Since the demise of the rear-wheel drive Cressida, the front-wheel drive Avalon has been Toyota’s flagship sedan in the US, but where does the name come from?
According to Toyota the Avalon is named after “mythical island paradise” present in many Celtic legends. It’s also the island where Excalibur, King Arthur’s sword, was originally forged, and it’s also where the mythical king goes to recuperate from his wounds after a key battle.
Toyota USA adds that the name Avalon “portrays images of comfort spaciousness and sophistication”. This connotation is probably helped by the fact that there’s a resort town named Avalon in California, where the well off park their boats.
