Toyota Australia’s locally-built, seventh-generation Camry is now available in auto showrooms around Australia, with the new model expected to become ‘Australia’s best-selling mid-size car’.
The 2012 Camry will be exported to 12 countries, generating $1 billion per year in export revenue for the Victoria-based automotive manufacturer.
The car, built at Toyota’s Altona manufacturing site, boasts a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission that reportedly deliver better performance while substantially cutting fuel bills and emissions.
The new Camry features expanded safety features, a more comfortable ride, better handling and added refinement, including a quieter cabin, says Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.
"New Camry has the sharp styling, advanced safety, dynamic driving performance, interior space and quietness, comprehensive features, low cost of ownership and exceptional value demanded by Australian drivers," Buttner said.
"The new line-up is set to expand Camry’s reign as Australia’s best-selling mid-size car – a position it has held for almost 18 years.
"Camry will be a significant contributor to the Australian and Victorian economies, and holds the key to a strong future for the local automotive sector.
"In addition to local sales, Camry will be exported to more than 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, other Middle East countries and New Zealand, earning export sales revenue well in excess of $1 billion a year.
"It is a great Australian success story.”
The new range includes the Altise, starting from $30,490, and the Atara SL, starting from $39,990, which replaces the Grande.
Engineers from the Toyota Technical Center in Melbourne have been working on developing the body, electrical and chassis components for the Camry range since 2006.
They also tuned and tested local versions to meet the demands of Australian motorists and road conditions, including calibrations for the electric power steering, blind-spot monitor and automatic high beam.
Designers at Toyota Style Australia were responsible for the interior fabrics and colour and trim of the local cars.
Back in September, Toyota Australia hired approximately 40 new starters to work on the Camry vehicle assembly. Including the 40 new recruits, approximately 2,200 employees were involved in the production of the car range, the company said.
Parts to be supplied from the Asia-Pacific region include electrical switches, steering column, alternator, some minor interior trim parts and bolts and nuts.
Though the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engines are currently being built in Japan, Toyota Australia is preparing a local engine facility of its own.
“The engines will be supplied from Japan until middle of 2012, when the AR engine plant facility will be ready. The V6 engine will be sourced from Japan for Aurion,” Toyota Australia media spokesperson Laura Hill told Manufacturers’ Monthly.
“Examples of components supplied from Japan are transmission units, various computer units, sensors and nuts and bolts.”