Lexus Rocks the F-Sports at SEMA 2009

Motor Authority - blog Category: Camry

  • End of the road for Camry Solara Convertible

    End of the road for Camry Solara Convertible June 10th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, June 10th, 2009 James Martinez 6 Comments

    End of the road for Camry Solara Convertible While production of the Camry Solara Coupe has already bowed out, we can confirm today that the more expensive Solara Convertible won’t be produced anymore either due to flagging sales in the midsize convertible market. However, existing stockpiles will see the car in showrooms for at least the next two years but there are no plans for a replacement. This means that the new Lexus IS C drop-top will eventually be the most affordable Toyota/Lexus convertible in the North American market.

    Speaking with Ward’s Auto, Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing spokesman Rick Hesterberg said there were no plans to restart production of the ... While production of the Camry Solara Coupe has already bowed out, we can confirm today that the more expensive Solara Convertible won’t be produced anymore either due to flagging sales in the midsize convertible market. However, existing stockpiles will see the car in showrooms for at least the next two years but there are no plans for a replacement. This means that the new Lexus IS C drop-top will eventually be the most affordable Toyota/Lexus convertible in the North American market. Speaking with Ward’s Auto, Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing spokesman Rick Hesterberg said there were no plans to restart production of the Camry Solara convertible, which was last built in December 2008. “I think there was some hope that eventually during the spring/summer months the market would bear a need,” he said. “We kept the tooling, just waiting to see, but that never came to fruition.” This is just the latest in a spate of convertible model cuts, which include the Honda S2000, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and Pontiac G6 and Solstice convertibles. Some midsize convertibles still on sale include the Chrysler Sebring, Ford Mustang, and Volkswagen Eos convertibles. Filling the void at the Georgetown, Kentucky plant where the Solara Convertible was built will be increased production of the Toyota Venza crossover. Read More

  • Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March

    Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March May 5th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, May 5th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 3 Comments

    Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March It's no secret that hybrid and small car sales have been among the hardest hit in the ongoing market downturn. They've fallen at rates well beyond the total market's decline and continue to do so, dropping 45.5% in April against the same time a year ago.

    But total hybrid sales are up 1.4% against March 2009 according to Edmunds, and are at their highest level since October 2008. That could hint at a turnaround in the market, though there are other potential factors to consider, including new model arrivals and heavy incentives.

    The parade of bad news continues at Toyota, down 62.8% in hybrid sales compared to April 2008, with the Prius... It's no secret that hybrid and small car sales have been among the hardest hit in the ongoing market downturn. They've fallen at rates well beyond the total market's decline and continue to do so, dropping 45.5% in April against the same time a year ago. But total hybrid sales are up 1.4% against March 2009 according to Edmunds, and are at their highest level since October 2008. That could hint at a turnaround in the market, though there are other potential factors to consider, including new model arrivals and heavy incentives. The parade of bad news continues at Toyota, down 62.8% in hybrid sales compared to April 2008, with the Prius down 61.5% and the Camry Hybrid down 67.1%. The Prius's drop can be explained in part by the impending release of the new 2010 Prius, with buyers holding off on new purchases to get the latest vehicle. The Camry Hybrid, on the other hand, dropped more than twice as fast as the standard Camry. Despite these dismal sales levels, the Prius remained the top hybrid seller in the U.S., followed by the deeply discounted 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid and the Camry Hybrid in third. The car to watch in the coming months will be the new 2010 Honda Insight, which saw sales triple in April to 2,096 units, and it's only been on the market since March. The Insight slotted into fourth place in U.S. hybrid totals. Luxury hybrids aren't doing much better than their economy-focused counterparts. The RX400h is down 59.7% while the conventional RX actually rose 1% in sales for April. Lexus's other hybrids were all down heavily as well, though their standard-engine counterparts were too. The past 12 months have seen an incredible roller coaster ride for hybrid sales, going from their best month ever to their worst and everywhere in between.2009 Honda Insight Hybrid2010 Toyota Prius first drive Read More

  • New HC-CV concept points the way to Toyota’s latest Camry Hybrid

    New HC-CV concept points the way to Toyota’s latest Camry Hybrid February 22nd, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, February 22nd, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 1 Comment

    New HC-CV concept points the way to Toyota’s latest Camry Hybrid To drum up excitement for production of the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Australia for the first time, the Aussie division of the global auto giant is planning to unveil a new concept version of the fuel-efficient sedan at the upcoming Melbourne Motor Show. Before you get all excited about Toyota building a brand new show stopper, be aware that the concept is essentially the local version of the regular Camry Hybrid that’s been on sale back in the States since 2006.

