Chris reports that the 2007 Toyota Camry (see our early spy shots here) is every bit as safe and
predictable an evolution of the previous design as you’d expect, despite the predictable press conference blather to
the contrary. After all, why meddle with success? According to Chris, there’s a new premium fabric available on the XLE
trim (highest luxury trim) called “Fraichir,” which is coated with something called Sericin, extracted and
refined from silkworm cocoons. The fabric is said to be “an effective moisturizer with natural healing
properties.” Uh-huh. Oh, and it also features a Plasmacluster Ionizing HVAC system. Sounding more than a bit like
a rejected Star Trek weapon, this is effectively a filter system for controlling airborn ickies including fungus,
microbes, molds, allergens, bacteria, and the aroma of McDonald’s shoestrings.”
Toyota has
built in the potential for some fun – the V6 powerplant puts out 268 hp, which should give the performance-oriented SE
model some energy to work with.
Full press release and more pictures after the jump.
The following are official Toyota photos of the Camry Hybrid.
Official Press Release:
TOYOTA STAGES WORLD PREMIERE OF ALL-NEW 2007 CAMRY AND CAMRY HYBRID
AT 2006 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
DETROIT, January 9, 2006 — Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.,
Inc., unveiled the all-new 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid at a press conference today at the 2006 North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS).
In the 23 years since it was introduced as a 1983 model, Camry has evolved
to the quintessential American family sedan with iconic status.
The Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in
America four years running and eight of the past nine years, is completely new for 2007 as Toyota engineers and
designers follow a strategy that refuses to take continued success for granted. Toyota set out to redefine the new
Camry. To accomplish this, Toyota chose to expand the very definition of Camry and in the process create a new
benchmark for sedans. Designers rethought every aspect of the Camry, from its chassis to its body, interior,
accessories and drivetrain. The result is a world-class sedan that not only redefines global standards for comfort,
performance and intelligent design, but also is available, for the first time, with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy
Drive.
“With the new 2007 Camry, Toyota once again raised the bar with the family sedan,” said
Don Esmond, senior vice president, automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Camry’s
reputation as the gold standard was developed over more than 20 years of refining this excellent package and this new
Camry continues that reputation.”
As designers and engineers refined their goals, they focused on
trading what some owners felt was a conservative image for a more stylish, athletic, modern image. At the same time,
they sought new standards of performance for both standard and hybrid models.
The challenge was to
accomplish a thorough redesign without sacrificing traditional Camry qualities, including roomy interior, comfortable
ride, low noise levels, and class-leading value. Toyota designers accomplished those goals by rethinking every aspect
of the Camry, with special attention paid to improving driving dynamics, comfort, low noise and reduced vibration.
As interested as drivers will be in Camry’s enhanced performance, refinement, value and style,
they’ll also be interested in its fuel-economy numbers. The standard four-cylinder CE model has EPA-estimated
city/highway fuel economy ratings of 25/34. Camrys equipped with V6 engines have EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of
22 mpg city/31 mpg highway, while the Camry hybrid has fuel economy ratings of 43 mpg city/37 mpg highway.
Exterior
An all-new exterior design provides the 2007 Camry with a visual impact that signals a departure from
the upright style of its predecessor. This new Camry shape is athletic and modern, with a long, high-visibility cabin
set on a horizontal underbody with strong, rounded planes and elongated structures. The wheelbase now is longer than
before, and track is wider, with the wheels pushed toward the extremes of each of the car’s four corners.
Under the flowing lines of this sheetmetal is a body structure designed to absorb collision-impact forces and
help minimize impact deformation to the passenger cabin. High-strength steel is used for B-pillar and rocker panel
reinforcement to help manage overall body deformation in the event of a side collision.
Inside the
passenger cabin, even the seat frames are designed to receive and help absorb side collision loads and a cross member
in the center of the floor is used for the same reason.
The chassis was made more rigid by connecting the
cowl front to the upper suspension towers. Additionally, the Camry’s hood, fenders and their brackets, and cowl
are designed to crumple and absorb impact energy.
As a final design touch, these same panels feature an
eye-appealing appearance. The new Camry’s front fascia, defined by hood, grille, bumper and logo, is dignified
and innovative and is completed by headlights that incorporate a projector-type low beam that offer both beauty and
high performance.
Chassis
While designers optimized the Camry’s visual image, they also paid
attention to generating a sense of excitement in the driving experience without sacrificing ride quality. To do that,
they increased wheelbase (109.3 in., up from 107.1 in.) but maintained the same overall length, with a shortened rear
overhang. Even with this lengthened wheelbase, engineers delivered a reduced turning radius.
