Camry overhaul 'more athletic'
Toyota has given a face lift to the current Camry, the last to be made in Australia.
One may have thought the Japanese giant would be conservative with any changes to its sector-dominating mid-sized sedan, considering a brand-new model is expected in a few year's time, not to also mention the Camry has generally enjoyed a staid "whitegoods-on-wheels" reputation with its styling.
Instead, the 2015 model, which will officially debut at the New York Motor Show, will look significantly different to its predecessor.
Though the engines and gearboxes will remain the same, Toyota has rebuilt the exterior from the chassis up.
So extensive is the facelift, the company says the overhauled Camry has nearly 2000 new parts and the roof is the only exterior surface to remain unchanged.
The result is what Toyota calls "more expressive and athletic", with more pronounced character lines and a more aggressive front end offering a more Lexus-like appearance and is in keeping with the designs of the recently released Corolla and RAV4.
It features a more trapezoidal- shaped front grille plus integrated indicators and daytime running lights on the headlamps, while the overall body has grown in length by 45mm.
Things have also been changed on the inside, which has been almost entirely re-jigged.
Soft-touch materials and detailed stitching on select models are aimed to create a more sophisticated cabin, while the centre console and instrument cluster has been redesigned and features new perks such as a 4.2-inch text screen to complement a larger touch screen.
Toyota says it will be the quietest Camry ever, with engineers focusing on reducing wind and road noise via improved window and door seals, noise- insulating carpet and redesigned side mirrors.
The nipped and tucked Camry will hit the North American market in the coming months but won't arrive in Australia until next year.
This means it will have barely two years in showrooms before the company shuts down its local manufacturing operations in 2017.
