The 2015 DUB Edition Camry

2015 DUB EDITION DITION

THE ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE

TOYOTA SIENNA NNA

LUDACRIS KID INK TYRESE

WORDS: KRISTIE BERTUCCI PHOTOS: BRIAN MCGEE

T

he 2015 Toyota Camry is one of those rides that will make you do a double take whenever you see it out in the streets.

Its sleek, sexy and bold new style coupled with its exceptional driving dynamics and interior features makes the Camry a serious contender for anyone in the market for a stylish and reliable car at a great price point.

The Toyota Camry has been a favored mid-size sedan since it first arrived in the States back in 1982 and over the years became America’s most popular sedan. It was even recognized as a 2014 most popular vehicle on Edmunds.com. Over the last decades, it’s been enhanced and optimized

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with every new generation that arises, and its 2015 model is the best version to date. Always well engineered and a quality option for those looking for a dependable ride, the Camry now can add dapper good looks to its long list of desirable attributes.

Head-Turning Looks Both designers and engineers worked together to create a bold new statement for the sedan that now displays some serious visual updates that demand respect at every corner.

“With each generation, style has become more important, with each new version sleeker and more expressive than before,” explains Benjamin

Jimenez, studio chief designer for the 2015 Camry.

“This latest design is a big jump in increasing emotional quality or flavor of the vehicle. It’s the first Camry that you’d describe as having a sexiness to it; a sort of seductive quality to the surfacing of the design.”

Jimenez’ team found inspiration in the grace and movement of speed skaters, who portray a sense of power even when they’re standing still.

They also studied dynamic speedboats, and even images of cheetahs for their sleek and predatory qualities, which they’ve incorporated in the Camry’s new design.

“WITH EACH GENERATION, STYLE HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT, WITH EACH NEW VERSION SLEEKER AND MORE EXPRESSIVE THAN BEFORE. THIS LATEST DESIGN IS A BIG JUMP IN INCREASING EMOTIONAL QUALITY OR FLAVOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT’S THE FIRST CAMRY THAT YOU’D DESCRIBE AS HAVING A SEXINESS TO IT; A SORT OF SEDUCTIVE QUALITY TO THE SURFACING OF THE DESIGN.” – BENJAMIN JIMENEZ, STUDIO CHIEF DESIGNER

An aggressive design aesthetic has been used throughout the Camry, but out front, your eyes will first notice the wider sport mesh front grille that leaves one powerful impression (available on the SE, XSE and SE Hybrid models), while the angular LED headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) ensure you won’t be mistaken for an ordinary ride on the road. The front fascia is then finished off with a splash of chrome to really makes things pop. Additional details like chrome trim around the window frame and a chrome bar across the rear deck lid all add to the Camry’s revised and bold personality.

those strong character lines and those strong looks and shapes that you see, we had to change up our production methods.”

Its track has been widened by less than half an inch to enhance the vehicle’s stability through corners, while its steering has been reconfigured for better integration with its electrical power assist system. It’s also now 1.8” longer than before and has body panels that were given additional spot welding, which enhances its overall stiffness. “We improved the way the vehicle handles, its steering feel, the braking – all

mentions. “We used premium materials that our customers would appreciate. The connected center stack was designed with one smooth line to make it clean and direct. We then used Satin Chrome to surround areas of technology like the center stack to give it an artistic quality.”

Kaehr also notes that another goal for the interior was to make it intuitive and easy to use, with steering wheel-mounted controls that are convenient for the driver and a safety measure, helping them to keep their eyes on the road while commanding their audio system. “The new TFT and meters are designed for putting information in front of the driver for more convenient driving, which goes back to the car’s overall theme of being confident and natural.”

The new Camry also offers a new wireless charging system for smartphones for the first time, which is an innovative feature that was added to reduce cable clutter inside your ride. To juice up your smartphone, simply place it on the charging pad in the center console for easy charging.

“We’re showing a big visual break from previous vehicles in the front end,” Jimenez describes.

“It’s what we call ‘under priority,’ a lower grille emphasis that enhances the stance of the vehicle. It’s definitely a confident expression that makes a statement.”

Aggressive Design Besides its good looks, the 2015 Toyota Camry rides on a fresh platform, with several changes made to its chassis. “Along with the styling theme, we wanted to make sure that the performance side would match its new look so that it would behave in a more premium and athletic manner,” says Monte Kaehr, chief engineer for the new Camry. “The styling that the Calty design team presented did cause us some challenges since it featured several elements that we at Toyota usually use at Lexus for lowvolume vehicles. We usually don’t have the same engineering methods on high-volume production vehicles like the Camry so in order to achieve

of it making the vehicle tighter, more controlled and more natural,” Kaehr adds.