Setting the
stage for improved grip and driver feel are upgraded wheels for all four Camry grades. Gone are the 15-inch wheels
previously standard on the LE. For 2007, the CE, LE, XLE and Camry Hybrid will ride on 16-inch wheels of either steel
or aluminum, while the sporty SE gets unique aluminum 17-inch wheels with six spokes. These are optimized to help
ensure brake-heat dissipation.
Thanks to the use of enlarged wheels, brake discs also were enlarged for
improved feel and stopping power. Up front, ventilated 11.65-inch discs are used, with solid 11.06-inch discs at the
rear. A new brake pad is adopted that provides 10 percent higher coefficient of friction for increased stopping power
over the previous model. Finally, Toyota’s Brake Assist, an electronic function that senses an emergency stop and
applies increased braking power once the driver touches the brake pedal, is standard.
Front suspension is
via MacPherson struts. At the rear, a dual-link strut system helps provide an optimal balance between smooth ride and
secure handling. To help improve the Camry’s handling and driver feel, all lower control arms were lengthened,
all spring, shock-absorber and antiroll-bar values, and all suspension geometries, were rethought and recalibrated.
The completely revised chassis was lab-tested using specs simulating the road surfaces in every country in which
Camry is sold. Then, to add real-world verification to their new design, engineers road-tested the new suspension design
for more than 60,000 miles in more than a dozen countries.
Grades
An essential and primary goal was to
ensure that even the least expensive Camry is equipped with a comprehensive list of features to enhance its comfort,
convenience and value.
The CE gets an impressive list of standard features, including halogen headlamps with
an automatic on/off feature, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a six-speaker 160-watt digital AM/FM/CD audio system
with an auxiliary audio jack and a 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission. It also comes with
16-inch wheels, a full complement of seven airbags, a vehicle immobilizer and four-wheel disc brakes.
The
Camry LE adds to this package a long list of additional features, including an in-key remote keyless entry and
eight-way-adjustable power driver’s seat. A V6 engine with dual exhausts is also available.
Toyota’s decision to distance the sporty Camry SE from the other grades had a significant effect upon the
chassis specifications being developed for the new Camry SE. As was the case in previous years, LE and XLE use
basically the same chassis specs while the SE uses springs, antiroll bars, shocks and bushings with firmer, sportier
values than those used in the other two grades.
But for 2007, there are other differences, as well. The SE
has a standard full body kit that positions the car 0.4-inches (10mm) lower than other Camry grades. In addition, a
V-shaped brace is added to the SE’s body between trunk and cabin and stabilizing braces were added to the
underbody to increase the body’s torsional rigidity. Finally, to make the SE more appealing to buyers seeking a
more dynamic driving experience, the SE delivers performance enhanced by underbody aerodynamics borrowed from
Toyota’s experience in Formula One.
Tuning the SE chassis involved making the underbody as flat as
possible to smooth the airflow under the car, and also to increase the speed of the airflow. Engineers also carefully
adjusted the balance between front and rear downforce. The result is exceptional stability at elevated speeds.
Features standard on the SE include sporty 17-inch aluminum wheels, its own distinct black, honeycomb-style
grille, ground effects body enhancement, smoked tint halogen headlamps, unique sport-trimmed interior in dark charcoal
or medium gray with a leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel and amber-colored optitron gauges.
The
XLE’s list of standard features includes an upgraded dual-zone automatic climate controlled system with
steering-wheel controls, a premium 440-watt JBL audio system with Bluetooth™ technology for hands-free calling,
wood-style trim, moonroof, rear reclining seats, fog lamps and 16-inch aluminum wheels. Four-cylinder models are
equipped with standard special seat fabric designed to be gentle on the skin, while V6 models feature standard
leather-trimmed seats.
Options available on select Camry grades include a tilt/slide moonroof, heated
seats, voice-command DVD navigation system, leather-trimmed seating, rear spoiler, Vehicle Stability Control and a
Smart Entry and Smart Start system with push-button start that allows drivers to lock, unlock, or start the car just by
carrying the Smart Key on his/her person.
Interior
One of the primary goals the new Camry’s
design team set for itself was to come up with a stylish design and a roomy, comfortable interior.
The team
turned its attention to maximizing interior space – in particular, fore-and-aft space – without significantly
enlarging the Camry’s exterior. It started by pushing the cowl, the bottom of the car’s windshield, forward
for an increased sense of openness and room in the Camry’s passenger cabin.
Redesigned front seats
also played a role in adding a feeling of spaciousness to the Camry cabin. Additionally, seat-slide length was
increased to accommodate comfortable driving positions for larger drivers and passengers. Manual seats have a range of
10 inches, and power seats offer 10.2 inches of travel.
