Toyota Camry (XV40)

For a complete overview of all Camry models, see Toyota Camry.

Toyota Camry (XV40)
Overview
Manufacturer	Toyota
Also called	Daihatsu Altis
Production	2006–present
Model years	2007–present
Assembly	Altona, Victoria, Australia Georgetown, Kentucky, United States Lafayette, Indiana, United States Saint Petersburg, Russia Toyota, Aichi, Japan
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Toyota Aurion
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L 1AZ-FE I4 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4 2.4 L 2AZ-FXE I4 (hybrid) 2.5 L 2AR-FE I4 3.5 L 2GR-FE V6
Transmission	Manual 5-speed E351 6-speed EB62 Automatic 1-speed P311 CVT (hybrid) 5-speed U250E 6-speed U660E 6-speed U760E
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,776 mm (109.3 in)
Length	4,805 mm (189.2 in)
Width	1,820 mm (72 in)
Height	1,470 mm (58 in)
Curb weight	1,489 kg (3,283 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Toyota Camry (XV30)

The Toyota Camry XV40 is a mid-size car that has been produced by Toyota since 2006. Replacing the XV30 series, the XV40 represents the sixth generation of the Toyota Camry in all markets outside of Japan, which follows a different generational lineage. The XV40 Camry range is split into different model codes indicative of the engine. Four-cylinder models utilize the ACV40 (2.4 liter) and ASV40 (2.5 liter) codes; the four-cylinder hybrid is denominated AHV40, with GSV40 designating the six-cylinder versions.

Like the previous XV30 Camry, the XV40 is offered in two distinct forms. The Camry sold in Australasia and North America is the same as the version available in Japan. The version sold in Southeast Asia and China is based on the Australian-designed Toyota Aurion. The Aurion is essentially the same as the Camry, albeit, with revised front- and rear-end styling, and minor alterations to the interior.

Introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, the XV40 made its North American sales debut in March 2006 as a 2007 model. With previous generations, Toyota began retailing the new models in North America during the month of September, but for the XV40, Toyota reduced the previous model's lifespan to 4.5 years instead of the usual five.

Design

Like the previous XV30, the design of the XV40 series Toyota Camry is split into two separate configurations: "regular" and "prestige". The "regular Camry" is sold in Australasia, Japan, the Middle East, and North America. However, the "prestige Camry" is an Australian-designed model sold alongside the "regular Camry" in Australasia and the Middle East as the Toyota Aurion. Southeast Asia and China also receive the Aurion, although it is badged "Toyota Camry" as the regular car is not offered those markets.

Regular Camry

Toyota Camry LE
(US; pre-facelift)

Toyota Camry Altise
(Australia; pre-facelift)

Toyota Camry
(US; facelift)

Toyota Camry Touring (Australia; facelift)

Making its debut at the January 2006 North American International Auto Show, the XV40 Camry takes a sleeker shape when compared to its predecessor. The design is based on Toyota's "vibrant clarity" corporate design language, with a three-bar grille and stepped hood and trunk. The sports-oriented model, known as the SE in North America and Sportivo in Australasia, features a black "honeycomb" grille, black-tinted headlamps, body kit appendages, and a lower ride height coupled with wider and larger diameter wheels and tires. The coefficient of drag figure remains at 0.28 c_d, falling to 0.27 c_d for the hybrid version. The XV40 was redesigned to incorporate a 55-millimeter (2 in) longer wheelbase, wider wheel tracks, and a stiffer body. Although overall length is equal to its predecessor, Toyota maximized interior volume—especially fore-and-aft space. This was achieved by moving the base of the windshield and rear glass outwards and by the redesigning of the front seats. Cargo space was also reduced by 48 liters (1.7 cu ft) over the previous model, with the hybrid version loosing a further 71 liters (2.5 cu ft) due to the placement of the electric motor's battery.

Toyota refreshed the "regular" Camry XV40 design in January 2009 at the North American International Auto Show. Visual changes include an updated front fascia, including grille and bumper with larger air intakes, larger projector headlamps, redesigned tail lamp lenses incorporating LEDs on all models (previously hybrids only), and revised wheel trims among other design changes. The interior received revised trim, improved power window switches, and a revamped audio system. The audio system now supports satellite radio (in North America) and added USB connectivity, with the dashboard-mounted screen now integrating a backup camera for models fitted with satellite navigation.

