All-New 2019 Toyota Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2018 Camry Take Top Honors at Texas Auto Writers Association's 2018 Texas Auto Roundup

DECATUR, Texas (April 18, 2018)—Toyota took home top hardware at this year’s Texas Auto Writers Association’s (TAWA) Texas Auto Roundup and earned first-place spots with 2019 Avalon (Full-Size Car), 2019 Corolla Hatchback (Compact Car), and 2018 Camry (Mid-Size Car). Additionally, Avalon won TAWA’s award for Best New Interior.

The event, held at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas, included two days of in-depth test driving on the scenic closed course. Nearly 50 TAWA journalists put vehicles to the test, evaluating five key pillars – exterior, interior, performance, value, and personal appeal. More than 45 vehicles competed in 12 classes.

“To have the new Avalon, Corolla Hatchback, and Camry recognized as the best of Texas by TAWA is truly an honor,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Vehicle Marketing and Communications at Toyota. “These three compelling new products continue to show our commitment to passenger cars, our dealers, and our guests.”

The Avalon, Corolla Hatchback, and Camry were the highlight in their individual categories with designs, features, and performance capabilities that clearly distinguished them from their competition.

Underpinned by a Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, and powered by a fuel-efficient, 301-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 or Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) powertrain, the 2019 Toyota Avalon embodies consumers’ overarching desire for high-caliber, design-centric, technologically-savvy modes of attainable, premium transportation.

To its menu, Avalon mixes a bevy of Toyota-firsts such as standard Apple CarPlay and Dynamic Auxiliary Turn Signals, available authentic Yamaha wood and aluminum cabin accents, and Engine Sound Enhancement. In addition, drivers will appreciate the standard passive and active safety benefits through Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), as well as athletic handling thanks to its available Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), also a Toyota first, that, quite positively, has Avalon out-performing its peers.

The 2019 Corolla Hatchback, in either SE or XSE grades, is all about making a huge impression. With its lengthy list of standard features that includes Entune 3.0 with Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa Connectivity, a revised sport-tuned suspension and TNGA platform, and the first North American application of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, Corolla Hatchback strikes a resounding chord with drivers who value authenticity, utility, practicality, and style.

The 2018 Toyota Camry – with its new TNGA platform, double-wishbone style multi-link rear suspension, and stylish design – has a sleeker profile that offers improved aerodynamics, a lower center of gravity, and a more rigid body, allowing for a more comfortable and stable ride. In addition, engineers incorporated a number of new noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures that were previously found exclusively on luxury models such as sound-absorbing insulation in the hood and upper and lower fender separator, as well as foam/vibration dampening materials throughout the vehicle. The driver-focused design also features the highest grade of soft touch and premium materials on all surfaces of the cabin.

2019 Avalon Touring:

Designed and Assembled in the U.S.A., Five Generations Strong
New V6 and Toyota Hybrid System Powertrains Offering More Power and MPG
New TNGA K Sedan Platform with Multi-Link Rear Suspension and Available Toyota-First Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS)
Standard Entune 3.0 with WiFi Hotspot, Qi Wireless Charging, Toyota Remote Connect with Smartwatch and Amazon Alexa Connectivity, and Apple CarPlay
Standard Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)
On Sale in Late Spring 2018

2019 Corolla Hatchback:

All-New High-Function, Dynamic Design
New TNGA 2.0-liter Four-Cylinder, Six-Speed iMT Manual Transmission, and Dynamic-Shift CVT Offering More Power and MPG
New TNGA Platform with Sport-Tuned Suspension
Standard Entune 3.0 Audio with 8-inch Touchscreen, Wi-Fi Connect, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay Compatibility
First North American Application of Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0
On Sale in Summer 2018

2018 Camry:

New Emotionally-Charged Design and Performance Experience
Aggressive Exterior Character Lines and Low Center of Gravity
3.5-liter V6 DOHC 24-Valve D-4S Dual Injection with Dual VVT-i
Entune 3.0 Audio Plus with JBL w/Clari-Fi, Connected Navigation Scout and App Suite — includes 8-in. touch-screen, with Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging
10-in Color Head-Up Display, 7-in TFT Multi-Information Display with customizable settings
Standard Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)

For more information about the vehicles, please visit: ToyotaNewsroom.com.

TAWA is a Texas-based nonprofit association for automotive journalists promoting professionalism and quality in journalism for more than two decades. The group produces two annual events – Texas Auto Roundup and Texas Truck Rodeo – that allow members to experience vehicles from various manufacturers in one place, at one time.

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About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About TAWA
Texas Auto Writers Association is a nonprofit organization that has promoted professionalism and quality reporting in automotive journalism for more than two decades. TAWA produces two annual events that have gained national traction; the Texas Truck Rodeo at the Long Horn River Ranch in the Texas Hill Country and the Texas Auto Roundup at Texas Motor Speedway. Each year, TAWA awards scholarships to Texas College and university students majoring in journalism. The group’s annual Excellence in Craft Competition recognizes its members’ exceptional coverage of the automotive industry.

Brent Diggins
480.516.2035
[email protected]