Toyota gunning for 200k RAV4 sales per year

Toyota just unveiled the 2013 RAV4 at the 2012 LA Auto Show, and according to a report in Ward's Auto, the automaker already has high hopes for strong sales of its new model. Bill Fay, Toyota's vice president of marketing, is expecting sales of 200,000 units in 2013 – a jump over the projected 170,000 RAV4 models expected to be delivered in 2012.

Since 2008, the RAV4 has never sold anything close to 200,000 units; the model's best year in recent times was 2010 when 170,877 models were moved. But with this all-new 2013 model, Toyota is hoping to capture a larger chunk of younger buyers – folks who might normally look at the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5.

"It has an awful lot of capability for the younger buyer, so we're hoping to get a little more share of that," Fay told Ward's Auto.

In addition to completely new styling and better refinement, the RAV4 loses its V6 option for 2013. The only engine offered will be Toyota's 2.5-liter inline-four, good for 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, and able to achieve highway fuel economy as high as 31 miles per gallon when paired with front-wheel drive.

The 2013 RAV4 hits dealerships in January. Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle's on-sale date.