'13 Avalon: 'Most American Toyota ever'
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The redesigned 2013 Toyota Avalon, expected to go on sale in late November, was designed, engineered and developed in North America, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said last week.
It is the first North American example of Toyota's new decentralized, regional product development process championed by Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda.
Toyota says the 2013 Avalon, which will be sold mainly in North America, was designed at Toyota's Calty Design Research Inc. in Newport Beach, Calif., and Ann Arbor, Mich. The car's engineering development was handled at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor. It will be built in Georgetown, Ky., and have about 90 percent North American content.
It is "the most American Toyota ever," Calty President Kevin Hunter said.
The front-wheel-drive 2013 Avalon will have an optional gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. The 2012 Avalon offers only the standard 3.5-liter, double-overhead-cam, V-6 gas-oline engine.
With the hybrid system, the mid-sized sedan gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 40 mpg city/39 highway/40 combined, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said.
Reduced weight, a more aerodynamic design and transmission improvements enable models with the V-6 powertrain to achieve an EPA-rated 21 mpg city/31 highway/25 combined. The 2012 Avalon is rated at 19 mpg city/28 highway/23 combined.
The 2013 Avalon was revealed at the New York auto show in April.
You can reach Edward Lapham at elapham@crain.com.
