The Avalon is the largest sedan offered by Toyota and it is now going to be offered in a hybrid variant starting with a 2013 version. This hybrid is one of the first that doesn’t look like a hybrid, which isn’t surprising because it shares the same platform as the latest Lexus ES. If you look close enough though you will be able to spot a few small badges and blue tinted lenses that lets you know this vehicle has gas-electric powertrains.
While it doesn’t sound as if this sedan will be a powerhouse model, with only 200 horsepower from the 2.5 liter Atkinson cycle four paired engine. It will have a due of electric motors that run on nickel metal hybrid battery packs though, but they only add to make up the 200 horsepower instead of increasing it. What is exciting about this gas and electric engine mix is that it has a fuel economy rating of 39 highway miles per gallon and 40 city miles per gallon. This will help Avalon fans save some pennies at the gas pump.
We haven’t been updated about what the 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid variant base price will be, but it is scheduled to hit the dealerships this fall. While the large sedan class doesn’t do best when it comes to buying one for fuel economy, knowing there are hybrids in the class may sweeten the pot for many large sedan fans.
The closest competitors to the 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid are the Buick LaCrosse eAssisst and a newly replaced Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The American employees for the Japanese automaker have been hard at work on the engineering and development of this latest hybrid breed. This was done by the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, MI and will be assembled at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant in Georgetown, Kentucky (TMMK).
Source: Toyota