Toyota: Camry News
01-30-2012, 08:54 PM
#641
Team Owner
doopstr
02-08-2012, 11:31 AM
#642
Team Owner
SE sales now account for 35% of Camry's sales. Young women like the SE 
and the average age of a Camry owner has dropped.
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtest...parently-.html
and the average age of a Camry owner has dropped.http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtest...parently-.html
With January sales showing a 56-percent increase year-over-year, the Camry is enjoying a bit of a hot streak, and the model owes much of its current success to the SE trim. SE models accounted for only 7 percent of total sales in the previous-generation Camry, but in the wake of the car's 2012 redesign (which recast the SE as the line's most performance-oriented trim, with larger tires and a sport-tuned suspension), SE sales have swelled to 35 percent of the Camry's mix.
During an interview on Monday at the recent National Automobile Dealers Convention in Las Vegas, Bob Carter, Toyota's group vice president of U.S. sales, said that the manufacturer plans to exploit the SE's popularity by bumping it up to 40-42 percent of total Camry production. Carter noted that the SE is especially popular with younger female buyers, and their presence has lowered the average age of all Camry buyers to 45 -- a figure that's lower than the segment average.
During an interview on Monday at the recent National Automobile Dealers Convention in Las Vegas, Bob Carter, Toyota's group vice president of U.S. sales, said that the manufacturer plans to exploit the SE's popularity by bumping it up to 40-42 percent of total Camry production. Carter noted that the SE is especially popular with younger female buyers, and their presence has lowered the average age of all Camry buyers to 45 -- a figure that's lower than the segment average.
Last edited by doopstr; 02-08-2012 at 11:34 AM.
02-08-2012, 12:23 PM
#643
Hopefully this will encourage Toyota to start making their cars either more sportier and fun to drive or at least offer a trim within each model that is sportier and more fun to drive.
If you build it, they will buy it. Do the opposite of what Honda's doing.
If you build it, they will buy it. Do the opposite of what Honda's doing.
02-08-2012, 12:33 PM
#644
אני עומד עם ישראל
I've always liked the SEs, I think they add some flavor to an otherwise vanilla car.
Now that we've owned a Toyota for a few months, I'm growing to like the brand even more.
Now that we've owned a Toyota for a few months, I'm growing to like the brand even more.
no?
10-31-2012, 04:19 PM
#646
Senior Moderator
2013 TRD Camry “Rowdy”
Press release...
Kyle Busch, whose 104 career wins across all three of its top series make him one of NASCAR’s top drivers, is now hoping to head to the winner’s circle in a different kind of race: the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge (www.ToyotaRacingDreamBuild.com). Busch, one of four racing stand-outs pitted against each other in the vehicle-modification build competition, took on a 2012 Toyota Camry SE and remade it into the “Rowdy Edition” Camry, named for his “Rowdy” handle on the racing circuit. The Rowdy Edition Camry is all about style and substance.
“Our approach to the build [was] to make a car with the stance, attitude and handling of a road-race car while retaining the functionality of a production Camry,” Busch said.
The modifications were carried out at Detroit Speed & Engineering (DSE) in Mooresville, N.C., under Busch’s supervision.
Among the body modifications that the Camry received to realize the proper “Rowdy” image were a hand-formed, custom wide-body kit; custom front and rear belly pans; DSE-designed and fabricated front air splitter and rear air diffuser; and a custom, true dual exhaust system.
“This looks like something we should run at Daytona and Talladega,” Busch said.
Since the official “Rowdy” colors are black, red, and white, they are predominant on both the exterior and inside, where black and red leather Lexus IS F bucket seats were installed to complete the look.
The "Rowdy Edition" Camry will premiere, along with its competitors in the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge, at Toyota's press conference at the Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas on Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. local time.
NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer produced a Tekked-Out Prius, NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria converted a Tundra pickup truck into a beastly desert pre-runner, and NHRA Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown modified a Sequoia for maximum speed. All four are competing for the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge title and a $50,000 check from Toyota to the driver’s chosen charity. A win by Busch will benefit the Kyle Busch Foundation, whose mission is to empower young men and women by fostering life experiences and helping them achieve their goals.
“Our approach to the build [was] to make a car with the stance, attitude and handling of a road-race car while retaining the functionality of a production Camry,” Busch said.
The modifications were carried out at Detroit Speed & Engineering (DSE) in Mooresville, N.C., under Busch’s supervision.
Among the body modifications that the Camry received to realize the proper “Rowdy” image were a hand-formed, custom wide-body kit; custom front and rear belly pans; DSE-designed and fabricated front air splitter and rear air diffuser; and a custom, true dual exhaust system.
“This looks like something we should run at Daytona and Talladega,” Busch said.
Since the official “Rowdy” colors are black, red, and white, they are predominant on both the exterior and inside, where black and red leather Lexus IS F bucket seats were installed to complete the look.
