It was a dark and stormy night. (Honest!) A small group of auto writers were standing in the rain outside a museum, staring at what appeared to be a stretched Camry. Boring to look at and with few noteable features other than its obvious build quality, this new sedan left us with just one desire: to get dry and enjoy the Toyota-hosted dinner in the museum's restaurant.
A few years later we were again staring at an Avalon, now in the old world surroundings of Quebec City. Not only was the location exotic, the Avalon had acquired a hint of fashion. It was even pleasant to drive. Still, none of us in attendance could comprehend why the world needed a Camry that was six inches longer and offered extra luxury accoutrements.
Now fast-forward to the year 2005 and the third-generation Avalon. The difference is shocking. It's as if someone at Toyota said, "Buyers haven't exactly been lining up to purchase this turkey so let's start over again." Since only North Americans are interested in family sedans with acres of rear seat room and great slabs of metal behind the B-pillar, a decision was made to engineer and design the new Avalon in the USA.
Good plan. Style, performance, and a Touring version had finally won us over.