Test Drive Toyota Camry Solara 2003 - 2008

So as not to go out

Even taking into account the high popularity of the current Toyota Camry, the Japanese considered that to consolidate the success of the model flagship sedan it's time to update. The rethinking product has excellent perspectives.
 
Despite the fact that on the roads of the whole world today it runs more than a dozen million Camry, some five years ago, this Toyotovsky business sedan was in our state if not a white crow, then certainly a gray horse. Competent marketing policies - advertising and price, as well as the favorable market conditions have made their business, and now Camry in Russia at the peak of popularity.
 
However, according to the laws of the genre, dictating a periodic change of generations, the relay stick is transferred to the successor. What is the new Toyota Camry? The answer to this question lies on the surface, because with a non-essential increased price, the new Camry introduced the best qualities of the predecessor, becoming more and more attractive from aesthetic point of view.
 
From the sink appearance of the former model, which deserved a lot of critical comments to its address, there was no trace. Now the sedan is not only strict and tighten, it claims to be a stylish product. The progress of exterior design is obvious, although the conversations about the perfection of forms are still premature. However, it is appropriate to mention a banal taste and color .... It is much more important that due to an increase in the wheelbase (by 55 mm) and the gauge growth (the front of 30 mm, the back - by 40) improved the course stability of the car. As well as increased volume (and therefore comfortability) of the cabin.
 
The living area Camry and first fully complied with the standards of the business class. Now the space has become even more. This contributes not only to the increase in centimeters, but also the architecture of the cabin. For example, the front seats of the new design (tested on Toyota Prius) are spacious, hospitable to a person of any physique and are well protected from braided back and neck injuries. In addition, convenience for the sake of increased the range of longitudinal adjustment; For machines with a mechanical drive, it is 254 mm, and in the presence of electricians - and at all 260. Taking into account the steering column regulated in the two directions, this means that even the tall long-legged personality will easily acquire their place.
 
Passengers of the rear row also got: the length of the legs increased to 970 mm, and the threesome here are quite free. By the way, for more comfort in the top package within eight degrees, the tilt of the back back is changed.
 
Under the luggage in the new Camry, 535 liters are assigned (504 in the car with an adjustable back). This is a lot or little becomes clear when the heels of travel bags are one after another disappear in the womb of the cargo compartment. But also the rear seat can be folded.
 
Expand the space of the cabin helps a two-level front panel with a biased upper part and a bulk dashboard with optimonic dial scales. In the dark, the global highlighting of the central console with high-quality audio system and automatic double-zone climate control contributes to this. Especially the Japanese are proud of the presence in the state of onboard delicacies of the ionizer, significantly reduce the content of microorganisms and smells in the air. Complements the picture of the comfort set of compartments for smallest things, auxiliary electrodarmers, cup holders. In short, the reason for discontent is unlikely to find even a shortwater skeptic.
 
New Camry is equipped with a four-cylinder 2.4-liter 167-power engine, as well as a 277-strong 3.5-liter V6. The first is built on the basis of the predecessor's power unit, but significantly improved. Optimization of intake and release systems, reducing friction and increasing the stiffness of the node The cylinder-cylinder-cylinder allowed to increase the power while reducing fuel consumption, noise level and vibrations.
 
The advantages of the newly developed 24-valve V6 with two camshafts and the Dual VVT-I timing phase change system are reflected, for example, in the fact that the acceleration characteristics of the car by 40% better than the previous Camry with a 3.3-liter V6. In practice, this is expressed in both the most powerful start pickup and responsiveness of the machine on the accelerator pulse at high (120-170 km / h) speeds of movement. In general, driving this camry you feel the lord of the universe.
 
The basic version with a 2.4-liter four, of course, has a calmer temper, but also its potential is enough to maintain the owner's ambition at an acceptable level. The five-speed automatic transmission serving this motor (still possible with a five-speed mechanic), it works adequately and smoothly, but somewhat inferior in the effectiveness of a 6-speed sequented automaton of a more powerful version, the main trump card of which is a meager reaction time to a sharp fuel supply - 0.5 s (This is twice as fewer than the previous model).
 
