- Toyota Camry AU Version, 2012
Toyota has released an all-new seventh-generation Toyota Camry in Australia that debuts a contemporary design with improved driving dynamics and a more spacious interior.
The 2012 Camry combines a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission that deliver better performance while substantially cutting fuel bills and emissions.
Built in Australia, new Toyota Camry features expanded safety features, a more comfortable ride, better handling and added refinement, including an even quieter cabin.
The new range introduces two distinct looks to expand buyer appeal - an entry-level Altise and three new Atara variants.
Atara models have unique styling, including the lower-body design, a sporty mesh upper grille, prominent side skirts and twin exhausts.
Advanced features at the top of the range include a blind-spot monitor to help prevent collisions and automatic high beam that automatically dips headlights at night to avoid blinding other drivers.
The new range arrives with zero price increases for the Altise at $30,490 and the range-topping Atara SL at $39,990, which replaces the Grande.
Price increases for Atara S (replaces Ateva) and Atara SX (Sportivo) are outweighed by added features.
Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said the keen pricing delivers even better value to consumers.
Body, electrical and chassis engineers from the Toyota Technical Center in Melbourne contributed to the development of Toyota Camry as a global car from as early as 2006.
They also tuned and tested local versions to meet the demands of Australian motorists and road conditions, including calibrations for the electric power steering, blind-spot monitor and automatic high beam.
Designers at Toyota Style Australia were responsible for the interior fabrics and colour and trim of the local cars.
Camry Altise delivers 133kW of power and 231Nm of torque, substantial gains over the 117kW and 218Nm of the previous generation.
Atara variants gain twin exhausts that help lift output to 135kW and 235Nm for gains of 15 per cent and eight per cent respectively over the previous engine.
All Atara grades - S, sporty SX and luxury SL - have paddle shifts at the driver's fingertips, delivering greater driver involvement and enjoyment.
Fuel economy across the range is just 7.8 litres/100km - an improvement of one litre per 100km, which means up to an extra 100km from a tank of unleaded petrol.
It is estimated that, based on this fuel economy improvement, the total saving for Toyota Camry motorists is approximately $150 million in fuel bills over the model's life (based on a fuel price of $1.40 per litre).
Toyota has cut CO2 emissions by 25 grams/km, which equates to a quarter of a million fewer tonnes being produced over five years across the Camry fleet, compared with the current car.
Altise epitomises Camry's quality, durability and reliability and is ideal for those who demand a comfortable and pleasant mobile office with low whole-of-life costs.
It has seven airbags, better braking and brake feel, vehicle stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, a stronger body structure and a new seat frame that makes driving more comfortable.
The introduction of electric power steering across the range, along with refinements to the suspension, has led to significant improvements to handling and ride comfort.
Altise is also equipped with 16-inch alloys, trip computer and an upgraded sound system with six speakers and controls on the steering wheel.
Atara S also features foglamps, 17-inch alloys, smart entry and smart start, reversing camera, dual-zone air-conditioning, 6.1-inch touch-screen display audio, premium steering wheel and gearshift knob and an electric driver's seat with lumbar support.
Atara SX is distinguished by unique rear bumper, rear lip spoiler, sports pedals, sports suspension, black-tinted headlamps and sports leather-accented interior.
Top of the range Atara SL features JBL premium audio with 10 speakers, a 7-inch touch-screen display with satellite navigation, digital radio, RDS live traffic updates, reversing camera with back-guide monitor, blind-spot monitor, automatic high beam, electric front seats and rain-sensing wipers.
New Camry is covered by Toyota Service Advantage capped-price servicing, which has been extended to four years / 75,000km and up to five services at $130 per service for the new range.
New accessories include 17-inch alloy wheels and bodyside mouldings with chrome inserts.
Two objectives for new Camry
Toyota set two objectives for the new Camry in the face of changed market conditions and new competitors, according to the deputy chief engineer Keiichi Yoneda.
