Spied: 2013 Toyota Avalon

What It Is: A pair of heavily camouflaged next-generation 2013 Toyota Avalon prototypes. The current-generation Toyota Avalon has been on sale since 2005, making it nearly as old—in car years—as the typical Avalon buyer. Despite a minor refresh for 2011, the Avalon clearly is due for an update, and these spy photos indicate that Toyota’s full-size sedan will be getting one soon. It remains to be seen whether the redesign can keep customers flocking to Toyota’s traditionally stodgy sedan and compete with Hyundai’s stylish 2012 Azera or the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Impala.

Why It Matters: The Avalon is supposed to be Toyota’s step-up vehicle for Camry owners who want additional luxury—we suspect many of those potential customers simply buy a Lexus ES instead. This has left the Avalon for those who look at traditional Buicks with a nostalgic gaze. Even covered in camouflage and black tape, it’s apparent that Toyota is attempting to inject some style and zest into the Avalon for 2013. Up front there’s a Camry-like grille, headlights, and fog lamps. Out back, LED taillights are visible through the cover-up job, as are sporty dual exhaust outlets. The sloping roofline is more daring than the outgoing Avalon’s more-formal greenhouse, and an interesting scalloped character line runs the length of the body beneath the side windows. Inside, the steering wheel gets a ton of buttons, but it’s still flanked by familiar Toyota turn-indicator and wiper stalks as well as a cruise-control widget that’s not far removed from the one in your Grandpa’s 1994 Corolla.

latform: The Avalon likely will continue to utilize a stretched version of the Camry’s architecture, only now it will use the latest Camry architecture. (The current model shares its underpinnings with the 2002 Camry, a car two generations removed from the latest mid-sizer.) It looks as though a slight size increase may be in store for the next Avalon.

Powertrain: The current Avalon’s 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic should carry over to the new car. As before, the 2013 model will be driven by the front wheels.

Competition: Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera, Nissan Maxima.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Spied: 2014 Infiniti EV

What It Is: A mule for Infiniti’s upcoming all-electric sedan. Until now, we had seen only sketches of Infiniti’s EV. Sitting closer to the bottom of Infiniti’s lineup, the EV will aim to please eco-chic shoppers who like the idea of an electric car to drive locally—as well as a premium badge.

Why it matters: Electric vehicles haven’t hit the big time yet, but like many automakers, Infiniti doesn’t want to risk being left behind. The task will be relatively easy considering parts from Nissan’s Leaf are already in the corporate bin. Just as important, adding an EV to the Infiniti lineup strengthens the brand’s intended image as a manufacturer of luxury and high-tech automobiles.

Platform: Infiniti’s sedan will share its front-wheel-drive underpinnings with the Nissan Leaf. Unlike that car, which is a traditional two-box hatchback, the Infiniti will be styled as a sleek fastback sedan.

Powertrain: Power may be increased from the 107-hp rating for the motor used in the Nissan Leaf, although the basic system probably will be the same. We anticipate that the Infiniti will use upgraded lithium-ion battery packs to better the Leaf’s advertised 100-mile range. (We averaged 58 miles per charge over a 2700-mile long-term test.)

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Hot News: Is Audi Working on A4 Minivan?

Audi’s marketing and product planning departments are thinking big, but not too big. Automobile magazine is reporting that the next addition to the German automaker’s lineup is called the Audi A4 Superavant and, no, it’s not a minivan nor an MPV. Audi claims its market research found enough demand to bring it to market.

As its name suggests, the new crossover is essentially a supersized Audi A4 Avant wagon. Audi emphasizes that the vehicle will have the same sporty styling and driving characteristics as its smaller sister models. Most importantly, the Audi A4 Superavant’s high roof and three-row seating configuration will provide more practically and cargo room than an A4 Avant. It should also ride higher, too, allowing American drivers to enjoy a commanding view of the road also found in SUVs.

The car’s front fascia sports Audi’s familiar corporate nose with a wide gaping grille and requisite LED daytime running lamp accents—the full rendering is at Automobile. The A4 Superavant’s side profile shows off the high roof and four, full-size doors, similar to the Mercedes-Benz R-Class people-mover. Speaking of which, Mercedes-Benz struggled to convince the public that the R-Class wasn’t a minivan; first it was described a grand sport tourer, before the company finally relented to the crossover moniker. The R-Class will likely serve as a case study for Audi executives who want to avoid the same fate.

Automobile speculates the A4 Superavant will ride on an extended version of Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, expected to underpin the next-generation A4. Power will come from a number of forced-induction powerplants including a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gas engine rated at 255 hp and possibly a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel rated at 197 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The magazine also hints at a possible rear-drive, electric powertrain with two motors for a total output of 136 hp.

Should the A4 Superavant get the green light, a concept car could be ready as early as 2014 with production following two years later. If the car does come, it would compete with other premium entries like BMW’s 3 and 5 Series GT models and possibly the planned replacement for the Mercedes-Benz R-Class.

Thanks to: Motor Trend