DETROIT – Along with Ford, Toyota was one of the industry’s holdouts on Apple CarPlay.
Today the automaker announces it is “finally” bringing the technology to market in one of its models, Jack Hollis, group vice president-Toyota Div. says at the ’19 Avalon sedan’s debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show here.
“Our company had made some decisions early on about how we were going to work with connectivity,” Hollis tells WardsAuto following the Avalon press conference. “Some of those decisions made have really been an advantage for us, and some probably haven’t been, because the public is really asking for (Apple CarPlay).”
Hollis says there is no particular reason why Apple CarPlay is first debuting on the Avalon, and says Toyota will roll out the connectivity feature to the rest of its lineup on a model-by-model basis.
“On some models it’ll be (installed) on a minor change (to a vehicle), on some models it’ll be on the next major change…it will be plugged into every vehicle as we go forward,” he says.
Hollis says Toyota is “absolutely” looking at Android Auto as well.
Besides the addition of Apple CarPlay, the other big news of the Avalon redesign includes a new TNGA K platform, bringing about a longer, lower and wider car. The new platform also allowed Toyota designers room to create a carved lower rocker panel behind the front wheels.
Deep-draw stampings, created by “never-before-accomplished” methods, created sculpted surfaces on the car’s body.
The fifth-generation Avalon’s front and rear overhangs are shorter than on the outgoing fourth-gen model; side-quarter glass is elongated, and the C-pillar is more tapered at its downward angle.
Inside, Toyota offers a cognac-colored leather for the Limited grade, as well as real-wood trim by supplier Yamaha.
Besides Apple CarPlay, another tech feature new to Toyota is the ability to control the Avalon via Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.
Toyota is calling the Avalon’s two engines new, although the 3.5L V-6 is from the same engine family, 2GR, as the current Avalon 3.5L V-6. It also is featured in the current Toyota Highlander and Tacoma, as well as the Lexus GS and RX.
The engine features Atkinson combustion cycle and Toyota’s D-4S direct and port injection system, and is mated to an 8-speed automatic vs. a 6-speed auto in the outgoing fourth-gen Avalon. These measures help improve fuel economy, Toyota says, although it doesn’t cite figures in press materials.
The Avalon also continues to offer a hybrid variant, powered by Toyota’s new Dynamic Force 2.5L 4-cyl., also with D-4S and mated to a 650V electric motor and CVT.
Another Toyota first is the availability of an adaptive variable suspension on the Avalon, which goes on sale in late spring, with pricing to be announced closer to the on-sale date.
As sales of large sedans have fallen sharply in the past 10 years, due to midsize sedans growing larger and the exploding popularity of utility vehicles, Avalon sales of 32,583 in 2017 were well off the car’s record volume of 104,078 set in 2000, WardsAuto data shows. The Avalon’s 2017 tally was 32.2% behind 2016’s 48,080.
Hollis says Toyota believes there still is reason to stay in the large-car segment in the U.S., and “loyal Avalon buyers are looking for a replacement,” while some Camry owners want to step up to a larger vehicle. He also believes it’s an important product for those who may want to step down from a luxury vehicle into more of a near-luxury offering.
Toyota has yet to determine a sales target for the new Avalon, with Hollis joking his goal is to sell as many as possible.
“I think in every sedan segment you have a decrease going on, (but) you bring out a great product and great products sell,” as is happening with Camry, he says.
