When you?ve had the best-selling car in America for 13 of the last 14 years, you don?t want to stray too far from the winning combination, and Toyota appears to have done just that.? It?s a bit more sophisticated looking, perhaps, but your neighbors won?t likey know that you have the new generation Camry.
The seventh generation Camry?s evolutionary design has a more spacious interior, with better driving dynamics and an even quieter ride.? They also boast class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology with Toyota proclaiming this is the best Camry every, which it should be, after 28 years of improvements.
?The all-new 2012 Camry blends an evolution of the car?s values ? such as comfort, efficiency, reliability and safety ? with a more appealing design and engaging driving experience,? said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. ??Competition in the midsize sedan segment is the strongest it?s ever been, and the all-new Camry is designed to maintain its long-standing leadership while also broadening its appeal.?
Powertrain options include a more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine and the same 268-hp 3.5-liter V-6, both offering better fuel economy than the previous generation engines.? The Camry Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain has a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that achieves a 30 percent increase to an EPA-estimated 43 mpg city and 39 mpg highway fuel economy.
The new Camry has the same dimensions as the previous generation, but interior engineering and design enhancements have netted more interior space.? There?s also a new dashboard design, improved driver comfort and better visibility. ?Upper Interior surfaces are soft touch and many surfaces are embellished with a stitched trim.
All models have standard Bluetooth and a USB port.? A variety of variety of audio systems with display screens are available, along with HD radio and Sirius XM Satellite Radio?.? Top audio models have new efficient JBL GreenEdge? speaker systems.
Camry will be one of the first Toyotas to offer the Entune multimedia system, which uses a?mobile smartphone to integrate access to navigation, entertainment and information services.?? Entune debuts the first-ever support for mobile apps, such as Bing, OpenTable, and movietickets.com, along with accessing other useful travel-related services, such as live weather, traffic, fuel information (location and price), stocks, and sports.? It can also access iHeartRadio?s 750+ stations, and Pandora?s personalized music service.? The system will also allow for audio read-back and replay capabilities for text messages, with the ability to respond by pre-set ?Quick Reply Messages? such as: ?I?m driving and will reply later.?
All 2012 Camry models are equipped with 10 standard airbags: dual-stage advanced SRS front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver?s and front passenger?s knee airbag.
Like all Toyota models, the Camry feature Toyota?s Star Safety System?, which includes Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS brakes, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist.
Another available safety system, Safety Connect, can access a call center with a live operator who can dispatch police and emergency vehicles.? The system combines automatic collision notification and a stolen vehicle locator feature, which can track the location of the stolen vehicle via GPS and help guide police to recover it.
A new available Blind Spot Monitor uses radar to detect vehicles in the driver?s blind spots. When the system detects a vehicle in the adjacent lane, it alerts the driver using indicators on the side mirrors. If the turn signal is on when the there is a vehicle in the blind spot of the driver?s intended lane, the indicator on the corresponding mirror will flash.
Toyota?s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. ?Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation. The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.
The Camry will also come standard with Toyota Care, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The 2012 Camry and Camry Hybrid are offered in six different model grades and prices have been reduced from $200 to $2,000 depending on the model.? The LE starts at $22,500 and the XLE is $24,725.? The Hybrid price has also been dropped to $25,900 for the LE and $27,400 for the XLE.
