India bound 2012 Toyota Camry sedan to feature a 2.5 Liter petrol engine

Toyota Kirloskar India is all set to launch the 7th generation Camry sedan in the Indian car market. For many months now, the older Camry has been pulled off the market in India and the new model finally replaces it. The 2012 Camry that will be launched in the country will adopt the Euro spec styling, which looks more grown up when compared to the US-spec Camry. The car, which is in its seventh generation, has been a global best seller for Toyota, although it has been far from that in the Indian car market. This time around though, Toyota will assemble the car in India through CKD kits instead of importing it via the CBU route, as was the case earlier.

2012 Toyota Camry Petrol Sedan

This change in tack is expected to lower the price of the Camry, to make the car more competitively priced. The India bound Camry will feature a 2.5 Liter, fouf cylinder petrol engine pumping out 178 Bhp of peak power. This smooth motor is naturally aspirated and features variable valve timing. The engine will be mated to a six speed automatic transmission which also has an overdrive feature for relaxed mile munching on the highway. The overdrive feature will be instrumental in better mileage on highway runs as it allows the car to cruise at a lower rpm.

Internationally, Toyota offers the Camry with a 3.5 Liter V6 petrol engine. But this engine won’t arrive into India, as petrol is priced much higher than diesel and the powerful V6 engine isn’t exactly an epitome of high fuel efficiency. Toyota does not sell the Camry with a diesel engine anywhere in the world and this will be the biggest party pooper for the luxurious car, which comes loaded with creature comforts, aimed mainly at the chauffeur driven executive car market. The Camry’s real competition will be the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata Fluidic, which are also available in petrol-only guise.

Alternatives like the Skoda Superb and the Volkswagen Passat though come with turbo diesel engines and are better sellers than the aforementioned cars. So, Toyota will have to price the Camry sedan very competitively, to ensure that the car manages to better the volumes of its older variant, which sold abysmally, to say the least. The Japanese automaker has made a good start by CKD assembly of the 2012 Camry. Now, if only this move can be backed up by some sharp pricing.