Where The Toyota Camry Is Headed For 2012
Ben Cook from LeftLaneNews.com is our guest blogger today, these are his thoughts on the 2012 Toyota Camry.
The Toyota Camry is proof that every so often, nice guys do finish first. An exciting, high-adrenaline machine it is not, but the Camry has managed to be the top selling car in America for 13 of the past 14 years based on a multitude of other, subtler virtues. It has achieved a quiet sort of perfection characterized by comfort, reliability, efficiency and the absence of normal automotive faults like invasive wind noise, awkward suspension movements and undue mechanical faults or failures. For the 2012 model year, Toyota is introducing an all-new Camry that promises to build on all of the traditional Camry virtues; read on for some of the highlights of the new car.
Savings at the Gas Pump
The most significant mechanical changes to the Camry will have a favorable effect on owners’ wallets. The Camry’s four-cylinder engine gains three miles per gallon in both city and highway cycles, climbing to a class-leading 25/35 miles gallon. V-6 Camrys are now capable of hitting the 30 mpg mark on the highway, an impressive feat for a powerful six-cylinder motor, while city mileage is 21 mpg. The efficiency king is the hybrid model, which ekes out 43/39 mpg ratings.
Surprisingly, Toyota managed to decrease the Camry’s fuel consumption without resorting to expensive and complex measures like direct injection and downsized engines. Instead, the company employed simple but effective methods like lower rolling-resistance tires, improved aerodynamics, taller gearing, electric steering and shedding 155 excess pounds.
Looks Better, Feels Better
Outside, the formerly bland Camry now has a more organic shape and more sophisticated surface detailing, features that conspire to give it an understated but handsome look. More substantive changes reside inside, where the rather bulbous dashboard of the outgoing model gives way to a classy design with high-quality, soft touch plastics and elegant stitching. Despite the weight reduction, the Camry’s interior actually grows slightly in head, leg and shoulder room. It is a spacious and comfortable space to spend time.
The Camry’s app-based infotainment system, dubbed “Entune” is the first technology of its kind to hit the mainstream market, allowing drivers to quickly locate almost any conceivable point of interest. OpenTable and movietickets.com provide concierge services at the tap of a button, while Pandora, iheartradio and Siriuis XM crank out the tunes through an impressive optional JBL audio system.
One For the Drivers
Toyota is making a concerted effort to make the 2012 Toyota Camry appeal to those who are looking for a bit of driving pleasure, and the result is the SE model. The SE features stiffer springs and shocks and rigidity-adding steering knuckles, resulting in a crisper sedan with surprisingly precise handling and the most undiluted connection between driver and machine ever seen in a Camry. The SE also includes improved seat bolsters for better support during spirited driving, a cleaner grille and much less chrome than the standard model
Overall, with its increased efficiency, improved looks and newfound focus on driving dynamics, the new Camry is a sure bet to keep satisfying customers and retain its sales title for the foreseeable future.
