Yamada's team redefined the Camry lineup, creating a wider diversity between trim levels based on owner preferences and tastes. For 2002, the volume-selling LE is equipped with a higher level of the comfort and convenience features favoured by customers. Camry XLE provides an added degree of elegance and upscale amenities, and a new model, the SE, has been added. SE offers a distinctive, sportier style, including a specifically tuned suspension for a firmer ride, more controlled steering and more precise handling.
CHOICE OF TWO POWERTRAINS
Under Camry's distinctive new sheet metal is an all-new 2.4-litre, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine with dual balance shafts and Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). This new powerplant generates 157-horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 21 hp more than the previous 4-cylinder engine, and 162 lb/ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Camry is also offered with a 3.0-litre quad-cam V6 which produces 192-horsepower at 5,300 rpm and 209 lb/ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Both engines are so fuel-and emissions-efficient they've been certified as Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles (ULEV).
Camry's new body structure features a new engine mounting system which provides increased rigidity around the sub-frame mounting points of the engine bay. This increases the accuracy of the suspension geometry as well as reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) transmitted to the cabin through the engine mounts. The new motor mount layout is used on both the 4-cylinder and V6 engines.