Camry heading the charg

[fpv_gtho]

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...-21822,00.html

19 May 2006

Paul Gover

The all-new Toyota Camry will be the first of the homegrown heavyweights to hit showrooms in 2006. The new Camry, which is already on the road in the US and going through final on-road trials in Victoria, will beat the VE Holden Commodore, Holden Statesman and Toyota's own V6 Aurion.

The official on-sale date for the four-cylinder Camry, just confirmed by the boss of the company, is July 22.

"We'll be doing the first deliveries in early August. Aurion will be later, about three months," says the executive chairman of Toyota Australia, John Conomos.

"Aurion is [coming in] November. I cannot tell you the exact date."

The Toyota news sets up the major confrontation of 2006, as Mitsubishi already has its 380 – with the starter price down to $27,990 – and GM Holden is still expected to wait until late August or early September before the start of its VE roll-out.

Ford will not have its next new Falcon, with an $1.8 billion investment from head office in Detroit, until late 2007 or early in 2008. Conomos is hoping the petrol price will stabilise by the time the Camry and Aurion are both in showrooms, but says Toyota has more flexibility than its rivals.

The 380 is only built with a V6, although there is an investigation into a possible four-powered model. And Holden will have its Global V6 as the starter motor in the VE.

"Is this the wrong time for the V6 Aurion? We don't think so," Conomos says.



"We can change relatively quickly. We have that capability. The salvation is the massive resources of Toyota and the product flexibility. The global line at Altona has been upgraded to go from 110,000 to 140,000 cars and was completely gutted over Christmas."
According to Conomos, the flexibility at Altona will allow Toyota Australia to mix the match of Camry four with Aurion V6, as well as boosting production for overseas sales – mostly to the Middle East – if the large-car downturn in Australia continues.

He feels it's a crucial advantage, although he believes Toyota Australia has made the right move into the Aurion V6 program to challenge the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.

"Is it the wrong time? Maybe if $US100-a-barrel oil is coming," Conomos says.

"But we can switch to Camry four. What can Ford switch to? What can Holden switch to?" Conomos is hopeful that the drop in big-six sales has ended and believes the new product offensive this year will bring people back to the local heroes. "Where do large cars settle? About now," he says.

"We will force the market. I think we'll arrest the decline for a period of time."

The growing energy crisis could play in Toyota's favour, but he says there's no plan to introduce the Camry hybrid, which is just going on the road in the US, to Australia.

According to Conomos, it would be far too costly, without suitable local suppliers for many of the key components, to add it to the production line at Altona. "We cannot justify the expense and the investment," he says.

"If we could justify it we'd do it, just like that. Australia is the only market raising its hand for a right-hand drive Camry hybrid."

Conomos has also ruled out a return of fuel-miser Daihatsu vehicles, after closing the brand this year, even under the Toyota brand. "First of all, we need products," Conomos says. "At the moment, the cars are too expensive."

Toyota will base its new special vehicle division, pitched as a competitor to Holden Special Vehicles and Ford Performance Racing, in Sydney. While the timing of the creation of Toyota Racing Developments (TRD) is all about brand building for the upcoming Aurion V6 car, the whole brand will be touched by it. In fact, the company will use its Corolla rally team as the spearhead.

The TRD operation will be under the direction of engineering guru Greg Gardner.

Toyota knows it needs something extra-special to give the Aurion a performance halo and so it is pushing TRD ahead.

It will be able to plug into the TRD products created and produced in both Japan and the US, although details are still being finalised. The intention is that all Toyota owners will eventually have access to go-faster and styling gear which fits the TRD profile, as well as clothing, stickers and all the other merchandising items. That is why Toyota Australia has begun the roll-out of the TRD program by re-branding its Corolla Sportivo rally cars, driven by Neal Bates and Simon Evans, under the TRD umbrella.

But the Aurion V6 is still the priority.

"We now have a product, with Aurion, where we can produce a TRD-based product," Toyota Australia executive chairman John Conomos says. "The opportunity presented itself with that car. We have the platform to do it, as opposed to a product that people were not happy to accept."

Toyota has already previewed the TRD Aurion with a life-sized styling model at the Melbourne Motor Show, and confirms it will have a supercharged V6 engine with a whole range of brake, suspension and cabin upgrades. It is the first time Toyota has gone remotely close to the cars from Holden Special Vehicles and Ford Performance

Vehicles, although the company admits it will not convince some people.

"We cannot compete with those famous brands. We cannot do massive conversions," Conomos says. "We only have the ability to do one car, at one time, with one specification." He admits the rear-drive V8s still have a special place here. "We'll never overcome the rear-wheel-drive resistance because we don't have a rear-wheel-drive car. We think that, over time, consumers will accept it."

[syko]

It seems like the camry is being classed as a large car instead of being a midsized car, but were does that leave the aurion to go. Saying that that ford or holden don't have flexability with engines is ridiculous, they don't need flexability since large cars have been always been powered by 6 cylinder engines in Australia. Anything less would just make it underpowered. If toyota start puting 4 cylinder engines in their Aurion then they will be removing one of the big appeals that it has going for it.

