All-New Toyota Camry Debuts At Detroit Motor Show

The Camry is now in its eighth-generation

In December, Toyota released a teaser image of the new Camry, giving us an idea of the popular sedan’s sporty ambitions. The cat’s out of the bag now, and, as you can see, the popular sedan has been reborn in a more radical avatar. Here's a quick overview of the all-new car:

Design

Based on Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, the new Camry features a sleeker and wider profile, while the structure itself is now more rigid. It also features a double-wishbone rear suspension to improve handling and ride quality, while a new four-point engine mounting system helps keep noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels in check.

The overall height has dropped by over 24mm, while the hip-points at the front and rear have been lowered by 24mm and 30mm respectively. A lower hip point, shoulder line, roof line and bonnet-height help lower the centre of gravity – a major design goal kept in mind while developing the new car. The wheelbase has also been increased by nearly 51mm to 2,825mm, with the length x width x height dimensions coming in at 4,859mm x 1,839mm x 1,440mm respectively.

The US-spec Camry will be available in four variants - LE, XLE, SE and XSE. The new Camry’s “Sport” SE and XSE grades wear a noticeably different body style than the entry level LE and XLE grades, highlighted by the more aggressively styled side-skirts, 19-inch black machined-finish alloy wheels (XSE only), rear boot-lip spoiler and aggressive bumpers with the rear bumper featuring an integrated diffuser.

Interior

On the inside, the dashboard makes the use of soft-touch trim elements and features a cockpit-style layout i.e. the gauges are angled towards the driver. The new Camry also features Toyota’s latest Human Machine Interface that integrates a variety of information through three interlinked displays - a 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD); a seven-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster, along with an eight-inch audio/navigation display and climate control panel that sits flush in the centre console.

Powertrains

The all-new Camry features new petrol powertrains, including a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder mill and a 3.5-litre V6, both of which, come paired with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox. The 2.5-litre engine is also available with the next-generation Toyota Hybrid System, which features a CVT. In the case of the hybrid, the battery pack has been moved from the trunk to under the rear seat, again, to ensure a low centre of gravity.

Safety

All variants gets 10 airbags as standard as well as Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes a reversing camera, vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TC), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA) and anti-lock brakes (ABS). Other features include lane-departure alert with steering assist, radar guided cruise control, automatic high-beams and blind spot detection.

The new Camry will be assembled in Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. With the new model, Toyota will be looking to continue the Camry’s streak as the USA’s best-selling car – a crown it has held for 15 years in a row.

Overall, Camry sales in the USA since it was first launched back in 1983 have surpassed 10 million units. Despite sedans losing their popularity to crossovers/SUVs, the Camry remains one of the most important cars for Toyota globally. It is currently manufactured in 10 plants worldwide, with over 18 million sold worldwide.

Expect it to make its debut in India no sooner than 2018.

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