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There's this car:
http://www.avalon.toyota.com.au/Avalon03/HomePage/0,,,00.html
http://www.avalon.toyota.com.au/Avalon03/Portal/Article/0,1225,18- 4-248-5331,00.html
I still dont see why the Crown concept on www.toyota.com cant be a viable option/possibilty.
~alpha
Love my 2004. Style is somewhat dated, drives like a DeVille, but Toyota will keep upgrading and improving the style. Its a nice cush mobile, great company car! My choice was Avalon, Chrysler 300M, Pontiac Bonnevile or a Ford Explorer (through my employer leasing company). Also the Cadi CTS was in there, but the company thought it was too showy (the lease was less than Avalon). Had to go with the Avalon. Would have took the Caddy if they let me. Good ride to give to the kids when done. After learining the GPS, its great. I'm 46, and feel like the target market may be a bit older, but I still love it, probably be 56 when it leaves the house.
~alpha
~alpha
There is a new Tacoma that Toyota will need to debut SOMEWHERE, given that Nissan just released the skinny on the new Frontier. Redesigns for Corolla, Camry, and Avalon (along with Hondas Civic and Accord) are typically hush-hush, with little autoshow fanfare.
~alpha
It seems that Australia is almost ALWAYS getting the old versions of cars/specs and not staying up-to date with the Toyota in the US. Things such as 5 Speed ECT-i and 3.3L engines in our camrys, it just really bugs me that we're SO behind in all this stuff.
anyway, its pretty frustrating seeing all this good stuff overseas while we get this "last generation" stuff. Just makes me wanna import one, although servicing might be a problem.
Some listed ammenities:
... 3.3-liter V6 with VVT-i and six-speed automatic transmission (Sequential Shiftmatic)...
...vehicle-movement control based on VDM, pre-crash safety system, lane-keeping assistance, radar cruise control...
All I'm saying is that just because the redesigned Avalon is not scheduled to make an auto show intro, does not mean you will not see a new one in the Fall. In fact, I dont believe the MT blurb about introduction as a 2006 model. This seems not to make sense to me.
For all intents and purposes, it is logical to believe that the next Avalon will use the 3.3L from the Camry SE V6, Solara V6 models, etc. Toyota already produces this engine, and makes the current Avalon alongside those cars at TMMK. I can't imagine there would be any production/manufacturing limitation to introducing the Avalon in the Fall as an 05 model.
Certainly, I may be wrong, but it doesnt seem to make sense to delay the intro, with the current Avalon behind the curve in terms of power, safety, features, etc, especially with the impending introduction of the able Ford Five-Hundred/Mercury Montego, Chrysler 300, and the bargain hunters delight, Kia Amanti.
~alpha
You must be kidding...
Anyway, the new Ford 500 will have a new 6-speed tranny or a CVT, and AWD option. Also, next year Ford will introduce a brand new engine with much more output than the current Duratec.
You can read more about that in the Ford Five Hundred future models message board.
Ralph
A toyota audi a6...
http://www.motorcities.com/contents/02KIF090037210.html
Ralph
You may be right, but I am hard pressed to see Toyota making the Avalon out to be a different auto than it is targeted for, and that is for a full size (large) sedan, not a premium sports sedan.
Dual exhausts, a decrease in fuel economy, no bench seat,premium gas, and you are starting to compete with the mid size Acura instead of the Crown Vic, or Park Ave Ultra. In my humble opinion, they should use the same engine, and put better quality struts, tires, rotors, etc in the model to stay ahead of the pack.
Maybe, but I can't see it.
abfisch
1. The auto shows come out around the same time, as the car is the "halo" car for Toyota they want to make as big as splash as possible.
2. Toyota has been utlizing a mid year production start for some of their new cars. They will also be able to call it an 06, since 05 comes out in the fall.
Sienna production started Jan 2003
Corolla/Matrix March/April
Spyder April
Scion XA/XB April
Scion TC June
You get the idea. Something new in different months so that the cars do not get stuck in the fall like all the other cars.
I'm surprised the current Toyota 3.3 is such a small increase in capacity and horsepower. We now have the Nissan 3.5 engine and Honda's reply with increased horsepower. I can just see someone comparison shopping and being told by competing dealers that the Avalon is underpowered.
"The 400h hybrid powertrain combines a powerful electric motor with the highly efficient 3.3-liter V6 engine found in the RX 330 to significantly improve low to mid-speed acceleration and overall fuel efficiency. The system is a "full hybrid," meaning that the RX 400h is capable of operating in separate gas or electric modes, as well as a mode that combines power from both.
The RX 400h will develop a peak system output of approximately 270 horsepower and deliver combined fuel economy significantly better than the current average compact sedan rating of 27.6 miles-per-gallon. Zero-to-sixty acceleration will also improve over the current RX 330's sub-8 second time. The RX 400h with optional all-wheel-drive, which features a rear-drive electric motor, will accelerate quicker yet."
So it looks like Toyota has the technology. I'm not suggesting that the Avalon will be a hybrid, but there's a 270 hp engine available.
If the Avalon is going to continue to be built in Kentucky, would they move to producing 2.4s, 3.0s, and 3.3s for the Camrys/Solaras, and a 3.5L for the Avalon? That seems like a lot of engine assembly lines in one plant, that hasnt been expanded in a good number of years now. Or will the 3.5Ls be shipped to TMMK from another plant? Seems cost inefficient that way, no?
~alpha
To start with, Toyota is NOT coming out with a 3.5L engine, but instead a 3.0V6 to replace the 3.0 inline6, and will produce 245 hp instead of the 6's 215-220hp. This is CONFIRMED because the 2006 Lexus GS 300 is coming with is engine along with the 2005/6 Toyota Crown. This new V6 will replace all engines in the Toyota/Lexus stable which are rear-wheel drive and are using the current 3.0L inline 6.
Other previous (or still) vehicles with the OLD 3.0L V6 are being replaced by the new 3.3L V6, such as the Lexus ES 330, Lexus RX330 and the Toyota Sienna. The 3.3L V6 will replace the 3.0LV6 vehicles that are front-wheel drive. And the new 3.0L V6 (245hp) will replace 3.0L inline6 vehicles that are rear-wheel drive.
Also, higher output vehicles are also probable for Toyota vehicles and certain for Lexus vehicles. This is because Lexus is confirmed to come out with a division similar to AMG from MB to compete with European supertuned cars. However, Lexus might not choose the familiar route of turbo/superchargers but use hybrid systems which can produce similar results but with lower fuel economy. This is why Toyota might also come out with SOME high performance vehicles.