During the movement of the irregularity, the energy-intensive suspension would fall without a trace, and the car seems to boil over the road, without touching it with the wheels: the revision of the chassis (in particular, the elongation of the lower levers, the change in the suspension geometry and its reconfiguration) significantly increased comfort. True, it does not happen miracles, and Camry confirms these American valve with sharp high-speed rebuildings. However, the compromise is characterized by verified proportions, and the controllability from the sedan is quite decent.
 
The feeling of comfort is increasing during the movement of extraneous noise, or rather, their minimum values. It is not surprising, in addition to the impenetrable noise insulation, decibels are extinguished by flat janitor, almost complete abuse of gaps between the glued glasses and the body.
 
The brakes initially seem to be sluggish, but after a short time it becomes clear: the first impression is deceptive, and it comes from the desire of the creators of the car to make the brakes as informative. In fact, to dose the effort on the pedals, depending on the situation, it is possible with pharmaceutical accuracy. And if, if necessary, how to click, then using an emergency braking amplifier (this electronic system is even included in the basic configuration). No wonder in the new Camry, brake discs of increased diameter and pads with 10% large friction coefficient are applied than the predecessor.
 
The steering, although it has a somewhat smeared separation position, allows you to clearly follow the intended trajectory, and a slight radius of the turn - without any problems to park in cramped conditions.
 
The new Toyota Camry is generously equipped with active and passive safety tools - from ABS and a course stability system to an energy absorbing bodywork and six airbags.
 
Apparently, the new Toyota Camry is doomed to success. After all, this big, comfortable, cute and definition reliable (Toyota!) Sedan is worth full of real money: in the database, only 30,900 dollars. With this scenario, the newcomer in our market is actually no competitors. In addition, you should not forget that at the end of 2007, the new Toyota Camry with the launch of the Toyotovsky plant under Peter will acquire Russian registration and may become more attractive for potential owners.
 
+ Comfort, economy, relatively low price.
- fuzzy fixation of the steering wheel in the central position, relative valve in turns.
 
Specifications Toyota Camry 2.4 // Toyota Camry 3.5
 
Body - Sedan.
Curb weight, kg - 1390-1490 // 1545
Dimensions, mm:
- Length - 4815
- Width - 1820
- Height - 1460
Base, mm - 2775
Radag volume, l - 535
Fuel control, mixed cycle, l / 100 km - 8.5 (m / t), 9.9 (A / T) // 9.9
Engine:
- Type - 4-cylinder, 16-valve. // V16, 24-valve.
- Working volume, cm3 - 2362 3456
- Power, hp at min-1 - 167/6000 // 277/6200
Transmission - 5MCP or 6AKP // 6AKP
Tire size - 215 / 60R16
Wheel suspension:
- Front - McPherson, with stabilizer
- rear - double-click, with stabilizer
Brakes (front / rear) - disk, ventilated / disc
Steering - Rake gear, with amplifier
Price, $ - from 30 900 // 43 200
 
Tomoaka Nisitani,
head of Russian representative office
toyota:
 
- Today, the Russian market has become one of the four largest potential markets in the world. In addition to your country, their country includes Brazil, India and China. That is why we started the construction of the plant, which will be ready in December next year, in Russia. Here we make a bet on the new generation of Toyota Camry. The volume of production at first will be about twenty thousand cars per year. And the project capacity of the enterprise is fifty thousand. Exit to this number directly depends on consumer demand. We do not want to rush, because it is very important from the very beginning to ensure high quality products. As far as I know, Russian buyers prefer large comfortable cars with a good complete set and high security. Camry meets these requests. In addition, this is the flagship of our model range, which is very important for a successful start. All Toyota cars are adapted for Russia. Preparation is to apply a package of bad roads and setting up engines for Russian fuel. First, we will officially imagine a new generation of Camry to Russian consumers, and then appoint the price. As for the development of the dealer network, we are going to open new centers for the sale and maintenance of our cars. This applies to both the Toyota and Lexus brand. Already this year several dealer centers on both brands will open in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Centers and in other regions of Russia will open. The most interesting for us, from the point of view of business, are all millionic cities, as well as the Urals, Volga region and the south of the country.
 
About export Camry is not yet coming. The initial task is to release a car for the Russian market in compliance with the high quality standard of Toyota.
 
Text: Igor Kuznetsov
 

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [05/2006]