The "Rowdy Edition" Camry will premiere, along with its competitors in the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge, at Toyota's press conference at the Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas on Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. local time.
NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer produced a Tekked-Out Prius, NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria converted a Tundra pickup truck into a beastly desert pre-runner, and NHRA Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown modified a Sequoia for maximum speed. All four are competing for the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge title and a $50,000 check from Toyota to the driver’s chosen charity. A win by Busch will benefit the Kyle Busch Foundation, whose mission is to empower young men and women by fostering life experiences and helping them achieve their goals.
10-31-2012, 04:19 PM
#647
Senior Moderator
10-31-2012, 04:32 PM
#648
Moderator
02-26-2013, 10:00 AM
#649
Safety Car
Korea
For more than 2 decades, Hyundai Motor Co. could count on the sun rising each morning and for South Koreans to buy South Korean vehicles. Then Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry became the country's "Car of the Year."
Sure, it's the same staid sedan that won consumers' hearts around the globe as more than 14 million units rolled off Toyota production lines since 1982. But given Korea's fraught relationship with its 1-time and sometimes brutal occupier, it was a surprise the country's auto journalists awarded the title to any Japanese car.
Shifting attitudes to foreign goods in South Korea, free- trade pacts and a stronger currency have driven the share of imports to a record in Asia's 4th-biggest car market. For Toyota, annual shipments on a par with those it makes to Hawaii are no big deal; for Hyundai and its Kia Motors Corp. affiliate, they represent a breach of their biggest profit center, just as global sales are eroded by the won's gains.
"Before, Korean people chose what they wore, what they used, what cars they drove based on whether they were made by Koreans," said Takeshi Miyao, an industry analyst at researcher Carnorama Japan in Tokyo. "If you look at the streets of Seoul now, younger people are buying imported brands, and choosing based on whether they're good quality."
Take Kim Sung Eun. "I didn't even consider Hyundais when looking for a new car this winter," said the 27-year-old online marketer based in Seoul. "I don't think my car has anything to do with patriotism. It's just a personal choice."
Tariff Barriers
In Kim's case, that's between Toyota's Prius and the Camry, which this month beat out 44 other cars, including models from previous winners Hyundai and Kia, to become the 1st foreign vehicle to win the Korea Automobile Journalist Association's award.
Such inroads by foreign companies would have been almost unthinkable as recently as a decade ago, when Korean carmakers controlled more than 99% of the domestic market.
Protected by tariffs as part of military strongman General Park Chung Hee's plans to modernize his agrarian country, Hyundai began mass producing its Pony sedan in 1975 and now churns out more than 4 million cars a year, with 2012 revenue of 84.5 trillion won ($78 billion).
Park's backing of the diversified industrial groups known as chaebol, combined with his nationalist ideology, fostered development of electronics-to-shipping giant Samsung Group and Hyundai Group as well as a domestic market hostile to foreign companies.
IMF Bailout
After South Korea was forced to accept a humiliating $60 billion bailout from lenders including the International Monetary Fund in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, newspaper columns sang the virtues of only buying and using domestic products: clothes made by Korean brands over Nike Inc., Korean movies instead of Hollywood blockbusters and Hyundai rather than imports.
That's begun to change. Within a year of its introduction in 2009, Apple Inc.'s iPhone captured a quarter of Korean smartphone sales. Imported beer consumption grew at twice the pace of the overall market between 2007 and 2011, according to data from the Korea Alcohol & Liquor Industry Association and the Korea Wines & Spirits Importers Association.
Over the past decade, car imports have inched forward too, reaching 10% for the 1st time last year as domestic manufacturers' sales dropped 2.9%, Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association data show.
Luxury Demand
Korean sales of Toyotas — including the high-end Lexus models — gained 73% last year to 15,771 vehicles, making it the 4th-biggest foreign brand in the country, with 1.2% of the market, the import data show. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG was 1st, with 28,152 units.
"Korea is where Hyundai and Kia sell most of their top-end models, and these offer higher margins," said Lee Hyung Sil, an analyst at Shinyoung Securities Co.
Both Seoul-based companies reported quarterly profit declines last month and expressed concern about worsening exchange rates that make imports cheaper while reducing the value of cars they export. The won gained 4.8% against the dollar over the past 6 months; the yen dropped 15%.
Trade Deals
With the currencies expected to continue their divergent paths, investors have punished the Korean companies' stock: Kia slid 29% over the 6 months, Hyundai 10%, the 2 worst performers on a 28-member Bloomberg gauge of global carmakers. Toyota surged 49%.
A 2011 free trade agreement with the European Union has cut import duties to 3.2% from 8%. A similar pact with the U.S. took effect last year, making foreign cars cheaper for South Korean motorists and also helping Japanese producers to ship vehicles from their North American plants.
Hyundai garnered more than 60% of its operating profit last year from Korean revenue that made up 45% of the total, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The U.S. accounted for only 22% of profit, though 30% of sales.