As a thoughtful detail, an assist plate – a place
on which to position one’s hand for support while entering and exiting the vehicle- was added to the outboard
side of each front power seat-bottom surround panel.
In an expansion of a seat technology first seen on the
Toyota Prius, the Camry’s seats use Toyota’s Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seat design. That means that
each seat is designed to help manage whiplash injury.
The 2007 Camry’s door trim was redesigned for
improved ease of use of the door handles and switches. Designers maximized the size of the space around the door
handles for easier access.
Designers also paid careful attention to improving the comfort available to
rear-seat passengers. Footwell space for the rear seat was enlarged, and additional rear seat legroom was provided.
Available rear legroom now measures 38.3 inches, up from 37.8 inches in the previous generation Camry. To enhance
comfort for rear-seat XLE passengers, seatbacks now recline eight degrees from their standard position. Alternately, a
60/40 non-reclining fold-down rear seat is standard on CE and LE grades. Rear-seat passengers also get dedicated
personal reading lamps on moonroof-equipped Camrys.
So complete was the rethink of the Camry’s
interior that even the seat fabric was redesigned. Used exclusively on the top-of-the-line XLE four-cylinder model, the
new standard fabric is treated by the Fraichir process. In this process, fabric is coated with a naturally occurring
component called Sericin, which is extracted from silkworm cocoons and refined. This substance is used because it
contains a natural moisturizing component.
Additionally, in their search for increased space, designers did
not overlook the Camry’s trunk. With the 60/40 fold down rear seats, it offers 15 cubic feet of luggage space.
With the reclining or fixed rear seats, it delivers 14.5 cubic feet of storage space. It is equipped with a grocery
hook, a utility box and a luggage net (on XLE) for added convenience.
The revised interior involved a
complete redesign of every detail of the dash and console, in part to avoid the impression that the dash crowds the
Camry’s passengers, and also to improve instrument visibility and ease use of all controls.
The dash
itself uses a two-level configuration with the upper level moved toward the front of the vehicle to improve the
impression of roominess.
In the instrument panel, instruments are larger than before, with larger lettering
and longer needles. The speedometer is marked in five-mph increments, a step that is important to American buyers
because speed limits of 55, 65 and 75 mph are very common. Additionally, the odometer and trip meters are illuminated
at all times to improve daytime visibility.
Special attention was paid to the audio/HVAC control panel. The
control panel features switches that are slimmer and neater than previously, with larger lettering, and with surface
luminescence for easier use at night.
A standard multi-information display offers outside temperature
readings, possible cruising range, average speed, average fuel consumption and trip odometer.
Designers
built in many storage spaces around the front-passenger area, including console side-pockets, marking the first use of
this storage option in a sedan. Storage options also include a large front console box equipped with an accessory power
socket and an auxiliary audio jack – this box is big enough to store eight CD jewel cases. Other storage areas include
an accessory box behind the shift lever containing another accessory power socket, a 354 square inch rear-console box
with a card holder and a movable tray, and, adjacent to the shift lever, holders for two large cups.
A new
HVAC system, standard on the XLE and Hybrid, incorporates automatic climate-control with separate left and right zones.
This new system uses Plasmacluster ionizer technology to help reduce airborne mold spores, microbes, fungi, odors, germs
and bacteria inside the passenger cabin. The plasmacluster ionizer does this by artificially creating positive and
negative ions that seek out and surround harmful airborne substances.
Engines and Transmissions
The
2AZ-FE engine, standard across the Camry grade lineup, is based on the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine from last year,
but is substantially upgraded. This redesign employs optimized intake and exhaust systems, as well as strategies that
reduce internal friction and enhance engine-block/crankcase rigidity. The result is improved power output with
exceptional fuel economy and reduced noise and vibration levels.
This engine is based on bore/stroke
dimensions of 3.48 x 3.78 inches (88.5 x 96mm) for a displacement of 2,362 cc, or 144.1 ci, and develops 158 SAE
horsepower. During their revision of the existing engine, engineers boosted the compression ratio slightly to 9.8:1,
altered the cam profile and paid particular attention to reducing friction through strategies such as reducing the
tension of the piston rings while increasing their tensile strength. Finally, they reduced piston weight, optimized the
balance shaft, improved sound insulation performance of the engine cover and improved the engine mounts.
With this engine, Camry buyers have the choice of either five-speed manual or electronically operated five-speed
automatic transmission.
For those looking for more power, the new 2GR-FE engine – a 24-valve, DOHC
3.5L V6 – is available in the LE, SE and XLE. This engine is designed to deliver up to 40 percent better acceleration
over the 2006 model year Camry 3.3-liter V6. The V6 is based on bore/stroke measurements of 3.70 x 3.27 inches (94.0 x
83.0 mm) for a displacement of 210.9 ci, or 3,459cc, and uses a compression ratio of 10.8:1 to generate 268 SAE
horsepower.
