The biggest news in big sedans, however, was the new Toyota Avalon. Styling for the new Avalon is, to be blunt, un-Toyota-like. Instead of a design that would make vanilla seem exotic, Toyota's big sedan might appeal to a crowd other than fathers who no longer have an Oldsmobile dealer down the street. While the 3.5L DOHC V6 is a carry over, the new Avalon will be available with all-wheel drive for the first time.

Probably the brightest lights shone on the most powerful and least sedan-like introduction at the show. Chrysler's new SRT brand punctuated its