Mr Yoneda said this was achieved by developing:
a fresh new "look", especially with the Atara models
a superior "ride" with exceptional NVH
enhanced "drive" with the new engine and transmission
a review and upgrade of Toyota quality, durability and reliability
impressive fuel efficiency, and
advanced specifications and safety features.
Toyota Camry Altise is the choice of fleets
Toyota Camry has been Australia's number-one selling fleet vehicle in the medium segment for 17 years running.
Toyota says that on the back of this success the new model will continue with a tried and tested formula.
Atara models to expand Camry's appeal
Toyota Camry Atara is designed to expand the appeal of Australia's best-selling mid-size car to even more customers.
Atara is a new badge that will appear on Camry models targeted mainly at private buyers and those who choose their cars through salary sacrifice or novated leases.
Toyota Australia's senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said Atara embues Camry with the added style and sophistication these customers expect.
The new models are Atara S (replacing Ateva), Atara SX (Sportivo) and Atara SL (Grande).
Mr Buttner said the Atara name and strategy are unique to Australia and add an extra dimension to Camry, which remains one of the most valuable nameplates in the industry.
Atara is the Hebrew word for crown - which is a natural extension of Camry, which also means crown. It is also a derivation of the Japanese word atarashii, which means new.
New Camry: sharper styling and differentiation
Bolder, more advanced styling is the hallmark of new-generation Camry.
Special attention was paid to increasing the level of differentiation between Toyota Camry Altise and Atara.
Atara has a sporty appearance with a sports bumper, side skirts and a dual exhaust system.
Toyota has adopted new exterior colours, including Reflex Blue and Dynamic Black.
The new exterior for Camry Altise emphasises low and wide proportions, with a more integrated front grille and headlamps and a great sense of width.
Aerodynamic performance, cooling and pedestrian safety have all been enhanced, while the grille has been enlarged and enhanced.
Both sides of the bumper grille have been greatly emphasised and the upper grille is an air-intake type.
The trapezoidal shape of the rear bumper draws attention to the tyres, expressing the vehicle's strong stance.
Dynamic, clean design was the key to the side profile, with aero corners on the sides of the front and rear bumpers for improved aerodynamics.
Atara has been styled with more sporty proportions to appeal to private buyers.
The headlamps merge naturally with the mesh grille to create a sporty impression of width.
The lower grille has been divided into three sections. The side openings incorporate foglamps and, on Atara S and SL, have horizontal chrome-accented bars.
Atara SX's rear view emphasises width and agile sportiness, with a double aperture rear bumper design and a rear spoiler.
A character line on the Atara SX rear bumper matches the design of the vehicle's front end.
The side skirts have been extended further to link the front and rear styling.
Two new alloy wheel designs are used: a ten-spoke design for the 16-inch Altise wheel and a new 17-inch alloy with five pairs of asymmetric spokes for Atara.
Camry interior has a local flavour
Local designers at Toyota Style Australia (TSA) were responsible for the interior fabrics and colour and trim of the new Camry and Atara range.
Output for the new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine - which replaces the current 2.4-litre unit - rises from 117kW to 133kW.
On Toyota Camry Atara models, the twin exhausts gain an extra 2kW - an overall percentage increase of 15.4 per cent.
Torque is improved from 218Nm to to 231Nm for Camry - or 235Nm with the twin exhausts - including substantial increases in the mid range.
The new engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Mr Buttner said Toyota would also achieve environmental benefits with its new Global Engine Line, where the new engine will be produced from the latter half of 2012.
He said it incorporated highly efficient new plant and equipment, contributing further to the reduction in CO2 emissions.
New Camry engine: more efficient, better combustion
Greater efficiency, reduced friction losses and improved combustion in the new Camry engine deliver better performance while using less fuel.
Variable valve timing has been extended to the exhaust as well as the intake camshaft, improving thermal efficiency and increasing exhaust gas recirculation, which in turn reduces emissions.