[mmm_aapls]

Go Toyota. Sorry, slightly biased becasue I work for them

But seriously, the Camry is nice, for a shopping car. But the Aurion really is a nice car. I hope it does well.

[mmm_aapls]

Originally Posted by syko

It seems like the camry is being classed as a large car instead of being a midsized car, but were does that leave the aurion to go. Saying that that ford or holden don't have flexability with engines is ridiculous, they don't need flexability since large cars have been always been powered by 6 cylinder engines in Australia. Anything less would just make it underpowered. If toyota start puting 4 cylinder engines in their Aurion then they will be removing one of the big appeals that it has going for it.

Yeah but Camry has always been a 4 cylinder, with a V6 option. I think what they are saying is that if worst comes to worst, they can chnage the Aurion to 4 cylinder with the option of 6.

[SlickHolden]

Yeah i seen it that way also that he was hinting ford and holden don't have flexibility a little cocky in the way he said it to.

"But we can switch to Camry four. What can Ford switch to? What can Holden switch to?"

Back on that at your own peril.
People wont fully accept only FWD cars in OZ they will buy them but the RWD just doesn't have a special place here it's accepted, With extra safety now a days RWD is as good on the road handling. No need to worry about the wet anymore with ESP and more.

But one thing that shocked me was that car at the motor show and the same one at telstra dome is the TRD version? Man they got to make it more mean with some big 18" rims.
There confidant of matching HSV and FPV but as you read down they loose confidence a touch strange?.
I mean they might build something that really moves and HSV and FPV have 320kw cars next up, They should concentrate more on the hot 6's from holden and ford and leave the big 2 alone. That way they could get into the Ring with others like the WRX and EVO. Cause they will come off second best with the V8's,

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It's certainly ambitious, but Toyota has yet to fail in dominating their chosen target market. Cultural bias or not.

[Blue Supra]

theyll do well,

its toyota after all.

[fpv_gtho]

The car doesnt look all that bad actually judging from the picture in the article, certainly one of the better looking views of the Camry, although i still stand by the Aurion looks better with the bigger headlights. Personally if that is the TRD Aurion then, they'll be successful with it. Its not overly brash, but its still sporty and definately something to diferentiate it. It reminds me alot actually of the styling difference between an XT and XR Falcon. And no, not the '66 and '68 Falcon for the smartarses out there

[Blitz_]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

It's certainly ambitious, but Toyota has yet to fail in dominating their chosen target market. Cultural bias or not.

*cough* Avalon *cough*

[IBrake4Rainbows]

First try around, sure.

But they've come back, they always do.

I read somewhere that the Japanese play a long game, and eventually they will be the winners. You've got to make mistakes to make progress.

[SlickHolden]

Well don't Asian people fill more then half of the worlds population?


I have seen the Aurion up close and they need something a touch more, But it does crap on the Camry which looks big and heavy compared to the Aurion.
I don't know how they are going to be able to sell of that red Camry looking so big and heavy with only a 4 in it.

[monaroCountry]

Is it the wrong time? Maybe if $US100-a-barrel oil is coming," Conomos says.

"But we can switch to Camry four. What can Ford switch to? What can Holden switch to?" Conomos is hopeful that the drop in big-six sales has ended and believes the new product offensive this year will bring people back to the local heroes. "Where do large cars settle? About now," he says.

I think Toyotas thinking of Holden having no flexibity is flawed.

Both Holden and ford have a huge market in LPG cars, with plenty of development from their taxi range. Holden has also got excellent development in ethanol and E-85 fuels, from their commodore range to Brasil. With the Amricans willingness to swith to alternative fuel like ethanol I think that Toyota might have been caught with their pants down.

Holden has several engine sizes at their disposal, since they supply 2.8 and up V6 to europe and asia. In addition the HFV6 is still having new technology introduced to it along with better transmission.

Aparently the base Holden V6 would be 200kw (thats the lowest spec). Im finding it very hard to imagine Toyota challengine HSV and FPV with their big V8s (also under developed) and quick turbo I6.

[Daz27]

Hmmmm, get the cardigans and the bowler hats ready, theres a new Camry!!!
Im glad someone said Avalon. Avalon think about buying something else hehe, isnt that what they said in the ad? Ive driven RWD cars all my life, theres nothing like having that power oversteer ability on tap anywhere you want it. FWD's agravate me. if TRD can make those things look a bit better and go a little harder then more strength to their arm, but its not much fun chasing torque steer... When its time for me to buy a new car, I'll go for a LPG Falcon me thinks.

[thatdbeme]

cardigans and bowler hats ay
that doesnt sound right, its the no1 selling car in the US

[fpv_gtho]

Do we look like the US?

Personally i think as long as theres an availability to go AWD, the performance models shouldnt have a problem. 9/10 im driving a FWD and i actually prefer it over a RWD as it feels far more stable.