Toyota Camry 2010 News

As momentum builds for Toyota's newest green machine, it has released fuel economy figures that show the hybrid Camry will achieve a combined fuel economy figure ‘in the low 6.0-litres per 100km range’.Despite being about 70kg heavier than the petrol Camry, the hybrid is tipped to be the most fuel efficient locally built car in the country. The equivalent petrol four-cylinder Camry delivers 8.8 litres/100km. Toyota says that compared to its bigger, locally-built six-cylinder rivals, the hybrid is expected to save at least 1100 litres of fuel in a year of city driving.Toyota's corporate manager of product planning, Peter Evans, expects the car's fuel consumption and emissions to rival many small and compact cars. Evans says motorists could save at least 1100 litres or $1320 in a year of city driving with the hybrid. This is based on a metro pump price of $1.20 a litre for regular unleaded petrol. Fleets operating more than several vehicles stand to save far more, he says. Servicing costs will be the same as the petrol version.Hybrid Camry owners will pay $130 for up to four standard scheduled services during the first three years or 60,000km. The hybrid will be powered by a 2.4-litre four cylinder and electric motor developing about 140kW and mated to a continuously variable transmission. Apart from economy, the hybrid will emit less than 150 g/km of greenhouse gases.Although it is built at Altona, the car's hybrid components come from Japan. Much of the car has been locally re-engineered for Australian driving styles, ride and handling expectations.Although it looks similar to the petrol car, it gets a sleeker underbody and other aerodynamic aids to maximise fuel economy at highway speeds. Toyota Style Australia senior designer, Paul Beranger, says the car's design is an amalgamation of the global car with local tastes, particularly with the interior. He says it must communicate the advance technology without alienating buyers "from the face that Camry represents"."We are integrating mainstream with new technology," he says. "We have to ensure that the car appeals to existing owners as well as early adopters."Extensive local research by Toyota shows that customers interested in hybrids were aware of that technology, he says. Toyota plans to sell 10,000 hybrid Camrys in the first year, with many going to governments and fleets but it is also targeted at families. It goes on sale within a month, with a entry price around $33,000.Economy warsHolden Commodore 3.0 V6 six-speed - 9.3 litres/100km, 221g/km C02. 5.5 greenhouse ratingFord Falcon XT six-cylinder six-speed - 9.9 litres/100km 236g/km C02. 5.5 greenhouse ratingToyota Aurion V6 six-speed - 9.9 litres/100km 233g/km C02. 5.5 greenhouse rating

Most would probably prefer an XR Ford or an SS Holden as a reward for their day-to-day office toil, even if the Camry is bulletproof reliable with the best aircon in the business and a boot that beats a Falcon.  But the straight facts are simple: the Camry is a middle-class, bland beige-mobile and even the chief engineer of the Camry project in Japan admits it is the car you buy after you've eliminated all other potential contenders.So it's not the car you choose to buy. It's the car you buy because you cannot make a choice. Or because someone buys it for you, or the company fleet.  The Camry is actually a great choice for taxi use, but that's another story.This one is about the newest of the Camry family, the Prius-based Hybrid model now on the production line at Altona in Melbourne.  I come to the Camry Hybrid after a promising start at the press preview in Melbourne, but still thinking it's going to be a nothing- burger car that disappears from my memory as soon as it is back with Toyota.But I am surprised by a surprising car.  For a start, I have forgotten how good the basic Camry does the job of day-to-day Aussie motoring. It's quiet, comfortable, rides and handles well, and has a lot of space inside.It's not as sexy or macho as a Falcon or Commodore, but that doesn't matter in stop-start city traffic or sitting at 110km/h on the freeway.  And that's where the Camry Hybrid is a winner. The fuel readout shows a consistent 5.7L/100km at a 93km/h average over three hours, a fantastic result for such a big car.It's not as trendy as a Euro diesel, or as greenly obvious as a Prius, and there are plenty of reasons not to like the idea of a hybrid - cost and complication for a start - but the Hybrid Camry is a good thing.  The seat is still set far too high for driving comfort, and it disappears in traffic, but anything with so much space and such a light thirst has to be a winner in 2010.You will hear more about the Camry Hybrid in coming months as it joins the Carsguide long-term fleet, but the first impression is surprisingly good. And the air-con is so effective it cannot be run on the coolest setting without creating a fridge-like cabin that matches the car's reputation as whitegoods-on-wheels.Follow Paul Gover on Twitter!

