Toyota Camry

Evander Klum asked:


Toyota Motor Sales USA now releases the 6th-generation 2008 model year of the Camry sedan, America’s best selling car. For 2008, the car comes with numerous new features on the exterior and interior, as well as on the technical side. For the car’s powertrain, Toyota offers 4-cylinder and V6 engine variants.

The 2008 Toyota Camry now boasts a distinctive and sporty exterior appearance highlighted by other exterior design cues. The car’s wheelbase measures 109.3 inches, which in turn, offers 101.4 cubic feet of passenger space, including 38.3 inches of rear legroom. The 2008 Toyota Camry comes with several model trim levels including Camry XLE, Camry LE, and Camry SE, Camry Hybrid featuring the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. All models feature four-wheel independent suspension is via MacPherson struts in front and a dual-link strut rear suspension system. Standard 16-inch wheels of either steel (Camry and LE) or aluminum (XLE and Hybrid) are offered. The Toyota Camry SE comes with a bunch of exterior enhancements including standard full body kit, 17-inch aluminum wheels, distinct black honeycomb-style grille, and smoked tint halogen headlamps.

Standard equipments on all 2008 Toyota Camry models include air conditioning with micro dust and pollen filter, power windows and door locks, color-keyed power side mirrors, cruise control, halogen headlamps with automatic on and off feature, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, vehicle immobilizer, and a six speaker 160-watt digital AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary audio jack.

Other interior and comfort features found on the 2008 Toyota Camry include two-level dash and console, 60/40 fold-down rear seats, 15 cubic feet of luggage space, special seat fabric (four-cylinder XLE model only), dual-zone automatic climate-control system, rear seatbacks, console side-pockets, front console box equipped with an accessory power socket and an auxiliary audio jack, 354 cubic inch rear-console box with a card holder and a movable tray, in-key remote keyless entry and eight-way-adjustable power driver’s seat (Camry LE only), optional heated front seats, voice-command DVD navigation system, leather-trimmed seating, rear spoiler, and the Smart Entry and Smart Start system.

The well-equipped Camry XLE gets a wide range of exclusive standard features including an upgraded dual-zone automatic climate control system with steering-wheel controls, Plasmacluster ionizer and rear vents, a premium 440-watt JBL audio system with Bluetooth technology for hands-free calling with compatible phones and AM/FM/six-disc in-dash CD changer with eight speakers and an eight-channel, 440-watt digital amplifier, wood-style trim, power glass moonroof, reclining rear seats, fog lamps, and aluminum wheels. For the Camry Hybrid, additional standard equipment includes Smart Entry and Smart Start system, and push-button start.

Advanced active and passive safety equipments include body structure designed to absorb collision-impact forces, high-strength steel on the B-pillar and rocker panel reinforcements, dual-stage advanced SRS airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, and Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seat design. In addition, technical safety feats include standard anti-lock brake system (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, optional Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control, and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system for the Camry Hybrid.

At the heart of the 2008 Toyota Camry sedan is a standard 2.4-liter engine that is capable of pumping out 158 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and pulls out 161 lb.-ft. amount of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. This standard power unit is coupled with a five-speed manual transmission or an electronically controlled five-speed automatic. For the LE, SE and XLE models, Toyota offers the more powerful DOHC 3.5L V6 engine that boost with 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. peak torque at 4,700 rpm. The engine comes with chain-driven camshafts that employ Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (Dual VVT-i), providing optimum performance and fuel efficiency. A six-speed automatic transmission with a sequential mode for manual shifting completes the powertrain package for the LE, SE and XLE models.

Meanwhile, the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with a powertrain system that combines the Hybrid Synergy Drive with 2.4-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine. Power output is at 187 horsepower, coupled with an electronically controlled planetary-gear continuously variable transmission. The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a full hybrid model, which means it can operate on gas fuel or a combination of gas power and electric motors. This allows the vehicle to achieve excellent fuel economy and low exhaust emission. The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid is certified as an

Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV).

All of these features of the Toyota Camry contribute to beat other models in the segment like the BMW 330i with quality BMW 330i parts.



Raul

KatieJones asked:


The United States auto market is known for the demand for larger vehicles like sport utility vehicles and even full-size sedans. In fact, American motorists are still looking for larger cars to drive even with the increasing price of gasoline. This makes the auto market even more competitive. Since consumers are also looking for fuel efficient cars, they still want bigger sized cars and vehicles.

Car manufacturers need to focus their attention to developing and producing large vehicles with good fuel efficiency. This is already addressed by different car manufacturers. In fact, a top official for the surging Toyota Motor Corporation said that the pressure will be on automotive engineers to come up with a vehicle that will both address the size of the vehicle and the fuel economy issue.

David Baxter, a Senior Executive Administrator of the Toyota Technical Center located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said and emphasized on the demand of the auto market particularly in the North America. He said that consumers are looking for bigger sized vehicles and it would be the job of automotive engineers to come up with a vehicle that will satisfy their needs while meeting stricter emission regulations and support the United State’s energy independence goal.

During the Society of Automotive Engineers annual convention, Baxter said: “Especially in North America, people like the size of their vehicles, and there’s going to be a lot of pressure to maintain the size for safety and improve fuel economy.”

Aside from the size, Baxter also pointed out that consumers will also be looking for vehicles loaded with safety features to go along with size and fuel economy. But he stressed that that does not mean that the vehicles of the near future will not be all hybrids or small cars.

Baxter is of course part of Toyota which is known for their vehicles’ fuel efficiency. The company is currently enjoying much success in the U.S. auto market. The Japanese company’s success is mainly due to strong sales of their efficient cars like the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Camry. Add to that the fast selling fuel miser that is the Prius. These vehicles are seen as more fuel efficient that the sedans manufactured by General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, the U.S.’ Big Three.

The current challenge for them is to develop a large vehicle with an incredibly high gas mileage rating for its class. The Toyota Avalon, Toyota’s entry to the full-size sedan market, is also considered as one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in its class. The Toyota Avalon was designed at Toyota’s technical center where Baxter is currently the administrator.

While Toyota recently release a hybrid version of the mid-size Camry sedan, Baxter did not divulge at the convention whether Toyota will be offering a hybrid version of the Avalon. Instead, Baxter has this to say about the issue: “It’s likely there will be more hybrid vehicles or more hybrid powertrains available in our models in the future.”

In connection with the challenge posed on automotive engineers, Toyota will be expanding their technical center at Ann Arbor. This is to help the company design more fuel efficient and bigger sized cars, which according to Baxter, are what the public is looking for. Baxter also furthermore reported that the technical center has already hired 780 persons and Toyota is planning to add 500 more engineers to assist in the whole development process.

The planned new technical center will be tasked to design vehicles that will meet the demand of North American consumers meaning larger cars with good fuel economy and a Toyota logo just above the Toyota bumper. He said that the new plant is expected to help the company as their U.S. business expands more in the next several years.

Although Baxter maintained that Toyota will be putting in effort on the development of larger and fuel efficient vehicles, he also pointed out that in the near future, even a company as large as theirs or maybe even General Motors will be joining forces with other car manufacturers. He said that the development of safety features, fuel efficient technologies, and other issues will be more cost efficient if a partnership with other automakers is made.



Elizabeth