Camry Hybrid out of hiding

Toyota's PR people will wear you down with facts and figures about the new Toyota Camry Hybrid, but there are four figures of particular note: 5.2, 151, 421 and 300.

The 5.2 refers to the new car's combined fuel consumption (5.2L/100km), a 13 percent improvement on the figure posted by its predecessor. 151 is the combined power figure in kilowatts for the petrol engine and electric motor — a number that Toyota says equates to that of a conventional V6-powered sedan (the Hybrid features a four-cylinder displacing 2.5 litres).

421 is the boot space in litres for the new Camry Hybrid. It's a much more useful volume now, since the company relocated the car's DC inverter to the engine bay and pushed forward the Nickel-Metal Hydride battery 100mm, thus liberating luggage space that is roughly on par with the best of the small cars. Quite important for some people, the 300 figure refers to the Camry Hybrid's towing capacity in kilograms. Previously the fuel-sipping sedan was not recommended for towing at all.

The company's chief engineer for Camry, Yurihiko Okane told Australian media yesterday that he and his development team for the new car had a change of heart, based on grumbles from Australia. We remain, as Okane-san told motoring.com.au, the one market in the world that insists Camry Hybrid must be able to tow; and the message was heard loud and clear. While the towing capacity means you won't be hauling ski boats, furniture trailers or even the smallest of caravans, it will allow the towing of lightly-loaded box trailers, for instance.

"Integrating an advanced hybrid system and newly-developed engine into the best-selling sedan — the Camry — allows us to deliver the benefits of hybrid [technology] to a wider audience," Okane-san said. Towing ability in turn opens up the appeal of the Camry Hybrid to a wider audience again.

Toyota is marketing the Camry Hybrid in two levels, the basic Camry H and the flagship Camry HL. Prices start at $34,990 for the basic model and rise to $41,490 for the flagship. The base model has come down in price by $2000 — or five per cent, expressed another way. While the Camry HL is now $1500 more expensive than the previous model's Luxury variant, it comes with added features Toyota claims are worth up to $4500.

Some of these features are appearing for the first time in an Australian-built car, and include blind-spot monitor and automatic high-beam. Standard features for both grades comprise: alloy wheels (16-inch for Camry H, 17-inch for HL), electric driver's seat adjustment, dual-zone climate control, hill-start assist control, keyless entry/start and reversing camera. Camry H makes do with a six-speaker audio system and 6.1-inch display screen. Added equipment for the Camry HL amounts to front fog lights, rear lip spoiler, chrome door handles, chrome rear garnish, leather trim, upgraded door trim, memory function for driver's seat, electrically-adjustable front-passenger's seat, electro-chromatic rear-view mirror and electric rear sunshade. Icing on the cake comes with rain-sensing wipers, a dipping external mirror when reverse gear is selected, rear parking sensors with acoustic guidance and a JBL 10-speaker digital audio with integrated satellite navigation.

Passive safety features fitted include seven SRS airbags (the seventh being a driver's knee airbag) and seatbelt reminders for all five positions. Toyota has already secured a five-star ANCAP rating for the 'bogger' Camry and the Hybrid models are similarly capable.

Mechanically the new Camry Hybrid builds on the configuration of the previous car, although the 2AR-FXE 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder is all new and will go into local production later this year. It develops 118kW and 213Nm on 91 RON ULP. Drive is channelled through Toyota's P314 continuously variable transmission, which relies on a dual planetary gear set rather than cones and chains to adjust the ratios on the fly. At right angles to the petrol engine is the 650-Volt AC synchronous electric motor, which produces 105kW and 270Nm. The two motive power units produce their peak power and torque figures at different speeds, so the optimal combined power figure is 151kW — still a handy amount when the car is called upon to deliver acceleration.

We'll cover the technical aspects of the Camry Hybrid in greater detail over the next few days, in our launch review. Keep an eye out for it.

Pictures show exterior and interior of Camry HL (silver car with satnav display) and Camry H (grey car without satnav).

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