2007 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid World Premieres
Text & photos courtesy Toyota Motor Co.
edited 01-10-2006
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New Camry shape is athletic and modern
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid at a press conference today at the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). In the 23 years since it was introduced as a 1983 model, Camry has evolved to the quintessential American family sedan with iconic status.
The Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in America four years running and eight of the past nine years, is completely new for 2007 as Toyota engineers and designers follow a strategy that refuses to take continued success for granted. Toyota set out to redefine the new Camry. To accomplish this, Toyota chose to expand the very definition of Camry and in the process create a new benchmark for sedans. Designers rethought every aspect of the Camry, from its chassis to its body, interior, accessories and drivetrain. The result is a world-class sedan that not only redefines global standards for comfort, performance and intelligent design, but also is available, for the first time, with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.
"With the new 2007 Camry, Toyota once again raised the bar with the family sedan," said Don Esmond, senior vice president, automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Camry's reputation as the gold standard was developed over more than 20 years of refining this excellent package and this new Camry continues that reputation."
As designers and engineers refined their goals, they focused on trading what some owners felt was a conservative image for a more stylish, athletic, modern image. At the same time, they sought new standards of performance for both standard and hybrid models.
The challenge was to accomplish a thorough redesign without sacrificing traditional Camry qualities, including roomy interior, comfortable ride, low noise levels, and class-leading value. Toyota designers accomplished those goals by rethinking every aspect of the Camry, with special attention paid to improving driving dynamics, comfort, low noise.
As interested as drivers will be in Camry's enhanced performance, refinement, value and style, they'll also be interested in its fuel-economy numbers. The standard four-cylinder CE model has EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy ratings of 24/34. Camrys equipped with V6 engines have EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway, while the Camry hybrid has fuel economy ratings of 43 mpg city/37 mpg highway.
Exterior
An all-new exterior design provides the 2007 Camry with a visual impact that signals a departure from the upright style of its predecessor. This new Camry shape is athletic and modern, with a long, high-visibility cabin set on a horizontal underbody with strong, rounded planes and elongated structures. The wheelbase now is longer than before, and track is wider, with the wheels pushed toward the extremes of each of the car's four corners.
Under the flowing lines of this sheetmetal is a body structure designed to absorb collision-impact forces and help minimize impact deformation to the passenger cabin. High-strength steel is used for B-pillar and rocker panel reinforcement to help manage overall body deformation in the event of a side collision.
Inside the passenger cabin, even the seat frames are designed to receive and help absorb side collision loads and a cross member in the center of the floor is used for the same reason.
The chassis was made more rigid by connecting the cowl front to the upper suspension towers. Additionally, the Camry's hood, fenders and their brackets, and cowl are designed to crumple and absorb impact energy.
As a final design touch, these same panels feature an eye-appealing appearance. The new Camry's front fascia, defined by hood, grille, bumper and logo, is dignified and innovative and is completed by headlights that incorporate a projector-type low beam that offer both beauty and high performance.
Chassis
While designers optimized the Camry's visual image, they also paid attention to generating a sense of excitement in the driving experience without sacrificing ride quality. To do that, they increased wheelbase (109.3 in., up from 107.1 in.) but maintained the same overall length, with a shortened rear overhang. Even with this lengthened wheelbase, engineers delivered a reduced turning radius.
Setting the stage for improved grip and driver feel are upgraded wheels for all four Camry grades. Gone are the 15-inch wheels previously standard on the LE. For 2007, the CE, LE, XLE and Camry Hybrid will ride on 16-inch wheels of either steel or aluminum, while the sporty SE gets unique aluminum 17-inch wheels with six spokes. These are optimized to help ensure brake-heat dissipation.
Thanks to the use of enlarged wheels, brake discs also were enlarged for improved feel and stopping power. Up front, ventilated 11.65-inch discs are used, with solid 11.06-inch discs at the rear. A new brake pad is adopted that provides 10 percent higher coefficient of friction for increased stopping power over the previous model. Finally, Toyota's Brake Assist, an electronic function that senses an emergency stop and applies increased braking power once the driver touches the brake pedal, is standard.
Front suspension is via MacPherson struts. At the rear, a dual-link strut system helps provide an optimal balance between smooth ride and secure handling. To help improve the Camry's handling and driver feel, all lower control arms were lengthened, all spring, shock-absorber and antiroll-bar values, and all suspension geometries, were rethought and recalibrated.
The completely revised chassis was lab-tested using specs simulating the road surfaces in every country in which Camry is sold. Then, to add real-world verification to their new design, engineers road-tested the new suspension design for more than 60,000 miles in more than a dozen countries.
Grades
An essential and primary goal was to ensure that even the least expensive Camry is equipped with a comprehensive list of features to enhance its comfort, convenience and value.
The CE gets an impressive list of standard features, including halogen headlamps with an automatic on/off feature, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a six-speaker 160-watt digital AM/FM/CD audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and a 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission. It also comes with 16-inch wheels, a full complement of seven airbags, a vehicle immobilizer and four-wheel disc brakes.
The Camry LE adds to this package a long list of additional features, including an in-key remote keyless entry and eight-way-adjustable power driver's seat. A V6 engine with dual exhausts is also available.
Toyota's decision to distance the sporty Camry SE from the other grades had a significant effect upon the chassis specifications being developed for the new Camry SE. As was the case in previous years, LE and XLE use basically the same chassis specs while the SE uses springs, antiroll bars, shocks and bushings with firmer, sportier values than those used in the other two grades.
But for 2007, there are other differences, as well. The SE has a standard full body kit that positions the car 0.4-inches (10mm) lower than other Camry grades. In addition, a V-shaped brace is added to the SE's body between trunk and cabin and stabilizing braces were added to the underbody to increase the body's torsional rigidity. Finally, to make the SE more appealing to buyers seeking a more dynamic driving experience, the SE delivers performance enhanced by underbody aerodynamics borrowed from Toyota's experience in Formula One.
Tuning the SE chassis involved making the underbody as flat as possible to smooth the airflow under the car, and also to increase the speed of the airflow. Engineers also carefully adjusted the balance between front and rear downforce. The result is exceptional stability at elevated speeds.
Features standard on the SE include sporty 17-inch aluminum wheels, its own distinct black, honeycomb-style grille, ground effects body enhancement, smoked tint halogen headlamps, unique sport-trimmed interior in dark charcoal or medium gray with a leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel and amber-colored optitron gauges.
The XLE's list of standard features includes an upgraded dual-zone automatic climate controlled system with steering-wheel controls, a premium 440-watt JBL audio system with Bluetooth™ technology for hands-free calling, wood-style trim, moonroof, rear reclining seats, fog lamps and 16-inch aluminum wheels. Four-cylinder models are equipped with standard special seat fabric designed to be gentle on the skin, while V6 models feature standard leather-trimmed seats.
Options available on select Camry grades include a tilt/slide moonroof, heated seats, voice-command DVD navigation system, leather-trimmed seating, rear spoiler, Vehicle Stability Control and a Smart Entry and Smart Start system with push-button start that allows drivers to lock, unlock, or start the car just by carrying the Smart Key on his/her person.
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