Toyota may have reinvented the Camry when it moved up a generation last year but work is far from over in the US, the Camry’s biggest market where the nameplate has topped charts for years on end. If Hyundai’s new Sonata was not eating enough into its market share, Ford unveiled the Taurus/Mondeo replacement in Detroit this week that has made headline news.
Toyota is watching Nissan ready the Altima successor that appears like a Sunny XL for the budget-minded customer and Honda preview the next generation Accord using a concept car at the warning-filled Detroit show. Kia ramping up production due to a large demand for the Optima serves as a stark reminder to Toyota that times are changing fast.
The following comment issued by Jim Lentz from the sales arm of the American operations sums up the situation in Toyota’s camp -
We haven’t seen anything like this since back in the ‘90s, when Ford made a push with the Taurus.
TKM showed the global version of the Camry at the Delhi Auto Expo, expected in the market by June-July 2012.
The Toyota Camry is a long forgotten child of Toyota India that was abandoned in the middle of nowhere as the company shifted focus to products such as the Innova, Fortuner and the Etios twins.
Once a very strong contender in the D segment, the CBU-route Camry suffered because of its pricing. Now, when the competitors such as Honda Accord and Skoda Superb easily ship 100+ units in a month, the Camry is still lingering between 10 to 40 units at most.
See comprehensive spyshots of the new Camry testing in India
Finally, Toyota India has started testing its new Camry in India and the spyshots are right in front of us. From the spyshots, it is quite clear we are NOT getting the US version of the Camry. We will be getting the global Camry which on sale in European and JD market.
What? There are two Camrys? Don’t be shocked. We have done pictorial comparisons of both the Camrys earlier.
The global Camry is the obvious choice for India because unlike the American Camry buyer, most Camry buyers in India will have a chauffeur at hand. The American Camry is designed to be driven whereas the global one is more a executive sedan for the backseat passenger.
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Toyota has started tests on the 2012 Camry in India with taped mules doing rounds close to the Bidadi plant. IAB readers, like Shruchet Jayatheerth who mailed us these images, are aware that Toyota will not assemble the replacement model that’s on view at dealers not later than August 2012.
Toyota has decided against assembling the new Camry next year as seeing the Etios brand to a respectable position remains the top and perhaps only priority for the company. The Japanese company will not do two things at once. 7/10 cars sold in our market are like Etios and Toyota is aware of how important the Etios is to their presence in the world’s leading growth market.
Coming back to the new Camry, the model spotted provides new details. India gets the global version, which compared to the US-spec model has model has a bigger grille with a coat of chrome, a unique front fascia and circular fog lights. Out back, changes are restricted to a revised bumper and new taillights .
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Japanese car manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda have always developed individual cars for the specific markets. So their popular models such as Camry and Civic are customized according to certain market requirements. Although, these cars will have the same badge and more or less the same components, externally they will be completely different cars to look at. Hyundai has taken the same route with the new Sonata in Europe. [ Read More ]
While IndianAutosBlog.com was sleeping Earlier this week, Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the 2012 Camry. It did not send shock waves through the corridors of competition given the vehicle was unveiled unofficially through a combination of leaked images and tightly cropped teaser pictures.
The styling of the new Camry is where there is a radical departure with sharp lines and angular headlamps. Inside the new Camry, the dashboard, door trims, seats and steering wheel have been redesigned. Features like Bluetooth/USB connectivity, 6.1 inch infotainment system, reverse guide camera, GPS Navigation and a powerful JBL audio system are present.
Two out of the three engines are of interest to Indians – The entry-level 2.5-liter four pot motor produces 180 PS/230 Nm while the 3.5-liter V6 rewards drivers with 272 PS/336 Nm. There is no diesel engine for the new Camry at launch, but could Toyota use the 3.0 D4D or the Innova’s 2.5 D4D on the Camry for diesel-loving markets? Diesel is an absolute must if Toyota wants to improve its sales in India.
IndianAutosBlog.com readers will know that Toyota Kirloskar Motor will begin selling the new Camry in July-August 2012. It will remain as a CBU model and hence prices are not expected to come down.
Photographs of the 2012 Toyota Camry have been leaked on the internet. The full frame exterior shots come from the annual edition of the Canadian Auto Guide revealing an edgier styling of the latest rendition of America’s longstanding best seller.
The Camry is losing out to the Sonata, but with the replacement model due this fall, Toyota will hope to gain back some advantage along with consumer confidence. Toyota has not evolved the model using full-blown sporty credentials as that has never been part of Camry’s history or legacy. The new Camry is tasked with the burdening procedure of rebuilding customer confidence and serving as a safe, fuel efficient and comfortable family car.
Back here in India, Toyota will continue importing the new Camry. IndianAutosBlog.com has informed its readers that the new Camry breaks cover around July 2012 in India and prices will not be different compared to the outgoing version.
If you have been following IndianAutosBlog keenly in the past 3 months, you would realize that we are kinda fixated with the 2012 Toyota Camry. Not because it is good or bad (we don’t know that) but because it has been a forbidden fruit in the Automotive Industry.
There are a number of speculations, renderings, spyshots and spy videos, but the only official information we have is a small teaser by Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Wait no more IABians, the 2012 Toyota Camry has been caught in all its glory by KGP. This is exactly what the 2012 Toyota Camry would look like and we must say that it is a major departure from where we left off. The Camry has ditched its curvaceous design for sharper lines.
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The next generation Toyota Camry is a star attraction on IAB. Spyshots, renderings, leaked footage from the dealer unveiling, tease by Mr Akio Toyoda..we’ve shown it all. As we near the official unveiling, Autoblog.com’s spy snappers caught the 2012 Camry undergoing testing wearing a production-ready body.
There are big things are in store for the redesigned Camry and there should be because Hyundai is running rings around Toyota with the new Sonata. The “best Camry so far” is almost ready to show its face to the world and it will take place during September-October 2011. Seen here is the new Camry making its way around the desert in some last minute testing.
As Autoblog points out, the nose look much sharper than recent generations, but the camouflage is doing a good job to hide what lies beneath. We don’t have to wait much longer now before we see the camou-free product. As for India, Toyota will begin selling the Camry in July-August 2012, brought through the CBU route.