Toyota uses the acronym VVT-i - with the "i" standing for the intelligent way the system optimises valve timing across the engine operating range, providing maximum performance and fuel efficiency.
The introduction of variable exhaust timing reduces pumping losses and increases the amount of exhaust gas recirculation, for reduced emissions.
The system reduces emissions even when the engine is cold, for example, at morning start-up.
Camry's 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine also has a new acoustically controlled induction system, which improves torque from 2000 to 4000rpm in the heart of the driving range.
The intake manifold design is lightweight, quiet and made from a multi-function resin that improves airflow.
The design of the new intake port has been optimised through computer-aided engineering.
It delivers high power output and improved fuel efficiency by ensuring high air flow and intake tumble flow.
Other engine features include low-tension piston rings, an offset crankshaft, three-stage variable output oil pump and roller rocker arms.
These deliver improved fuel economy, lower emissions, high power output and reduced vibration and noise.
Highly efficient intake ports, compact combustion chambers and higher compression ratio all improve combustion.
During the research and development phase in Japan, the cylinder head was redesigned to improve output, fuel efficiency and emissions performance.
The current AZ cylinder head is made as a single part.
The new cylinder head is made in two parts to accommodate roller rocker arms and to simplify the manufacturing process.
The result is a more complex and sophisticated component, the shape of which has been optimised through computer-aided engineering.
It is a slim and lightweight design with hydraulic lash adjusters and a larger valve diameter, enhancing output.
The AR engine does a much better job of accommodating the heat generated, especially with the increased 10.4:1 compression ratio (from 9.6:1).
Temperature is also controlled with the use of sub-water jackets inside the cylinder block.
The cylinder bores change shape as the engine warms up, controlling thermal expansion and allowing higher temperatures to be reached.
The use of roller rocker arms, rather than the current system of valve lifters on a flat surface, results in better fuel economy due to significantly reduced friction between the cams and the sliding parts.
New Camry has improved steering, ride and handling
New-generation Toyota Camry has an all-new chassis package designed to provide increased stability and agility, coupled with a flat ride, high-quality damping feel and improved steering feel.
Camry has a new aerodynamic package, increased body and steering system rigidity, newly adopted electric power steering and improved tyre performance.
Engineers from Toyota Technical Center Australia (TTC-Au) have tuned the chassis package to Australian driving tastes and conditions.
Camry's new body has 20 per cent more rigidity in the front suspension mounting sections, thanks to changes in the upper cowl design.
The increased body rigidity allows force generated by the tyres to be transmitted to the body without delay, improving handling stability.
This allows the dampers to be recalibrated to provide the same level of compression damping with less damper force, thereby increasing ride comfort.
Compression damping has been decreased at all damper piston velocities.
Rebound damping has been increased at medium to high damper velocities to improve roll feel and complement the changes in compression damping.
Camry's new tyres reduce rolling resistance and increase grip in wet and dry conditions.
They also increase damping feel and reduce yaw response delay, while reducing noise, vibration and harshness.
Performance has been improved in braking, ride and handling.
Toyota has revised the character of the right-hand engine mount to reduce harshness, and has increased instrument panel rigidity to improve steering feel and effectiveness.
In addition, Camry has a new, more rigid seat-frame structure to further improve ride comfort.
Improved aerodynamics boost Camry grip
New-generation Toyota Camry has a range of aerodynamic improvements designed to increase down-force while maintaining front/rear balance.
Camry's new upper-body aerodynamics include the Toyota first of stabilising air-flow fins on the exterior mirror mount.
The fin generates a longitudinal vortex to stabilise the body and better transmit the power generated by the tyres acting on the road to the body.
Camry also has a new fin on the rear combination lamp to increase stability.
The new underbody parts include front under-cover fins to enhance initial yaw-response and rear under-cover fins to increase the stable feeling in the rear of the vehicle.
Both sets of fins increase Camry's flat-ride quality.
They also serve to increase airflow velocity under the car, creating more down-force.
