To enlarge.
Japanese publication X-Mag have published some scooped on the next generation Camry, set to be launched in June 2011. There is not much images, only some sketches whose details are yet to be finalised.Translations suggest that the base engine will be upgraded to a 2.5-litre version while the hybrid version will receive a smaller, more powerful third generation version of Toyota's famed Hybrid Synergy Drive petrol-electric powertrain. It is very likely that this sketch refers to the JDM / USDM version of the Camry. Thus, this piece of news will have more significance to American drivers rather than Asian market drivers, as ASEAN, China and Taiwan markets receive a significantly different version of the Camry to cater to the different customer profiles. Also, both different versions of Camry come with very different powertrain line-up.It can be quite confusing when discussing / reading up on the Camry on the Internet as there are 2 different versions of car with the same name - one is a more conservative "global model" Camry sold mainly in USA, Japan and Australia while another version of what Toyota refers to internally as the "flagship Camry" or Asian Camry sold mainly in China, Taiwan and ASEAN region as well as Australia (under the Aurion badge).
The "global Camry" is Toyota's second global model, after the Corolla.
The larger Flagship Asian Camry
The flagship Asian Camry also forms the base for Australia's Toyota Aurion, where it uses its larger dimensions to compete with large Aussie sedans like Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore.In the US, a Camry is a typical family man's car. Where as salarymen of Japan drive Corollas, a typical middle-class American family relies on a Camry to haul their huge yank arses. Thus it has to cater for a wider range of buyers, hence the adoption of "global Camry". In ASEAN and other Asian region markets, the Camry is positioned at a slightly more premium end of the large sedan segment, which explains its more pronounced girth and road presence to appeal to the conservative but relatively wealthy buyers. In ASEAN-Asian markets, the Camry is a default company car of choice for many middle-senior level management staff, especially among Japanese companies operating here. Of course, not forgetting the typical China-man businessman who forms a large bulk of the Camry owners in Malaysia and Singapore.With a redesigned Camry due in 2011, expect to see a facelift of the current generation Camry by middle of 2009.Some lesser known interesting facts about the Camry :
1. Tracking history of the Camry can be a little confusing due to the existance of two different cars with the same name and each a having slightly different model life. The Camry model began splitting into two different versions in the 90s with the third generation Camry.Japanese domestic market Camry. Some of these made it out of Japan to local shores via parallel importers.
Japanese vehicle tax regulation takes into consideration, among other things, the vehicle's dimensions. Small "kei" microcars are exempted from "parking space" tax. Prior to this, the Camry was adhering to a lower group 5 tax bracket - the maximum limit for this group is a 1700mm width and a 4,700mm length. But this would mean that the car would considered a bit too small to be competitive in the all important North American car market, where the Americans demand large spacious sedans to accomodate their large cheese burgers fed bodies. Thus, a wider bodied version of the Camry had to be produced, this was also sold in Japan as the Scepter. The Scepter has since been discontinued.
Toyota Scepter aka Camry for markets outside Japan.References to n-generation of Camry gets a bit confusing after this as the 4th generation Camry was never officially sold outside Japan.However after this the 5th generation Camry again consolidated the Camry nameplate into a single model, with all global markets, including USA and Asia sharing the same car. The Japanese Camry were called Camry Gracia.