To win back Korean customers, Hyundai cut the price of mid- size sedans as by as much as 1 million won, or about 3.5% of the sticker price for its top-end Sonata hybrid. Kia, in which Hyundai holds a 34% stake, cut the price of its flagship K9 luxury sedan.
"We are improving the design and quality of our products," Hyundai said in an e-mailed response to queries.
Revamped Models
The revamped Tucson sport utility vehicle and Elantra small sedan now include more expensive options such as bigger wheels, upgraded music systems and more luxurious seats.
Toyota, meantime, will introduce the RAV4 sport utility vehicle and U.S.-made Avalon sedan to South Korea this year while its Lexus luxury unit will bring in the IS model from Japan.
Honda Motor Co., Japan's 3rd-biggest carmaker, introduced 5 new models between November and January, including the Accord sedan, its best-selling car in the U.S.
For Hyundai, the success of foreign producers in South Korea hurts the automaker as Japanese carmakers win back a share in export markets they lost in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand that disrupted output.
U.S. Decline
Toyota's U.S. market share grew to 14.4%, according to researcher Autodata Corp. Hyundai's fell 0.2 of a percentage point to 4.9%, the company said. Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, sold 9.75 million units globally last year, up from 7.95 million in 2011.
"As Honda and Toyota came back stronger than anticipated after the tsunami, Hyundai lost some of the market share they gained," said Jesse Toprak, a senior analyst at TrueCar.com in Santa Monica, California.
South Korea is Hyundai's3rd-biggest market, behind China and the U.S., as well as its main production base. The company says it made 43% of its vehicles at home last year.
Domestic sales of the 3 Hyundai luxury models plunged 20% in 2012. Toyota's Lexus sales jumped 21%, to 4,976 cars. Total Japanese car exports to Korea rose 26% to 23,924 units in the same period.
While lingering resentment over Japan's invasion and occupation continues to cloud political relations between the 2 nations — most recently marked by territorial disputes — it seems consumers have moved on.
"South Koreans aren't as sensitive as they were in the past about Japanese products," said Park Jung Hyun, a senior researcher at LG Economic Research Institute in Seoul. "Consumers want products made in developed countries, which they trust will only offer quality products. Japan and Germany fit into that trustworthy category."
07-01-2013, 06:21 AM
#651
Safety Car
Sales
For 11 straight years, the Toyota Camry has carried the powerful marketing message of being America's best-selling car. But with the competition nipping at the Camry's heels, Toyota officials must contemplate how far they're willing to go to retain the title.
For now, the directive is to do whatever it takes. The Camry is less than 2 years into its model cycle, and already Toyota is piling on incentives and cutting fleet deals to stay ahead in the race.
"We will do what is necessary to get the vehicle into the hands of new and loyal customers," Toyota Division General Manager Bill Fay wrote in an e-mail. "Incentives on Camry will remain as competitive as they need to be."
The Camry is the only 1 of the 4 top-selling mid-sized sedans to receive increased incentive spending this year, although the other 3 were in sell-down mode at this time last year. Except for February, Toyota has dialed up incentive spending per unit on the Camry each month this year, up from $2,300 in January to $2,750 in May, according to TrueCar.
Meanwhile, Toyota's fleet deals are running ahead of the pace set last year, when Toyota made massive "make good" sales to fleet customers who had to wait out 2011's tsunami-related shortages.
That has some Toyota insiders concerned about the impact on the Camry nameplate's long-term value. The Camry's 36-month residual value is near the top of the segment, at 54.4 percent for the 2013 model year, compared with the segment average of 50.9 percent, according to ALG. Only the Honda Accord is higher, at 55.6 percent.
But some Toyota insiders worry that continued incentives and fleet deals could put the Camry's values into a downward spiral. They say sales meetings often revolve around the potential trade-offs of the Camry ceding its lead in order to preserve its residual values. If incentives and fleet sales are already this high, some insiders ask, what will happen in 2 years, when the Camry is closer to the end of its life cycle?
First in sales and spiffs
Incentive spending for the Toyota Camry was higher in May than for the car's top competitors.
Incentive spending
Per unit Chg. vs. 2012
Toyota Camry $2,750 38%
Nissan Altima $2,400 –20%
Ford Fusion $2,300 –35%
Honda Accord $1,400 –40%
Source: TrueCar
A similar debate is playing out broadly across the competitive mid-sized sedan segment, with Toyota's chief competitors taking different paths in search of sales. The Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu all generated more than 30 percent of sales from fleets in the 1st 4 months of the year, according to R.L. Polk & Co. data analyzed by Edmunds.com. Honda, meanwhile, has held the line, with fleet sales of the Accord running at 1 percent of the total, according to Polk.Incentive spending for the Toyota Camry was higher in May than for the car's top competitors.
