Detroit 2017: All-New U.S. Market Toyota Camry Officially Launched

The Toyota Camry, America’s best-selling car for the past 15 years – now enters its eighth-generation with a glitzy introduction of the U.S. market model at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show.

The new Camry utilizes the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) which represents a completely new strategy to the way the company designs, engineers, and packages its vehicles - transforming Toyota’s previously bland, bread-and-butter sedan into a stylish and sporty silhouette, equipped with the latest technologies from the company.

Bob Carter, Toyota senior vice president of automotive operations said, “The all-new 2018 Camry is, without a doubt, the most captivating mid-size sedan we’ve ever produced. It delivers on everything Camry owners have come to expect from America’s best-selling car, and adds to it, jaw-dropping design, more advanced technology, cutting-edge safety systems, and stirring performance that raises it to an unparalleled level of excitement.”  

The design team set three primary design goals when designing the all-new Camry: a distinctive, low center of gravity that results in a firm, wide stance; a practical-yet-striking styled cabin profile, and a sporty and upscale image both inside and out.

The new design philosophy, dubbed “Keen Look”, is accentuated by a two-piece grille, the hood now sits 40mm lower than the predecessor, adjoined to the upper section of the grille.

The Camry now has a sleeker profile than the outgoing model - the hip points of the occupants have been lowered by nearly 25mm in the front and 30mm at the rear and therefore their respective seating positions.

This allowed the car’s overall vehicle height to be lowered by approximately one inch from the current model and incorporate a lower roofline, without sacrificing interior space. The low and wide stance exudes both an athletic and striking exterior design that melds flowing lines and complex shapes to form a sculpted exterior.

The wheelbase has grown by 50mm to 2824mm, and now measures 4859mm in length 1838mm in width and the aforementioned drop in height now totals 1440mm. The Camry design team sought to make the new Camry models instantly recognizable and appear different from the other models from as far as 200 yards away.
 
The completely redesigned interior attempts to fuse functionality, futuristic styling, and a high degree of personal space into one. A key visual element driver-focused dashboard is the character line that flows from the instrument binnacle towards the centre console. All surfaces throughout the cabin — dashboard, instrument panel, center console and door trim – employ soft touch and premium materials. 

The front seats have been completely redesigned with improved ergonomics and elsewhere within the cabin, attention has been paid to better the level craftsmanship, by employing stylised stitching on the seats, front and back.

The new Camry will feature Toyota’s latest Human Machine Interface (HMI) – the car relays information through three interlinked displays: a 10-inch colour Head-Up Display (HUD); a seven-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster, and an eight-inch audio and navigation display and air-conditioning control panel that is integrated into the centre console.

Also, the range of steering column adjustment has been increased from the current vehicle, while the hood, cowl, and dashboard height have all been lowered for enhanced outward visibility.

Three new powertrains will be available on the new Camry – a new 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection and an all-new 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine paired to a new 8-speed automatic transmission, and a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid.

Toyota claim the new generation engine focuses on higher torque, higher power and lower fuel consumption – achieved through rapid combustion due to higher tumble air flow, multi-hole direct injection, variable cooling and higher compression ratios. The new range of engines will deliver an overall thermal efficiency of 40 percent.

The new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine is paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with six ‘simulated’ ratios featuring a new ‘Sport’ mode. To improve vehicle balance and lower the centre of gravity - the hybrid system’s battery pack has moved from the trunk to beneath the rear seat.

The all-new Camry will feature the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) package which bundles active safety technologies such as Pre-Collision warning system (PCS w/PD), Active Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Warning with steering assistance (LDA w/SA) and automatic headlamps (AHB).

Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) systems will feature as standard on higher-spec models. The all-new Camry will feature as standard, 10 airbags, VSC, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and Start/Stop technology.

The all-new Toyota Camry will go on sale in the U.S. starting December 2017. However, we stress that the new model and launch dates are is specific to the U.S. market alone.