Toyota Camry Hybrid gets nip/tuck for ASEAN market intro
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Jun 1st 2009 at 3:27PM 
Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand - Click above for a high-res image gallery
It may have taken a year to make it happen, but the locally-built Toyota Camry Hybrid is finally ready to go on sale in Thailand. This new version of the Camry Hybrid is the first of its kind (not assembled in Japan) and features unique new front and rear fascias that are derived from the Australian Aurion. Our take? The front grille is vaguely reminiscent of the three-bar chrome schnoz used by Ford in America, although it also reminds somewhat of the Venza, as well.
Although final pricing has not yet been announced, Toyota expects to sell the new Camry Hybrid in Thailand with just a small premium over the standard model due to a reduced 10% excise tax on locally-built hybrid vehicles. Thanks to this favorable pricing situation, Toyota expects the Hybrid to make up 60-70% of all Camry sales in the region. Soon, the Japanese automaker will begin exporting the Thai-built Camry Hybrid to other countries in Southeast Asia.
Gallery: Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand
[Source: Paul Tan]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mikhalian 3:33PM (6/01/2009)
I like this better than the NA one, it doesn't have so much of the melting plastic look.
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Victor 3:51PM (6/01/2009)
Non-NA market Camrys always looked better than the US/CAN market Camrys. This is no different.
bc 4:09PM (6/01/2009)
The 2010s now showing up at US dealers have a reworked grille, but it's not the same as this. This car also seems to have bigger, less slanty headlamps and fog lamp placement similar to the new Prius.
FT 3:37PM (6/01/2009)
Autoblog,
The "3 bar" grill was used by Toyotas as early as 2003 (Tundra)
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mavkato 4:30PM (6/01/2009)
Ford used this design in the 80s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tempo,_10-3-07_(18).JPG
tekd 6:25PM (6/01/2009)
I don't think the fact that there's 3 bars really makes them all the same thing, since the Tempo's 3 bar looks pretty different from this one.
Anyway, this is less hideous than the Venza grille so yay.
tekd 6:26PM (6/01/2009)
And I find it highly unlikely anybody was channeling 1980's Tempo when designing any modern grille ;)
sachomartin 3:36PM (6/01/2009)
looks great... i hope they release it soon here in the Philippines
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DonFrulo 3:52PM (6/01/2009)
looks like an accord!!!
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Mehdi Cheddadi 3:47PM (6/01/2009)
Looks like the new subaru legacy combined with the new prius. Boring
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zamafir 4:06PM (6/01/2009)
boring? it's a camry, boring is what it does best.
UCJR 3:50PM (6/01/2009)
It looks like some knockoff straight from China's BYD or Chery.
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MoonRover 4:36PM (6/01/2009)
Boring, uninteresting, not an attractive automobile, typical rehash from Toyota.
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Tricky dicky 4:42PM (6/01/2009)
standard toyota, all the panache of an obese wookie.
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Shiftright 4:43PM (6/01/2009)
Yaaaaawwnnnnnn....Oh that's right, it's a Toyota. Barely noticed it.
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Tomac 4:47PM (6/01/2009)
Because Thailand doesn't mind styling from 1995?
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dm789 1:29AM (6/02/2009)
You can say styling are boring but you should know by now that Asia is the test market for many products around the world from Cars, Motorbike, Electronics Cellphones and etc2. I remembered my mom 1993 Honda Accord has Automatic Climate control, Driver power seats and foldable side view mirrors plus they have 4WS as factory optional. And what does American Accord get? power window, power locks and sunroof gosh no wonder in Asia Honda Accord is comparable to BMW 3 series.
P.V. 4:53PM (6/01/2009)
Granted, the Camry sold in Asian markets always looked more interesting than the US Camry; the new one is more so due to its basis on the AUDM Toyota Aurion. Also, I definitely like the taillight shape and grille style of this one much more; the new US one looks like an overgrown first-generation (pre-wedge) Toyota Prius.
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Jacob 5:29PM (6/01/2009)
Looks like a larger Lexus HS.
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Shane From Australia 5:58PM (6/01/2009)
Attention to those who are interest ... google Toyota Aurion and you will discover a very attractive tweaked version of the humble Camry that was modified and manufactured here in Australia - a very good looking car expecially the Sportivo models.
And, until recently before the economic slump took hold - TRD Australia heavily modified the Aurion and produced an absolutely awesome looking supercharged 3.5 v6 beast that boasts a 241kw (320hp) powerplant and would undeniably be the most potent Camry derivative every produced anywhere in the world.
For more, just search for TRD Aurion and check it out, i'm sure most bloggers will agree with me.
On another note, Australia starts locay assembly of the Camry Hybrid in the last qtr of this year and should do well in our region.
Cheers
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