Incentive spending
Per unit Chg. vs. 2012
Toyota Camry $2,750 38%
Nissan Altima $2,400 –20%
Ford Fusion $2,300 –35%
Honda Accord $1,400 –40%
Source: TrueCar
Fay said that most of Toyota's 2013 fleet sales occurred in the 1st quarter, with a sharp drop-off expected until the 4th quarter when the 2014 Camry arrives. For the full year, Camry fleet sales should be no more than 15 percent of total, Fay said.
"While our fleet customers are an important part of our business strategy, we are mainly focused on retail," he said.
The Camry is still solidly the best-selling car in America for the year, with 5 straight months of more than 30,000 sales and nearly 40,000 sales in May. Toyota executives say the sales plan is to sell more than 400,000 total units this year, a muscular production number that the competition may be unable to match.
Fleet fodder
Among the big players in mid-sized cars, Honda is alone in mostly shunning fleet orders through April.
FLEET SALES AS PCT. OF TOTAL FLEET SALES AS PCT. OF TOTAL
Chrysler 200 52% Toyota Camry 20%
Chevrolet Malibu 39% Hyundai Sonata 17%
Ford Fusion 34% Honda Accord 1%
Nissan Altima 33%
Source: R.L. Polk & Co. data analyzed by Edmunds.com
Among the big players in mid-sized cars, Honda is alone in mostly shunning fleet orders through April.
FLEET SALES AS PCT. OF TOTAL FLEET SALES AS PCT. OF TOTAL
Chrysler 200 52% Toyota Camry 20%
Chevrolet Malibu 39% Hyundai Sonata 17%
Ford Fusion 34% Honda Accord 1%
Nissan Altima 33%
Source: R.L. Polk & Co. data analyzed by Edmunds.com
Camry sales were off by more than 10,000 units through May, even when heavy incentives.
But in 2 of the 1st 5 months of the year, the Camry has been outsold by rivals, and its overall lead for the year has narrowed. The Accord, Altima and Fusion -- all redesigned in the past year -- have had sales increases while Camry sales were off by more than 10,000 units through May.
Toyota's heavy use of incentives has drawn its rivals into a spending war. As 2013 has progressed, other automakers have increased their incentives on mid-sized cars, according to TrueCar. For instance, Toyota has 0 percent financing for 60 months on the Camry; the Altima and Hyundai Sonata have identical deals.
Backed by incentives and with fleet sales constituting more than 30 percent of the total, the Altima was the best-selling car in March. But the Accord outsold the Camry and Altima in April.
John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda, signaled that Honda will forgo stepping up incentives or fleet sales near year end to catch the Camry.
If Accord sales are neck and neck with the Camry in December, Mendel said in an interview, Honda "won't make a customer look silly for buying a car in November vs. buying 1 in December or any other month."
He added: "We're not going to damage the customer's decision or financial investment in the vehicle just to claim a leadership role against a competitor. It just doesn't make any sense. We're not going to do anything it takes."
You can reach Mark Rechtin at mrechtin@crain.com. -- Follow Mark on Twitter
12-19-2013, 03:57 PM
#653
Toyota Camry Regains Consumer Reports’ Favor on Crash Tests
December 19, 2013
Toyota Motor Corp.’s Camry, headed for its 12th consecutive year as the best-selling car in the U.S., returned to Consumer Reports’ recommended list after showing improvement on an insurance-industry crash test.
The magazine, based in Yonkers, New York, excluded Camry in October after the 2013 model sedan received a poor rating in a new front-end test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The 2014 Camry with a strengthened frame received an “acceptable” rating when retested, prompting Arlington, Virginia-based IIHS to give Camrys built after November its second-highest total rating in a report released today.
“The Consumer Reports recommendation is certainly a big thing for Toyota,” said Jake Fisher, the magazine’s director of automotive testing, in a phone interview. Fisher said he wasn’t aware of any vehicle returning to the recommended list faster than Camry.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...er-crash-tests
Toyota Motor Corp.’s Camry, headed for its 12th consecutive year as the best-selling car in the U.S., returned to Consumer Reports’ recommended list after showing improvement on an insurance-industry crash test.
The magazine, based in Yonkers, New York, excluded Camry in October after the 2013 model sedan received a poor rating in a new front-end test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The 2014 Camry with a strengthened frame received an “acceptable” rating when retested, prompting Arlington, Virginia-based IIHS to give Camrys built after November its second-highest total rating in a report released today.
