Toyota Camry sedan upgrades with sophisticated new designs
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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OJAI, Calif. -- Automotive designers from Toyota in the United States and Japan have conspired to reinvent the Camry, perennial best-selling passenger car in America.
Meddling with the design for a car that has become the brand's icon -- it accounts for a fifth of all Toyota badges in North America, with three million units issued since Camry's inception in 1983 -- could be risky business.
After all, the current Camry has been a decided hit.
It traces to the rakish makeover of 1997 built on a platform developed in 1992.
That treatment streamlined Camry's package as expanded in all dimensions, with the wheelbase stretched by more than two inches, overall width increased by half an inch and the cabin height rising by fractions. Enlarging the structure produced more interior room for riders, particularly in the rear seat.
The larger size for Camry's previous design reflected Toyota's on-going goal to Americanize its mainstay model, as witnessed in evolutionary process that began in 1988 with the inception of a Kentucky assembly plant to construct all Camrys for the North American market in the United States.
Now, after a successful five-year run for the fourth-generational series, Camry has been reinvented again, only the fifth series that show up with 2002 tags go even further than the last edition.
This new Camry is an even larger package and it's stocked with larger engines that produce more power yet improve on fuel efficiency. It's also more agile but brings a smoother ride quality, and there's more content provided to create a more comfortable environment for passengers.
To comprehend so many improvements worked into the 2002 Camry, we first undertook a refresher course with the 2001 Camry. We steered the most popular model -- an LE with 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine at 136 hp and a four-speed automatic transmission -- through California's Santa Ynez Mountains, running route 150 from Santa Barbara to Ojai.
Then we spent time on the same course driving multiple versions of the 2002 Camry.
Most obvious difference between the two generations concerns external styling, as the former Camry looks subdued and vaguely nondescript when parked beside the new version.
The new one exhibits a robust form that unites crisp character lines and strong graphic elements like the aggressive face scored by triangular multi-lens headlamps covered by clear polycarbonate lenses.
Camry also is a bigger car.
A new platform was developed as the foundation for the 2002 Camry and, compared to the previous version, it grows substantially in every direction. Almost two inches were added to the wheelbase length, and more than half an inch to the width plus two and a half inches to raise the roof.
Cabin volume expands to 101.7 cubic feet, a gain of almost five cubic feet, with 2.6 cubic feet more room for cargo in the enlarged trunk.
Climb inside and you'll notice the expansion.
Seats are taller so you sit higher and see better, but still the headroom measures at least half an inch more in both front and back seats.
Although legroom up front technically decreases by almost two inches, the seat tracks are longer and you can slide a bucket back further to stretch legs. And for the rear bench, legroom increases by more than two inches.
Camry's cabin is a more efficient design and shows improvements in styling and the tone of materials, with more comfortable seats in place and more useful instruments and controls plus more standard equipment aboard.
The conventional layout includes twin buckets up front flanking a center console that houses the transmission shift lever, with the rear bench built for three but scooped for two.
A new linear dash design pitches the central cluster of controls for audio and climate systems high and out of the way of the shift lever. Large round articulated dials run the climate system and mount below audio gear, with a display panel at the top adding digital readouts for information such as time and fuel consumption.
Trim tiers have been streamlined into the three designations of LE, XLE and SE, with either four-cylinder or V6 engine applicable to each grade.
Standard equipment for Camry LE ranges from air conditioning and power windows to power door locks, power for external mirrors, cruise control, map lights, tilting steering wheel, the rear seat split 60/40 and folding, a rear window defogger and twin vanity mirrors.
The XLE puts power controls on the driver's seat, along with automatic climate controls, heated outside mirrors, wood grain trim and the Homelink garage door opener.
Camry SE skews to the sporty side with foglamps added, a black-out grille up front, chrome exhaust tip in back, leather-clad steering wheel and shift lever inside with a brushed chrome dash and sport gauges, tight suspension tuning and 16-inch tires, plus a spoiler on the rear deck.
Optional gear clusters in various packages with such items as leather seats, audio upgrades, a moonroof, aluminum wheels, anti-lock brakes and dash-mounted navigation system.
More horsepower applies with Camry's base four-cylinder engine. It expands to 2.4 liters and boosts power by 15 percent to 157 hp at 5600 rpm, with ten percent more torque available (162 lb-ft at 4000 rpm).
The plant steps up Camry's performance, trimming the zero-to-60 mph time by more than a second with the automatic transmission (it times out at 9.9 seconds) and two seconds with the manual (down to 9.1 seconds).
Despite the boost, the four-pack qualifies for Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) status and delivers class-leading fuel economy numbers as high as 32 mpg.
The optional 3.0-liter V6, mated exclusively to a new electronically-controlled four-speed automatic, also produces quick times. With 192 hp at 5200 rpm and 209 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm, the six pushes Camry to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds.
It also earns ULEV status.
Camry's new structure serves as a rigid foundation for mounting independent suspension components, plus a rack and pinion steering mechanism and disc brakes for all issues above the base LE four-cylinder.
Ride quality of the new version seems appreciably refined and smooth, and it acts sure-footed in curves with less body roll apparent and more control for the driver.
It also does a remarkable job of damping noise and vibration. The quality of quietness comes close to matching luxury cars by Lexus, Toyota's upscale spin-off.
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| 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size 4-door sedan
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size 4-door sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
107.1 inches
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| Overall Length: |
189.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
QOHC 3.0-L V6
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| Transmission: |
I4: Manual/5, Auto/4
V6: Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
LE I4: Power disc/drum
XLE/SE I4: Power 4-disc/ABS
LE/XLE/SE V6: Power 4-disc/ABS
opt. VSC/BA/TCS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
+ opt. 2 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
I4 M/5: 24/33 mpg
I4 A/4: 24/32 mpg
V6 A/4: 20/28 mpg
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| MSRP Price: |
$ 21,000 to $ 28,000 |
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