The result is a flatter ride (reduced floating feeling) and increased grip generated by the tyres, improving steering response and rear-end stability.
Australian calibration adds to Camry dynamics
Toyota's local test centre calibrated new-generation Camry's steering, ride and handling to suit Australia's unique conditions, such as undulating country roads and coarse-chip road surfaces.
Toyota Technical Center Australia (TTC-Au) developed the final calibration, building on the work of Toyota test centres around the world.
The overall dynamic goal for new Camry was increased stability and agility, coupled with a flat ride and high-quality damping feel.
Handling improvements focused on increasing the rear-stability feel (grip) and a flat ride (optimum front-rear balance).
During testing, the chassis engineers sought to give the vehicle a more controlled 'tied-down' feeling, as well as reducing any 'floaty' feeling and the 'firm-ride' feeling on course-chip road surfaces.
Spring rates are similar to the current model, with most calibration work focused on the shock absorbers to increase ride comfort, isolation and body control.
The shock absorber tuning for the new model gives the vehicle an increased luxury isolation feel and improved ride on undulating roads.
Steering development also focused on increasing the vehicle's agility and enabling quicker changes of direction.
Adopting electric power-assisted steering (EPS) for the first time on petrol Camry meant the chassis engineers could provide the best of both worlds - lighter steering effort at parking speeds and a more weighted, direct feel on the highway.
This balance of steering effort often requires compromise with traditional hydraulic power assistance.
The new Toyota Camry electric power-assisted steering calibration is similar to the Camry Hybrid EPS calibration, but is retuned to suit the petrol model's different mass distribution.
New Camry is quieter inside
New generation Camry is quieter inside, for greater comfort and ease of conversation.
Toyota engineers have focused on suppressing noises that are near the frequencies of human speech.
Body acoustic sensitivity has been improved by 2 to 4dB across all sound frequencies. This significant reduction in sound pressure makes conversation even easier for occupants.
Cutting interior cabin noise required design changes to both the interior and exterior, and the panels in between.
The focus was on improved sealing and sound insulation, and optimising acoustic packaging.
Considerable attention was also given to reducing booming noise by improving front floor, centre floor and upper back areas by body modal control.
Toyota engineers looked at reducing road noise input to improve the ability to hold a conversation in the car; for example, in the 800 Hertz range while travelling at motorway speeds on a smooth road.
New or additional sound-absorbing devices have been deployed where noticeable road noise typically creeps into a car - around the pillars, floor, side rails and windscreen.
Road noise at 100km/h has also been reduced by up to 2dB.
Attention has been paid to the sound quality of the engine, with significant improvement of the sound linearity.
Unwanted unusual engine noises have been cleaned by redesigning the engine-mount dynamic damper, reducing intake and exhaust noise, and adding a silencer to the cylinder-head cover.
Toyota has revised the character of the right-hand engine mount to reduce harshness.
Camry's NVH improvements also include a change to complete double door seals, improved floor carpet, both fender side covers, the cowl top and both sides of the bonnet, and the fender back-end seal.
It also includes gap filling for the dash silencer (where the pedals mount), attention to sound-proofing on the rear wheel house inners, and improved sealer for the rocker panels (underneath the doors).
Blind spot monitor provides advanced safety
In a Toyota first, Camry Atara SL has a system to warn the driver if there is a vehicle in the 'blind spot' on either side.
The Toyota blind spot monitor (BSM) uses sub-millimetre radar to detect other vehicles in adjacent lanes.
Toyota developed the system to assist drivers to avoid accidents associated with blind spots and lane changes.
The BSM informs the driver of the presence of a vehicle in the blind spot by illuminating indicators in the relevant exterior mirror.
The mirror indicator will remain illuminated as long as the vehicle is detected, and will flash when the turn signal is operated.
The system includes a radar detector located on both sides of the car.
It also utilises the steering angle sensor, vehicle speed sensor and main switch.
It can detect vehicles larger than an average 125cc motorcycle and three metres rearward of the trailing edge of the vehicle.