“The Consumer Reports recommendation is certainly a big thing for Toyota,” said Jake Fisher, the magazine’s director of automotive testing, in a phone interview. Fisher said he wasn’t aware of any vehicle returning to the recommended list faster than Camry.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...er-crash-tests
04-16-2014, 08:48 AM
#654
Some dude
Here's the new Camry according to <a href="http://jalopnik.com/2015-toyota-camry-this-is-it-1563752668">Jalopnik</a>:
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/1_zps31755875.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/1_zps31755875.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1_zps31755875.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/1_zps31755875.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/1_zps31755875.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1_zps31755875.jpg"/></a>
04-16-2014, 09:08 AM
#655
Some dude
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/2_zps6da21add.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/2_zps6da21add.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2_zps6da21add.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/3_zpsd18853d6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/3_zpsd18853d6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3_zpsd18853d6.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/4_zps3e44def0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/4_zps3e44def0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4_zps3e44def0.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/5_zpsd4887f22.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/5_zpsd4887f22.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5_zpsd4887f22.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/6_zpsd44db337.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/6_zpsd44db337.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6_zpsd44db337.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/7_zps73afdb10.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/7_zps73afdb10.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 7_zps73afdb10.jpg"/></a>
From Jalopnik:
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/3_zpsd18853d6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/3_zpsd18853d6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3_zpsd18853d6.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/4_zps3e44def0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/4_zps3e44def0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4_zps3e44def0.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/5_zpsd4887f22.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/5_zpsd4887f22.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5_zpsd4887f22.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/6_zpsd44db337.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/6_zpsd44db337.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6_zpsd44db337.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/user/hottmike/media/Auto/7_zps73afdb10.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/hottmike/Auto/7_zps73afdb10.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 7_zps73afdb10.jpg"/></a>
From Jalopnik:
Today I learned that 50 American families come home with a new Toyota Camry every hour. As such, my last act before I officially defect to North Korea will be to tell you about the heavily refreshed 2015 Toyota Camry. It's all about "attitude" now, Toyota says.
Even though Americans are as addicted to buying Camrys as we are to abusing prescription pain medication, Toyota has decided just three years into the life cycle of the new Camry to revise it nearly completely. The exterior has been almost totally redone; the only body panel the new car shares with the old one is its roof.
Toyota wants the new Camry to be more "emotional," more "fun to drive," and more "waku doki," a Japanese term that means "heart-racing excitement." For them, that includes products like the new Avalon, Highlander and RAV4. So, yeah.
Honestly, it's not unattractive from most angles, and in the visual department it's probably one of the least-boring Camrys ever made. I can't decide how I feel about the new grille. It's kind of Lexus spindle-y, but not.
As part of the 2015 Camry's sporting mission, it will have a twin-turbo V8 engine and rear-wheel drive a new trim level called XSE with 18 inch alloy wheels and an enhanced suspension. It boasts more responsive handling than the old Camry, so if you see someone in an XSE, note that they haven't given up entirely just yet, but they are close.
In addition, the Camry Hybrid now gets an SE trim, because as Toyota's Bill Fay said at the press conference, "You can still have a little fun while being environmentally conscious."
In other news, there is no news on the next Supra.
Even though Americans are as addicted to buying Camrys as we are to abusing prescription pain medication, Toyota has decided just three years into the life cycle of the new Camry to revise it nearly completely. The exterior has been almost totally redone; the only body panel the new car shares with the old one is its roof.
Toyota wants the new Camry to be more "emotional," more "fun to drive," and more "waku doki," a Japanese term that means "heart-racing excitement." For them, that includes products like the new Avalon, Highlander and RAV4. So, yeah.
Honestly, it's not unattractive from most angles, and in the visual department it's probably one of the least-boring Camrys ever made. I can't decide how I feel about the new grille. It's kind of Lexus spindle-y, but not.
As part of the 2015 Camry's sporting mission, it will have a twin-turbo V8 engine and rear-wheel drive a new trim level called XSE with 18 inch alloy wheels and an enhanced suspension. It boasts more responsive handling than the old Camry, so if you see someone in an XSE, note that they haven't given up entirely just yet, but they are close.
In addition, the Camry Hybrid now gets an SE trim, because as Toyota's Bill Fay said at the press conference, "You can still have a little fun while being environmentally conscious."
In other news, there is no news on the next Supra.
04-16-2014, 09:27 AM
#657
That front end. Looks like...
Everything else looks okay.
Everything else looks okay.
04-16-2014, 09:31 AM
#659
I don't think like the interior has changed any. 
04-16-2014, 09:35 AM
#661
Not sure how Camry's main audience will take to that front end. I don't think Toyota did enough or went in the right direction to help. Not with the way the Sonata turned out. And then you still have the Accord and Fusion too which still look better.
Maybe it'll look better in person?
Maybe it'll look better in person?
04-16-2014, 09:42 AM
#664
Originally Posted by Autoblog
A new XSE trim promises the sportiest performance yet, including model-specific shock absorbers and springs, stiffer bushings, unique stability control programming and 18-inch wheels to go along with a unique front end treatment featuring mesh grille inserts and a revised fascia.
