Toyota reveals all-new Camry

Toyota pulled the wraps off its next-generation Camry at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit -- not surprising, as the USA is the biggest market for the mid-size contender. However, the unveiling this week was just as significant to Aussies -- make no mistake, the car you see here is the one we’ll be getting, too.

Clearly evident from the accompanying images is that 2006 Camry is more modern -- and perhaps more enticing -- than the existing car. There’s a few Mazda6 design cues scattered around, and there’s even a hint of Hyundai’ Sonata in its rear end.

A key change is the fact that the new Camry will be offered only in four-cylinder guise only. With the launch of the new car V6 duties will be left to the all-new Avalon replacement that debuts later in the year.

Although Toyota hasn’t revealed exact figures, it says the Camry's 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine has been upgraded to yield more power and improved fuel economy. A five-speed manual continues as the base transmission, but the four-speed auto makes way for a new ‘intelligent’ new five-speed gated auto that should also help boost performance and economy.

Toyota Australia is investing most of its design/engineering resources in the Avalon replacement, but the next-gen Camry will be tailored to the local market to the extent that steering and suspension calibrations will be tuned to our unique road conditions.

The local car will gain standard 16-inch wheels (currently 15-inchers on base models), bigger brakes and an interior that’s claimed to offer greater comfort levels and increased legroom.

Due on sale here around July/August, the new model will be built at Toyota’s Altona plant -- as is the case with the current model -- and exported to 26 countries.

Toyota Australia’s executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner, said the new Camry had the looks to attract a new generation of buyers to Toyota.

“We expect this model to consolidate Camry’s position as a dominant market leader in the Australian medium car segment,” he said.

That’s bad news for rivals -- even in the tail-end of its model cycle, the Camry mustered up 36,492 local sales (four-cylinder and V6 variants combined) last year. What will the new one manage?