Toyota Australia's globally designed, Australia-built Camry is aimed squarely at Holden's new VE Commodore Down Under.

Date posted: 07-27-2006

MELBOURNE, Australia — Toyota Australia is all set to launch the new globally designed and Australia-built Camry, the first half of its two-vehicle attack on Holden's new VE Commodore. Later this year the Camry will be joined by the powerful 268-horsepower V6 Aurion.

The Camry lineup is built at Toyota's Altona plant in Melbourne and is about to hit local showrooms as well as export markets, mainly in the Middle East.

Using a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 157 hp, with official fuel consumption figures of 26.4 mpg for the 5-speed manual and 23.7 mpg for the 5-speed automatic, the Camry looks set to make inroads into the Australian fleet market. With gasoline prices soaring, that could be a major selling point compared with the traditional Aussie 6-cylinder.

The Camry will be available in four levels named Altise, Ateva, Sportivo and Grande. Prices start at a competitive U.S. $21,320 for the Altise, rising to more than $30,400 for the luxury Grande.

What this means to you: Even Down Under, Toyota is gunning for General Motors products.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=116305#2

 

That's gonna be good for Australia's economy and good for their people (economy and jobs). Way to go Toyota. The way Toyota outsources is way much different than the way American companies do it...

 

The Australians do an excellent job building vehicles, and I love their aftermarket tuning. I remember that with a few of the Toyota models they were going to get tuned up in house if I remember correctly.

 

MPG for the 4-banger seems low.

Are they coming out with the hybrid in Australia?