Toyota Avalon lifestyle Dubai launch
Toyota Avalon lifestyle Dubai launch event at The House of Avalon
By Shahzad Sheikh
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Yesterday I attended an unusual can launch event for the all-new Toyota Avalon now on sale in the UAE.
I was chauffeured to the ‘House of Avalon’ at Bvlgari Villas in an Avalon. There we were introduced to master craftsmen from the worlds of jewellery and leather items, as well as a men’s fashion designer.
The idea was to bring a younger, more trendy and vibrant feel to the new Avalon, which is effectively the flagship Toyota saloon and is packed with modern tech.
Additionally we got to talk to Chief Engineer for the Avalon, Randy Stephens from the USA.
The new 5th generation 2019 Toyota Avalon has just gone on sale in the UAE at Al-Futtaim dealers. It’s comes with a 3.5-litre V6 with 298bhp – so nearly 300bhp – you also get this motor in the Camry.
In fact it’s based on the same platform, but has a longer wheelbase, and therefore more legroom than the Camry.
More obviously as Randy pointed out, the level of quality and craftmanship inside sets it apart, and takes it closer in feel to the Lexus ES.
To really make it stand apart from those two cars, the grille had to make a bold and strong statement, and it does.
Avalon normally sells to private owners in our region and is traditionally popular with 35-40-year old locals, but with the advanced electronics and the reason for all this emphasis on a trendy lifestyle is to stretch its appeal to a younger more upwardly mobile generation, that maybe don’t want to be seen in a Camry, but want a spacious Toyota four-door saloon car.
As such a lower centre of gravity a more feelsome and response electric power steering rack, double wishbone suspension setup, better aerodynamics and larger brakes to make this car appeal more to keener driver, as well as provide the sumptuous luxury and comfort traditional owners will be expecting.
The 2019 Avalon is available across all Al-Futtaim Toyota showrooms for AED 144,900 including VAT for the SE+ model and AED 164,900 for the Limited grade
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