Camry to Keep Its V6 Option
Thread Starter
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,397
Likes: 100
From: What is G?
Camry to Keep Its V6 Option
The Toyota Camry’s V6 option isn’t going anywhere, Toyota Vice President Bob Carter said at the Detroit Auto Show.
While the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Ford Fusion and upcoming Mazda6 have all ditched V6 engines for direct-injected or turbocharged four-cylinders, it seems that Toyota will not follow in its competition’s footsteps.
Carter explained that the V6 has a 22 percent take rate, and is very popular in higher altitude areas. Carter says that buyers like the extra oomph of a higher displacement engine.
Overall sales numbers of the Camry are strong and it led the mid-sized sedan segment for all of 2012, beating out the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata.
However, other automakers have combined smaller displacement engines with turbocharging and direct-injection technology to improve fuel efficiency.
“We certainly could use direct injection technology in our engines,” Carter said, indicating that direct injection could finally be seen in more Toyota vehicles, improving fuel economy. Overall, Carter said that Toyota is sticking to the three powerplant strategy currently in place, which allows customers to choose from a four-cylinder engine, a six-cylinder engine and a hybrid gas-electric powertrain.
While the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Ford Fusion and upcoming Mazda6 have all ditched V6 engines for direct-injected or turbocharged four-cylinders, it seems that Toyota will not follow in its competition’s footsteps.
Carter explained that the V6 has a 22 percent take rate, and is very popular in higher altitude areas. Carter says that buyers like the extra oomph of a higher displacement engine.
Overall sales numbers of the Camry are strong and it led the mid-sized sedan segment for all of 2012, beating out the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata.
However, other automakers have combined smaller displacement engines with turbocharging and direct-injection technology to improve fuel efficiency.
“We certainly could use direct injection technology in our engines,” Carter said, indicating that direct injection could finally be seen in more Toyota vehicles, improving fuel economy. Overall, Carter said that Toyota is sticking to the three powerplant strategy currently in place, which allows customers to choose from a four-cylinder engine, a six-cylinder engine and a hybrid gas-electric powertrain.
Never knew it was suppose to go away. 22% is a pretty big amount though!
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I have the SAE white paper on the 2GR-FSE engine and know for a fact that there are many other changes than just DI to the FSE version because they said right in the paper, comparing it to the FE version.
Trending Topics
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 14
From: Virginia
Part of it is the high mix that Camry has, and part of it is also the vehicles that share Camry's platform all utilize V6 pretty heavily (Highlander, Sienna, etc) and so they can't engineer the Camry for 4 cylinder only, which might present some potential weight savings opportunities.
In any case, a V6 is usually a smoother motor than a turbo 4 is.
In any case, a V6 is usually a smoother motor than a turbo 4 is.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
Likes: 221
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Carter explained that the V6 has a 22 percent take rate, and is very popular in higher altitude areas. Carter says that buyers like the extra oomph of a higher displacement engine.
You also see that in General Aviation to some extent (I was a GA pilot myself years ago). With piston-engined planes, turbocharged versions are generally more popular out West, at the higher-altitude airports, where the air is thinner and engines, propellers, and wings don't operate at sea-level efficiency....that is especially important at short-runway airports.
Last edited by mmarshall; Jan 17, 2013 at 09:12 AM.
Camry V6 ran around the Sonata Turbo which got dead last in all three comparisons, even wiped the Passat, but of course the Journalist let the Passat win because of the only category it won... handling
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
Likes: 221
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That's not always the case, but you're right........too many times, the quickest time through the slalom or the highest skid-pad number greatly biases the outcome.
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Montreal, QC
Many people have doubts about the Sonata/Optima HP claims. There are heavier cars out their with lower output turbo 4s that are faster (A4, ATS 2.0, 328i)
