TMC Launches Redesigned 'Camry' in JapanAll Japanese-market Versions Feature Hybrid System

Toyota City, Japan, September 5, 2011―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces the launch in Japan today of the redesigned "Camry".

With this redesign, the Camry has evolved into a new "ERA¹" sedan with luxurious styling and a bold presence. All Japan-market models are equipped with a hybrid system that uses a newly developed engine to provide outstanding fuel efficiency and drive performance, achieving the prestige and environmental performance befitting the Toyota brand's flagship mid-sized sedan.

The original Camry debuted in 1980 as the rear-wheel-drive "Celica Camry". Since the launch of the global-strategic front-wheel-drive sedan in 1982, cumulative sales have surpassed 14 million vehicles², and the Camry has earned an excellent reputation around the world. The Camry has maintained an unshakable status in the United States, where it has been the best-selling passenger car for nine consecutive years.

Sales channel

"Toyota Corolla" dealers nationwide

Monthly sales target for Japan

500 units

Assembly Plant

Tsutsumi Plant, Toyota Motor Corporation

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices

Vehicle Outline

Striking and Luxurious Sedan Styling

The upper grille and headlights combine to emphasize the broad and solid front view of the raised hood and to create a striking front mask. The openings in the upper grille have been refined for better aerodynamics while the grille is thicker and has a plated finish. Together with the enlarged openings of the lower grille that enable improved cooling, the redesigned grilles create a front view that integrates luxury with innovation.

The roofline gives the impression of forward-angling character lines on the door shoulder section, while the trunk-end emphasizes the flow from the spoiler to the rear form, producing a dynamic side view that maintains aerodynamic performance.

The rear bumper extends beyond the vehicle's corners and a plated garnish visually passes through the combination taillights to create a broad and stable rear form.

Airflow improving "aero-corners" are strategically placed in front of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels. The new two-grille front design uses a smaller upper grille and a larger lower grille that improve cooling efficiency by enhancing aerodynamic flow via reduced resistance.

Aero-stabilizing fins that incorporate a Formula One racing technology known as "vortex generators" are used at the door mirror mounts, contributing to handling and cruising stability.

Hybrid System Gives Outstanding Fuel Efficiency and Performance

All new Camry models for the Japan market feature the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) II, combining a newly developed 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle combustion engine (2AR-FXE) with reduction gear. Superior aerodynamic performance (with a coefficient drag value of 0.28) and reduced weight achieve fuel efficiency of 26.5 km/l under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) 10-15 test cycle and 23.4 km/l under the JC08 test cycle―the highest levels for vehicles of similar gasoline-engine displacement.

Fuel efficiency exceeds the existing Japanese 2010 standards by 25% and meets the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards under the Law Concerning Rational Use of Energy. In addition, emissions are 75% lower than the 2005 standards under the MLIT approval system for low-emission vehicles, which is currently the strictest standard in Japan for emissions. Thus, the Camry qualifies for Japanese government tax reductions and subsidies for environment-friendly vehicles.

The vehicle's 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine has power rivaling that of 3-liter class gasoline-engine vehicles.

• Increased engine displacement, higher intake and exhaust system efficiency and output, combined with VVT-i (variable valve timing-intelligent) technology ensures high torque at all speeds
• Atkinson cycle and cool EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) systems achieve high fuel efficiency
• Balance shaft controls engine vibration to reduce cabin engine noise
• High-rigidity engine block and frame structure optimization further reduce vibration and noise

Key Hybrid System Specifications

Class-leading Safety and Quietness

In addition to the superior quietness for which hybrids are known, the new Camry also features soundproofed windshield glass that reduces wind noise, rear-liner silencers that reduce road noise, a sound-insulating dashboard structure that controls noise entering the interior, and enhanced seals on the door bottoms that maintain a quiet cabin even at cruising speeds.

Standard safety features on the new Camry include an omni-directional compatibility body structure that accommodates for collisions between vehicles of different weights and heights, impact absorbing structures in the hood, fenders, and cowl to reduce pedestrian head and leg injuries in the event of a collision, whiplash injury-lessening (WIL) front seats, and seven supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags. Internal testing has confirmed class-leading safety ratings according to the standards of the Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP).

New active safety features include a Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) function that prevents the vehicle from rolling backward when starting up on a hill, a Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control (S-VSC) system that optimally balances driving power, electric power steering and braking to ensure superior handling and cruising stability, and brake lights that specially signal emergency braking to reduce the risk of a collision from the rear.

A new feature on the HDD navigation system provides audio and visual warnings to the driver if the vehicle goes the wrong way through a tollgate, on a highway or service area access road.

The HDD navigation system also features support for Driving Safety Support Systems (DSSS)³ that use signal, sign, vehicle detection, and other information from roadside infrared beacons, in combination with vehicle-based data such as accelerator operation, distance to an intersection, speed, and so on to assess the risk of a rear-end or head-on collision. The system can also warn the driver of missing a stop sign or red light with both visual and audio alerts.

High-Quality and Spacious Interior with Numerous Comfort Features

Soft-touch padding with the feel of leather, detailed stitching, a cyber carbon finish, and other features throughout create a luxurious, high-quality interior.

More distance between the front and rear seats and innovations to the front seat configuration allows for increased rear-seat legroom at knee height. In addition, the center console and the shape of the rear-seat cushion have been optimized to provide greater center-seat space and legroom.

Reduced area around the drive battery increases trunk capacity to allow accommodation for up to four golf bags⁴ (VDA method: 440 liters). Also, the rear seat set-up enables stowage of long items.

The height and tilt adjustment range for the driver's seat has been increased for more flexibility.

The Camry also has two new four-directional steering-wheel-mounted controls that allow the driver to operate audio or other on-screen systems and to easily control multi-leveled menus such as those on an iPod⁵.

Automatic air conditioning now features nanoe⁶, an ion air purifier that releases from the driver's seat vent particle ions enveloped by minute water drops.

Cabin storage capacity and utility have been improved for easy stowage of everyday items such as plastic bottles and large cups.