Toyota Camry Hybrid Concept: High Expectations, Low Emissions

Motoring Channel Staff - 24/February/2009

Melbourne, Australia – Alongside the all-new third-generation Prius and the radical 1/X concept car, Toyota showed a new prototype version of the Australian-made Camry Hybrid at the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show.

From afar, the intriguing concept car looks very much like a Camry but upon closer inspection it's clear that the mid-sized hybrid car is far from normal.

With a number of blue highlights used to show it's environmental credentials (the colour green is considered passe by marketing departments), the HC-CV or Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle will be used to gauge response from the Australian public to see how to proceed with the Camry hybrid, which is due to go on sale early in 2010.

Developed locally by Toyota Style Australia, the HC-CV had its world premiere just before the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show, and makes use of a 4-cylinder gasoline engine linked to a powerful electric motor to reduce reliance on petrol.

Toyota claims it will produce more power than a conventional petrol-engine vehicle while delivering better fuel economy. Follow the link for more info on the Toyota Camry Hybrid car.

The head of Toyota Style Australia, Paul Beranger, said his company has evolved the styling of hybrid vehicles since the late 1990s: "HC-CV is our expression of the contemporary hybrid sedan.

"The crisp corners indicate aerodynamic efficiency, while the overall styling feel is efficient, yet dynamic," Mr Beranger said.

"The lower grille texture is a random pattern, inspired by forms found in nature, moving away from traditional constructed patterns," added Beranger.

The 'blue' motif encompasses the headlights, the Toyota badge, the LED tail lamps, the decals and even the seats are blue. 

Paul Beranger told the Australian press that "Blue is all about coolness, it's about being relaxed, it's all about efficiency."

"We've passed the point where green is all about trees and leaves. People have moved on from that position."

"They still get a sense they're driving something different, but they're not different in the sense of 'peculiar', they're different in the sense that they're almost leading the market," Mr Beranger said.

Getting a hybrid car to be efficient is the key to sales success, and as well as the Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle's electric engine the car has plenty of aerodynamic modifications to reduce drag and increase fuel economy.

Specially designed side skirts, which flow into the rear diffuser, give the Hybrid Camry Concept a sporty appearance but also works to improve aerodynamics, while the rear spoiler is more about visual appeal.

The wheels are also an interesting design with a combination of shear, overlayed surfaces and graphics.

Toyota's 'hybrid' push at the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show begins with this Australian-developed Camry hybrid concept, and will be augmented with the all-new Prius hybrid, which is expected to be on sale here in Australia in July.

Along with the peculiar 1/X concept car, all three vehicles are powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

David Buttner, the company's senior executive director sales and marketing, said the vehicles reveal Toyota's determination to make sustainable mobility a reality.

"The three Toyota hybrid cars unveiled today contain ground-breaking technologies and highlight innovative possibilities for the future of motoring.

"The third-generation Prius is a quantum leap in technology that includes a remarkable double: improved performance while using less fuel," said Mr Buttner.

"The 1/X concept is a vehicle that completely redefines what it means to be environmentally considerate. The name says it all: a car that weighs a fraction of others in its class today - and uses a fraction of the fuel," said Buttner of Toyota's curious concept.

The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show runs from the

The trio of hybrid vehicles will be joined on the Toyota stand by two wild-looking custom cars, auto salon versions of the Yaris hatch and a RAV4 SUV. Toyota will also show off 12 production vehicles:

Camry Grande 
Camry Sportivo 
Aurion Presara 
Aurion Sportivo
 Corolla Levin ZR hatch
 Corolla Ultima sedan
 Yaris YRX 5-door hatch 
 RAV V6 ZR6 
 HiLux SR5 4x4 turbo-diesel- 
Kluger Grande AWD
 LandCruiser Prado Grande turbo-diesel
LandCruiser Sahara turbo-diesel

Related Links:
- Toyota Prius Hybrid (2009)
- Toyota Camry Aussie Hybrid (2010)
- Toyota Kluger (Road Test)
- Toyota Prius (2010)
- Toyota Hybrids + Custom Yaris (2008)
- Toyota Aygo Crazy (2008)
- Toyota Corolla (Road Test)
- Toyota iQ (2008)
- Toyota LandCruiser (Road Test)
- Toyota A-BAT Concept (2008)
- Toyota Landcruiser (2008)
- TRD Aurion (Road Test)
- Toyota Supra (2010)
- Toyota Tarago V6 (2010)