Thursday 14 / November / 2024
Muscat: In Oman, a special event organised at the iconic Saud Bahwan Automotive Corporate Centre marked the dramatic entry of the new 2018 Toyota Camry to an appreciative audience.
Attending the event were Masato Katsumata, Chief Engineer – Camry, Naomi Ishii, general manager MECAD Division, Koji Nagata, project general manager and Yugo Miyamoto, chief representative Menaro and other officials from Toyota Motor Corporation along with Saud Mohammed Bahwan, Salim Mohammed Bahwan and many distinguished members of the audience.
In his welcome address, Saud Mohammed Bahwan paid respects to the benevolent leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, “Due to the farsighted policies of His Majesty the Sultan, Oman has enjoyed an era of peace, progress and prosperity. I pray to God Almighty to bestow good health and long life on him,” he said.
Appreciating the support extended by Toyota Motor Corporation, he said, “Toyota is the brand of choice for people in Oman. We have been able to achieve this remarkable success due to excellent support from Toyota management - for which we convey our wholehearted thanks to them.”
During his presentation, Naomi Ishii, general manager MECAD Division, Toyota Motor Corporation expressed that the GCC remained one of the most important markets for TMC, worldwide. Thanking the people of Oman for their continued patronage, he touched upon the rapid changes and advancements happening in the automotive industry. In this backdrop, he opined, that the all-new Camry was TMC’s answer to the same.
Ishii’s address was followed by a comprehensive presentation by Masato Katsumata, Chief Engineer – Camry.
Highlighting the unique characteristics of the all-new 2018 Camry, Katsumata said, “The Camry was introduced to Oman and another GCC market in 1992 and has been always very well received by customers. Since its debut in 1982 and subsequent evolution over eight generations, the Camry has come to be embraced by people around the world for its excellent performance, ride quality, and its high level of Quality, Durability, and Reliability (QDR).”
The car has established an unshakeable presence in the standard mid-size sedan market – both in the Middle East and globally – with total sales surpassing 19 million units.
The new Camry aims to test the limits of performance and intelligence, infusing the high-end sedan with a refined feel. The design team began using Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) as the basis for the all-new platform, units, electronics, and other core components. The result is a striking emotional character, stunningly beautiful design, responsive driving, and premium ride performance.
The all-new Camry provides a comfortable and stable ride with superior handling characteristics, thanks to Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which represents an entirely new strategy to the way the company designs, engineers, and packages its vehicles. TNGA retains all of Toyota’s traditional values of superlative build quality and safety while injecting a fun driving experience that plays on all the senses. Camry’s agility can be credited to the TNGA chassis, where the car’s major components, including the passengers themselves, have been placed lower in the vehicle. A lower centre of gravity results in better overall performance, as vehicle load is evenly distributed among the four tyres during acceleration, braking, and cornering.
The all-new Camry’s face is accentuated by a two-piece grille comprising flowing thin and thick treatments – key elements of the Camry’s ‘Keen Look’ design philosophy. The 1.6-inch-lower aluminium hood sits neatly above the grille’s uppermost section, which accommodates a commanding Toyota emblem. This fashionable variation produces a stance that is undoubtedly more aggressive than that of any predecessor.
The 2018 Camry has a sleek profile. Striking character lines around and along the body augment the aggressive front and rear fenders, giving the reimagined Camry a sportiness that it has never had. Like the front, the rear features an athletic motif that melds flowing lines and sophisticated shapes to form a sculpted landscape.
The Camry is now available in two engine options. The 2.5L engine delivers 178 HP & 23.6 Kg-m torque & 3.5L engine, premium variant, delivers 298 HP & 36.3 Kg-m torque. Also available is the 3.5L sports edition that has been introduced for the first time.
The sportier grades wear a noticeably different body style than the premium grades, highlighted by a sculpted rocker panel, the new 18-inch dual-tone machined-finish alloy wheels, and a powerfully expressive gloss black mesh grille. The face is much more distinctive with large side intakes flanking the lower bumper’s unique ‘catamaran-inspired’ accents, and a high and slim upper intake encompassing the central Toyota badge.
Katsumata added, “The all-new 2018 Camry is an extremely balanced machine with much more excitement and emotion than any previous model. It keeps the driver and passengers comfortable and fresh on long drives while instilling them with confidence on twisty roads.”
The all-new striking and comfortable cabin are completely redesigned, the interior is a fusion of functionality, futuristic styling, and a high degree of personal space. While the driver is situated in a sporty cockpit-type environment having gauges angled toward his or her direction, the front passenger is treated to a sense of openness and freedom that results from the innovative dashboard design.
The design of the entire front console strikes a smooth connection between the ease of use of all controls/systems and a handsome and modern sculptural look that is pleasing to the eye. All surfaces throughout the cabin-dashboard, instrument panel, centre console, door trim, etc., employ the highest grade of soft touch and premium materials.
An eight-way power adjustable driver seat and a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat are part of wide-ranging interior features of the all-new Camry. The new front seats have improved ergonomics, providing maximum comfort.
The all-new Camry features Toyota’s latest in-vehicle information technology whose next-generation displays offer a unique level of integrated information with minimal distraction. Adding to the class-leading comfort and utility quotient of the 2018 Camry is the availability of a six-speaker sound system, which offers reliable audio performance. A high performance yet compact air conditioning unit that makes use of innovative technologies has been adopted to deliver top-class cooling and comfort while being environmentally friendly.
The car features an enhanced body structure and platform through a new high-strength body that offers increased occupant protection in the event of a side or front collision and with minimal impact on off-set or head-on collisions. Body rigidity is further enhanced through the use of Laser Screw Welding, a state-of-the-art welding method for vehicle bodies, and structural body adhesives. The extensive use of ultra-high-tensile hot-stamp steel throughout the Camry reduces its weight while improving collision safety.
In addition, the all-new Camry employs an advanced collision safety technology designed to not only ensure occupant safety but also to reduce pedestrian injuries. In addition, the 2018 Camry has been equipped with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), which assists the driver in preventing low-speed collisions caused by rolling backwards while attempting to set off on an incline.
Additionally, the all-new Camry features six SRS airbags, including driver and front passenger airbags, front-side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags that help reduce the collision energy imparted to occupants’ heads in the event of a side collision. In addition, it is provided with three-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiter for the driver and front passenger, along with three-point Emergency Locking Retractor for the rear seats.
To get a hands-on feel for the new Camry, all are welcome to the Toyota showroom.
