Toyota updates the Camry for 2002

For Toyota, the Camry is one of its biggest earners. In fact, in America, the car has sold more than any other - four years running. The Toyota mainstay is also very popular in Europe and even on local turf, here in Australia.

Toyota's huge market share is something the company isn't keen on letting slip and, as a result, has come up with an all-new Camry for 2002.

Toyota is the world's third largest automaker and the Camry is an important model - a money spinner, if you will. For 10 years, Toyota's Kosaku Yamada has been at the helm of designing the successful Camry and the 2002 model is looking like a solid performer, yet again.

The first major change will be in the engine department. The V6 engine from the 2001 model Camry will be used in this year's V6 models, but the inline four engine has been totally redesigned.

Camry chief designer, Kosaku Yamada, had this to say about the new engine: "Toyota is doing many vehicles at the same time. We have 10 new models coming globally within one year. Doing that affects the development of a new engine family. The current performance of the V-6 was good enough. However, the inline-four was not good enough, so we changed that."

Indeed, the new 2.4-litre, inline four-cylinder engine pumps out an extra 24-horsepower, compared to last year's model. This brings peak power to 155bhp (116kW) @ 5,600rpm and is sure to impress both Toyota loyalists and newcomers to the car, alike.

The new 2.4-litre mill will take advantage of variable valve timing. This will maximise the spread of torque and together with sequential mulitport fuel injection, four-valves per cylinder and double-overhead cams, the base-model Camry now offers even better performance. The four-cylinder comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, though the four-speed auto gearbox will cost extra.

The V6-engined models will sport the same six-cylinder as the previous year's model, which is no bad thing, considering the specs. Pumping out 200bhp (150kW) @ 5,300rpm, the more powerful six-cylinder engine uses a variable induction system for better engine response. Factor in 24-valves and DOHC and you've got one very reliable and sporty powerplant. Interestingly, it is rumoured that the V6 will only be available with the four-speed manual transmission.

While the two different engines offer a good choice for drivers who want either solid economy or increased performance, the new styling should help shift a few thousand vehicles from the showroom floors, too.

Looking more Lexus than Toyota, the 2002 car is wider, longer and taller. It comes standard with better components and a redesigned interior and, although the base model is now gone, prices are said to have been lowered.

Yamada said: "Our target was to build a better, higher quality Camry for a customer who would not spend a premium. For Camry to succeed, we knew it would have to move from sensible to sensual."

We're not quite sure if the new car is exactly sensual, but it is definitely a lot more pleasing to the eye than the current Camry. With more curves, a new headlight cluster and other more subtle changes, the Toyota mainstay looks to consolidate it's position once again at the top of the list.

The new Camry should arrive on Australian shores sometime in 2002, though no official release date has been set. As it stands, the next evolution of the Camry is very pleasing and the fact that Toyota is able to bring costs down even further means that those looking for a bargain could do a lot worse elsewhere. In all, Toyota looks to be on a winner with its all-new Camry, which should carry the company well into the middle of the decade.