Toyota to Produce All-Wheel Drive Camry and Avalon

Toyota’s Dynamic Torque Control AWD system provides all-wheel drive performance with improved fuel efficiency.

Toyota’s Camry and Avalon models will offer all-wheel drive models to North American drivers.

The Camry AWD will be available in early spring of 2020, and the Avalon AWD available at dealerships in fall of 2021.

Both the Camry AWD and Avalon AWD get a high-efficiency 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine teamed with an 8-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission. Most Camry AWD grades have 202 horsepower, while the Camry XSE AWD and both Avalon AWD grades have 205 hp with dual exhaust.

The new AWD system balances added traction with exemplary fuel efficiency. While Avalon AWD EPA-estimated fuel economy will be released closer to its on-sale date.

Both all-wheel drive models will feature a Dynamic Torque Control AWD system that promises to deliver greater fuel efficiency than commonly found with all-wheel drive vehicles.

Notably, when AWD isn’t needed, such as on long highway stretches, the electromagnetic controlled coupling on the front of the rear drive axle can disengage the propeller shaft from the differential to prioritize fuel efficiency. The AWD is designed to re-engage in an instant when needed. AWD operation is transparent to the driver and passengers.

The new all-wheel drive models will be based upon the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). Toyota used the TNGA platform for the 2019 Rav 4.

Adapting the AWD drivetrain to the Camry and Avalon required floor structure modifications, plus the use of an electronic parking brake and a saddle-style fuel tank with an optimized capacity for AWD models rather than the flat-style tank in the FWD models.

Inside the car has the same rear seat hip point height as the Camry and Avalon hybrid models. Despite the addition of a rear differential, the trunk floor height remains the same as in the FWD versions.

The new design only adds 165 pounds to the vehicles.