Prestige Camry (Aurion)

Main article: Toyota Aurion

Toyota Aurion Prodigy (Australia)

The Camry sold in Southeast Asia and China is referred to as the "prestige Camry" by Toyota officials in Japan. The prestige Camry is a rebadged Toyota Aurion, an Australian-designed vehicle based on the regular Camry. The Aurion shares its doors, greenhouse, roof, and body sides (including doors and rear quarters) with the regular Camry. This component sharing also means that Aurion has the same wheelbase, front and rear axle tracks, and interior dimensions. From the inside, the Aurion also shares a common interior design, which differs from the Camry with a redesigned instrument panel top half and a foot-operated parking brake.

Like the Camry, the Aurion was designed with Toyota's "vibrant clarity" design language. However, the Aurion also integrates a vibrant clarity theory known as "perfect imbalance". This involves body features that act as a counter-point to other body features. Examples of this include intersecting concave and convex surfaces and vertical sculpted features on the front fascia, which are balanced by horizontal headlamps.

Powertrains

Platform code	Engine	Equation	Model code
XV40	2.4 L 2AZ-FE	Z + X = C (AZ + XV = ACV)	ACV40
	2.4 L 2AZ-FXE (hybrid)	Z + X = H (AZ + XV = AHV)	AHV40
	2.5 L 2AR-FE	R + X = S (AR + XV = ASV)	ASV40
	3.5 L 2GR-FE	R + X = S (GR + XV = GSV)	GSV40

Powertrain options for the Camry comprise of both four- and six-cylinder engines along with manual and automatic transmissions. The entry-level engine is a 2.0 liter 1AZ-FE four-cylinder, although this is only available in Southeast Asia and China. The second-tier 2.4 liter 2AZ-FE four-cylinder is the base-line engine in markets outside of Asia. It is available with manual and automatic transmission, both five-speed units. In North America, from January 2009 production, this 2.4 liter powerplant was replaced by the 2.5 liter 2AR-FE engine and brought new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. The top-level powertrain combination is a 3.5 liter 2GR-FE V6 engine paired exclusively to a six-speed automatic.

Toyota also offers a hybrid electric version of the 2.4 liter engine, designated 2AZ-FXE that employs the Atkinson cycle to maximize fuel economy. The hybrid utilizes Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system and is fitted with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in lieu of a conventional automatic. The gasoline engine produces 110 kilowatts (150 hp) and 187 newton-metres (138 lb⋅ft) of torque, with the 650 volt electric motor providing 105 kilowatts (141 hp) and 270 newton-metres (200 lb⋅ft). Working in conjunction, both powerplants produce a total combined output of 140 kilowatts (190 hp), however, due to the intricacy of quantifying a combined torque figure, Toyota has not provided one. The battery pack utilized by the hybrid version is a trunk-mounted nickel-metal hydride unit, weighing in at about 70 kilograms (150 lb). Approximately 135 kilograms (298 lb) of hybrid hardware is fitted to the car in total. However, Toyota claims this is negated by the increased output courtesy of the electric motor that actually improves acceleration by an estimated 15 percent over the non-hybrid 2.4 liter, five-speed automatic variant.

At the 2008 LA Auto Show, Toyota unveiled a compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered hybrid electric version. While this vehicle remained a concept, Toyota in 1999 offered a four-cylinder, non-hybrid CNG-powered XV20 Camry in California to fleet customers.

Engine	Fuel type	Power	Torque	Transmission
2.0 L 1AZ-FE inline-four	Gasoline	108 kW (145 hp)	190 N⋅m (140 lb⋅ft)	4-speed U241E automatic
2.4 L 2AZ-FE inline-four		117 kW (157 hp)	218 N⋅m (161 lb⋅ft)	5-speed E351 manual 5-speed U250E automatic
2.4 L 2AZ-FXE inline-four	Gasoline/electric (hybrid)	140 kW (190 hp)	See text	1-speed P311 CVT
2.5 L 2AR-FE inline-four	Gasoline	126 kW (169 hp)	226 N⋅m (167 lb⋅ft)	6-speed EB62 manual 6-speed U760E automatic
		133 kW (178 hp)	232 N⋅m (171 lb⋅ft)
3.5 L 2GR-FE V6		200 kW (270 hp)	336 N⋅m (248 lb⋅ft)	6-speed U660E automatic

