Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon is a full-size car produced by Toyota in the United States, and is the flagship sedan of Toyota in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Middle East. It was also produced in Australia from 2000 until July 2005, when it was replaced in November 2006 by the Toyota Aurion. The first Toyota Avalon rolled off the assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky, on February 21, 1994, as a 1995 model. A second-generation model was released in the United States and Japan in 1999.

Toyota marketed the Avalon as a replacement for the Toyota Cressida, a model discontinued for the American market in 1992. While the Cressida was an upper-level midsize rear-wheel-drive car with a straight-six engine, the Avalon is front-wheel-drive, powered by a V6 engine. In recent years, there has been considerable overlapping with its platform mates, the Toyota Camry V6 and the Lexus ES, although the third-generation Avalon was distinguished by offering extra legroom. For its fourth generation, the Avalon was introduced on a platform that is shared with the Lexus ES.

Toyota concept vehicles, 1990–99

Avalon

Unveiled in 1991, the Avalon was a concept vehicle designed by Calty. It was a 4-door convertible with styling inspired by the 1960s. It does not appear to have any direct relation to the Avalon production vehicle of the same name.

AXV-III

The AXV-III was a concept vehicle first shown at the October 1991 Tokyo Motor Show and later shown at the February 1993 Chicago Auto Show. Based on the new Carina, it demonstrated automated driver aids such as vehicle-to-vehicle distance maintenance and a voice synthesiser that gave instructions for upcoming intersections.

The AXV-III cruise control maintained vehicle-to-vehicle distance. Distances over 33 feet were measured by a pulsed laser beam. Distances under 33 feet were measured by a CCD camera using techniques similar to a camera's auto-focus. The usual accelerator linkage was replaced by an electronic version so that the computer could slow the car down automatically by removing power and activating the brakes when the car in front came too close.