Toyota Camry Hybrid Australia

"Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that Japanese car-maker Toyota will start building four-cylinder hybrid versions of its Camry model at its factory outside Melbourne.

Mr Rudd made the announcement at Toyota’s global headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, alongside the company’s president, Katsuaki Watanabe.

The Federal Government will allocate $35 million from its Green Car Innovation Fund to support the move, which will produce up to 10,000 of the petrol-electric cars each year from 2010."

Well... it was announced and the fairly new Australian Government made the spotlight for a short time anyway with this big announcement .

The Toyota Camry based on the US model is being built in Australia. My money is on the Australian Government being the biggest buyer at this point.

Price range of the hybrid is at $36,990 just behind Ford and Holden models

2010 and Hybrid cars will start to filter into the market place, there will be the plug in Toyota Prius, nice but expensive, the Hyundai Elantra around $30,000 AUD will get some of the market and the Camry. In theory all nice. Running our cars won't be any cheaper then, as the saving made with the hybrids will be well and truly absorbed by oil prices and associated costs.
Lets have a sneak preview of this Camry again based on the USA model.:

The Toyota Camry Hybrid began in the USA in 2006 , in 2007 it was car of the year with sales about 60000 roughly 15% of total Camry's sold.

The 4 cylinder engine develops 108 Kw and 187Nm, the 650 V motors with a NiMH traction battery has a maximum out put of 29Kw to produce the peak 140Kw.

Fuel consumption in the states is between 33 and 40 mpg (5.9l/100km) depending on weather (not as efficient in extreme cold) Compare to Prius at 4.0l/100km

Politics of car making

The features listed below for the Hybrid are the features not found on the regular Toyota Camry model.

LED tail lights
Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management [VDIM]
Climate Control system which can function wheninternal combustion engine is off.
"ECO" button which can limit energy consumption of the HVAC system.
Coefficient of aerodynamic drag reducing wheel spats and under body pans (aerodynamic drag for Camry Hybrid is 0.27)
"HYBRID" emblems on front fenders and HSD emblem on the rear boot

Note must be made that in the USA and Canada the government do offer a rebate back for a hybrid purchase. Lets hope its not like the solar power rebate and find it discontinued by the government for being too popular.

Class Mid-size (2007-present)
Body style   4-door sedan
Engine                     2.4 L I4 2AZ-FXE Atkinson cycle gasoline engine
Transmission       Continuously variable transmission
Wheelbase           109.3 in (2776 mm)
Length                   189.2 in (4806 mm)
Width                     71.7 in (1821 mm)
Height                    57.5 in (1461 mm)
Fuel capacity         65.1 L

Pricing in the USA is $26480 USD the Toyota Prius on the other hand is only $19995 but thing will alter in Australia and the Prius will be totally redesigned by 2010-2011

Toyota Camry Hybrid Australia

The features listed below for the Hybrid are the features not found on the regular Toyota Camry model.

Video being on the inside of the Camry Hybrid. Oh..so quiet..