The Hindu Business Line : Toyota Camry — Refreshed, from inside and out

The new Camry retains that dignified, chauffeur-driven-by-default looks. But within the confines of that persona, Toyota has managed subtle adventurism in design.

THE NEW Camry reflects Toyota's new approach to design.

Toyota's design philosophy has been less adventurous than those of the top automobile manufacturers of the world. While most of its cars were attractive (albeit in an unexciting way) and highly reliable, not many were considered benchmarks in design.

Of course, the story has been different with Toyota's other marques such as Lexus and Scion. But Toyota's cars lag behind other Japanese rivals such as Nissan and Honda when it comes to daring, contemporary and exploratory design themes.

Exciting new range

However, that was the case till the design bug bit Toyota a couple of years ago. Starting with the Aygo — the small car that the company is manufacturing in alliance with PSA-Peugeot Citroen — and then the new Avalon and now the new Camry, Toyota has shown that it has set the ball rolling for a new range of vehicles that will be as exciting to behold, as they are to drive.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian subsidiary, has also shifted into top gear and speeded up the process of introducing the latest generation Camry into the market . So, after being unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show last year and introduced in the Japanese market just a few months ago, the new, sixth generation, Camry will now be available in India.

The new Camry retains that dignified, chauffeur-driven-by-default looks. But within the confines of that persona Toyota has managed to bring in subtle adventurism in design. The exterior has been completely redesigned, with the wheelbase, front and rear track and the overall width increased to give the sedan a more athletic and modern look. The lean and straight proportion coupled with the `scoop edges' of the car seems to express refined strength. The scoop edge is applied both on the inside and outside of the car to come up with a coherent theme for the vehicle as a whole.

The thin and wide wraparound style headlamps have two vertical accent lines to create a sharp and sporty front end. The exterior features also include `Intelligent Rain-Sensing Wipers' that work automatically by detecting raindrops on the windshield.

While the Camry comes with a 3.5-litre V6 engine also in other markets, the luxury car will be offered only with a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder VVT-i engine here. The new Camry will be available in manual as well as automatic transmission versions. The VVT-i engine delivers 167 bhp @ 6000 rpm of peak power and a maximum torque of 224 Nm @ 4000 rpm. The automatic variant is equipped with an all-new five-speed transmission system with ECT (Electronically Controlled Transmission), which utilises advanced technology for a smooth shift feel and more linear acceleration.

Bigger interior

The big impression that the Camry makes extends into the interiors too, where the space offered has been increased to give it a roomier, relaxed feel.

The sleek, new front panel has an air-conditioning system equipped with `plasmacluster technology', which helps eliminate germs from the air, resulting in clean interiors.

The independent temperature control enables different settings for the driver and co-passenger, thus enhancing individual levels of comfort.

The multifunctional steering wheel has been fitted with audio control, a multi-information display and air-conditioner controls, giving the driver access to all the important controls without removing his hand from the steering wheel. The steering wheel also features tilt and telescopic adjustment.

Safety features in the new Camry include the usual specs found in cars in this class, such as SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist and a vehicle stability control programme that automatically controls engine output and braking power on each wheel to help keep the car steady under demanding conditions.

Higher safety standard

Toyota has also used HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamps with auto-levelling feature for the Camry's headlamps to help improve straight-line visibility, thereby enhancing the safety standards. A retractable headlamp cleaner gives the driver the option of cleaning the headlamps at the push of a button from the luxurious confines of the cabin, ensuring clear visibility even in bad weather.

With the automatic transmission version priced at Rs 22,85,900 and the manual transmission version (both ex-showroom, Chennai) at Rs 21,10,100, the new sixth generation Camry will be a great choice for customers in the super luxury segment who are looking for Merc E-class size and comfort at the price of the C-class.