when Toyota replaced its old rear-wheel-drive with front wheel drive Corona, Camry, a car designed specifically for the U.S. market. From these humble beginnings, the Camry has dominated the segment, midsize sedan family for virtually all next quarter century, as consumers immediately embraced it for its high quality construction of the ride, comfort and impressive durability.
Initially available only with four-cylinder engine, the Camry, soon saw the option of a V6, and as the years pass, upgrades in luxury, size and content of appeal. The immense popularity in the U.S. inspired Camry Toyota opened a manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, in late 1980. More trim levels became available, including SE and XLE luxury sport.
It still retains its strong reputation despite a few recent blips on the radar screen in terms of reliability, the Toyota Camry remains the ideal choice for those seeking a spacious family car, comfortable and reliable.
Current Toyota Camry
The latest Toyota Camry is offered only as a front-wheel drive, four-door sedan of medium size. Four trim levels are offered traditional Camry: base, LE XLE, sporty SE and luxury. Even the base model includes stability control, air conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, tilt steering wheel-and-telescopic system of a six-speaker CD audio, radio, satellite and Bluetooth.
The 169-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-4 engine is the base and the SE gets a 179 hp version of the same engine. A powerful 3.5-liter V6 (268 hp, 248 lb-ft of torque) is available on all trims except the base model. transmission options for the four are a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic (standard on the XLE), while the V6 sends its power through a standard six-speed automatic. A gas-electric hybrid Camry is also available, along with 192 hp, which gives EPA estimates of 33 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
In review, we commented favorably about the Camry’s spacious cabin, powerful and fuel-efficient V6 optional, plush ride quality and test results of top accident. Disadvantages include Camry for the last few disappointing interior plastics, inconsistent fit and finish and uninspiring driving dynamics of non-SE models.
Toyota Camry models
The current Toyota Camry is the sixth generation, launched in 2011. For the first year, the basic model was known as the EC, but beyond that, the only significant changes occurred in 2011. Camrys built before that year had a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 159 hp – no special IF variation. The manual and automatic transmissions were also five speed units. Other changes for 2010 include a restyled grille and taillights, and additional features on all models, including stability control, satellite radio and Bluetooth.
Toyota’s unveiling of the all-new 2011 Camry – the best-selling car in the U.S. for eight of the past nine years – was made all the more significant by the simultaneous debut of its hybrid version. Like its conventional brethren, the hybrid variant emerges an improved and ever-more stylish package with a focus on safety as well as efficiency, offering an array of standard safety features including anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and optional traction control. Plus, seven airbags come as a matter of course.
The Camry Hybrid features Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, in this application mating a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a small, specially-developed electric drive motor for a combined output of 187 horsepower. This engine’s 147 hp is less than the non-hybrid four-cylinder because, like the engine in the Prius, it uses the lean-burning Atkinson cycle that reduces power but improves fuel consumption.
The hybrid system varies power between gas and electric, or both, as needed. EPA estimates place the Camry Hybrid’s fuel economy at 40 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, a marked improvement over the standard four-cylinder’s 24/34 mpg.
Other efficiency-enhancing features on the Camry Hybrid include a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a driver selectable “ECO” button that limits energy consumption of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system. Power-steering and air-conditioning systems are electrically driven rather than by a belt from the engine. Special attention was paid to the vehicle underbody with the use of wheel spats and underbelly pans, resulting in a low 0.27 coefficient of drag that does its part to help increase fuel economy.
In contrast to the performance-oriented Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota is hoping the more efficiency-minded balance struck by the Camry Hybrid will resonate with today’s buyers. At a base price of $25,900 for all this goodness and high mpg, this may well be the case.
The Toyota Camry is the best-selling car in the US and very popular in many countries around the world (it recently passed the 10 million units sold mark). It is being completely redesigned for 2007 and a US-made hybrid version of the Camry will also be available. As we've mentioned it will come with a 4 cylinders engine unlike the Honda Accord hybrid. Until now, we knew little about the 2007 Camry and no photos were available, but Autoblog found a Japanese magazine that had some pictures and info (you can read the translated version here - apparently Google translates "Camry" to "back hole"). We learn that the new version will have a drag coefficient of 0.28 (the Prius, at 0.26, is one of the most "slippery" cars on the road) which should help it achieve good highway fuel economy, that the length of the new car is the same as the current version and that a 2.4 liters 4-cylinder engine of 167 hp will be available in the non-hybrid model. No word on a V6 yet. More photos below.
It is fairly realistic to expect that it will be rated ULEV2 in emissions for the non-hybrid and AT-PZEV for the hybrid, but the big unknowns are if it will be a significant improvement on the current version in the fuel economy department, and if the hybrid version will sell well enough to truly bring hybrids to the mainstream.
Update.
It is fairly realistic to expect that it will be rated ULEV2 in emissions for the non-hybrid and AT-PZEV for the hybrid, but the big unknowns are if it will be a significant improvement on the current version in the fuel economy department, and if the hybrid version will sell well enough to truly bring hybrids to the mainstream.
Update.
