All-New 2018 Toyota Camry Pricing, Specifications Revealed

by Jim Kem under News on 21 Nov 2017 01:50:49 PM21 Nov 2017

2018 Toyota Camry (XV70) - Australia15

The closure of Toyota’s local manufacturing facility is still fresh in the minds of many Australians, but despite this the Japanese automaker has announced the all-new (and foreign made) version for our consumption.

The 8th-generation Camry (XV70) arrives, right on schedule, from Japan following a 30-year run of being sourced from Altona, now starting from $27,690 (excluding ORCs) for the base Ascent spec with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol motor from their newish Dynamic Force family, producing an identical 133kW and 235Nm and mated to a 6-speed automatic. Standard feature highlights include Autonomous Emergency Braking, active cruise control, automatic high beam, reversing camera, a 7-inch multimedia display, and LED headlamps.

The move to cease local production coincides with the release of this all-new globally available Camry, the first sedan to use the brand’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that so far has seen action in the fourth-generation Prius and C-HR crossover, though soon nearly all Toyota models will be sporting it.

Keen to retain their market dominance, the Japanese automaker is confident that the all-new Camry will provide buyers with a much better overall product and greater value despite no longer being produced locally, offering advanced safety and tech features, improved driving dynamics and refinement, and as you can see, even some dramatic exterior and interior styling.

Apart from the aforesaid 2.5-litre four-pot, this Camry also brings along two new engine options, comprising of either a hybrid or V6 petrol. Depending on the engine selection, the grade list run from the entry-level Ascent, midrange Ascent Sport and SX, or the line-topping SL spec.

As you may have noticed, the grades themselves have changed in name quite a bit, but insofar as pricing is concerned, Toyota has worked to make sure that equivalent versions of the older model do not eclipse this 2018 car in terms of price. With the exception of the Ascent and SL with the 2.5-litre four-cylinder, every variant is now less expensive with up to $6,700 slashed over the outgoing car.

Stepping up to the Ascent Sport brings extra goodies such as a sports bodykit, larger 8-inch multimedia screen, inbuilt satellite navigation, power-adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry and ignition, and dual-zone air conditioning. Above that, in the SX, 19-inch wheels become available, as does sports suspension, leather-accented sports seats, paddle shifters, and even a wireless phone charger.

The SL, at the top of the range, is obviously the most well-appointed of the lot, adding ventilated seats, rain-sensing wipers, a 10-inch head-up display, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and either a moonroof or retractable panoramic roof on the hybrid or petrol models respectively.

The new Camry hybrid, unsurprisingly, deliver’s the best fuel efficiency of the pack - as low as 4.2-litres/100km as claimed. It essentially uses the same 2.5-litre engine (albeit tuned differently) but pairs it with an 88kW/202Nm electric motor to deliver a total system output of 131kW and 221Nm funnelled through a CVT. Meanwhile, the V6 displaces 3.5-litres and delivers a meaty 224kW and 362Nm and mated to an 8-speed auto.

Toyota's senior divisional manager sales and marketing Sean Hanley said on the Camry’s arrival: "All-new Camry builds on the car's proven reputation for quality, durability, reliability, space, comfort and safety while injecting greater visual appeal and a fun driving experience with rapid acceleration and crisp handling," he said.

"Sharp pricing adds remarkable value to an all-new Camry that looks great while offering an unprecedented level of driving enjoyment and improved fuel economy. New Camry has all the ingredients to continue as Australia's best-selling mid-size car, a position it has held for the past 23 years in a row.”