December 2002 Volume 83 Number 12 "serving the protectors"
Motoring
By Jim Barnett

Export- quality Camry

With $350 million, Toyota Australia has invested in the production of a new Camry at its Altona plant in Victoria.

This latest Camry boasts the highest-ever levels of local manufacturing, and Toyota plans to export more than half the number it builds.

Not just a model upgrade, this Camry – with 11 models and four equipment grades on offer – is, from the ground up, completely new. It comes with a choice of two engines, a new locally built 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine or an all-alloy quad-cam V6.

Hoping to shake off some of the conservatism of the previous model, Toyota has pitched Camry at a younger market. To that end, the car has a more youthful exterior, with fresh European styling. New Sportivo models have been introduced to replace the previous Touring Series.

Camry is built on a new modular platform that uses a sub-frame to reduce NVH levels and increase handling potential. It is longer, wider and taller than the previous model, and has more head and shoulder room for all passengers. For rear-seat passengers, it has 98mm more legroom.

Camry is, in fact, only 84mm shorter and 29mm narrower than the new VY Commodore. It is very spacious and airy inside, and the boot is simply enormous. One of the casualties of the new model, however, is the deletion of the wagon from the range.

The entry level Altise and the slick Sportivos are available with either four or six-cylinder engines and with manual or automatic transmissions. Ateva can also be optioned with either the four or six, but only with an automatic transmission. The range-topping Azura is only available in a V6-auto combination.

Toyota has endowed Camry with good equipment levels across the range. All models feature:

• Dual SRS airbags.
• Air conditioning.
• CD player.
• Power windows and mirrors.
• Remote central locking.

As well, all V6 models have ABS brakes and Ateva V6, Sportivo V6 and Azura have front seat-mounted side airbags as standard. Some models are available with sunroofs and others can be optioned with satellite navigation systems.

In addition to more standard equipment, there have been price reductions of up to $1,285 on some models. Toyota claims the entry level Altise four-cylinder – which retails for $26,990 – has an 11 per cent ($2,955) value advantage over its predecessor on a specification-adjusted basis.

Sportivo four cylinder ($30,990) features:

• Sport suspension.
• Aero body kit.
• 16-inch alloy wheels and Michelin tyres.
• Rear boot spoiler.
• Driving and fog lamps.
• Sports seats.
• Leather steering wheel.
• Sports gauges.
• Cruise control.
• ABS.

Azura ($48,990) includes:

• Leather seat trim.
• Wood-grain to centre console and instrument panel.
• Satellite navigation.
• Power-operated front seats.
• Sunroof and rear sunshade.

Both engines in the new model are of all-alloy construction and multi-valve in their design. The 2.4-litre, twin-cam four-cylinder has variable valve timing and delivers 112kW of power at 5,600rpm and 218Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The 3.0-litre V6 produces up to 145kW of power and 284Nm of torque.

The Police Journal tested the 2.4-litre Sportivo with automatic transmission. Although it is no fire-breathing monster, the four-cylinder engine is smooth, quiet and relatively capable. In fact, when pushed through the gears, its performance is quite adequate, given the size of the car. Toyota claims the new four is 10 per cent better on fuel and, from 0 – 100km/h, almost two seconds quicker than its predecessor.

Interior space and ride comfort are superb. Advanced chassis dynamics allow the car to corner confidently. On dirt roads, it could not be faulted.

New Camry’s biggest attributes are space, value for money and economy. This is particularly true of the entry model four. Given these qualities, few others would come close.

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