2013 Toyota Avalon Unleashed at New York

Toyota's initiative to rid their lineup of unadventurous models, which generally have reputations for being smash hits with retirees, is off to a flying start with the reveal of the 2013 Toyota Avalon at the New York Auto Show.In a bid to develop more interesting and youthful cars, Toyota has given the Avalon a new injection of life, with the development, styling, engineering all undertaken in the US, where the car will also be built.Just like the upscale 2013 Lexus ES that premiered this week, the Toyota Group's reworking of the 2013 Avalon has resulted in a car that offers a dynamic exterior and interior; a quantum leap forward from the vehicle it replaces.At 111 inches it has the same wheelbase as the outgoing model but has smaller dimensions at 195 inches long, 72 inches wide and 57.5 inches tall.The BMW-inspired design gives the car a long, sleek profile with crispier lines on the body, a sloping roofline and a large lower front grille. Depending on the model, the Avalon gets 17- or 18-inch alloys and also features LED combination tail lamps.Toyota has declined to comment on the available powertrains other than commenting that the engine will have six cylinders, so we can assume it will be a version of the 3.5-liter unit but the horsepower it packs is anyone's guess.A totally new interior boasts higher-grade materials, more space for the front & rear passengers, and a larger boot with a 16.0 cubic feet capacity. Highlights of the new amenities include a 3-color display screen supporting the multi-information display, climate control panel, and audio/navigation interface. The Avalon also gets dynamic radar cruise control, heated & cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a 3-zone a/c system.