avalon

2013 Toyota Avalon charges Qi-enabled phones without wires

People have been modding wireless inductive phone chargers into their cars since the Palm Pre and its magnetic Touchstone, but Toyota claims today to be the first automaker to offer the tech with its announcement that the 2013 Toyota Avalon will be available with Qi wireless charging.

Specifically, the Qi wireless charging will be available as part of the 2013 Avalon Limited's and Hybrid Limited's $1,750 Technology package, so you'll also want to make sure that you're interested in the radar cruise control, precollision system, and automatic high beams that also come as part of … Read more

2013 Toyota Avalon gets the Camry's V-6, Hybrid engines

Toyota has just revealed the specs for the 2013 Toyota Avalon, which was unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show earlier this year. Along with its new, more compact dimensions and a lighter curb weight, the Avalon will be available in two main trims: one powered by a V-6 and the other by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD).

The first available power train is Toyota's 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine. This is the same mill that provides locomotive duties for the 2012 Toyota Camry V-6 XLE, outputting an identical 248 pound-feet of torque and being paired with … Read more

Amazon plucks wholesome publisher to boost original titles

Beefing up its portfolio of original content, Amazon today agreed to buy the publication rights for more than 3,000 backlist titles from wholesome romance, western, and mystery publisher Avalon Books, for an undisclosed amount.

The 62-year-old Avalon is a niche publisher whose authors include romance novelists such as Holly Jacobs, who wrote "Everything But A Groom," and Carolyn Hughey, author of "Shut Up & Kiss Me."

The titles may sound racy, but the content isn't. The guidelines listed on Avalon's Web site for authors submitting work includes such admonitions as, "No cursing … Read more

Toyota to ship U.S.-built Camry sedans to South Korea

Toyota today announced it will export about 6,000 U.S.-assembled Camry sedans annually to its distributor in South Korea.

The Camry sedans will be built at Toyota's manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky., and exported out of the Port of Hueneme, near Oxnard, Calif., beginning in January 2012.

The new exported Camry sedans will join the Kentucky-produced Avalon sedan, the Indiana-produced Sequoia SUV, and the Texas-produced Tacoma and Tundra pick-up trucks, Toyota said.

"We are pleased with the reaction that the redesigned Camry is receiving from our customers, and the sales success it is having in the … Read more