Toyota launches newly refreshed Camry range in Australia

Downunder September 13, 2004; Earlier this year Toyota introduced minor updates to the Camry in the ASEAN region and in Japan. Now Toyota Australia has also introduced their own update for the Camry:

Toyota has refreshed and upgraded its Camry range, and launched its Toyota Link vehicle communication system.

The new 12-model Camry range has higher feature levels, increased value for money and a new luxury grade model.

Recommended retail prices range from $27,500 for the 2.4 litre Camry Altise with five speed manual transmission to $49,100 for the Camry Azura V6 automatic.

The new Quad Cam V6 luxury grade Grande model (rrp $46,000) is one of two Camrys with Toyota Link fitted as standard equipment.

Toyota Link is an electronic communications system with a menu of safety, security and owner convenience functions.

It represents stage one of Toyota’s local intelligent transport system development.

The Camry range upgrade includes a new luxury Grande model to join the sports Azura as twin top-of-the-range models in Camry’s “Y” strategy of luxury and sports models.

Grande has a unique locally developed suspension calibration.

Azura and sales success story Sportivo have a new locally developed aero body kit (and retain their locally developed sports suspension calibration).

Camry’s refreshed appearance also includes a new front mask and new rear treatment.

Feature levels have been raised across the board – for increased comfort and convenience.

Front seat-mounted side SRS airbags are now available on all models and are fitted as standard equipment on all Ateva grade, Sportivo V6, Azura and Grande.

All Camry models now have cruise control, air conditioning and vehicle alarm, and all V6 models have a power-operated driver’s seat.

Toyota’s specification and price adjustments to its Camry range include a major price reduction and a specification upgrade to its increasingly popular V6 Sportivo models.

The company has also built substantially more value into its luxury sports model, Azura.

The specification upgrade made to the Sportivo V6 model amounts to an increase in value of $2,080 over the superseded model in the five speed manual version and $1,080 on the automatic.

New recommended retail prices are $37,500* for the Sportivo manual - $1490 below the current rrp, and $38,500* for the automatic - $490 below the current rrp.

Azura V6, a luxury sports model above Sportivo, has been fitted with more than $1500 of additional specification including Toyota Link, and comes to market with a recommended retail price increase of just $110 at $49,100*.

The new Grande, complete with luxury suspension settings and also with Toyota Link as standard equipment, has a recommended retail price of $46,000*.

“The prices reflect the results of strong market research and will carry Camry well into 2005,“ Dave Buttner, Toyota’s executive director sales and marketing, said.

Grande and Azura are both forerunners of Toyota’s commitment to Toyota-Link communication.

Grande has been introduced to offer buyers a luxury and softer riding alternative to the sharper edged Azura which is a logical up-market extension of the Sportivo line.

All other models have been given relatively small price increases in line with specification upgrades.

“Price increases are all about increased value and retaining Camry’s integrity in the used vehicle market,“ Mr Buttner said.

Mr Buttner said the reduction in price of Sportivo was intended to encourage even more buyers to choose Camry’s sports line.

“The introduction of a sports-line has changed the face of Camry,” he said. “It is now our intention to build on that success.”

2004-09-13 Please quote Autoindex.org if You use this news article!