Toyota Kluger 2006 News

This will go down in automotive history as one of the weirdest automotive recalls of all time.

The final member of the new Camry family is still about six months away for Australia.A new Kluger people mover has been developed and is ready to run, but the Japanese executive in charge of all Toyota Camry projects says it will not be unveiled anywhere until the first quarter of next year.The first priority is the United States, with Down Under deliveries not likely before midyear, he says."New Kluger is coming next year, first in the United States."It will be in the first quarter. Australia comes later," executive chief engineer of the Camry family Yukihiro Okane says.He was in Australia for introduction here of the Camry-based Aurion V6. Okane ruled out any chance of the Camry coupe — the Solara — or a hybrid making it to Australia.He was reluctant to give any details of the Kluger, but confirmed the basics."Concept is the same. Wagon for family, seven seats. There will be one engine for Australia, same as today. This will be a V6."The Kluger is a global vehicle, sold as a Highlander in Japan, but the Camry coupe and hybrid are much more targeted, he says."Solara is only for the US. It is only left-hand drive. And the Camry hybrid is still very expensive. It would be difficult to sell here (in Australia) and too expensive to manufacture."Okane has just been in the US for the start of Camry hybrid production, which comes on-stream as Toyota does all it can to boost hybrid sales there.It is doing extremely well with the second-generation Prius, which is popular with Hollywood celebrities and well ahead of demand forecasts."It is 4000 cars a month, very popular," Okane says.It was the demand that convinced the company to expand production into the US.Okane says US customers will take all the Camry hybrids it can make in that country, at least until the next full model change in about four years' time.Here, he drove the first of the locally focused Aurions during his visit and says he is happy with the localisation of his basic Camry design to take on the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon."This is a very good car. Very good driving. I am very happy."