereeves

If you all want to see a real live color photo of the 2005/2006 Toyota Avalon, and not an artist rendition that looks like an oversized Prius, get your hands on a March 2004 issue of Motor Trend Magazine. This picture shows partial side and full rear view of the car, its shape is not quite the same as the Crown Concept, but it does have similar tail lights and tail pipes, the car is somewhat disguised.

a_l_hubcaps

teereeves-

That car in MT is NOT an Avalon. It is a Hyundai NF Sonata (we'll see it for either '05 or '06). They goofed the caption on that pic.

-Andrew L

teereeves

After doing some research on the Sonata NF, MT does have a picture on the next gen Sonata, instead of the next gen Avalon. Thanks.

dmorthole

If the Crown is the next Avalon, wouldn't the next Avalon be smaller? I've seen what is supposedly the Crown's dimensions and it's smaller than a Camry's. Check this website:

http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/vehicle.asp?car_id=7460&veh- - icleTypeID=

From the likes of this, could the Avalon be stretched Crown? or will the Avalon be a smaller car now?

toycash

The '05 Avalon goes into production on Jan 3rd. It would normally be a week or two after that when dealers get cars.

My understanding is that the new Avalon is simply moving to the current ('02) generation Camry platform. So there's no reason to think that it would be RWD. I'm not saying this is fact, but what I've been told.

The Avalon might have some Lexus-like features, but Toyota will probably use simulated wood and slightly less expensive leather and other small differences like they have in the past to differentiate the Toyotas.

teereeves

An employee of Toyota Motor Co in Georgetown, Ky. had a chance to view the new Avalon and here is what he says:

Body: I have no drawing skills at all. The first thing to hit me from looking at the side was it kind of had a New Chrysler 300C or what ever that thing is called that looks like a Bently. It has dual exhaust.. A lexus looking rear. The car is longer and doesn't have that big wheel gap that is used to. The headlights looks great. There not the camry/silvia looking. The roof isn't quite as high either..

Engine: They had a cover over it so i couldn't see the intake manifold or anything. Its a 3.5L V6

Interior.. Looks Great!!!!! It has GPS with a screen above the radio controls. Alof my co-workers said it remined them of a thingypit. The rear seats RECLINE!!!! THERE SO COOL. It also has heated AND cooled seats. The gauges when they turned on had a DEFI look to them.

OTHER NEAT THINGS: Its has a finger print ignition. It also has a sensor to warn you if you are getting to close to the car is front of you in traffic. I believe it will stop to car in a certian MPH.

He personally gave it a 9 out of 10 rating.

horsejd

Anyone know if the 2005 Avalon will offer rear side curtain airbags?

pmcb48

I have read earlier posts which have said the 2005 Avalon will be an "interim" model, and that the truly "new" Avalon will follow (summer 2005?) as the 2006 model. What's the latest consensus? I am sure there will be no reliable advice on this from dealers, who would want to sell 2005s, no matter how long they would be around. I personally would rather wait for the truly "new" model. I guess one clue would be whether or not it still had the 210 hp engine or the 270+ hp engine.

teereeves

The next gen Avalon will be a 2006 model, that will appear in 2005 between January and March, depending on Toyota undisclosed launch date which could change at any time since it is not published. I don't believe the horsepower rating is known for certain, but it will have a 3.5L 6 cyclinder engine which should give at a minimum 240 hp.

The 2005 Toyota Avalon will be similar to the 2004 Toyota Avalon with maybe a few features added. But no one knows for certain except Toyota, who may have not made up their minds either.

alpha01

I am not a Toyota insider, but everything I have read/heard ties out with the above post. The estimate I have heard on the 3.5L V6 is 270hp, but no word on foot pounds.

~alpha

fatguycar

Toyota must be under pressure to bring out hybrid versions of its cars ASAP, since I read recently that the Prius is getting $6,000 over list price.

alpha01

and anyone who pays 6 grand over sticker for a Prius is an idiot.

I would never recommend anyone I know to a dealership that participated in such deplorable practices, and I hope that said pricing is isolated.

~alpha

andrewtran71

Sounds like the crown to me.

toycash

The Avalon coming out in Jan. of 2005 is not a 2006. The '04 is being built until the end of Dec. and then the '05 will begin(see above post).

Kirstie_H

Thanks, toycash - It's kind of confusing when we get release information like "winter 2005." Does that mean Jan/Feb 2005, or December 2005? Big difference!!

pmcb48

I don't think I have it straight even yet. If they're building the 2004 until December, and the 2005 (which is not the "new" Avalon) comes out in January 2005, when does the 2006 (which IS the new Avalon) come out? Per above posts, the 2005 and 2006 can't BOTH come out in January-March 2005.

toycash

The 2005 is the "new" Avalon.

gteach26

If the Jan '05 avalon will be the new one then why not badge it as an '06? Otherwise, the all-new '05 avalon will only have a 9 month or so model year run 'till the 06's come out. No?

lenscap

I believe a car cannot be labeled for the following model year unless it goes on sale March 1 or later. So, in order to be a 2006 a car would have to go on sale no earlier than March 1, 2005.

The date may not be March 1, but it is sometime around the March-April timeframe.

Even then, some manufacturers prefer to have a shortened first model year run.

gteach26

I didn't know about that march/april technicality. Do you know if that's a legal requirement or just a common business practice?

So basically, if the Avalon is to be labeled an '06 it'll have to be a springtime release.

I guess that's why toyota's (Lexus) '06 GS300 is slated for a spring release too.

Interesting!

teereeves

toycash, if you are a Toyota employee or you know someone who is, and you all have the inside track to Toyota plans, then I stand corrected. Looking back at history, Toyota was selling the redesigned 2003 Toyota Corolla and the 2002 Toyota Corolla in the March-April timeframe in 2002. This is why I believe what I believe. But, if you know something for sure that I am not aware of, then I stand corrected.

Tee

wombat3

05 MY Avalon has undergone a major model change.
I'll leave it at that.

pmcb48

What's the point of playing "I know something you don't know?" What does that accomplish?