The activation threshold speed is above 40km/h and the maximum detectable relative speed difference is 28km/h.
Typical warning scenarios are when a target vehicle overtakes the subject vehicle in an adjacent lane or when the target vehicle merges from the side, entering the warning zone due to a lane change.
The BSM won't activate if the target vehicle is: one lane away from the adjacent lane, travelling in the opposite direction, in the same lane, or is stationary.
High grade Camry has auto high beam
The new Toyota Camry Atara SL has a breakthrough automatic high-beam system.
It is designed to eliminate the burden of manually switching between high and low beam by automatically dipping the headlamps if the distance to an oncoming vehicle is less than 800 metres.
It will resume high beam when the oncoming vehicle passes at approximately a 50-degree angle.
The system will also automatically switch the headlamps to low beam if there is a preceding vehicle approximately 600 metres ahead, and resume high beam when the preceding vehicle is passed at approximately a 25-degree angle.
A camera sensor in the rear view mirror and a microprocessor continuously monitor for tail lamps of preceding vehicles as well as the headlamps of oncoming vehicles.
System components include the light control switch (OFF/Parking/ON/AUTO), the dimmer switch (ON/OFF), camera/image processor, the vehicle's speed sensor, the gear shift position sensor, an illuminometer (to detect ambient illumination) and a dedicated ECU.
The system operates when the vehicle's speed exceeds 30km/h and it disengages when it drops below 25km/h.
Camry has increased active and passive safety
Toyota's new-generation Camry has seven SRS airbags as standard equipment, including a driver's knee airbag for the first time.
All five seats have a seatbelt warning indicator.
Camry's passive safety has been further boosted by the vehicle's stronger body.
Increased active safety is the result of improved suspension, steering, aerodynamic downforce, brakes and tyres.
Camry's suite of active safety systems includes vehicle stability control, traction control and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.
The brake system has Toyota's new brake override feature, which gives priority to the brakes if the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed simultaneously.
A reversing camera is standard equipment on Atara and available as an option on Altise.
Atara SL has the added features of back-guide monitor and reversing sonar.
Atara SL also has external mirror dipping when reverse gear is selected.
New Camry has improved braking
Toyota's new-generation Camry has increased stopping power and improved brake feel.
Toyota Camry's brake-control hardware has been completely redesigned to give the driver a more secure and confident feeling when braking.
The redesign begins with a new variable-ratio link-type brake pedal, to reduce pedal stroke and improve feel.
The ABS/VSC actuator and the brake booster have been re-tuned to further improve performance.
In addition, Camry has new low-expansion brake hoses.
The improved braking grip of Camry's new tyres also contributes to reduced stopping distances.
Camry's brake system now has BOS (brake over-ride system) which prioritises the action of the brakes and suppresses engine output if the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed simultaneously.
New Camry makes life easier
New-generation Toyota Camry has improved driving comfort, instruments and storage capacity.
Camry has an improved seat design that is 30mm taller for increased back support, with a new seat frame for improved ride comfort.
The range of seat height adjustment has been increased from 45 to 60mm.
Flagship Atara SL has power-operated driver and front-passenger seats with leather-accented trim and memory function on the driver's side.
The steering column has been repositioned to provide a more 'natural' angle and the column tilt range has been increased.
Toyota Camry's three-dial analogue instrument cluster includes a flat-dial tachometer and turquoise-blue needles for all gauges.
The new cluster also includes a large-sized seven-function liquid crystal display trip meter with odometer, dual trip meters, outside temperature readout, range, average fuel consumption, instant fuel consumption and average speed.
An ECO indicator features in the new instrument cluster to help drivers find the fuel-saving "sweet" spot in throttle control.
Storage locations are numerous, including four cup holders, six bottle holders, front and rear door pockets and front seat-back pockets.
Media devices can be stored out of sight in the central facia storage compartment, behind a lid.
The USB and AUX ports are conveniently located in the storage compartment.