    Called the Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle (HC-CV), the show car was conceived and produced in-house by Toyota Style Australia. What this means is that it will basically be a Camry... To drum up excitement for production of the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Australia for the first time, the Aussie division of the global auto giant is planning to unveil a new concept version of the fuel-efficient sedan at the upcoming Melbourne Motor Show. Before you get all excited about Toyota building a brand new show stopper, be aware that the concept is essentially the local version of the regular Camry Hybrid that’s been on sale back in the States since 2006. Called the Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle (HC-CV), the show car was conceived and produced in-house by Toyota Style Australia. What this means is that it will basically be a Camry Hybrid with some unique bumpers and alloy wheels and possibly a dressed up interior. Toyota describes the HC-CV as a “strong pointer” to the petrol-electric Camry that will enter production at the company’s Altona plant in Victoria from early next year. The company aslo confirmed that it will get some unique exterior paint options and a sportier look than the regular Camry range. Back in the U.S. the Camry Hybrid is fitted with a 2.4L petrol engine mated to a continuously variable transmission as part of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system. The most recent EPA fuel-economy ratings for the car are 33mpg (7L/100km) in the city and 34mpg (6.9L/100km) on the highway. Expect the Aussie version to be fitted with a similar set-up. Joining the HC-CV will be the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius as well as the 1/X (pronounced one-Xth) plug-in hybrid concept car from 2007’s Tokyo Motor Show. When the 1/X was originally launched, most people overlooked the vehicle as a highly fantasized concept that would never resemble anything coming out of a Toyota factory but its design concepts are very real and provide a vision for hybrid motoring in the future. Its name says it all: a car that weighs a fraction of others in its class today and uses a fraction of the fuel. Check out our previous story for a more in depth look at the 1/X.2009 Toyota Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle (HC-CV) Read More

  • Toyota reveals pricing for 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid

    Toyota reveals pricing for 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid February 13th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, February 13th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2 Comments

    Toyota reveals pricing for 2010 Camry and Camry Hybrid Toyota revealed its facelifted Camry sedan last month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which for the 2010 model year has been given a new look both inside and out and has received an upgraded 2.5L four-cylinder as the base engine. Today pricing was revealed, with a six-speed base car starting out at just $19,395 and ranging up to $29,045 for the XLE with automatic transmission.

    The Hybrid starts at $26,150, with most of the rest of the Camry range hovering between $20,000 and $25,000. Full pricing details are listed below.

    The new engine is equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and produces 169hp for Camry, LE and XLE... Toyota revealed its facelifted Camry sedan last month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which for the 2010 model year has been given a new look both inside and out and has received an upgraded 2.5L four-cylinder as the base engine. Today pricing was revealed, with a six-speed base car starting out at just $19,395 and ranging up to $29,045 for the XLE with automatic transmission. The Hybrid starts at $26,150, with most of the rest of the Camry range hovering between $20,000 and $25,000. Full pricing details are listed below. The new engine is equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and produces 169hp for Camry, LE and XLE grades. For sportier SE, the engine gets additional tuning and delivers 179hp – 21hp more than the previous four-cylinder engine. Customers can select either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with sequential shift. The 3.5L V6 delivering 268hp is also available. Exterior changes to the petrol Camry include a newly designed grille and front bumper, an enlarged lower intake, larger projector headlamps and restyled tail lamps. The Camry and LE grades feature restyled standard wheel covers, while the XLE grade will run on new 16in 10-spoke alloy wheels, while the SE grade adds new 17in sporty alloy wheels. The Camry Hybrid exterior enhancements includes a unique hybrid grille, a distinct front bumper, a wider lower intake, restyled fog lights and 16in alloy wheels. Inside, Camry and LE grades are available with an optional audio system equipped with a new USB port for auxiliary music sources, Bluetooth, integrated satellite radio, single-CD, and MP3 and streaming music capability. Previously an option, all Camry petrol models will now be equipped with Vehicle Stability Control with traction control. The facelifted Camry and Camry Hybrid are scheduled to go on sale in March. GradeTransMSRPBase6M$19,395Base6ECTi$20,445LE6M$20,850LE6ECTi$21,900SE6M$22,165SE6ECTi$23,165XLE6ECTi$25,925LEV66ECTi$24,565SEV66ECTi$25,840XLEV66ECTi$29,045HybridECVT$26,1502010 Toyota Camry facelift Read More

  • 2008's best and worst sellers

    2008's best and worst sellers December 22nd, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, December 22nd, 2008 Nelson Ireson 5 Comments

    2008's best and worst sellers Though 2008 started out fairly strong, riding the wave of 2007, it soon became clear that things weren't going to hold up. Few anticipated how sharply the market would drop, however, and that combination of events has led to some interesting best-and-worst results.

