Toyota Camry: Old model’s production halted as new model’s coming soon

Toyota’s popular sedan, the Camry has been recently discontinued from the Indian market. The company’s website now does not list the luxury sedan, hinting towards the move. The move is taken in order to prepare the market for the new generation of the Camry, which would be launched by January next year.

Various sources also confirm that the Camry has been removed from the Toyota portfolio in India. The new eighth generation model of the Camry has been launched in most parts of the world and so it makes sense that India launch could happen soon.

In India, the previous generation Camry brushed shoulders with the likes of Honda Accord and Skoda Superb, both of which are excellent luxury sedans. The newer generation model will take up the rivalry further up and will come with all the kit to fight the competition effectively. As for the pricing, the new generation Camry is expected to start from the same sticker price as the older model, albeit there could be a minor raise too.

The new Camry is wider and longer along with having a longer wheelbase than the older model. It also is much more feature rich than the model it replaces and looks quite attractive too. Talking of features, the international variant comes with features like powered front seats, leather upholstery, wireless charging, keyless entry and start/stop, dual-zone climate control, rear windshield sunshade and multi-info instrument cluster. The top end variant also get three-zone climate control, touchscreen air-conditioning unit integrated to the rear armrest, driver and passenger lumbar support adjustment, ventilated front seats, heads-up display and an eight-inch touch-based infotainment system along with a 9-speaker system.

The new Camry is based on Toyota’s TNGA platform and comes with Hybrid/ Electric drivetrain conversion support. The international spec Camry comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 167 PS of power and 199 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Then comes the 2.5-litre petrol engine coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission which produces 209 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque.

The Camry Hybrid, on the other hand, has the same 2.5-litre engine along with an electric motor, dishing out a combined output of 211 PS. Since the last generation Camry in India also had a hybrid powered variant too, we strongly suspect that the Hybrid engine will be made available again. With this, Toyota would look towards gaining the crown in this segment.

Toyota already has two best sellers in the premium segment, the Innova and the Fortuner. The Japanese company will definitely want to do the same with the Camry after it launches it. However, this road is not going to be easy for Toyota, especially with cars like the Honda Accord and the Skoda Superb also constantly vying for the top sales position in the segment.

Toyota will be eager to see how the subsidy structure for hybrid cars play out in India. A recent proposal by the Ministry of Heavy Industry has sought a lower GST for hybrid cars, in line with the 12 % rate charged on electric vehicles. If this goes through, the new Camry Hybrid could be a few lakh rupees cheaper.