New Toyota Camry Launched

Despite being revamped on the same basic platform as the outgoing model, for 2012 the Camry sheds skin and has been launched by Toyota in a more chrome fashioned avatar starting with the shiny new grille up front, chrome on the door handles and around the fog lamps and similar metallic treatment on the rear styling of the new seventh generation model.

The interiors are now tipped more towards our understanding of the word luxurious where automobiles are concerned. It’s an interesting interplay of glossy wood panels, beige leather upholstery and intermediate plastics piecing together the insides now giving the Camry a more up market feel. One noteworthy feature on the new rich man’s town car is the electronically adjustable front seat controls located on the right side of the co passenger seat backrest. They are easily accessible by the rear passengers and can be used to move the front seat forward or backward for optimum rear leg room.

On sale at an introductory price of Rs 23.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) the new Camry isn’t merely a complete sheet metal workaround but has also moved up the ladder on the performance front. Mated to a six-speed automatic with sequential shift the new Camry now dishes out 181PS @ 6,000rpm and 233Nm @ 4,100rpm from its 2.5-litre petrol motor featuring Dual VVT-i.

The quintessential family sedan in markets overseas, the Camry has been a runaway success for the Japanese car maker in more developed economies where it offers space, style and equipment at an affordable price point. Touted as a high-end premium saloon here in India, the Camry has indeed sold decent numbers but has been majorly held back by its exorbitant pricing owing to its import heavy CBU operations, not to mention the lack of a diesel model that has been sorely missed by potential customers all these years.

With CKD operations for the seventh generation model now in full swing Toyota customers can finally see sense in opting for competitively priced product sailing along the same winds as the Skoda Superb, the formidable Honda Accord and the Nissan Teana. Keep your fingers crossed for a diesel model in the near future!