New 2012 Camry debuts with style, performance

Toyota’s all new, seventh-generation Camry debuts for the 2012 model year and retains the best of what has kept it America’s best-selling car for nine years in a row.

“The all-new 2012 Camry blends an evolution of the car’s values – such as comfort, efficiency, reliability and safety – with a more appealing design and engaging driver experience,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “Competition in the midsize sedan segment is the strongest it’s ever been, and the all-new Camry is designed to maintain its longstanding leadership while also broadening its appeal.”

Under the Hood

Toyota engineers designed the three engine options for 2012 to increase fuel efficiency over previous models.

The reworked 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The 28 mpg average is two more than the previous year.

Stepping up from the four-cylinder is a dual overhead camshaft 3.5-liter V6 with 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. EPA-estimated mileage is 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Debuting in 2012 is the all-new Camry hHybrid, which uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor that delivers 43 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway, which is a 30-percent increase in fuel economy over the previous generation. The hybrid powerplant produces 200 horsepower.

The gas engines are teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission that allows drivers to manually shift from the console as well as paddle shifters located on the steering wheel.

Comfort and Convenience

The 2012 Camry improves on its traditional reputation for having a quiet interior with little road noise reaching the driver and passengers. New sound insulation, acoustic glass and upgrades to the dash area all make for the quietest Camry ever.

State-of-the-art electronics are incorporated into the Camry, including Bluetooth wireless connectivity for hands-free calling, a USB port for playing music from portable devices and full iPod integration.

The standard audio system has six speakers and a 6.1-inch dash-mounted screen, which also shows fuel efficiency and does double duty as the monitor for the optional back-up camera.

The screen also works with the available navigation system and Toyota’s new Entune multimedia system.

An upgrade audio system is also available, increasing sound quality and monitor size to 7 inches.

Camry will be one of the first models to incorporate the Entune multimedia system, which allows the vehicle to work with smartphones for navigation, entertainment and even applications such as movietickets.com and OpenTable. It also brings a large music selection via Pandora and iHeartRadio.

Safety

Providing safety during collisions are 10 airbags that come standard on all Camry models, including seat-mounted airbags, frontal impact airbags, side curtain airbags and more at the driver and passenger knee areas.

The 2012 Camry also feature’s Toyota’s Star Safety System, which brings vehicle stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and the Smart Stop brake-override system.

Available in Camry models is Safety Connect, a system that connects the vehicle to a live call center capable of dispatching emergency services in the case of a collision or other emergency.

A new optional blind spot-monitoring system uses radar to detect obstacles in the vehicle’s blind spot and lets the driver know with readouts in the side-view mirrors.