The Toyota Avalon TRD Tries Harder Than Ever to Shed Its Elderly image
Toyota has been trying for years to banish the Avalon sedan's milquetoast reputation-and this new high-performance TRD version might actually do the trick. The company's racing division has imbued this luxobarge with a host of chassis upgrades and aggressive visuals inside and out, all of which seem to turn up the Avalon's attitude at the very least, even if the treatment might be a bit overwrought.
While neither the TRD-ized Avalon nor its Camry TRD sibling are getting any more power from their 301-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine, there are several mechanical upgrades underneath. The front brakes have larger, 12.9-inch rotors and dual-piston calipers, while new springs lower the sedan by 0.6 inch and underbody braces are said to increase torsional rigidity. Stiffer tuning for the shocks is in play, as is a cat-back exhaust that's meant to provide more auditory drama from the V-6. An eight-speed automatic remains the only transmission choice.
Bridgestone Potenza summer tires wrap around 19-inch black wheels that are lighter than the Avalon XSE model's wheels. The visuals pick up where that sporty-ish XSE model leaves off, with additions such as a body kit with a front splitter and a rear diffuser, red brake calipers, and red badges. The Avalon seems to be trying for a bit of a more mature look than the Camry TRD, as the bigger sedan's small decklid spoiler is far more tasteful than the Camry's wild rear wing. Red trim is the name of the game inside, with faux-suede inserts and red accents for the seats along with red stitching throughout the cabin. The seatbelts are red, too.
Available in red, white, silver, and black, the Avalon TRD will go on sale soon with an asking price that's likely to be a few thousand dollars higher than the $38,920 Avalon V-6 XSE. We're not sure if that will be a fair amount for this spicier Avalon, but we look forward to driving one to find out.
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