Both the Camry and the Great Wall Motors X240 are tipped to get four out of a possible five-stars in the latest Australian New Car Assessment Program's crash test results due out this morning.Toyota was quick to take a swipe at Great Wall Motors, releasing a statement early this morning critical of the result. Spokesman, Mike Breen, said ANCAP needed to look at the way it did its testing."Toyota Australia rejects as a distortion any suggestion that Camry models provided a level of safety that was the same as cars without vital life-saving technology or have fewer than Camry's six standard airbags," he said. Breen said the Camry delivered a 'comprehensive package of both active and passive safety'.The Camry hybrid, which is built at Altona, has six airbags and stability control while the X240 gets by with just two airbags and anti-skid brakes. At $23,990, it is $13,000 cheaper than the Camry hybrid.ANCAP chair, Lauchlan McIntosh, said Toyota was being 'a bit fragile' about the result. "Toyota has a history of deliberately leaving features off their cars when other manufacturers have put them on," he said.McIntosh was critical of the length of time it took for the Corolla to get stability control and the Prius to get side curtain airbags."Are they saying that no other manufacturer has the right to do what they did? The real question is why are the manufacturers still down-specifying their vehicles."Toyota acknowledged that ANCAP results are one measure that can help consumers identify cars that are safe. However, they said it was critical that the testing does not specifically look at the life-saving benefits of stability control, traction control and anti-skid brakes, all of which are standard on the Camry.Two other locally made rivals, the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore, have five-star ratings.

The result is achieved in Australia by a family SUV produced by the Great Wall brand and the score ties the four-star effort of the locally-made Toyota Camry hybrid.  Both are short of the maximum five-star rating of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, but the Great Wall result is a massive improvement on the paltry two-star rating achieved last year by the brand's four-door ute in Australian New-Car Assessment Program tests.The official ANCAP results for the Great Wall SUV and Camry hybrid will not be made public for another week but the four-star performance is already common knowledge in the motor industry."It is too early to comment, but we are very confident," the head of the Great Wall importer, Rick Hull of Ateco Automotive, told the Herald-Sun today in China.Hull is leading a group of journalists on a visit to Great Wall, as well as the Chery brand - which Ateco will also import from later this year - and the Auto China show in Beijing at the end of this week.  He believes Chinese cars are improving rapidly and the crash-test result shows Great Wall's commitment to safety. Journalists will see the Great Wall safety facility and its crashlab this week as one of the keys to understanding the brand and its sales plans for Australia."They had engineers at the original ute test by ANCAP and have been working very hard since. We know the work they have done beefing up the chassis of the SUV and it will flow into the utes," Hull said.

“Toyota has marked the arrival of the 1.5-millionth Australian-built Camry – a 23-year local production history that includes significant sales to Australian and overseas customers.”Why is it this occasion, which, we’re told was “recognised at an official ceremony at the company’s Altona manufacturing plant” – a sober event, no doubt – fails to instil feelings of joy or pride at this success of local manufacture.Can it be because the Camry is a synonym for anodyne, made for buyers to whom the purchase of a car is approached with the same joyless deliberation as they choose a fridge, a washing machine, or their (invariably) coastal holiday? Those for whom Mazda and Honda are just a bit too racy? Indeed, for this crowd Camry is a synonym for car, people whose unvaryingly one-dimensional nature of life is a source of comfort and rejoicing.The Camry is the milky tea and arrowroot biscuit of sedans (the so-called Sportivo version is milky tea with an artificial sweetener). Seldom has there been a car sales story for which the words “units shifted” is more apt – as in indistinguishable, functional, anonymous, and dull.Recently Toyota has been shown to be fallible to the tune of 8.5 million recalls and, also in the United States, subject to grim accusations from the highest offices in the land. These issues go to the heart of Toyota’s reputation reliability and safety.So if there’s a point to this outpouring, it’s this: having long-since expunged from its line-up any car capable of inspiring the least excitement, surely it would now do Toyota more good than harm to go down that road again. Why not develop some of concepts its trots out at motor shows to provide eye candy on its otherwise arid stands?Oh, for some feeling...

