Toyota takes the fight to the Mitsubishi 380

[SlickHolden]

Two new models, a Camry and a V6 large car, spearhead the assault, reports ANDREW HEASLEY

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/ar...?id=10431&vf=1

Just two days after Mitsubishi took the wraps off its new Magna-replacement car, the 380, the world's richest car company, Toyota, announced a $400 million expansion to its Altona car plant that will see two new models roll off its production line next year.

It's the latest salvo fired in the battle for supremacy in the locally built large-car market.

"This investment is necessary to keep Altona at the forefront of innovation, production and most importantly, quality," said Toyota Australia's president Ted Okada.

Toyota's investment was announced at a ceremony to mark the 10 millionth Camry built worldwide - of which 1.1 million have been built at Altona since 1986.

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Mr Okada, flanked by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and Melbourne Commonwealth Games chairman Ron Walker, presented the 10 millionth Camry to basketball star and Games ambassador Lauren Jackson as part of Toyota's sponsorship to supply 1500 cars for use during the Games.

But given the Camry is simultaneously rolling off production lines in 10 Toyota factories around the world, how was it Altona marked the milestone?

"It could've fallen in a number of places, but TMC (Toyota Motor Corporation, the parent company) has worked out - I don't know the formula - it was going to be here," said Toyota's corporate manager of public affairs, Peter Griffin.

"The 10 millionth car was always going to be built around this time regardless of when the Games was going to be on. But the fact the two coincide is very opportune," he said.

Toyota Australia's new cars for 2006 will be an all-new, mid-sized, four-cylinder Camry and a new yet-to-be-named V6 large car to replace the slow-selling Avalon.

It means the Mitsubishi 380, vital to Mitsubishi Australia's survival as a local car maker, faces an onslaught from not only this pair, but also from Holden and Ford. Holden has a new-generation VE Commodore due in the third quarter of next year, and Ford's updated BF Falcon range enters showrooms later this month, some sporting a smart new fuel-saving six-speed automatic gearbox.

Toyota's $400 million Altona plant upgrade will allow both its new cars to be built on the one production line, simplifying processes and cutting the cost of production, said Toyota Australia's marketing director, David Buttner. The production line will have new robotics that can build different-size cars concurrently.

The upgrade will see production capacity increased 18 per cent to 130,000 cars a year.

The plant will also have the capacity and flexibility to build a third model on the line if future consumer demands warrant another model, Mr Buttner said.

Unlike the current Camry, which is available with either a V6 or four-cylinder engine, the new Camry will be solely a four-cylinder model - which could prove to be a shrewd decision given that skyrocketing petrol prices have consumers thinking twice about buying big cars.

Toyota's unnamed V6 model will be pitched at fleet sales and user-choosers (those who can choose their company cars through salary packaging arrangements) and those who want a bigger car than a Camry.

"(It) will provide the ideal balance between corporate car-park credibility and operating efficiency. It will be aimed squarely at fleet and prestige buyers," Mr Buttner said.

Toyota is not saying how much bigger the V6 model will be than the Camry, but said it would be built off the same basic platform.

Its wheelbase may be longer, but it will, Mr Buttner confirmed, have different sheet metal to its Camry sibling.

Can we have RWD yet

[crisis]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

Two new models, a Camry and a V6 large car, spearhead the assault, reports ANDREW HEASLEY

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/ar...?id=10431&vf=1



Can we have RWD yet

"Takes styling cues from US Avalon".!!!!!
As long as it doesnt take sales cues from the Aussie one!

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by crisis

"Takes styling cues from US Avalon".!!!!!
As long as it doesnt take sales cues from the Aussie one!

lol. True better to go Euro then Yanko.
Thats a very U.S style Grill there.

[fpv_gtho]

Ive heard it said before out Avalon will be totally reskinned from the US version, but the original Avalon here was flawed beyond its bad styling, as i believe it was based on the older US platform, which was the same as the Camry's of the time. I think Toyota Oz are trying to get the local versions on the global platforms for the new models .

[SlickHolden]

It wasn't to bad of a drive the Avalon but it's ABS was shit and it was a tank suspension was so so so soft. Power felt OK done some good FWD wheelies.
But other then that no balls

[Blue Supra]

OH MY GOD!
theres a REAL Peter Griffin!

Toyota's corporate manager of public affairs, Peter Griffin.

thats like a real life Homer Simpson!

Seriously though. its still a bland boring toyota...