2013 Toyota Avalon receives hybrid powertrain, base engine remains 3.5L V6

Earlier this year at the 2012 New York Auto Show, Toyota unveiled an all new Avalon for the 2013 model year. Though at its full debut in April, the 2013 Avalon was showcased with lots of detail following, except for what the new 2013 Avalon would be powered by.

At the presentation, it was said that the Avalon would receive a V6, and that’s about it. Toyota has now confirmed a hybrid version for the updated sedan as well.

Continuing with the V6 in the Avalon, that V6 is the brand’s standard 3.5L unit good for a silky smooth 268hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. That power is then transferred through a traditional six-speed automatic with a manual select mode. Sixty is claimed to arrive in 6.9 seconds. Interestingly enough however, the previous Avalon was noted for hitting sixty in around 6.6 in some instrumented testing by other publications.

New for the first time however is an all-new Avalon Hybrid option, which receives the same powertrain that’s in the Camry Hybrid and the new Lexus ES300h. That powertrain is a 2.5L Atkinson cycle four-banger good for 154hp and 153 lb-ft of torque assisted with electric motors. The total output of the system is 200hp, allowing the Avalon application to hit sixty in just 8.2 seconds.

Channeling the electric power is a continuously variable transmission, allowing the Avalon hybrid to travel up to one mile on electric power alone under 25 MPH, while Toyota claims an EPA figure of 40/39 city/highway mpg.

Pricing and release dates have yet to be announced, but we could expect the new Avalon to hover around the last generation’s $34,000-ish sticker price with release dates following as time goes by.

Powertrain Specs

Avalon V6
Avalon Hybrid
Gasoline
Engine
Type/Displacement
2GR-FE / 3.5L
2AR-FXE / 2.5L
Max Horsepower
268 hp
154 hp
Max Torque
248 lbs.-ft.
153 lbs.-ft.
Transaxle
Type
6-speed AT
E-CVT
Electric Motor
Max Output
140 hp
Max Torque
200 ft. lbs.
Battery
Type
Nickel-Metal Hydride
Nominal Voltage
245 volts
Number of Cells
204 Cells
Max Output
34 kw or 45.6 hp
Total System Output
149 kw 200hp

– By: Chris Chin