AAH #163 – Toyota’s All-American
August 31st, 2012 at 3:39pm
Audio-only version:
Toyotas are bland, right? That’s the wrap. And for a long time it’s been hard to disagree, but the new Toyota Avalon shows that this company really can turn out compelling cars. So, we asked the Chief Engineer of the Avalon, Randy Stephens, to park one in our studio while we talked to him about this, the first Toyota passenger car to be designed, engineered and manufactured in the U.S. In addition, you know that we’ll get into the biggest news of the week including the continued “brain drain” at GM. John McElroy will also have some driving impressions to share of the Cadillac XTS. Joining John in studio is his After Hours cohort Peter De Lorenzo, the Autoextremist!
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Comments (1)
September 1st, 2012 at 11:20 am
The avalons a nice new mid price sedan. Randy seems like a cool guy. The show was interesting and its nice to have the cars in the studio although if you could drive them before the show airs that would be preferred.
As far as the call in about the Telsa S sedan. I have to disagree with you my friends and say yes with its 100 grand price tag it will not be a volume seller….yet it will be a game changer in its luxury performance segment.
Zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, sexy good looks, excellent passenger and cargo capacity….its all about the passion at this point with practicality.
The techno geeks have their leafs and volts and those are having a hard time gaining volume because logically a less expensive non hybrid vehicle is more finacially attractive to 20 and 30 thosuand dollar transaction prices….
When the vehicles such as the Telsa S sedan and the upcoming Cadillac ELR hit the showrooms…they will be so strongly attractive in other areas ..ie looks, performance ,handling
that the fact they are hybrids or pure electrics (in the case of the telsa S sedan) will be a secondary buying decision…..
Thats why I beleive as an all out performance enthusiast who never liked hybrids or cared about them…..that the telsa S sedan and the upcoming Cadillac ELR will be a success (in their respective market segment)
I really would NOT buy a Porsche Panamera GTS over a Telsa S ….the BMW M5 maybe but maybe not….I’d have to suggest I’d certainly consider the Telsa S…..although honestly the CTS V might in the end get my money! (if I were buying at this moment being that the caddy is 30 GRAND LESS) but compared to the Porsche Panamera GTS which is identical in cost…..the Telsa S might just get the nod..
Always a great show. I have a new found respect for toyota and to be honest I’ve never been a fan of the product line…although when I met my bride of 20 years…she had just purchased the day before I met her a beautiful Red Celica GT that she always remembers fondly…
Good to see excitment coming to toyota as they compete in the rapidly changing automotive world.
The sister division of toyota..the scion FRS is definitely a step in the right direction. Tons of my buddies are buying them as daily drivers and are thrilled with them. The new Lexus sport coupe show car is a stunning beauty and I hope they bring that to market just as we see it on the show floor and in the tv commericals…
Thanks again for the great guest and the great show.
Jonathan