Toyota to introduce 3rd HYBRID, the CAMRY! Production starts in 2006!

[in_cog_ni_to]

This is AWESOME! and it will be the first U.S. produced Hybrid. :bounce: They have the Prius, the SUV the Highlander which, IMO, doesn't save THAT much on milage...28 mpg highway and now the Camry, their best selling car. The mileage will 'probably' be comparable to the Prius...50 MPG highway....wouldn't you think? I'm excited cause I'm gettin' me a Hybrid in about 6 months! :woohoo: I still like the look of the Prius...it's so DIFFERENT from anything on the road....I like 'uniqueness.' :) Here's their announcement:


Toyota is proud to announce that it will produce a hybrid version of its top-selling Camry sedan starting in 2006. Camry will be the third Toyota vehicle with Hybrid Synergy Drive® in the U.S., a big step in mainstreaming hybrid vehicles.



Camry is America's most popular car, with sales topping 425,000 units in 2004. A large number of buyers who might not otherwise choose a hybrid car will select the Camry Hybrid. These buyers will enjoy improved fuel efficiency, uncompromised performance and the most advanced hybrid system on the road: Hybrid Synergy Drive®.

Most of Camry Hybrid's electrical powertrain components will be imported from Japan, but the 4-cylinder engine will be assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky. As with all other Toyota vehicles featuring Hybrid Synergy Drive®, the Camry Hybrid powertrain will be engineered to achieve the model's specific performance specifications and to exceed buyer expectations.

The growing hybrid market
Camry Hybrid was born of Toyota's commitment to produce environmentally sensitive vehicles and the increasing market demand for hybrids. Toyota has sold more than 400,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide. The company is on target to produce 300,000 hybrid vehicles annually by 2005, and one million by the end of the decade. Camry Hybrid follows Prius and Highlander Hybrid as the third Toyota hybrid in the U.S. market.

Toyota will continue to release information about Camry Hybrid performance, specifications, options, price and first date of sale. Hybrid Synergy View will keep you up with the latest news!

Check out the U.S. Camry Hybrid launch announcement for more information.

[Lorien]

1. I'm driving a Camry now and would love to get a hybrid!

Either the Camry or the Prius would be fine by me. My best friend has a Prius, and he LOVES it!

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. My Sister-in-Law drives a Camry and LOVES it and I SWEAR by Toyota cars.

I had Celica that I drove for 10 years and never, ever had to have ANY repair done on it...NOTHING, NADA, ZIP, ZERO. It was the best car I ever owned. I had the regular maintenance done and the car served me well, very well, for 10 years! I can't WAIT to get a Hybrid and it will definitely be a Toyota. :bounce: The Prius is so damned cool!

[Poiuyt]

2. Honda Accord has a hybrid version

This is definitely a good trend

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Once Again, Ford and GM Are Acting Cluelessly

The very clever marketing and engineering guys at Toyota are responding to market demand in an era of mounting gas prices by producing hybrid vehicles. Camry is a popular brand and deserves to be. It makes you wonder why in Gehenna are both F-O-R-D and Mr. Dropwrench haven't been putting more emphasis on cranking out their own hybrid models.

I also note one other thing. Whoever gets more experience with electric motors and transmissions is going to be ahead of the game when fuel-cell autos finally become practical.

[newportdadde]

5. I didn't realize Camry was the most popular car in the US.

I see a lot of Accords figured they were #1. Pretty interesting.. here in a few years I'm going to be looking into a nice commute car to replace my v6 stang, maybe that will be an option.

How do you Camry owners like them?

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. MY Sister-in-Law LOVES hers.

The thing has a HUGE, CAVERNOUS trunk and I really like the interior, the exterior looks and dependability. It's a VERY NICE car. Toyota knows how to make cars! My Brother-in-Law SWEARS by Hondas. He's ALWAYS owned one, ever since they started making them. They also have a Hybrid. You might consider that also? :)

[lectrobyte]

8. My parents bought one a new one in '95, now with nearly 100K on it,

still looks and drives like a new car. No problems. The styling is a bit bland for some tastes, but they don't seem to look dated too quickly like some cars. And with whatever your view on peak oil, I'd definitely consider something that was easy on gas.

[no_to_war_economy]

7. lets hope toyota is smarter than honda

honda screwed up with their hybrid accord by making it a v6 with a ton of horsepower, the mpg on the accord is not even over 30 mpg

toyota better make this a nice slow efficient 4 cylinder that gets at LEAST 45 mpg

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. Yeah, that's why, right now, I'm leaning toward the Prius.

50 mpg...:woohoo: That is AWESOME! Anything under 40-45 mpg highway, just isn't good enough, for me. Plus, I really like the looks of the Prius.....funky. :) I'm anxious to get the specs on the Camry. One would think Toyota would learn something from how well the Prius sells...LONG waiting lists and follow suit with the Camry? :shrug:

[chopper]

11. honda didnt screw up

the accord hybrid is geared towards a different segment of the market: people who want a powerful and fast sedan with good gas mileage, as opposed to prius/hybrid civic owners who want pure gas mileage and are willing to let performance suffer.

the hybrid accord does 0-60 in six and a half seconds. its a V6 with the power of a V8, while getting 30/37 mileage.

the new hybrid camry is going to be toyota's version of the hybrid civic, that is a hybrid version of a car that's already out there. the only easy way to tell a hybrid civic from a regular one is by the rims, they look and feel the same. that's what most people want.

[Paulie]

14. Prius is tuned for Emissions

Mileage is just a side effect. For example, it will run the gas motor to keep the catalytic converters hot.

I'm in the 50-53mpg in my 05 Prius. Averaging 2500 miles a month so far with my work commute, and loving it! :D

[no_to_war_economy]

18. good for you, cheers! to toyota

FUCK honda and their horsepower, people are stupid if they want to haul ass with their honda hybrids

[Imagevision]

10. If detroit would simply switch over to making only hybrids the

dependency on the arabs for oil would be at least cut in half. plus air pollution would have to be impacted as well.

[Nevernose]

12. Just traded in my Camry (190k miles)

God I loved that car! It never had anything but minor problems, but the problem with it was that after 190,000 miles of driving through the Mojave desert, it was starting to have a LOT of minor problems, so I decided to buy a newer car w/ hopefully fewer problems.

I wish I could afford a new Camry (or a new car period for that matter) -- I'd buy a hybrid Camry in a heartbeat!

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. How many cars can you drive for 190,000 miles

and have very few problems???? NOT MANY! Did you buy another Toyota?

[Nevernose]

15. *sigh* Couldn't affiord one

Not even a used Toyota, at least not one that was less than five years old. They are very much in demand. I got an Olds this time (partly for the nostalgia factor), which is one of the few non-Toyotas I've had.

I've also owned an '89 Camry and a '73 Corolla, both excellent, completely reliable cars. The Corolla was 25 years old by the time she gave up the ghost!

[NancyG]

16. Love our Suburu Outback wagon.

It holds the road like it's on a railway track. Sure wish Suburu would come out with a hybrid.

[DavidDvorkin]

17. Great! I love my Camry.

I've been wondering what my next car would be. Wanted to stick with Toyotas, and if they don't keep making the Camry bigger, the hybrid could be perfect.

I don't buy new cars, though. I've been buying lease-return cars through a broker, so that would mean I wouldn't be able to get a hybrid Camry till 2009. That might work out.