Motoring

Auto

with John Mellor www.wsba.com.au

Toyota updates Camry styling, revamps interior and enhances SAFETY for 2021

 CALLUM HUNTER

TOYOTA has unveiled a substantial mid-life update for its strong-selling Camry medium-sized sedan, with the overhaul bringing fresh exterior styling, a revised cabin layout and enhanced safety systems.

Not due to touch down in Australia until mid-2021, the MY21 Camry series has received a bolder, more aggressive-looking grille and front bumper combination while the rest of the body goes largely unchanged.

Inside, the dashboard has been reorganised in a bid to improve ergonomics and make it more aesthetically pleasing, including the addition of new a 7.0- or 9.0-inch ‘fl oating multimedia’ touchscreen, depending on the variant.

On the safety front, Toyota Australia would not be drawn into specifying what changes have been made to the Camry’s safety suite, telling GoAuto that information would be revealed closer to the updated model’s introduction next year.

Th at said, the US-spec Camry has been confi rmed as the fi rst Toyota model to be off ered with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, the company’s latest and most advanced driver-assist active safety suite to date.

Compared to the existing system, the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection has been upgraded to now detect cyclists in daylight and pedestrians in “low-light conditions”.

Pre-Collision

A new feature of the pre-collision system is the ability to stabilise the driver’s emergency steering manoeuvres while avoiding a pedestrian or cyclist within their lane. 54

Th e radar cruise control system with stop-and-go function available on higher-series variants has been tweaked to allow for smoother acceleration when overtaking a slower vehicle, while lane-departure alert and lane-keep assist have been added to the suite.

Other new safety features include automatic high beam, road-sign assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffi c alert.

No major mechanical changes have been made to the petrol-engined variants, with the familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder and 3.5-litre V6 carried over unchanged, as is the eight-speed automatic transmission.

While not strictly included as part of the update due next year, Toyota Australia will be making some running changes

“Toyota’s reputation for quality, durability and reliability has long been a hallmark of Camry, which together with its strong and efficient powertrains, advanced safety technology and, in recent years, its hybrid

to the powertrain of the Camry hybrid as of next month, swapping out the current drivetrain, has ensured 245V nickel-metal hydride batt ery for a its enduring appeal for more effi cient 259V lithium-ion unit. Standard equipment on the AmeriAustralian customers.” can-spec cars will include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity and an enduring appeal for Australian customoptional digital instrument cluster. ers,” he said.

According to Toyota Australia sales Th rough the fi rst six months of this and marketing vice-president Sean Hanley, year, the Camry has dominated the sub- the facelift will deliver a stronger look and $60,000 medium car market, occupying image for the Camry as it continues to step a massive 69 per cent of the segment with up as an Australian favourite. 6518 sales.

“Toyota’s reputation for quality, Despite its all-conquering success durability and reliability has long been however, that fi gure is still down almost a hallmark of Camry, which together 18 per cent in comparison to the same with its strong and effi cient powertrains, period last year (7940 units). advanced safety technology and, in recent years, its hybrid drivetrain, has ensured its Article courtesy: www.goauto.com.au WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS AUGUST 2020