We'll be alleging in court on behalf of the people of Orange County that Toyota knowingly sold cars and trucks with defects that caused Toyotas to accelerate suddenly and uncontrollably,'' Orange Country District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said.We intend to prove that Toyota ignored, omitted, obfuscated, and misrepresented the evidence that was amassing for many years regarding serious safety defects in their cars.Toyota has already been hit with dozens of lawsuits from owners seeking compensation in the wake of a series of mass recalls due to defects that led to sudden, unintended acceleration. At least 89 class-action lawsuits have been filed against the Japanese auto giant, which could cost it $US3 billion ($A3.28 billion) or more.Toyota has also been called to Washington to answer a congressional investigation and faces scrutiny by regulators and a US federal grand jury investigating whether there is sufficient evidence for criminal charges related to problems with Toyota's brakes and accelerators. Friday's suit is the first filed under consumer protection laws and the district attorney is seeking a civil penalty of $US2,500 ($2,731.94) for every violation of the state's unfair business practices act.These defects exist in hundreds of thousands of Toyotas sold to Californians over the last several years,'' Rackauckas said. Rackauckas said the purpose of the suit is to protect the public from "unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices.''"Toyota has known about these defects but intentionally did not disclose them to California purchasers,'' he said. "Rather than halt the sales of products in California until the problem was fixed, they made a business decision to continue selling and leasing their defective products to Californians.''Toyota said in a statement that it "has not received the complaint and is not in a position to comment on pending litigation''. Toyota has insisted that it has found a solution to the defects that triggered the recall of more than eight million vehicles worldwide, including six million in the United States, and have been blamed for about 50 US deaths.The most high profile case was the death of California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family whose heart-wrenching 911 call for help has been played repeatedly on national television.Critics question whether the mechanical fixes being applied to recalled vehicles are sufficient or if there's a problem with the electronic engine controls. The Japanese automaker made headlines earlier this week after a Prius owner sought help from police after the car sped uncontrollably along a San Diego freeway. US Federal safety regulators are investigating more than 60 reports of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles which had already received the mechanical fix.

As the front man for the Hybrid Camry launch in Melbourne the company's local sales and marketing chief was in the firing line as the subject switched to Toyota's troubles on the global front, with an eight-million car recall over unsafe accelerator pedals and a second safety crisis for the Prius.Buttner is a smart man and, as the top Aussie at Brand T, he has more than 20 years experience of life in the Toyota way. But, like almost every executive up to Akio 'I apologise for boring cars' Toyoda in the president's chair in Japan, he has no experience of a crisis like this one.Toyota is not supposed to have recalls. Nothing sub-standard is supposed to pass the factory gate. No-one is prepared for this scale of a global corporate disaster.  And that's what it is.Toyota has traded for decades on its reputation for quality and reliability. Ask anyone who owns a Corolla about the car's bulletproof, run forever qualities and the strength of its resale value.  The Camry is boring, but it is also as honest and reliable as the fridge in the kitchen.So, as Toyota Australia is winding up for a big swing with the Hybrid Camry it is also having to bat-down the criticism and questions from all directions. Carsguide readers are already emailing me to ask if it is still alright to buy a Toyota. To his credit, Buttner is blunt and honest as he fields questions from the motoring media pack. He has been prepared for the attack, and he stays 'on message' throughout the onslaught, but for a bloke who smiles a lot and is as upbeat as anyone in the car business it looks tough."I couldn't stand before you and pretend for a moment that the global situation ... will not have some impact on the brand. Or some other areas of the business," Buttner admits.  "We have to instil confidence . . . in our customers."He works through the Hybrid Camry presentation with talk of prices and fuel economy and emissions, managing more than a few swipes at the Holden Commodore and diesel-powered European alternatives to the Camry.  But he cannot avoid the talk of recalls and damage to the reputation of the world's biggest carmaker."We can send out myriad press releases and spruik from the lecturn. At the end of the day, it's the customer's experience of the product," Buttner says.  "We will do whatever we have to do to maintain the faith of our customers."Follow Paul Gover on Twitter!

... now it means buying cars from almost anywhere else. Sales figures for January released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveal that Australian-made vehicles were a poor fourth in terms of buyer preference.While we have long favoured imports from Japan, last month more buyers bought cars from Korea and Thailand in preference to those made manufactured in Melbourne and Adelaide. In fifth position, German imports recorded one of their best-ever sales months.  With the tariff having been reduced from 10 to five per cent, importers are sharpening their prices, posing a still more acute threat to the locals.Last month 26,311 vehicles from Japan sold in Australia; 13,130 from Korea; 10,777 from Thailand; 9741 locally made and 6066 from Germany.  While not the worst-ever numerical return in a month for Australian-made, fourth is an ordinary result for the local industry which the federal Government assists to the tune of $6.2 billion.While Holden can claim the Commodore was January's best-selling model on 3241 and Ford can point to an improved performance from the Falcon compared with January 2009, both models are hugely reliant on bargain sales to fleets rather than more profitable private sales.  Moreover, Holden's other bestsellers -- such as the Cruze, Barina and the Captiva -- are made in South Korea and re-badged for local buyers.Toyota, which makes the Camry sedan in Melbourne, was on top in the January monthly market with 14,564 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden with 10,468 and Ford on 6730. Mazda, was the fourth most popular car maker on 6658. Hyundai, with 6208, was fifth.Although they were several thousand behind the locals, sales of German imports are only going north, with a 78 per cent increase on January, 2009.  While the prestige brand Audi recorded a record 1328 sales, the impetus was due largely to manufacture of the Carsguide Car of the Year-winning Volkswagen Golf moving from South Africa to Germany, where its derivative Tiguan soft-roader is also made.COUNTRY OF ORIGINVehicle sales figures for January26,311 ... Japan13,130 ... Korea10,777 ... Thailand9,741 ..... Australia6,066 ..... Germany 

