Creme de la Camry

Not that the previous models weren’t any good. The Toyota Camry has been, after all, a best-seller in its segment in the local market since its introduction in 2002. But as Toyota Motor Philippines president Nobuharu Tabata puts it: "We are making the best even better."

In an elegant party Monday night at the Westin Philippine Plaza, Toyota announced the introduction of its 2004 Camry lineup which is bannered by the V6-powered flagship model. The country’s top automotive company says the new Camry "presents a higher level of performance...elevating the model into a more luxurious premium sedan".

Toyota’s confidence in the new Camry apparently comes from the tech-savvy 3.0-liter, V6 engine that’s equipped with the company’s proven variable valve timing system called the VVT-i. Toyota says this 1MZ-FE motor, with its 212 horsepower rating (available at the 5800 rpm mark) provides ample torque and quick acceleration which, when coupled to outstanding fuel efficiency traits, would result in exhilirating performance levels. With a whopping 55-horsepower increase over the previous model (which we had driven several times in the past), we’re inclined to believe Toyota’s claim.

Speaking of which, the delightful 2.4-liter engine that was found on the previous model will still power the other 2004 Camry variants. The new 2.4V and 2.4E models, which will be sold alongside their 3.0-liter big bro, pack the 2AZ-FE 16-valve, four-cylinder engines, which likewise boast of VVT-i technology. Whatever powerplant you opt for though, Toyota’s Super ECT five-speed automatic gearbox is made available for your driving pleasure.

Also, a new engine is not the only thing going for the latest Camry iteration. With styling that has been described in the past by Road & Track magazine as "classy in a quiet sort of way", the new Camry retains this characteristic but with bits of design tweaking here and there. The car’s redesigned grille (now with vertical lines) and bumpers freshen up its look, particularly in front. Toyota says the changes "highlight the unified symmetry of a wider and a more stable exterior concept".

Toyota also specifically points out that the latest Camry is equipped High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, which the company says has been "adopted for longer lasting bulbs and a brighter illumination". It also features an auto-leveling function that ensures better road visibility by automatically adjusting the headlight’s position in response to the car’s movement. The Camry’s rear combination lamps likewise last longer and light up faster with the use of the light emitting diode (LED) technology, according to Toyota.

In Toyotaspeak, the 2004 Camry "presents a new concept in its interior that oozes with understated simplicity — no over-ornamentation of instruments, just pleasant functionality in luxurious style. Its new leather and fabric seat design is now perforated with the Camry logo, which alone is almost enough for anyone to confidently make a statement of power".

Overly ornamental prose aside, the latest Camry’s front and rear seats are now power-adjustable, the rear ones 8-way at that. An automatic sunshade is also available for the fortunate passengers at the back.

Meanwhile, new active and passive safety features have also been integrated in the new Camry models, the car is equipped with clearance and back sonar sensors that provide assistance when parking, dual front and side supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags and the seats are engineered with the whiplash injury lessening (WIL) concept, which are especially designed seat backs that reduce neck injuries resulting from rear-end collisions.

With all these goodies packed into what was already considered as an excellent package, the 2004 Camry — especially the 3.0 V6 model — apparently does not intend to play the catch-up game at all but is definitely out to lead the way.

(Now available in all authorized Toyota dealerships nationwide, the latest Camry has price tags of P1,680,000 for the 3.0-liter, P1,480,000 for the 2.4V, and P1,295,000 for the 2.4E models.)