Toyota Press Release
More Than Skin Deep: America's Best-Selling Car Gets Even Better With a Sweeping Redesign for 2015
Toyota Camry rebuilt from the ground up with almost 2,000 new parts
New, sporty XSE and Hybrid SE grades amp up driving dynamics
Most upscale interior in segment with soft-touch materials throughout
Produced by over 7,000 American team members
April 16, 2014
NEW YORK (April 16, 2014) - So what do you do when you have the best-selling car in the industry for 12 straight years? You find ways to make it even better. That's exactly what Toyota did with the introduction of the new 2015 Camry. After selling almost a million of the industry's benchmark sedan since the current generation launched in 2011, Toyota stripped it down to its chassis and rebuilt it from the ground up, raising the bar yet again in the ultra-competitive mid-size sedan segment.
"Customers today love the durability, quality and value that the Camry represents, but they are looking for a little more style, comfort and performance, and this 2015 Camry has all of the above," said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. "This is the new Camry, and it's coming from the new Toyota."
Toyota designers and engineers re-imagined nearly every exterior surface of the car. Only the roof remains unchanged. The new, upscale interior features premium, soft-touch materials throughout the spacious cabin. Advanced instrumentation with intuitive controls helps keep the driver's eyes safely on the road ahead.
Underneath the striking new exterior, the chassis and body structure are bolstered with additional spot welds, enhancing rigidity for better ride quality. A retuned suspension takes the Camry's handling to a whole new level of responsiveness.
Two new grades, the sporty and luxurious XSE and the eco-fun Hybrid SE, join the well-equipped entry LE and the premium XLE grade, giving customers more choice than ever before.
An Expressive and Athletic Exterior
The 2015 Camry's exterior is more expressive and athletic with prominent character lines. The new car is slightly longer (1.8 inches or 45 mm) and features a widened track (0.4 inches or 10 mm) that communicates a dynamic stance and presence.
A pronounced body line starts from the Camry's muscular front fender and spans across the doors and rear quarter panel, conveying a sense of motion. The completely revised, more aggressive front bumper cover features a wider more prominent trapezoidal grille shape, expressing a lower center of gravity.
The 2015 Camry will be available in 10 colors, including the new Celestial Silver Metallic and Ruby Flare Pearl.
New Lighting Shines with Form and Function
The new sleek headlamps complement the aggressive front fascia, while the front turn signal indicators and LED DRL's are integrated for an elegant appearance. The 2015 Camry will offer exterior lighting with available LED low and high-beams and auto static leveling. The Camry's rear tail lamps sweep into the tapered sheet metal at the rear of the car. A decorative garnish connects
the tail lamps across the trunk lid and emphasizes its new sporty stance.
A Modern, Refined Interior
The interior of the new Camry is more refined than ever with premium materials, roomier feel and improved amenities. The center stack features a high-tech, upscale look that smoothly integrates with the console.
The center console tray has been redesigned to increase capacity while offering a convenient power source in the storage box. The new enclosed bin in front of the shifter now offers 12v, USB and a segment-first, available wireless charging system for select smart phones.
The 2015 Camry's cockpit offers intuitive top-flight in-car electronics and displays that help reduce driver stress and distraction. The instrument panel features a new 4.2-inch TFT screen nestled between the three-dimensional Optitron gauges on the SE, XLE and XSE models. The screen's color animation displays a wide range of vehicle functions and coordinates with the multimedia system to display audio, navigation, warnings and communications.
Detailed stitching and trim elements finished in satin chrome convey a sophisticated appearance. Varying by model, seat cover textures range from premium cloth all of the way to genuine leather and Ultrasuede with durable, high contrast French-stitching.
The Quietest Camry Ever
Toyota engineers focused on reducing unwanted wind and road noise to offer an even quieter cabin. Window and door seals were improved to keep noise outside. The carpet features 30 percent more insulating material. Even the Camry's side mirrors were redesigned to better control air flow reducing turbulence and noise.
Dialing Up Driving Dynamics
Additional spot welds were added to the door opening flanges to increase rigidity and enable spirited handling. A combination of Macpherson struts up front, a multi-link arrangement at the rear and a stiffer body structure allows for unique suspension tuning across trim levels.
The electric power steering on all Camry models is tuned for better on-center feel, better straight line stability and more direct-feeling steering inputs. In addition to improvements in steering feel, the new Camry's hydraulic system has been revised with a two-stage brake booster to improve brake feel.
The Camry will continue to be available with 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 3.5-liter V6 gas engines paired with 6-speed automatic transmissions, or a 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle engine with Hybrid Synergy drive matched to an E-CVT.
Making the Grade
In 2011, Toyota launched the sporty Camry SE grade, resulting in attracting buyers that were 12 years younger than the rest of the segment average. The SE model now accounts for 45 percent of the Camry sales mix, proving that drivers want sportier models.
Building on this success, the Camry XSE grade gives customers more of what they want with enthusiastic driving dynamics and luxurious amenities. The Camry SE and XSE are distinguished by a unique mesh grille and fascia treatment. The Camry XSE adds to its edgier look with model-specific 18-inch wheels, unique shock absorbers, firmer bushings, higher rate coil springs, and unique EPS tuning, making it the sportiest Camry yet.
