And get it right, because no one can afford to mess up the big-selling Camry’s replacement

NOW, WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CAR MARKET
in the world? The USA, innit? And what’s the biggest-selling car in the world’s biggest car market? The Toyota Camry, we believe. In that case, you might agree that replacing such a car is a pretty dicey task: get it wrong and well, let’s just say you shouldn’t be investing in any green bananas.
But sometimes you just have to do it, and more often than not, if you actually listen to what your buyers have to say, you’ll get it right. Which is what Toyota must be hoping it’s done with the all-new Camry, shown for the first time at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show. Slightly bigger all round than the outgoing car, the new one has a very different sense of style, partly inspired by Lexus’ L-Finesse design language, but with far more pronounced creases and muscle lines. Both head- and tail-lamps are sharply etched, dipping dizzily towards the ground as they go inwards, and the new grille is quite a substantial thing. The rear now has something of the Lexus LS’ separated bootlid thing, and overall it’s looking more and more like a smaller brother to the aristocrats from Lexus. Which is no bad thing, surely.
The interior’s very Lexus-like as well now, with a lovely, clean-looking aluminium centre console, lots of chrome and a nice air of elegant quality to it.
The car uses a 2.4-litre 158bhp four, a revision of the existing engine, as well as a new 3.5-litre V6, but the big news is the addition of a hybrid variant for the first time, which promises a very pleasant 14kpl. The 2.4 is mated to either
a manual or an auto, both five-speed, and the V6 gets a new tip-shift six-speed auto as standard.
Equipment levels are almost Lexus-like now as well, including multi-zone climate control and cabin upholstery with silk extract in it, to keep those suited bottoms comfortable.
These changes appear to have two major aims in mind: one, give the car some real character, moving it away from the “Car-hater’s car” image the poor, ultra- efficient saloon is currently riddled with, and move it ever so slightly upmarket, as a feeder model for buyers who may not be able to afford a Lexus, but could do with that little extra class.
Now for the important question: will this Camry come to India? If so, when? And how will it fare? The answers are Yes, September this year and We Don’t Really Know. There are some things we’re pondering ourselves: will Indians take to this new, jazzier styling? Will Toyota price it in Accord territory or leave it in the stratosphere, where the only people who can buy it have names like J W Marriott and Leela? It’ll depend upon that – the ball’s in Toyota’s court.