After pretty much dominating the entire local automotive industry, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMPC) decided to dig deep into foreign territory. With the introduction of the all-new 2006 Camry, Toyota is pulling out all stops to get a piece of the premium luxury sedan pie.

Whereas others may rely on brand, TMPC is relying on engineering to differentiate the Camry from the rest of its competitors. For this model, TMPC has given the Camry avant-garde technology such as the 3.5-liter Dual VVTi engine, cruise control, push start/stop and smart entry system and other new luxury features in the pursuit of luxury and comfort.

The Camry has gone a long way since its debut as the "Toyota Celica Camry" way back in 1980. Two years later, when the drive wheels moved upfront, the Camry was positioned as a global vehicle. At present, the Camry is produced in 8 countries including Japan and is being sold in more than 100 countries.  Over the years, the Camry has achieved accumulated global sales of more than 10 million units!

In the Philippines, the Camry started 10 years ago when it replaced the Corona as Toyota's entry in the mid-size passenger car segment. After a rocky start, it gained the spotlight when the next-generation model was launched in 2002. It made its highest sales peaking at 1,300 units annually in 2004.

For 2006, Toyota has completely redesigned the Camry in order to further capitalize on their market leadership.  Designed with the "Vibrant Clarity" philosophy, the new Camry balances a sense of energy while evoking power. The wheelbase has been expanded as well as the front and rear tracks--boosting the Camry's exterior to one of strength and stability. In addition, this extension in wheelbase and width assures a more roomier and comfortable interior with flat-surfaced legroom for the rear seats and a large trunk.

The Camry adapts the approach commonly done with German luxury cars. It has improved its co-efficiency of drag of a class-leading 0.29 while reducing weight and increasing rigidity for excellent high-speed stability. The top of the line 3.5Q features a 3.5-liter double overhead cam 24-valve V6 with Dual VVTi technology (ala BMW's VANOS). This means that both intake and exhaust modes of the valves are timed enabling the Camry to pump out 277 horsepower and 346 Nm of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual shift override, the Camry 3.5Q can actually out sprint a BMW 330i at the dragstrip in a test done by evo Philippines and C! Magazine recently.

The "V" and "G" variants carry on with the previous version's 2.4-liter inline-4 but with additional tuning, it now pumps out 10 more horsepower (167). With an additional forward gear with sequential shift override, it allows more a more spirited driving experience with improved fuel economy.

Front and rear disc brakes are standard across the line, with the inline-4s getting 215/60 R 16 tires and the V6 model getting 215/55 R 17 tires.

The 2006 Camry passes the highest standards for global quality with its active and passive safety features to cope with different driving situations. The Camry features ABS and Brake Assist System, coupled with new Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) technology. The VSC detects tire slippage and automatically helps stabilize the car when driving on slippery roads. Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) enhances nighttime visibility by automatically regulating the headlamp beam pattern in response to steering input and driving conditions. Driver and passenger SRS Airbags are offered across all variants, with the addition of side airbags for the top-of-the-line 3.5Q model.

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