    Leading the charge as the best-selling vehicle in America, despite the fuel crunch and down economy is the 27-year champ, the Ford F-150, reports Forbes. With 473,933 vehicles sold this year, it's over 40,000 vehicles ahead of the second-place Chevrolet Silverado. The total pickup-truck sales of nearly a million units - for just two models - prove that there's an ongoing need for... Though 2008 started out fairly strong, riding the wave of 2007, it soon became clear that things weren't going to hold up. Few anticipated how sharply the market would drop, however, and that combination of events has led to some interesting best-and-worst results. Leading the charge as the best-selling vehicle in America, despite the fuel crunch and down economy is the 27-year champ, the Ford F-150, reports Forbes. With 473,933 vehicles sold this year, it's over 40,000 vehicles ahead of the second-place Chevrolet Silverado. The total pickup-truck sales of nearly a million units - for just two models - prove that there's an ongoing need for the vehicles despite their somewhat anachronistic casting. Honda's Civic and Accord and the Toyota Camry rounded out the top five spots, however, proving that relatively fuel-efficient vehicles that focus on moving people are also equally necessary, selling a combined 946 million vehicles. The poor-sellers were largely composed of vehicles that haven't found a niche in terms of utility, affordability and style. Crossovers count significantly among the list, as the nascent segment founders in the face of its first real challenge. Working down the list, the fifth worst-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2008 was the Hummer H2, its blocky obloquy a self-fulfilling prophecy. Chrysler's Pacifica was the fourth-worst selling, preceded by the Mitsubishi Endeavor. Nissan's enormous and fuel-thirsty Armada SUV took second-worst-selling honors, and the least-purchased of all the mass-market vehicles of 2008 was the Hyundai Entourage minivan. What this portends for sales in 2009 is anybody's guess. If 2008 has taught the automotive industry anything, it's that even the best laid plans may often go awry. Read More

  • Toyota unveils CNG Camry Hybrid concept ahead of L.A. Auto Show

    Toyota unveils CNG Camry Hybrid concept ahead of L.A. Auto Show November 18th, 2008 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, November 18th, 2008 James Martinez 2 Comments

    Toyota unveils CNG Camry Hybrid concept ahead of L.A. Auto Show Toyota has revealed its compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept ahead of the car’s debut at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Rising fuel costs have made CNG a much more attractive option for consumers, and Toyota is hoping to add the cheaper fuel to its "portfolio of alternative fuels".

    A company spokesman has stated that Toyota predicts peak oil will be reached by 2010, and that CNG could take its place as a primary fuel source. However, there are currently no plans to put this concept into production.

    Most CNG applications provide worse mileage than petrol as well as slower acceleration, but considering the price... Toyota has revealed its compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept ahead of the car’s debut at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Rising fuel costs have made CNG a much more attractive option for consumers, and Toyota is hoping to add the cheaper fuel to its "portfolio of alternative fuels". A company spokesman has stated that Toyota predicts peak oil will be reached by 2010, and that CNG could take its place as a primary fuel source. However, there are currently no plans to put this concept into production. Most CNG applications provide worse mileage than petrol as well as slower acceleration, but considering the price of petrol these will be of little concern to potential customers. Because of the huge reserves of CNG and the dwindling supply of petrol, CNG's cheap price of around $2.50 per gallon is expected to easily offset any mileage issues that potential motorists may face. The latest concept car can carry roughly the equivalent of eight gallons of petrol in natural gas and has a range of about 250 miles. Another benefit of burning CNG is cleaner emissions, with lower CO2 levels than both petrol and diesel. Toyota has tried to sell CNG vehicles previously. In 1999 the company marketed a CNG-powered four-cylinder Camry to fleet customers in California. However, in an era of relatively cheap gasoline, customers were not attracted to a vehicle that required special refueling techniques and a limited refueling infrastructure and the program was discontinued a year later. Currently, there are only about 1,000 CNG refueling stations nationwide, with less than half of these open to the public. The benefits of CNG are currently being amplified by rapidly changing market conditions and an increase in consumer environmental awareness. At the same time its drawbacks are being mitigated by a growing awareness that advanced technologies will require investment in appropriate infrastructure. The U.S. CNG pipeline system is an approximately 1.8 million mile network and expanding, but a greater amount of infrastructure would be needed to make CNG broadly appealing.2008 Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid concept Read More

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