New sense of luxury

However highly reliable and utterly competent this car is, the Toyota Camry smacks too much of "old man’s ride." Cool is not a word that easily springs on one’s lips to describe it, especially when referring to its styling. And now that there’s a new Camry in town, cool too, the new car is not.

Try stunning.

Officially launched to the local market with one big happenin’ party last Monday at Dusit Hotel, the all-new 2002 Toyota Camry is simply that: Stunning. Its subdued design is clean and simple, but has enough funky details to keep it interesting. The car’s swooping lines–which starts from the headlamps, flows to the rear window pillars and all the way to its tush–make it appear that its already doing more than a hundred kph when the car is merely parked on the hotel’s ballroom floors. It’s quiet and striking at once, the way most Euro cars are. In this case, it may not be purely coincidental at all. Because from the looks of it, the Camry has these Euro cars in sight.

The spec sheet tells the story. For one thing, the new Camry is bigger in almost every dimension than the model it replaces. Which means it’s roomier inside. And what’s Toyota to do with a bigger interior? Make it more luxurious, of course, the way Euro luxo-rides are.

The car’s two-tone interior color scheme is elegant and bright, and Toyota definitely didn’t scrimp on leather and chrome. What is not slathered in leather is finished with plastic. Yes, plastic, but high-quality stuff. In most places, it’s also covered with the luxomobile-requisite woodgrain trim, and in quantities that would make a tree-hugging Greenpeace member froth in the mouth.

A technofreak would do the same too. Sit behind the handsome steering wheel, turn the key, and the newly-tweaked Optitron gizmo does its thing. Three-color neon-like lights instantly illuminate the gauges where a blank, black space used to be, ensuring all vital infos are visible no matter what the lighting condition is. It is especially striking in the dark, the gauges glowing like glowsticks in a club or a white shirt hit by black light. Trippy, it is.

Of course, everything’s power-operated, which means all convenience features function at a push of a button, a nudge of a lever and, in the case of the airconditioning system, telekinesis. That’s made possible by the aircon’s automatic sensors that monitor the temperature outside and inside the vehicle, and also how bright the sun is. The sensors then would automatically control the temperature and airflow. Also, the new Camry’s windshield and windows have high solar energy-absorbing (HSEA) green glass that further makes sure it will be cool and comfortable inside. To liven things up, a Kenwood single in-dash MD/CD/MP3 player with six speakers takes care of the in-car entertainment.

But the audio system is not the only one that makes music. Under the Camry’s hood is Toyota’s all-new twincam 2.4 liter 2AZ-FE engine, which is equipped with the company’s variable valve timing system dubbed as the VVT-i. This new engine has 157 horses at its beck and call, all of which are called to duty at the 5,600 rpm mark. With 29 horses more than the previous model, there’s more horsepower music to be had.

Some Camry models can also be ordered with the smaller 2-liter 1AZ-FE VVT-i engine, which makes sweet sounds as well.

To put power on the ground, an all-new transmission is installed. Called the super electronically controlled transmission (Super ECT), this automatic box is a four-speed with overdrive unit. Toyota said that the Super ECT has instantaneous response, is smooth-shifting and gives better mileage because of its low-friction characteristics.

To rein in the horses, Toyota said its Camry engineers have equipped the new car with the most advanced safety features in order to prevent accidents, and in the case of unfortunate incidents, to protect the occupants in a collision. The new Camry has disc brakes on all four corners, with ABS, EBD and a brake assist system.

Meanwhile, the car’s newly developed Global Outstanding Assessment-standard (GOA) body improves safety against collisions with its front and rear crumple zones and side-impact beams that are specifically designed to take the force of the impact. Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seats reduces the chance of neck injuries, and dual SRS airbags supplements the seatbelts.

On to more pleasant thoughts, all these Euro-look, Greenpeace members’ and technofreaks’ mouth-frothing stuff are finished off with a sterling paint job. Initially available in three fancy colors with equally fancy names–Quick Silver, Flaxen, Night Mist–any of which provides the best packaging the new Camry can have. Simply stunning.

The new Camry is priced at special introductory prices: The top model sells for P1.550 million, the 2-liter G model for P1.375 million, and the 2-liter E variant for P1.250 million. Whatever the model, all are covered by Toyota’s new three-month/100,000 kilometers warranty.