Also for 2015, a Camry Hybrid SE has been added to the lineup with unique dynamic suspension tuning that delivers an eco-fun driving experience. Up front, a stabilizer bar, absorber valve structure, and control arm bushing components were enhanced to offer improved ride quality while sharpening steering feel. The Hybrid SE's vehicle stability control system has been retuned for smoother intervention and a more natural driving feel.
Advanced Safety Features
All Toyota vehicles come standard with the STAR Safety System. In addition, Camry will offer safety-focused driver aids including Lane Departure Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System with Auto High Beams, and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Everybody's All-American
Every Camry sold in North America is the product of over 7,000 skilled American team members. From design and engineering in Michigan, to assembly in Kentucky, a unique American touch goes into each Camry that rolls off of the line. The new 2015 Camry will arrive in dealerships this fall.
Toyota Camry rebuilt from the ground up with almost 2,000 new parts
New, sporty XSE and Hybrid SE grades amp up driving dynamics
Most upscale interior in segment with soft-touch materials throughout
Produced by over 7,000 American team members
April 16, 2014
NEW YORK (April 16, 2014) - So what do you do when you have the best-selling car in the industry for 12 straight years? You find ways to make it even better. That's exactly what Toyota did with the introduction of the new 2015 Camry. After selling almost a million of the industry's benchmark sedan since the current generation launched in 2011, Toyota stripped it down to its chassis and rebuilt it from the ground up, raising the bar yet again in the ultra-competitive mid-size sedan segment.
"Customers today love the durability, quality and value that the Camry represents, but they are looking for a little more style, comfort and performance, and this 2015 Camry has all of the above," said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. "This is the new Camry, and it's coming from the new Toyota."
Toyota designers and engineers re-imagined nearly every exterior surface of the car. Only the roof remains unchanged. The new, upscale interior features premium, soft-touch materials throughout the spacious cabin. Advanced instrumentation with intuitive controls helps keep the driver's eyes safely on the road ahead.
Underneath the striking new exterior, the chassis and body structure are bolstered with additional spot welds, enhancing rigidity for better ride quality. A retuned suspension takes the Camry's handling to a whole new level of responsiveness.
Two new grades, the sporty and luxurious XSE and the eco-fun Hybrid SE, join the well-equipped entry LE and the premium XLE grade, giving customers more choice than ever before.
An Expressive and Athletic Exterior
The 2015 Camry's exterior is more expressive and athletic with prominent character lines. The new car is slightly longer (1.8 inches or 45 mm) and features a widened track (0.4 inches or 10 mm) that communicates a dynamic stance and presence.
A pronounced body line starts from the Camry's muscular front fender and spans across the doors and rear quarter panel, conveying a sense of motion. The completely revised, more aggressive front bumper cover features a wider more prominent trapezoidal grille shape, expressing a lower center of gravity.
The 2015 Camry will be available in 10 colors, including the new Celestial Silver Metallic and Ruby Flare Pearl.
New Lighting Shines with Form and Function
The new sleek headlamps complement the aggressive front fascia, while the front turn signal indicators and LED DRL's are integrated for an elegant appearance. The 2015 Camry will offer exterior lighting with available LED low and high-beams and auto static leveling. The Camry's rear tail lamps sweep into the tapered sheet metal at the rear of the car. A decorative garnish connects
the tail lamps across the trunk lid and emphasizes its new sporty stance.
A Modern, Refined Interior
The interior of the new Camry is more refined than ever with premium materials, roomier feel and improved amenities. The center stack features a high-tech, upscale look that smoothly integrates with the console.
The center console tray has been redesigned to increase capacity while offering a convenient power source in the storage box. The new enclosed bin in front of the shifter now offers 12v, USB and a segment-first, available wireless charging system for select smart phones.
The 2015 Camry's cockpit offers intuitive top-flight in-car electronics and displays that help reduce driver stress and distraction. The instrument panel features a new 4.2-inch TFT screen nestled between the three-dimensional Optitron gauges on the SE, XLE and XSE models. The screen's color animation displays a wide range of vehicle functions and coordinates with the multimedia system to display audio, navigation, warnings and communications.
Detailed stitching and trim elements finished in satin chrome convey a sophisticated appearance. Varying by model, seat cover textures range from premium cloth all of the way to genuine leather and Ultrasuede with durable, high contrast French-stitching.
The Quietest Camry Ever
Toyota engineers focused on reducing unwanted wind and road noise to offer an even quieter cabin. Window and door seals were improved to keep noise outside. The carpet features 30 percent more insulating material. Even the Camry's side mirrors were redesigned to better control air flow reducing turbulence and noise.
