#NAIAS: TEASED! Is Toyota Bringing Sexy Back To Detroit With Its All-new Avalon?

#NAIAS: TEASED! Is Toyota Bringing Sexy Back To Detroit With Its All-new Avalon?
While I've always been a skeptic, nothing has been more fascinating than to watch brands completely reorient themselves over the past nine years I've been keeping an eye on the automotive industry. I never thought I'd see a Lamborghini sport-utility vehicle and I didn't think I'd ever drive a luxury Hyundai that I loved.

And I never thought I'd see Toyota try to shed its rather homely image.

Think back to the Toyota Camry of the 1990s and 2000s. Those vehicles had the personality of a bar of soap. Their designs said nothing. They were the equivalent of rolling appliances — though I reckon a washing machine with four wheels would probably handle better.

But the company has been doing its best to up the ante with its latest designs. They're aggressive, more sporting and certainly showing some personality. Hell, who ever thought a Camry would sport a red leather interior?

Now Toyota is teasing us with its very first image for the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Showing us what's said to be the next-gen Avalon, it's clear the company is going to up its aggressive design quite a bit. Looks like they'll be dialing it up to 11.

Stay tuned to more NAIAS-related coverage, right here on AutoSpies.com.




TheSteveTheSteve - 12/8/2017 8:52:27 PM
+7 Boost
Toyota's recent styling direction has been looking like Lexus, and in my view, that's not a good thing. I dislike Lexus's looks, though I recognize they're great vehicles with a strong and loyal fan base.


TomMTomM - 12/9/2017 6:38:33 AM
+1 Boost
Actually - I believe that the Full size car market has been replaced by Crossovers because they actually can hold the people and cargo that the now smaller full size cars cannot.

But - if you want more evidence - look at the Buick LaCrosse- new this year - and it actually looks pretty good too - and they cannot give them away (Not enough trunk space).

There will always be SOME market for these cars among the set of people MY age (mostly retired) who have problems getting into the CUVs and Minivans (I do not though)- which are now the people haulers that the full size car once was. I still miss the 3 seat Station wagon - plenty of room for the Grandkids and their parents as well as me - but then time passes so quickly.


dumpstydumpsty - 12/11/2017 12:14:40 PM
+2 Boost
The full-size sedan market still has life. I see a lot of Impalas, Lacrosses, Avalons, etc.

The Avalon still sits a bit lower than expected but yes...Toyota needs to steer future styling AWAY from Lexus. Toyota is so bored with their own lineup they are just using generic Lexus designs.


qwertyfla1qwertyfla1 - 12/8/2017 9:05:17 PM
+6 Boost
When exactly was any Toyota product ever sexy?


jameswisrikjameswisrik - 12/9/2017 10:42:28 AM
0 Boost
hmmm...thats what i say about audi, bmw, benz, vw, fiat, ...the higher end models are bigger clunky derivatives of the cheaper low end models. Plus, German engineering is laughable. The REAL REASON why you pay more for german crap is they spend a ton of money on marketing to prey on the emotionally weak in believing if they lease an expensive car they magically become perfect. But, really their consumers become in debt for life! german heritage is building crap, its in their dna! Give me a reliable toyota or honda any day and money in the bank to retire early! that my sucker is true definition of LUXURY! shit head. and you a big one!


templar19dtemplar19d - 12/9/2017 2:42:14 PM
-1 Boost
MR2 turbo, Supra. Celica alltrac


TomMTomM - 12/10/2017 7:38:34 AM
+1 Boost
Actually - with their prominent COW CATCHER grills - on the Lexus - and maybe now on Toyota - the cars may be Sexy - to other cows!


carloslassitercarloslassiter - 12/9/2017 12:05:18 AM
-2 Boost
"When exactly was any Toyota product ever sexy?"

1966 Toyota 2000 GT. Google it.


CANADIANCOMMENTSCANADIANCOMMENTS - 12/9/2017 8:33:47 AM
+1 Boost
@Carlos - The coolest Toyota ever! A white 2000GT convertible was even a Bond car. How cool is that? See it in You Only Live Twice.


MDarringerMDarringer - 12/9/2017 11:13:57 AM
-1 Boost
@carlos have you seen one in person? Stunning. The first Celica is gorgeous.


qwertyfla1qwertyfla1 - 12/9/2017 11:40:56 AM
0 Boost
I am well aware of the GT and not my style although the first and second gen Supras were nice but still not "sexy". Sexy is a 1965 250 GTO, 360 Modena, E Type, 850 CSI, E30 M3, AC Cobra to name a few...

jameswisrik Use some of that massive money you are saving and take some grammar lessons or did you take the short bus to school?


MrEEMrEE - 12/9/2017 8:05:32 AM
+5 Boost
Even though the overall sedan market is shrinking, Toyota and Honda are positioned to keep leadership and take large market share. The Big 3 sedans are looking to drop models or let them die of old age.


MDarringerMDarringer - 12/9/2017 1:40:44 PM
+1 Boost
If the next Fusion is like the Fiesta redo (i.e. old car with minor updates) or the Focus (new car that looks like a minor update of the old one), the Fusion is dead. Ford's already let it go too long without a major styling update. The 2017 should have been more obvious that it was a restyle.


cidflekkencidflekken - 12/9/2017 1:53:29 PM
+1 Boost
So, where is Toyota going to take the Avalon? Will it risk encroaching on the Lexus ES territory?


CANADIANCOMMENTSCANADIANCOMMENTS - 12/9/2017 2:50:22 PM
+2 Boost
The Avalon is the 5/6 seater full size Toyota Buick challenger for families and retirees. They can make it more pointy if they want. Not sure it will help sales. It is a big car.


cidflekkencidflekken - 12/9/2017 3:37:51 PM
+3 Boost
It would seem like automakers would be in the process of streamlining their sedan lineups at this point. Camry/Avalon, Altima/Maxima, Malibu/Impala, etc should be merged to one model.


MDarringerMDarringer - 12/9/2017 4:20:50 PM
-1 Boost
@cidflekken I absolutely agree.

I wonder--given the announcement--that VW plans to build EVs in Chattanooga, whether the Passat is getting trimmed from the US market in favor of an expanded role for the Jetta.

As for the industry, NO ONE at this point needs two D segment sedans. Buick was dumb for doing the new Regal in addition to the Lacrosse. They should have done an Avenir and replaced both of them.




MrEEMrEE - 12/10/2017 2:59:40 PM
+2 Boost
Honda has the shared Civic/Accord platform, and Toyota the Camry/Avalon. Both have the volume to profitably produce two classes. In addition Lexus/Acura and other variations (crossover) should arrive in the near future.

GM and Ford do not have the volume to profitably support all their models and variations currently being sold.
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC