Toyota has unveiled the radically changed 2013 Avalon in New York
today, and said that they have re-conceived the model for the premium
mid-size sedan segment.
The new Avalon, which will arrive at
dealerships later this year, was designed by a youthful and talented
team at the Calty Design
Research Inc. facilities in Southern California and Michigan who wanted
to make the car more stylish, bold, sportier on the outside and more
luxurious on the inside.
Just to mention some of the elements that
were applied in order to make the 2013 Toyota Avalon appear more
dynamic, there is the longer, sloping roofline, the flared front
fenders, the reduced front and rear overhangs, the lower beltline, the
new 17- and 18-inch alloys as well as the square Double-eye PES
(Projector Ellipsoid System) headlamps, the wider grille design and the
LED combination tail lamps. 
At the interior the new Avalon tries
to provide a more modern and luxurious experience, with some of the
highlights in this case being the concave dash panel design located in
front of the passenger, the new new seats which are now lower and
provide a better and more comfortable position, the Entune multimedia
system, the Display Audio system with 6.1
inch touchscreen, as well as the new console area equipped with USB port, AUX input and three 12-volt power outlets.
The
cabin also features higher quality materials, hand-crafted decorative
stitching and smoked chrome-metallic accents applied on the instrument
panel, center console, door panel and steering wheel.  
In terms of safety the 2013 Toyota Avalon comes with 10 airbags and the Star Safety
System as standard, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC),
Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic
Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, and Smart Stop Technology
brake-override system.      
Apart from the major design changes,
the new Avalon has also received numerous structural and chassis
improvements that enhance the ride quality. We are talking about a
stiffer chassis, a new suspension relying on MacPherson struts with
advanced valving and rebound springs, and a revised electric power
steering system. 
Even though the powertrain options have not
been specified yet, Toyota says the Avalon will offer three distinct
drive modes (Normal, Eco and Sport) available through driver selectable
switches.
If you want to compare the 2013 Avalon with the
outgoing model in terms of dimensions and weight then check out the
chart below.
Key Dimensional Comparison

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  2013 Avalon 2012 Avalon
Overall Length 195.3 in. (4960 mm) 197.6 in. (5020 mm)
Overall Width 72.2 in. (1835 mm) 72.8 in. (1850 mm)
Overall Height 57.5 in. (1460 mm) 58.5 in. (1485 mm)
Wheelbase 111 in. (2820 mm) 111 in. (2820 mm)
Front Tread 62.6 in. (1590 mm) 62.2 in. (1580 mm)
Rear Tread 62.2 in. (1580 mm) 61.6 in. (1565 mm)
Front Overhang 38.8 in. (985 mm) 39.4 in. (1000 mm)
Rear Overhang 45.5 in. (1155 mm) 47.2 in. (1200 mm)
Curb Weight 3,497 lbs. (estimated) 3,616 lbs. (Avalon model)
Source: Toyota