Camry Hybrid

Main article: Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Camry Hybrid (US; pre-facelift)

The XV40 is the first Camry series that has been available with a gasoline/electric hybrid drivetrain (see: above). Known as the "Toyota Camry Hybrid", the gasoline/electric model premiered in January 2006—alongside as the non-hybrid car. Camry Hybrids were initially built solely at the Tsutsumi plant in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. Since October 2006, models for the North American market shifted production to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in the United States. Toyota Australia began local manufacture of the hybrid on December 11, 2009 at its Altona, Victoria plant. In Australasia, the car is know as the "Toyota Hybrid Camry", as opposed to "Camry Hybrid". Since May 2009, the hybrid model has also been produced at Toyota Motor Thailand's Gateway plant in Chachoengsao. Unlike the Camry Hybrid models produced elsewhere, the Thai models are based on the "prestige Camry" design.

Toyota Camry Hybrid (US; facelift)

Compared to the gasoline-only variants, several features are unique to the hybrid. In addition to the hybrid powertrain, the Camry Hybrid employs electric power steering, brakes, and air conditioning that are fully operational once the internal combustion engine is deactivated. The hybrid drivetrain has also necessitated a redesigned front subframe, along with remodeled rear and center floor pressings. Other differences include wheel spats and underbody pans which reduce aerodynamic drag from 0.28 to 0.27 c_d, an "Eco" operating mode for the HVAC system that reduces the output of air conditioning to assist fuel economy, unique interior gauges that see the tachometer replaced by a fuel economy readout, and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). Cosmetic changes are limited to redesigned tail lights with LEDs, a chrome-lined grille, as opposed to the color-coded version on every other Camry trim, and hybrid-oriented emblems including "Hybrid" badging on the front fenders and a decklid-mounted "Hybrid Synergy Drive" logo.

For the facelifted version that debuted in January 2009, Toyota worked to better differentiate the styling of the hybrid away from the rest of the Camry range. This was achieved by fitting a distinct front fascia with a large, central air dam, vertically slotted fog lamps, and a single-blade grille. From the rear, the tail lamps abstain from the primarily red lens inserts fitted previously to predominantly clear lenses, while the interior receives a newly designed fuel economy gauge.

Worldwide sales of the Camry Hybrid represent 8.3 percent of Toyota's total hybrid sales, ranking second after the Toyota Prius, with more than 167,000 Camry Hybrids sold as of August 2009. As of December 2009 cumulative sales of the Camry Hybrid had reached 154,977 units in the US, placing it as the third best selling electric hybrid car in that market.

Australasia

Toyota Australia confirmed that it would build the Hybrid for the Australian market after lobbying the Australian government for incentives to produce it. It is built at Toyota's Altona production facility in Victoria. The Australian government gave a subsidy of A$35 million for its production. Nick Hogios of Toyota Australia led a team of designers to design the HC-CV (Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle). The concept was based on the facelifted Camry Hybrid that was already available in North America. The HC-HV interior features black leather seat upholstery with a band of blue running vertically in the middle. The Toyota emblem on the steering wheel has a blue underlay with correlation to Toyota's HSD. The production model of the Australian Camry Hybrid began in October 2009, but the full scale production process began in December. It was released for sale in February 2010.. It has 16-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels standard.

North America

Calendar Year	United States
2006	31,341
2007	54,477
2008	46,272
2009	22,887
2010(1)	6,537
Total sales	161,514
Note (1): CYTD as of May 31, 2010. Source: HybridCars.com

The Camry Hybrid is very similar to the XLE, but has standard cloth seats, the hybrid powertrain, and VDIM. To commemorate 50 years of Toyota sales in the United States, Toyota built a special edition 2007 Camry Hybrid. The 50th Anniversary Edition was limited to 3,000 units and features unique wheels and badging, and is painted exclusively in the "Blizzard Pearl" color. The Hybrid Camry has also received two awards in North America: the 2007 Green Car of the Year awarded by Green Car Journal, and the 2007 Car of the Year in the Family Sedan (over CA$30,000) category awarded by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.