The dual camshafts, which are chain-driven, employ Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence
(Dual VVT-i) for optimal cam timing – and therefore maximum power production – at all RPM levels. Engineers
improved airflow through every element of the engine’s intake tract. This includes improving air-cleaner shapes,
intake ducts and the intake manifold and cylinder head intake ports. In addition, valve openings were enlarged and
exhaust pressure loss was reduced from the exhaust manifold to the muffler.
Engineers modified the shape of
the Camry’s taper-squish combustion chambers to make maximum use of that air. And they provided exhaust manifolds
that incorporate catalytic converters for greater efficiency.
Harnessing this engine’s output is an
all-new six-speed automatic transmission that uses 21 percent fewer parts than the conventional five-speed automatic
transmission it replaces. This new transmission, which can be shifted sequentially, relies upon a newly developed gear
train that uses a Ravigneaux-type compound planetary gear for reduced size, weight and friction.
This new
transmission also uses a quick-response, low-friction clutch pack for enhanced fuel economy; an ultra-flat, low-inertia
torque converter for high transmission efficiency; a set of high-response, low-slip clutch packs and new electronic and
hydraulic control systems that incorporate an intelligent shift control that learns driver’s driving style and
selects gears based on that style.
As a result of this development, transmission kickdown response was cut
to 0.5 seconds, more than twice as fast as the response of the transmission this new one replaces.
Audio
The standard audio system in the 2007 Camry incorporates an AM/FM/six-disc in-dash CD changer with six speakers
and uses a four-channel digital amplifier that produces 160 watts of output. Additionally, all audio systems are
capable for reading CDs with MP3 files.
The premium JBL system, standard in the XLE and Hybrid, offers
AM/FM/six-disc in-dash CD changer with eight speakers and an eight-channel, 440-watt digital amplifier for low
distortion and faithful reproduction of a wide range of musical types and styles. When a navigation system is added,
the premium JBL system integrates that system and comes with a four-disc in-dash CD changer. The JBL audio system
includes Bluetooth® technology for hands-free telephone compatibility.
Safety
All 2007 Camrys
come equipped with an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist. Vehicle
Stability Control (VSC) with traction control, an electronic system that controls engine output and brake application on
individual wheels to help control loss of traction in turns, is available as an option.
Dual-stage advanced
SRS airbags are standard on all Camry models. Standard seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags help provide
coverage for the length of the passenger compartment. A driver’s knee airbag also is standard.
Camry Hybrid
Toyota extends its hybrid leadership by making its exclusive Hybrid Synergy Drive available
in the 2007 Camry. Hybrid Synergy Drive consists of dual gas and electric power sources that are complementary and
produce a combined 192 horsepower. This system varies power between gas and electric, or both, as needed.
The first half of this system consists of the 2.4L four-cylinder 2AZ-FXE Atkinson-cycle engine, which generates 147
hp and is coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The second half of the Hybrid Synergy Drive equation
consists of a small, specially developed electric drive motor that produces 45 horsepower, an ultra-small inverter with
a specially designed compact battery and a transaxle to provide the economy and seamless performance hybrid drivers
seek.
In addition to its groundbreaking Hybrid Synergy Drive, Camry Hybrid comes with a long list of
standard features. These include a tire-pressure monitoring system, halogen headlamps with automatic on/off, a premium
JBL audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and Bluetooth® technology, cruise control, a tilt and telescopic
steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control heating and air conditioning, an eight-way-adjustable power
driver’s seat, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, 16-inch aluminum wheels, heated outside rear-view mirrors and
much more.
Additionally, the Camry Hybrid is equipped with an “ECO” button that limits energy
consumption by the HVAC system and under certain conditions can help improve fuel economy.
Because there
are situations in daily driving in which the gas engine in a Toyota hybrid is completely shut down, air-conditioning
and power-steering systems are driven electrically, rather than by the engine. This ensures these features will
continue to operate, whatever the status of the Camry Hybrid’s drive system.
Finally, special
attention was paid to the vehicle underbody with the use of wheel spats and underbelly pans resulting in a low
coefficient of aerodynamic drag (Cd) of 0.27, which helps increase fuel economy.
Warranty
The 2007
Camry and Camry Hybrid are covered by Toyota’s 36-month/36,000-mile basic new-vehicle warranty that applies to
all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for
60,000 miles and corrosion perforation with no mileage limitation.
The Camry Hybrid also has an
eight-year/100,000 mile warranty that covers the hybrid–related components, including the HV battery, battery
control module, hybrid control module, and inverter with converter.