Camry concept in name only

Forget the fancy headlamps and 'freeform' random grille effect of Toyota's HCCV (Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle) concept set to be rolled out at this week's Melbourne International Motor Show. When the local assembled Camry Hybrid goes on sale in February 2010 it will look like... errr... a 2010 Camry.

Confused? Don't be... The HCCV is a quick make-over of a US-market Camry Hybrid designed to draw attention to the locally assembled hybrid model that will go into production at Toyota's Altona (Vic) plant later this year.

To be introduced at the midlife update for the Camry, the new Hybrid will likely take 'trainspotting' levels of model knowledge to pick it from the conventional Camrys when they go on sale next year. Indeed, the midlife update as a whole is not expected to deliver much in the way of substantial styling revisions to the Camry family.

The HCCV nonetheless will share top billing at the Toyota stand at MIMS this week with the new third-generation Prius (more here) .

At least Toyota is not flying kites around the car's extra aero bodywork and add-ons -- the work of Paul Beranger's local operation, Toyota Style Australia. Though the Australian Camry Hybrid will have some local tweaks, Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss, David Buttner, admits the showcar's 'beefed-up' add-ons will not make it to production.

Rather says Buttner, HCCV will be used to "excite" interest and "gauge customer reaction" in the new petrol electric model.

Hard facts about the Aussie Camry Hybrid are at this stage still thin on the ground -- Toyota is still playing many cards close to its chest.

What we can confirm is, unlike the all-new 'Synergy 3' hybrid system in the new Prius, the Camry will kick-off with the proven hybrid system already used in Camry in four other plants around the world.

The powertrain -- which based on the US model will feature a four-cylinder petrol engine of 2.4-2.5-litres coupled with a 105kW/270Nm electric motor and constantly variable transmission -- will arrive at Altona from Japan complete. Says Peter Evans, Toyota's Corporate Manager Product Planning, Toyota may look at incorporating more locally supplied componentry in later iterations of the model.

Evans will not comment officially on power outputs or economy or performance figures for the new car. Price too is a closely guarded secret.

What Evans will say is the Camry Hybrid could deliver a power boost of better than 20 per cent, thanks to its combination petrol/electric drivetrain. According to Evans the 0-100km/h time should show an improvement of 1sec (Toyota does not quote an official time for the current models), while fuel economy -- the raison d'etre for the Hybrid model -- will be "substantially" improved.

Though US fuel economy testing is not directly comparable to Australian mandated tests, Camry Hybrid registers 33/34mpg (city/highway), compared to the standard four-cylinder models' 21/31mpg. The 'overall' US fuel figures are 25mph for the Camry and 34mpg for the US model Camry Hybrid.

Toyota Australia quotes a combined figure of 9.9L/100km for the local Camry variants. The Carsales Network believes Toyota Australia is looking for an ADR 81.02 combined fuel economy figure of around 6.3L/100km for the hybrid variant.

Both Evans and Buttner say the newer technology of the third-generation Prius will mean the trademark hybrid model will likely demand a price premium over the larger Camry Hybrid.

They point to the US market's $4000 price premium as indicative of the extra a Camry buyer will have to handover to join the green brigade Down Under. It's likely the single Hybrid model will feature a relatively high level of equipment -- though not too much to turn government fleet buyers away.

We expect the car to be based on the upper midrange $33,750 Ateva trim level.

US Camry Hybrid sales topped 46,000 units last year -- better than 10 per cent of Camry production. Buttner says the company has 10,000 Camry Hybrid units per annum as its target for Australia.

Currently less than 15 per cent of Camry sales in Australia are to private buyers. He says Camry Hybrid could boost that figure to closer to 25 per cent.

The Melbourne International Motor Show opens its doors on Friday, February 27. Look out for all the news from the show at The Carsales Network then...

Check out our drive of the US market Camry Hybrid on Greencarsales here.