United States Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates for the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid are 40 mpg_‑US (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg_‑imp) (City) and 38 mpg_‑US (6.2 L/100 km; 46 mpg_‑imp) (Highway). EPA’s revised method of estimating fuel economy for 2008 and subsequent model years, which now considers the effects of air conditioning, rapid acceleration and cold temperatures, estimates 33 mpg_‑US (7.1 L/100 km; 40 mpg_‑imp)(City) and 34 mpg_‑US (6.9 L/100 km; 41 mpg_‑imp) (Highway). The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has certified the Camry Hybrid as AT-PZEV, while the EPA has assigned it a Tier II, Bin 3 score for most states a cleaner version is sold to CARB states.

For US purchasers, a US tax credit of US$2,600 was available for purchases prior to September 30, 2006. Taxpayers could claim 50 percent of the credit, US$1,300, between October 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007 and 25 percent of the credit, US$650, for the fourth and fifth calendar quarters (April to September 2007). No credit is allowed after the fifth quarter. Residents in Ontario (until July 1, 2010 when the HST takes effect, ending the previous PST rebate) and Quebec, Canada can claim a rebate on the Provincial Retail Sales Tax of up to CA$2,000 on the purchase or lease of a hybrid vehicle, and Federal Transport Canada can claim a rebate of CA$1,500.

By December 2009 cumulative sales of the Camry Hybrid had reached 154,77 units. As of August 2009, global sales of the Camry Hybrid have reached slightly more than 167,000 units, representing 8.3% of Toyota's total hybrid sales in the world, and is second only to the Prius.

Safety

Toyota improved the Camry's safety by applying ultra-high-strength steel, which must be hot-stamped to the Camry's roof, front and center pillars, and rocker structures.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Camry sedan an overall rating of "Good" in both frontal offset and side impact crash tests. Both tests also receive the "Good" rating in all 14 measured categories. The Camry is also rated "Good" in the roof strength test with a 5.31 strength-to-weight ratio withstanding a peak force of 17,588 lbs.

2007 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings: The NHTSA rated the XV40 the full frive star rating for the frontal driver, frontal passenger, side driver, and side rear passenger tests, and a four-star rating for the rollover test.

The XV40 model Toyota Camry received a four-star safety rating as a result of Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) testing. The Australian Camry does not offer a driver's knee airbag.

Floor mat and pedal recall

Main article: 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls

In 2010, Toyota recalled many model year 2007–2010 Camrys for floor mat incursion and sticking pedal issues related to unintended acceleration. Toyota did not recall MY 2005 Camrys, although a US Federal lawsuit filed in February 2010 claims that faulty Camry brakes were responsible for two deaths in January, 2010. Evaluations by Car and Driver and Edmunds.com found that the Camry's brakes were powerful enough to overcome the accelerator in all tests, bringing the car safely to a stop.

Market

Daihatsu Altis (Japan; pre-facelift)

Toyota Camrys are produced at Georgetown, Kentucky, USA; Aichi, Japan; Melbourne, Australia; St. Petersburg, Russia; and in China (for the Chinese market only). The Camry sold in China shares the front and rear design used for the Australian 6-cylinder 'Aurion'.

On April 20, 2007, Camry manufacturing began at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. in Lafayette, Indiana USA, with intended production of about 100,000 units per year. A Camry manufactured in Japan is denoted with a VIN starting with "J", as well as a small hatch on the passenger's side of the front bumper containing equipment that is compatible with Japanese towing systems; US-made models are denoted with a VIN starting with "4".

Daihatsu continued with its twin Altis model for the Japanese market. The third generation Altis was introduced January 2006, and continued to be available with the 2AZ-FE 2.4 L 4 cylinder engine. Visually, the Altis is very similar to the JDM Toyota Camry with the 4 cylinder engine. For Japanese models only, G-BOOK, a subscription telematics service, is offered as an option.

Australasia

The XV40 Camry went on sale in Australia and New Zealand on August 20, 2006. For the first time in 18 years, it is marketed in those countries as a four-cylinder model only with the heavily related Toyota Aurion (also known as the "prestige Camry") instead offered with a V6 engine.

Toyota Australia produces the Camry for both domestic and export markets such as the UAE and the Middle East in Altona, Victoria.

