The Japanese automaker is taking a bold step forward by introducing gas-electric hybrid technology into the core of the US market with the upcoming generation of the Camry, which is currently the best-selling sedan in the country.
In both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the 2025 Camry will combine a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric drive system tuned to deliver more power, according to Toyota. According to David Christ, head of Toyota North America, the company decided to discontinue the four- and six-cylinder combustion models that accounted for roughly 85% of sales in the current model year and switch to an all-hybrid lineup for the new Camry in order to comply with stricter US fuel economy regulations.
According to him, “the performance we were able to get out of the hybrid” was another consideration in the choice.
Even though Toyota has accelerated the development of electric vehicle technology, the automaker is still placing its bets on the strength of the demand for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as it adopts a “multi-pathway” strategy to meet consumer demands across all markets.
According to Toyota, the new electronic all-wheel drive system and hybrid drivetrain combine to produce 232 horsepower, which is approximately 15% more than the previous Camry’s mechanical all-wheel drive system.
Ahead of tomorrow’s opening of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota executives unveiled the ninth generation of the mid-sized Camry sedan on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
With the exception of General Motors’ Chevrolet Malibu, the Detroit brands have mainly shunned the segment in which the new Camry will compete. With the exception of numerous small and mid-sized SUVs, the new Camry’s primary rivals will be the remaining sedans, such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Tesla’s all-electric Model 3.
According to data from the California New Car Dealers Association, during the first nine months of 2023, the Tesla Model 3 outsold the Camry in California, a crucial market for Toyota. The price and fuel efficiency of the 2025 Camry, which is expected to hit dealerships in the spring of next year, were not disclosed by Toyota. Right now, the least expensive Camry hybrid model costs roughly US$2,400 more than the least expensive combustion Camry model.
According to Christ, the majority of hybrid powertrains cost between US$1,500 and US$2,000 more than combustion models. “We believe that kind of premium is justified by the value the hybrid powertrain brings.”
In combined city and highway driving, the current Camry hybrid is rated at 22 km/l, while the standard four-cylinder Camry is rated at 13 km/l.
The US government’s fuel economy data shows that compared to the combustion model, the hybrid saves US$650 in fuel expenses annually.
Toyota previously adopted an all-hybrid powertrain strategy for the Sienna minivan. “Our second-fastest turning car and the car we have the most reservations for,” according to Christ, is the Sienna. — Reports