That's the showroom tag for the Toyota Camry hybrid, which finally hits the road today.  The hybrid is being pitched as the flagship in the Camry range, from the way it looks to a cabin that is claimed to set a new standard for quietness in a locally-made car. The hybrid bottom line is fuel economy of 6 litres/100km, with performance that trims a full second from the petrol-powered Camry's 0-100km/h time.  The $36,990 pricetag compares to $29,990 for a basic Camry Altise, or $39,990 for a Prius hybrid. The basic details of the Camry hybrid have been public since the car was introduced in 2006 in the USA, but there has been a lot of work on 'Australianising' the car, both for production and driving.  "Right from day one we knew that the American version wasn't going to work," says Phil King, who headed local chassis tuning work. The result is a car which is more responsive, as well as packing a full suite of safety gear.  The Camry hybrid picks up the vast majority of its mechanical package from the third-generation Prius, which went on sale last year, although it has a 2.4-litre engine (up from 1.8) and still has a drive belt for the water pump, unlike the Prius. Full details of the pricing, equipment and sales plan will be revealed later today. But Toyota Australia is already trumpeting six airbags, ESP stability control, active steering assistance and a special power cut-off.  But the boot has taken a hit to fit the onboard battery system. "This hybrid can walk, and chew gum," says Peter Evans, technical chief for Toyota's imported cars.  More details later, together with a first driving impression.

As momentum builds for Toyota's newest green machine, it has released fuel economy figures that show the hybrid Camry will achieve a combined fuel economy figure ‘in the low 6.0-litres per 100km range’. Despite being about 70kg heavier than the petrol Camry, the hybrid is tipped to be the most fuel efficient locally built car in the country.  The equivalent petrol four-cylinder Camry delivers 8.8 litres/100km.  Toyota says that compared to its bigger, locally-built six-cylinder rivals, the hybrid is expected to save at least 1100 litres of fuel in a year of city driving. Toyota's corporate manager of product planning, Peter Evans, expects the car's fuel consumption and emissions to rival many small and compact cars.  Evans says motorists could save at least 1100 litres or $1320 in a year of city driving with the hybrid. This is based on a metro pump price of $1.20 a litre for regular unleaded petrol.  Fleets operating more than several vehicles stand to save far more, he says.  Servicing costs will be the same as the petrol version. Hybrid Camry owners will pay $130 for up to four standard scheduled services during the first three years or 60,000km.  The hybrid will be powered by a 2.4-litre four cylinder and electric motor developing about 140kW and mated to a continuously variable transmission.  Apart from economy, the hybrid will emit less than 150 g/km of greenhouse gases. Although it is built at Altona, the car's hybrid components come from Japan.  Much of the car has been locally re-engineered for Australian driving styles, ride and handling expectations. Although it looks similar to the petrol car, it gets a sleeker underbody and other aerodynamic aids to maximise fuel economy at highway speeds.  Toyota Style Australia senior designer, Paul Beranger, says the car's design is an amalgamation of the global car with local tastes, particularly with the interior. He says it must communicate the advance technology without alienating buyers "from the face that Camry represents".  "We are integrating mainstream with new technology," he says.  "We have to ensure that the car appeals to existing owners as well as early adopters." Extensive local research by Toyota shows that customers interested in hybrids were aware of that technology, he says.  Toyota plans to sell 10,000 hybrid Camrys in the first year, with many going to governments and fleets but it is also targeted at families.  It goes on sale within a month, with a entry price around $33,000.Economy wars Holden Commodore 3.0 V6 six-speed - 9.3 litres/100km, 221g/km C02. 5.5 greenhouse rating Ford Falcon XT six-cylinder six-speed - 9.9 litres/100km 236g/km C02. 5.5 greenhouse rating Toyota Aurion V6 six-speed - 9.9 litres/100km 233g/km C02. 5.5 greenhouse rating