In 1983, Toyota Motor Company introduced a benchmark. Born with the purpose of never letting a driver down and lasting the test of time, the Camry has sold more than 15 million units worldwide since its debut. Now, for the 2012 model year, Toyota has introduced the next line of midsize sedans that aim to be a person’s one and only car for years and years. Landing in dealerships this October will be the seventh generation Toyota Camry.
Changes for the 2012 model year include new powertrains, better economy, more interior tricks, a new body and even lower prices. At first, three drvetrain options will be available, none of which are a direct carry-over from 2011. The base, 2.5 liter DOHC inline four cylinder uses variable valve timing and now makes 178 horsepower (compared to 169 for the 2011) and 170 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, 35 mpg should be averaged on the highway. For more power, the 2012 Camry can be optioned with a 3.5 liter DOHC V6 with 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. For the new year, the V6 now gets 30 mpg average on the highway and a EPA estimated 21 mpg in the city. Not only are these ratings higher than the 2011 model Camry, but they are also the highest for any six cylinder midsize sedan on the market. All conventional gasoline models use a six speed automatic with a longer final drive ratio for improved highway economy.
Debuting alongside the other Camrys is the new Hybrid model. For 2012, Toyota paired the 2.5 liter four cylinder with a modified version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive electric powertrain found in other Toyota hybrids. Below 25 mph, the Camry Hybrid can run on its electric motor solely for up to 1.6 miles. After that, the gas engine kicks in to make a combined 200 horsepower and brings 60 mph up in 7.6 seconds; faster than the base four cylinder model. Compared to the previous Camry Hybrid, EPA economy ratings are up more than 30 percent. 39 mpg can be averaged on the highway but what’s more impressive is the 43 mpg average that can be had in the city. The drivetrain improves plus the 2012 model’s lighter weight plan a big role in this upgrade.
On the outside, the 2012 Camry is still styled to upset no one. The font end is much sharper, using the corporate design that built other Toyota models. The track has been widened and the rear profile is much more acute compared to previous Camrys. Toyota wanted the 2012 model to carry more character with stronger, more expressive lines. It may look bolder compared to the 2011, but it now looks much more similar to its little sister, the Corolla.
The inside gets an added change in the form of a new media system. The 2012 Camry will be the first Toyota to feature the Entune Multimedia System that works directly with a driver’s smartphone. Able to support mobile apps such as Bing, OpenTable, and movietickets.com, the Entune system is the first of its kind and could make driving safer. The replay of text messages is now available and voice recognized quick replys such as “I’m driving and will reply later” can be “texted” back. Of course, navigation and online radio come along with the Entune system.
Pricing for all but one 2012 Toyota Camry variants are either the same as 2011 or lower. Base MSRP of the four cylinder L trim is $21,995, just $710 more than last year. For the next level LE however, the price of $22,500 is down $200 from the 2011 LE. The top-of-the line four cylinder XLE model is $2,000 cheaper for 2012 at $24,725. The ultimate simply gasoline Camry, the XLE V6 is priced the same at $29,845. Down 4.3 percent from 2011, the base 2012 Camry Hybrid LE starts at $25,900. The upgraded XLE Hybrid begins at $27,400, cheaper by $800 compared to the 2011.
