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2013 Toyota Avalon featuring a new style and shape.

NEW YORK — Aimed at Generation X, the 2013 Toyota Avalon debuted last week at the New York Auto Show with a new swagger described by its designers as “elegant and athletic.” In addition to a dynamic redesigned exterior styling, the 2013 Avalon also features enhanced structural and chassis improvements as well as abundant in-vehicle technology options for drivers and passengers.

One thing chauffeured-car operators should know off the bat is that the new Avalon has been designed to increase space and comfort in the rear cabin while creating a cozier front cabin that gives drivers the feeling of being wrapped around by the car. Not all of the interior specs are yet available, but Toyota said in a press release that the trunk space is 16.0 cubic feet, an increase of 1.6 cubic feet from the 2012 model.

The 2013 Avalon will be assembled at Toyota’s facility in Georgetown, Ky. and will arrive at dealerships in late 2012. Pricing information is not yet available.

The most American Avalon ever
The new 2013 Avalon is “really an American design story, from concept to construction,” Kevin Hunter, president of Calty Design Research Inc., said to journalists on a live Facebook chat during the Avalon’s NY Auto Show debut. Calty Design Research is based in Southern California and is the North American arm of Toyota’s global design network. Four Calty members who worked on the Avalon also participated in the Facebook chat along with Hunter.

The car stayed true to the design team’s original sketch design, and Hunter and Ian Cartabiano, Calty design team manager, both said the 2013 model is the “most American” Avalon ever.

LCT associate editor Michael Campos asked the Toyota design team via Facebook what its design philosophy was, and they responded that they receive a lot of inspiration and influence from their own individual daily lifestyles. One designer runs marathons and is a very active person, while another loves painting and sculpture, and both of those influences helped form the Avalon’s fluidic profile that gives it a sense of motion even when it’s at rest.

The beltline has been lowered to accentuate a strong stance and it offers a longer, sloping roofline, flared front fenders, double-eye project ellipsoid system headlamps with HID and daytime running lights, rear LED combination tail lamps, and dual rear tailpipe outlets.

2013 Avalon unveiling

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