Engine Specs for Toyota Avalon 2013

When Toyota pulled the wraps off the all-new 2013 Avalon sedan at the New York Auto Show this past April, it shared many general details about the fourth-generation model but didn't say a word about the powertrain options. Now, the time has come for Toyota to disclose that the new Avalon will arrive in dealerships later this year with a choice of two engines, a regular V6 gasoline unit and for the first time in the model's history, a fuel-efficient hybrid system.
We'll start with the Avalon Hybrid, which borrows its powertrain from the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES 300h and as such, links a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine to a 244.8-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack and a pair of electric motor/generators within the transaxle.
The Avalon Hybrid achieves a combined output of 200-horsepower with a peak torque of 200 lb-ft (271 Nm).
According to Toyota, the hybrid model returns an EPA-rated fuel economy of 40 mpg (5.9lt/100km) in the city, 39 mpg (6.0lt/100km) on the highway and a combined 40 mpg EPA-rating.
The Avalon's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology offers three modes of operation named EV, ECO and SPORT. In EV mode, the sedan can run on pure electric power for a distance up to one mile (1.6 kilometers) at speeds of up to 25mph (40km/h).
The styling differences between the regular Avalon and the Hybrid model appear to be limited to the blue outline on the Toyota logos.
The standard 2013 Avalon is powered by Toyota's 3.5-liter V6 engine rated at 268 horsepower and 248 lbs. ft. of torque, matted to a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.
Toyota says the V6 will propel the new sedan to 60 mph (96km/h) in under seven seconds and return an EPA-rated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.
The new 2013 Avalon will be built at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) plant in Georgetown, with prices to be announced.

2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID

2013 TOYOTA AVALON

Ferrari 360 Modena Spider Based on the Toyota MR2

"Finally, the style of Italy meets the dependability of Japan," reads the seller's description of this Ferrari 360 Modena Spider replica that is built on a Toyota MR2 donor car from the year 2000, and which we found up for grabs on eBay. As is common in these type of builds, the replication of the Ferrari model is restricted to the exterior body panels with the interior left mostly intact (sans the Ferrari-badged seat covers).
The Italianized Toyota has allegedly covered 109,000 miles (about 175,000 kilometers) and according to the AutoCheck history report, it was involved in an accident back in 2007, hence the salvage title.
The cloned Ferrari MR2 is located in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and is listed on eBay with a 'Buy it Now' price of $20,000.

PHOTO GALLERY

New TToyota Camry Excels in Consumer Reports’ Tests, VW Passat Not So Much

Consumer Reports has just announced its latest test results. This time, the nonprofit organization put two brand-new, family sedans under its microscope – and while the one came up trumps, the other was a mixed bag. Starting with the new 2012 Toyota Camry, Consumer Reports tested three different models with a four-cylinder, a V6 and a Hybrid engine, all of which ranked amongst the best in their class.
As the magazines notes, compared to the model it replaces, the new Camry has a plusher interior, more responsive handling, improved ride and better fuel economy, with only the increased road noise and some cheap details tainting the overall picture.
In fact, while the 173HP 2.5-liter four-cylinder version ties with the Hyundai Sonata for best-in-class fuel consumption delivering 27 mpg (8.7 lt/100 km), the more powerful 268HP 3.5-liter V6 is just a smidgen more thirsty and, at 26 mpg (9.0 lt/100 km), beats most four-cylinder rivals.
The Camry Hybrid’s main disadvantage is that it has a slightly smaller trunk. Other than that, the qualities of the other versions combined with an average fuel economy of 38 mpg (6.2 lt/100 km), earns it not only the “Recommended” tag, but also the top spot in its class.
The second vehicle tested by CR is the all-new North American market 2012 VW Passat. The magazine says that while the Passat is a clean sheet design, its interior “feels more ordinary” compared to its predecessors and its handling is less agile.
“VW has made the redesigned Passat surprisingly similar to the Camry, but with so-so results”, said Consumer Reports’ Test Center director David Champion, who added that the 2012 Passat is too new to have reliability data.
The base 170HP 2.5-liter inline-five version was criticized for its "antiquated and gruff-sounding" engine and its 25 mpg (9.4 lt/100 km) combined fuel economy. The top-of-the-line 3.6-liter V6 version received much more positive comments thanks to its plusher interior and its smooth 280HP engine.
According to CR, though, it’s not the pick of the range: this title belongs to the 140HP, 2.0-liter TDI diesel model which unlike diesels of yore, is completely devoid of noise, smoke and exhaust smells. Its strongest point is its consumption: the 37 mpg (6.4 lt/100 km) average was quite impressive – though not as much as the 51 mpg (4.6 lt/100 km) it recorded on the highway.

From Consumer Reports press release:
Based on previous above-average reliability, the four-cylinder and hybrid versions of the updated Toyota Camry are Recommended, The previous Camry V6 has not been reliable enough for CR to currently recommend the updated model. The redesigned Volkswagen Passat is too new for Consumer Reports to have reliability data.
Consumer Reports only Recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR’s Annual Auto Survey of its more than seven million print and Web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

2012 TOYOTA CAMRY