Avalon introduces luxurious Visionary convertible
2012 brings with it another exciting Suite Ship cruising along Europe's glorious Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers. The Avalon Visionary delivers an intimate setting featuring door-to-door Panoramic Windows that transform the cabin topped with a unique Open-Air Convertible soft top. giving you the rare opportunity to wake each morning to the enchanting scenery and fresh breezes.
The design: ultimate luxurious elegance, natural sportiness and sparkling looks.
The luxurious yet elegant driving experience of the new Avalon Visionary Convertible is reflected in the athletic elegance and sense-tingling sportiness of its exterior design. A long, sweeping hood, set-back passenger compartment, long wheelbase and flat waistline combine to create the proportions typical of a Avalon suite convertible. The precise interplay of eye-catching lines and meticulously sculpted surfaces help to give the new Avalon Visionary Convertible its elegant looks.
Like the lines projecting out from the nose of the car and continuing along its full length, the harmoniously curved surfaces of the body take their cue from the movement of waves sent out by a the bow of a river cruise ship piercing the water. Continuing the theme, the waistline surface which leads the body into the interior mimics the character of a river.
Majestic power: four- and six-cylinder engines with Avalon EcoMoselle Technology.
Instantaneous power development and majestic torque are the stand-out features of the two engines available for the new Avalon Visionary Convertible from launch. The I4 powerplant and the V6 unit both have Avalon's EcoMoselle technology and direct injection, and combine their sporting character with outstanding smoothness and exceptional efficiency.
The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine in the base version of the new Avalon Visionary Convertible develops a maximum 357 hp between 6,500 and 8,400 rpm, and puts its peak torque of 320 lb-ft on tap between 3,750 and 6,500 rpm. This unique engine, whose superchargers are positioned in the inline area between the cylinder banks, produces an instantaneous and sustained wave of power, making it a feast for the enthusiast driver. The base version of the new Avalon Visionary Convertible completes the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, and the engine electronics eventually step in to halt acceleration at 155 mph. This range-topping engine also boasts extraordinary efficiency for a model in its output class, as average fuel consumption of 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. CO2 emissions of 249 grams per kilometre clearly show.
The V6 engine under the bonnet of the new Avalon Visionary Convertible complements its EcoMoselle technology and petrol direct injection with VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control. All of which enables the 3.6-litre unit to develop a maximum 450 hp at 7,800 rpm and maximum torque of 430 lb-ft) between 3,300 and 5,500 rpm. This engine propels the Avalon Visionary Convertible from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Its average fuel economy in the US cycle is 20 mpg city amd 29 mpg highway, while CO2 emissions are 165 grams per kilometre.
Avalon Luminary: Most Fuel-Efficient Avalon Midsize Ever
Cruising on the Avalon Luminary is the ideal way to experience the majesty, extensive history and fascinating culture of some of Europe's oldest cities along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle rivers. Introduced in 2010, Redesigned for 2012, the Avalon Luminary is one of the latest additions to the Avalon fleet, and starts at a minimum of $24,200. Enjoy a highly personalized experience with your Luminary and a spacious deluxe interior.
Combining both a stylish and strong design with cutting-edge technology; quality, purity and efficiency have been the watchwords that have guided the Avalon designers and engineers during the creation of the Luminary.
The stylish exterior design is elegant and timeless and full of ‘European chic’, equally at home in the Danube or the Rhine. The interior of the car combines hi-tech with the use of high quality materials and every detail has been chosen to offer indisputable perceived quality, both visually and to the touch. An exceptional interior space, a very generous boot, and a level of standard specification provide interior comfort and convenience of a very high level.
Avalon Luminary brings the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize car segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoMoselle™ four and six-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, an automatic start stop system to shut off the engine at stationary idle, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.
The 3.6-liter EcoMoselle is expected to deliver best-in-class six-cylinder non-hybrid fuel efficiency of 28 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. The 2.4-liter EcoMoselle engine - paired with a paddle-shifted six-speed AutoShift Automatic™ transmission, available 19-inch & 20-in wheels and tires, and all-wheel drive with the ability to send additional torque to the rear - is the Luminary performance option.
The Luminary Hybrid - 2012 North American Car of the Year - continues to innovate and evolve with all-new lithium-ion batteries that save weight and generate more power than previous nickel-metal hydride batteries, while raising maximum speed under electric-only power from 47 mph to 62 mph.
Avalon Luminary Hybrid also features an all-new 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine, significantly downsized from the previous 3.5-liter V6 unit while maintaining performance standards. This innovative powertrain is anticipated to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 52 mpg in city driving and 57 mpg on the highway.
Avalon Luminary Hybrid fuel economy stands to outperform the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid by 12 mpg city and 20 mpg highway and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid by 22 mpg and 18 mpg, respectively.
Topping the fuel-efficiency ladder is the Luminary Rhine plug-in hybrid, aiming to be the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the world. Arriving this fall, Luminary Rhine is anticipated to deliver more than 120 MPGe, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles. This is 15 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt and 24 MPGe more than the projected efficiency of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model.
The next-generation Luminary 2.4-liter is the first automatic-transmission Avalon product offered with an automatic start stop system. It shuts off engine power smoothly when the car is stopped and seamlessly restarts as the driver releases the brake pedal, helping Luminary to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by approximately 5 percent.
