A Clear Step Forward with Vibrant Clarity Design
Detroit's North American International Auto Show can always be
relied upon to provide adventurous concepts, as well as spectacular and glitzy introductions. Despite all the smoke and noise elsewhere, no introduction was bigger, or more important than a production-ready four-door sedan revealed under its own smoke and lights in the Riverview Ballroom of Cobo Hall. There, behind the perforated steel curtain, the new redesigned 2007 Toyota Camry slowly revolved in the flash of dozens and dozens of cameras, taking the first pictures of Toyota's brave new future.
The Toyota Camry, as promised, was not simply redesigned and re-engineered; it also underwent a serious attitude adjustment. After years of being knocked for its, at best, inoffensive design, Toyota saw, with great "clarity" the need for "vibrant" styling to continue to draw consumers into showrooms and maintain its status as the number-one selling sedan in the USA. And if Toyota has its way, the new Camry will also lead the automaker's charge to become the number-one selling brand in the world, as GM sets its house in order and by so doing, pulls back production.
The
cornerstone of the new Camry is its refreshed styling, impressing Toyota's vision on the midsize sedan. It is a bolder, more engaging design with wheels closer to the corners, and smoother rounded forms tailored perfectly to a modern, upright stance, which compares well next to the previous model's sloping nose and characterless body. It's a handsome design, with neat detailing that will continue to offend few people while bringing the Camry into the fold of appealing designs with which it competes in its segment.
The linchpin of the new Camry's appeal is its more athletic stance. The wheelbase has grown by a couple of inches (benefiting interior space and ride comfort as well as appearances), a wider track enhances stability and makes it look more planted to the road, but its length has remained the same, rather reducing unsightly overhangs and creating well-balanced proportions. The rest seems to simply tuck in tightly and get out of the way, aside from a slightly bulbous schnozz, unless you order it fitted out with some SE model bodykit upgrades.
As you can see, the Camry has come a long way design-wise, but
the second piece of the puzzle is the upcoming hybrid, running Toyota's leading-edge Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Contrary to the Honda Accord Hybrid, which mates a mild-hybrid drivetrain to a top-of-the-range 6-cylinder powerplant, Toyota's Camry Hybrid is built on its smooth and efficient 2.4-litre four-cylinder runabout.
Combined with a 105 kW electric motor capable of producing 199 lb-ft of torque, the Camry Hybrid's output is rated at 192-horsepower, more than the stock four-cylinder, but not as much as the six. Power from the electric and gasoline engines is managed by a continuously variable transmission that optimizes output delivery at all speeds. This means you can take advantage of all the power for spirited sprints away from stoplights (although you're unlikely to win many drag races), or you can lay off the right pedal and enjoy the benefits of electrically driven starts and save at the pumps in the long run.
Detroit's North American International Auto Show can always be
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| Toyota puts a new face on North America's best selling car. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
The Toyota Camry, as promised, was not simply redesigned and re-engineered; it also underwent a serious attitude adjustment. After years of being knocked for its, at best, inoffensive design, Toyota saw, with great "clarity" the need for "vibrant" styling to continue to draw consumers into showrooms and maintain its status as the number-one selling sedan in the USA. And if Toyota has its way, the new Camry will also lead the automaker's charge to become the number-one selling brand in the world, as GM sets its house in order and by so doing, pulls back production.
The
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| The new Camry's styling follows in suit with Avalon and the new Yaris sedan. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
The linchpin of the new Camry's appeal is its more athletic stance. The wheelbase has grown by a couple of inches (benefiting interior space and ride comfort as well as appearances), a wider track enhances stability and makes it look more planted to the road, but its length has remained the same, rather reducing unsightly overhangs and creating well-balanced proportions. The rest seems to simply tuck in tightly and get out of the way, aside from a slightly bulbous schnozz, unless you order it fitted out with some SE model bodykit upgrades.
As you can see, the Camry has come a long way design-wise, but
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| The previous generation Camry was just a bit... staid. The new one is clearly much more vibrant. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
Combined with a 105 kW electric motor capable of producing 199 lb-ft of torque, the Camry Hybrid's output is rated at 192-horsepower, more than the stock four-cylinder, but not as much as the six. Power from the electric and gasoline engines is managed by a continuously variable transmission that optimizes output delivery at all speeds. This means you can take advantage of all the power for spirited sprints away from stoplights (although you're unlikely to win many drag races), or you can lay off the right pedal and enjoy the benefits of electrically driven starts and save at the pumps in the long run.