Toyota Camry Sportivo (Australia; pre-facelift)

The simplified model range consists of the 'Altise', 'Sportivo', 'Ateva', and 'Grande' (in ascending order in terms of price). The Grande model was the first Australian-made Camry to be fitted with rain-sensing wipers, stability control, traction control and Bluetooth connectivity. Stability control was not available across the range until August 2007, where it became standard on all variants. In May 2008, the Grande variant received a change in specifications to the same set of alloy wheels as the 'Sportivo' variant, as opposed to the 'Grande' variant previously. It is worth noting that before the change, the "Grande" model had the same wheels as the "Ateva" model. Also, released in May 2008, was the Ateva L. It included extra features such as a rear lip spoiler, the same alloys as the "Sportivo" variant and leather seats and leather door trim.

The special edition Touring SE was launched in April 2009 at the same price as the Altise automatic. The Touring SE is based on the Altise, but is fitted with additional extras such as 17 inch alloy wheels, the Sportivo's front grille and headlights, a chrome exhaust tip, front foglights, a six-disc CD changer, an information screen, dual zone climate control air-conditioning, and a leather steering wheel, handbrake and transmission selection lever.

The Toyota Camry, as of 2008, is Australia's best selling locally made vehicle, when taking into account all sales, both domestic and exports.

China and Southeast Asia

Main article: Toyota Aurion

The Camry sold in China and Southeast Asia utilizes the "prestige Camry" design, based on the Australian-designed Toyota Aurion.

North America

Toyota Camry XLE (US; pre-facelift)

In North America, the Camry comes with a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or an optional 3.5-liter V6. The base model (“CE” in Canada and the United States for 2007 only) is not available with the V6. The 2.4-liter comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, a five-speed automatic is optional on the base and SE trims, standard on LE and XLE. The XLE includes features such as leather upholstery, woodgrain trim, dual-zone climate control, and a 6-disc in-dash CD player. The 4-cylinder base and LE have 16-inch steel wheels standard, with alloy wheels available as an option. XLE trim comes with standard 16-inch alloy wheels, while the SE sports 17-inch wheels. New features to the Camry include an optional ion air purifier type filtration system and Smart Key System with push-button start. For 2010, a backup camera became optional on the XLE trim.

The SE (Sport Edition), priced between the LE and XLE, differs from the rest of the Camry trims with 5-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, light blue trimmed Optitron illumination for the gauges, exclusive dark charcoal sport fabric or leather seats, a leather wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, lip spoiler, side skirts, blacked-out grille, and fog lamps. The SE's chassis offers 15%-higher spring rates, special dampers/shocks, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and stiffer bushings on the rear suspension. A power moonroof is optional on the LE and SE, and comes standard on the other Camry models. To create a more rigid structure for SE and XLE models a V-brace behind the rear seat (prevents rear seat fold-down, ski-pass only) and thicker body-side brackets are added. The updated 2010 model also has an optional limited-slip differential and TRD-tuned exhaust system on SE trim.

Toyota Camry XLE (US; facelift)

The Camry comes factory-equipped with dual frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side torso airbags, front and rear row side curtain airbags, and a driver's knee airbag. Other standard safety include a tire-pressure monitoring system, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, and electronic brakeforce distribution. While Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control were initially exclusive to V6 and hybrid cars for the 2007-08 model years, these features were offered on every Camry model for 2009 save for the 4-cylinder LE which has these as part of the Convenience package. The 2010 face-lifted models, sold starting in April 2009, have stability and traction control standard. The facelifted Camry began production in January 2009 and went on sale in March 2009 in the United States for the 2010 model year. The new 2.5 liter I4 engines replace the previous 2.4 liter four-cylinder in non-hybrid models. A more powerful version is exclusive to the Camry SE, and Toyota's Smart Key System is now available for the SE (previously only available to the XLE).

Sales in the United States, the primary market for the Camry, significantly increased in the year following release. In April 2007, Toyota began producing additional Camry models at Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana. In a Cars.com American-Made Index study, the Camry was ranked highest, all models sold in the US are assembled there.

Consumer Reports 2007 Annual Car Reliability Survey gave the V6 version of the Camry a "below average" rating, due to transmission issues thus removing the V6 Camry from Consumer Reports' "Recommended" list. This rating does not apply to the four cylinder and hybrid versions, which continued to be recommended. However, these problems have been corrected, and the V6 version has improved to "average".

Bibliography

• Carey, John (2007). "COTY 2006 - Toyota Aurion". Wheels magazine. Sydney, New South Wales: ACP Magazines. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

• Carey, John (2008). "Taking charge". Wheels magazine. Sydney, New South Wales: ACP Magazines. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)