Premium Interior The inside was also given special attention, with the roomy interior boasting new upgrades like sport seats with side bolsters that cradle the driver, paddle shifters (for SE and XSE models), and quality upholstery and stitching that all add to a comfortable cabin and ride for both the driver and passengers. Its center stack makes it easier to access features like its 4.2” LCD touchscreen, radio controls and more. There’s also an abundance of soft-touch materials at strategic places throughout the cabin, along with a larger center console for more storage space.

Safety is a Priority The 2015 Camry really ups its game when it comes to the advanced safety equipment it possesses.

Not only does it have 10 airbags, but it also gains available features like a lane departure warning system, blind spot monitoring system with rear cross traffic alert and a pre-collision system that can start to apply the brakes when the system determines that a frontal collision is imminent.

Thanks, in part, to these safety measures, the Camry offers enhanced passenger protection.

Drivers will also notice a quieter ride thanks to a sound deadening investment by Toyota, as well as improved aerodynamics, to reduce the amount of noise penetrating from the outside. “[The interior] was really all about quality,” Jimenez DUB MAGAZINE 2015 | 29

A custom body kit was fabricated specifically for this Camry build and fits perfectly to its already sleek silhouette.

The DUB Treatment DUB has a reputation for taking stellar rides and turning them into extraordinary machines that turns heads on the street. And the DUB Edition 2015 Toyota Camry definitely creates the kind of bold statement that designers originally wanted to invoke when creating the revamped version.

To add to its sleek new look, the Camry now features a bespoke DUB Edition body kit, smoked rear tail lights, tinted window, special badging and benefits from a one-off Brilliant Black that glimmers in the sun.

An Eibach Springs Lowering Kit enhances its predatory stance, while a TRD Big Brake Kit provides ultimate stopping power on a dime.

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“I LOVED THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS LOWERED IT AND USED BIGGER WHEELS. AS A DESIGNER THAT’S THE WAY WE SKETCHED IT BECAUSE THE BIG WHEELS REALLY SET OFF THE STANCE. I ALSO THINK THAT THE DARKENED TAIL LIGHTS ARE AWESOME. WE WERE AIMING FOR A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AND PRESENCE AND THAT WAS REALLY ENHANCED WITH THE DUB EDITION [CAMRY].”

The DUB Edition Camry features a full sound system that benefits from DUB Audio products and a unique fiberglass subwoofer enclosure that features leather and colormatched detailing.

– BENJAMIN JIMENEZ, STUDIO CHIEF DESIGNER

without the right set of wheels, the black Camry rides on 22x9 front and 22x10.5 TIS 536 concave wheels wrapped in 245/30R22 front and 295/30R22 rear Nitto NT555 tires.

The interior was dressed up with color-matched accents, suede and leather trimmed seats with diamond inserts and suede headliner. Adding to its appeal is a banging sound system consisting of DUB Audio products, including (2) DUBw12 subs, (2) DUBa4100 amps, (2) DUBa11000D mono subs, (2) DUBs265 speakers and (2) DUBs257

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speakers. A fiberglass sub enclosure was created complete with leather and painted accents.

“I loved the fact that you guys lowered it and used bigger wheels,” Jimenez compliments. “As a designer that’s the way we sketched it because the big wheels really set off the stance. I also think that the darkened tail lights are awesome.

We were aiming for a lot of confidence and presence and that was really enhanced with the DUB Edition [Camry].”

The Future The 2015 Toyota Camry is definitely a looker and will go head-to-head with other class competitors like the Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion. And thanks to its styling and comforts, current Camry fans will love the updates, while new fans will definitely have the Toyota Camry on their radar now that it flaunts premium additions.

Both the engineering and design teams are proud of the Camry they’ve created and will carefully watch how the 2015 model performs. They also hope people are as excited as they are about the new changes. According to Jimenez, Calty “will continue to amp up design and keep on designing [future versions] to appeal to consumers’ hearts and minds.”

The plush interior is fitted with color-matched accents, suede and leather seats with diamond inserts and a suede headliner.

But for now, let’s stop and admire the 2015 Toyota Camry because it really is a game changer!

SOURCES TOYOTA TOYOTA.COM DUB MAGAZINE DUBMAGAZINE.COM

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