Dialing Up Driving Dynamics
Additional spot welds were added to the door opening flanges to increase rigidity and enable spirited handling. A combination of Macpherson struts up front, a multi-link arrangement at the rear and a stiffer body structure allows for unique suspension tuning across trim levels.
The electric power steering on all Camry models is tuned for better on-center feel, better straight line stability and more direct-feeling steering inputs. In addition to improvements in steering feel, the new Camry's hydraulic system has been revised with a two-stage brake booster to improve brake feel.
The Camry will continue to be available with 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 3.5-liter V6 gas engines paired with 6-speed automatic transmissions, or a 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle engine with Hybrid Synergy drive matched to an E-CVT.
Making the Grade
In 2011, Toyota launched the sporty Camry SE grade, resulting in attracting buyers that were 12 years younger than the rest of the segment average. The SE model now accounts for 45 percent of the Camry sales mix, proving that drivers want sportier models.
Building on this success, the Camry XSE grade gives customers more of what they want with enthusiastic driving dynamics and luxurious amenities. The Camry SE and XSE are distinguished by a unique mesh grille and fascia treatment. The Camry XSE adds to its edgier look with model-specific 18-inch wheels, unique shock absorbers, firmer bushings, higher rate coil springs, and unique EPS tuning, making it the sportiest Camry yet.
Also for 2015, a Camry Hybrid SE has been added to the lineup with unique dynamic suspension tuning that delivers an eco-fun driving experience. Up front, a stabilizer bar, absorber valve structure, and control arm bushing components were enhanced to offer improved ride quality while sharpening steering feel. The Hybrid SE's vehicle stability control system has been retuned for smoother intervention and a more natural driving feel.
Advanced Safety Features
All Toyota vehicles come standard with the STAR Safety System. In addition, Camry will offer safety-focused driver aids including Lane Departure Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System with Auto High Beams, and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Everybody's All-American
Every Camry sold in North America is the product of over 7,000 skilled American team members. From design and engineering in Michigan, to assembly in Kentucky, a unique American touch goes into each Camry that rolls off of the line. The new 2015 Camry will arrive in dealerships this fall.
04-16-2014, 09:50 AM
#667
Senior Moderator
I do like that they have 2 'Sport' models though. They're at least catering to their customers. Unlike Honda with the Accord. The Sport Accord trim doesn't offer enough standard features or come with the V6.
04-16-2014, 10:03 AM
#668
No car comes as well equipped for $24k, and with discounts they're around $21k. Unbeatable.
04-16-2014, 11:35 AM
#669
Midnight Marauder
I don't think the front matches the rear very well. The front is aggressive, but the rear is super conservative.
04-16-2014, 11:42 AM
#670
Senior Moderator
The Accord Sport offers enough standard features for the price. I think the way Honda positioned the Sport was a good idea. If you want more features, pony up for a higher model and add the rims and spoiler
No car comes as well equipped for $24k, and with discounts they're around $21k. Unbeatable.
No car comes as well equipped for $24k, and with discounts they're around $21k. Unbeatable.
They're selling so its a moot point really but Toyota is at least pushing hard to improve the Camry and cater to every possible customer.
Last edited by dom; 04-16-2014 at 11:44 AM.
04-16-2014, 11:48 AM
#671
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ I'm with dom.....Toyota giving the customer more options is a good thing.
04-21-2014, 11:50 AM
#673
Team Owner
The front is hideous. I can't stand that corporate grill in general though. Interior has some tweaks over the current. I noticed that the shifter has a boot now. I saw in pics elsewhere that there is a charging pad under that flip up door in front of the shifter. Speedo cluster is improved. A lot of wasted space in the current one devoted to MPG. Looks like that is ditched in this version.
Pic of charging pad here, plus others http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehic...html#!photos/5
Pic of charging pad here, plus others http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehic...html#!photos/5
Last edited by doopstr; 04-21-2014 at 11:56 AM.
04-21-2014, 01:43 PM
#674
I'm Craig
iTrader: (2)
Price isn't the issue, Availability is. I wanted the 18's and the Sport look but couldn't get it with sunroof, push button start or the crucial for me anyway, V6. While still keeping the price reasonable. (Touring is too much)
They're selling so its a moot point really but Toyota is at least pushing hard to improve the Camry and cater to every possible customer.
They're selling so its a moot point really but Toyota is at least pushing hard to improve the Camry and cater to every possible customer.
Also, 17" rims on the top-spec model is silly.
Last edited by cjTL; 04-21-2014 at 01:45 PM.
04-21-2014, 02:01 PM
#675
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
I like the red one's front. It's a nice upgrade from the previous generation imo.
Horrendous. As if it wasn't bad enough on Lexus, the Lexus spindle has now become the Toyota spindle as well 
09-30-2014, 05:01 PM
#677
Senior Moderator
11-05-2014, 10:46 AM
#679
Senior Moderator
Heh...850HP "Sleeper" Camry at SEMA...
