Next-gen Camry sportier and more spacious: development boss

Camry global engineer chief, Yukihiro Okane, says the next generation of Toyota's global medium/large car will be sportier and more spacious. But it won't grow externally, nor will it immediately follow the European trend of using downsized turbocharged powerplants.

Okane heads up Camry's development team globally. He is responsible for the car (and a number of its derivatives, including Aurion), which accounted for more than 1.0m units last year -- even during an unprecedented slump in global new car sales. Australian Toyota production all falls under Okane's bailiwick.

The Carsales Network spoke to Okane near Toyota's headquarters in Nagoya Japan last week, following the Tokyo Motor Show. And though he would not comment directly regarding the fine details of his plans for the next generation of the car, nor give a definite timeline, the engineering boss was happy to talk about the philosophy behind the new vehicle.

"Camry is the right size, good size for demand worldwide [externally] and I don't think new generation car would be smaller. Current size is good, but I would like to make the car more spacious inside. Increase the interior volume," Okane told the Carsales Network.

"It is well fitted to the atmosphere of the model and its customers... [But] The new car will be more fun to drive; much more comfortable; and with lower fuel consumption," he said.

Okane effectively ruled out an early move to smaller, turbocharged petrol engines for the car, saying Toyota did not have such powerplants ready to install into the next-gen Camry. Nor is a diesel powerplant likely.

"Downsizing is one trend for good environment. We have a [naturally aspirated] 2.0-litre engine for Camry for China market and some other markets, but we have limitations of parts for the Camry that is produced in Australia.

"Unfortunately we don't have any downsizing turbocharged engines for Camry now," he said.

In fact, Okane hinted that the next generation car will almost certainly use a refreshed version of the new 2AR 2.5-litre four fitted to the Camry in the US and Japanese domestic markets. Currently the engine is "economically not good for the customer" to fit to Australian-built Camrys, says Okane. That will change in the next generation, he hinted.

Matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the engine is already significantly more powerful (at 133 versus 118kW) and more economical than the four fitted to Australian-built Camrys. Indeed, a proud Okane says it is the "best in the world" in its class. Direct-injection is a likely add-on to the powerplant during the generational update, he admits, and should yield a blend of more drivability and economy.

In the next generation Camry, the Hybrid model is also tipped to adopt the improved Hybrid Synergy Drive system unveiled in the third-generation Prius. Eventually it may follow the Prius example and add plug-in functionality to its offer, Okane intimated.

"Plug-in Prius we show you at Tokyo Motor Show is a first trial for Toyota. Our first step is Prius, because Prius is our keynote hybrid model. We will try new technology of Prius mainly."

Both hybrid and conventional versions of the next-generation of Camry will be full five-star NCAP cars, Okane says. Currently, while the Aurion gets five stars in ANCAP testing, the Camry sits at four.

The timeline of the new car is not something Okane was keen to comment on. "It's a secret," joked the development boss. It's not a difficult deadline to calculate, however.

Launched locally in mid-2006 and facelifted in August this year, the current car has between 30 and 36 months to run, say Toyota insiders. That suggests the new car will be debuted in early 2012, however, it could be shown in concept form at the next Tokyo Motor Show in late 2011.

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