Toyota Camry Sportivo 2002 review

Camry has been transformed - and no model highlights that change more than all-new Sportivo. Toyota Australian designers developed a unique body kit that blends with Camry's aerodynamic, European-inspired styling to create a benchmark sports model.

Underneath, Sportivo has the most advanced built-in-Australia engine and a confidence-inspiring locally developed suspension calibration.

The choices are a 2.4-litre four-cylinder with intelligent variable valve timing or a 3.0-litre Quad Cam V6. Sportivo's new 2.4 engine is sophisticated and smooth as cream to drive, with twin balance shafts for added smoothness.

The VVTi engine, which is all new for this generation of Camry, offers increased performance and fuel efficiency as well as reductions in noise and vibration, emissions and service weight. (There has been an 18 per cent mass reduction compared with the previous iron-block engine.)

In fact at 117kg, the 2AZ-FE is the lightest 2.4 litre passenger car engine in the world.

The performance gain is of similar magnitude to the weight reduction.

With 112kW at 5600rpm, the new engine is 19 per cent more powerful than that of the superseded 2.2 litre.

Its 221Nm of torque represents a 16 per cent improvement on the previous engine.

Driveability in the all-new Camry has also been assured with the VVTi-engine delivering 90 per cent of its maximum torque from 1500rpm right through to 5400rpm.

Toyota offers two new transmissions with the 2.4 engine - a five-speed manual and an electronically controlled direct-drive automatic.

The latest hi-tech automatic is a significant advance on the superseded transmission and is an excellent match to the VVTi engine.

The transmission combines the efficiency advantages of Toyota's latest low-friction and hydraulics technology with the smoothness of electronic control.

City-cycle fuel economy has been improved from 9.9 litres/100km to 9.5litres/100km, while delivering improved performance.

There has been a similar improvement for the six-cylinder engine, thanks to Toyota's re-tuning and calibration for the latest emission requirements.

The Quad Cam V6 is more economical and cleaner than before, making it still the smoothest six in any built-in-Australia car.

The all-alloy Quad Cam Multi-valve V6 engine offers improved power, torque, fuel efficiency and emissions.

There's 145kW of power at 5200rpm and 284Nm of torque at 4400rpm. Sportivo's Quad Cam V6 has an impressively flat torque curve to suit all driving conditions, with more than 230Nm of torque from 1200rpm through to 5800rpm.

Two special features help maximise this power - an acoustic control induction system (ACIS) which varies the effective inlet length and a variable backpressure muffler.

Like the 2.4-litre engine, the Quad Cam V6 can be matched to a five-speed manual or an electronically controlled automatic transmission. Both offer plenty of driving satisfaction. Sportivo's highly sophisticated locally developed chassis package adds another dimension to an already impressive vehicle.

It gives Sportivo confidence inspiring steering and handling.

This car has well-balanced poise while maintaining the supple, well-controlled ride comfort you expect from a Toyota.

The power-assisted rack and pinion steering has been re-tuned to give you precise control without kickback.

Toyota's extensive local development of the Camry chassis dynamics is a boon for all drivers, and hence increases active safety.

Indeed the well-balanced chassis dynamics work for the driver - so well that most times you won't notice. You'll just experience greater driving satisfaction.

Plus the chassis package has been tested and approved by one of the best high-speed drivers around, former Ferrari Formula One driver Chris Amon.