Toyota Camry history and car reviews
There's plenty of information on this page, but we thought we'd provide some relevant links first on the best selling car in the United States. This page includes some common repair information near the end.
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In the Japanese market, the Camry name first showed up as a model of the Celica - the Toyota Celica Camry - a four door Celica.
The Toyota Camry was first sold in the United States 1983, replacing the rear-wheel-drive Corona, a small, rust-prone but likeable vehicle whose name was related to the word crown - the name used by the Toyota Crown (the Japanese word for crown is pronounced like “camry.”) The original humble Camry was to become America's best selling car, as well as the basis for a luxury car (Lexus ES300), a full-sized highway cruiser (Toyota Avalon), and a two-door coupe and convertible (Solara).
The Camry was large for a Japanese car, in keeping with its Americanized design. Its four cylinder engine produced 92 horsepower, enough given the car’s weight; it had far more torque than the Accord’s engine. Transmissions were a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, the latter still unusual. The engine was eager to run, with a high-tech, high-pitched sound when revved high. From the start, all Toyota Camrys (as opposed to the Corona Camry) were front wheel drive or, starting in 1988, all wheel drive.
The Camry’s comfort, sound insulation, gas mileage, and reliability soon made it a big seller. Work soon began on an American factory in Georgetown, Kentucky, which would be Toyota’s second American plant– their first plant to be built independently.
The car was generally very reliable though many people had problems with the oil pump gaskets on early models, as well as the electronic ignition computer and the automatic transmission (an advanced design offering four speeds).
The 1987 redesign brought an improved engine, with 115 horsepower thanks to four valves per cylinder and dual overhead cams. That was 17 hp more than the Accord (with more torque); the automatic was refined, and the sheet metal cleaned. The unpopular hatchback was replaced by a more American-style wagon. Production started at the Kentucky plant during this generation.
Only one year later, a small V6, essential for some people in the American market, appeared. With only 2.5 liters, it managed to crank out 153 horsepower thanks to dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. Smooth and quiet, it was about as powerful as competitors’ 3-liter engines. All wheel drive was brought out, with the manual transmission in 1988 and both transmissions in 1989. Antilock brakes became optional in 1991 on some models, and a knock sensor was added to the V6.
In 1992, the wheelbase increased by just one inch, the width by two, and the length by a full six inches. Sound insulation was again increased, and a modified version became the Lexus ES 300. Antilock brakes became optional across the board. The four cylinder engine was enlarged to 2.2 liters, producing 130 horsepower, while the V6 was expanded to 3 liters and 185 horsepower. For the first time, a Camry could do zero to sixty in under 8 seconds, at that time a bellweather of speed (this was with the V6 and manual gearbox). The automatic gained fuzzy logic during this generation; and the modern trim levels (DX for Deluxe, LX for luxury, XLE for extra luxury, SE for sport) started.
The American plant was by now going full steam, building three quarters of all Camrys sold across the world.
In 1997, the Camry was redesigned again, with another two-inch wheelbase gain. Horsepower increased to 133 on the four, and 194 on the six. 1998 brought side impact airbags as an option on all models, an engine immobilizer (since the Camry had become one of the most stolen vehicles), and low-emission status for both engines.
An extended-wheelbase version of the Camry called the Avalon was brought out and became very successful, despite the first generation's Chevy Celebrity-style interior, due to its comfortable, soft ride and surprising straight-line acceleration. The second-generation Avalon improved cornering quite a bit while bringing the interior upscale. A new coupe, the Solara, arrived in 1999, with a sportier feel, available sport package, and different sheet metal.
The year 2000 brought new sheet metal and the Toyota Camry Solara convertible. Designed in California, the Solara convertible was a joint venture between Toyota Canada and ASC, the same partnership responsible for Celica convertibles dating back to 1983 (and for the market-leading Chrysler Sebring).
A new generation was brought out in 2002, with yet another two inch wheelbase gain and a 2.5 inch height gain. The trunk moved up from 14.1 to 16.7 cubic feet. The V6 went to ultra-low-emissions status with 192 horsepower, and a new 2.4 liter four-cylinder produced 157 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque.
The six-generation Camry, starting in 2007, brought back the CE, added a six-speed sequential transmission for the V6, and a hybrid model producing 192 hp from a four cylinder (147 hp) 2.4 liter Atkinson cycle gas engine and a 45 hp electric motor. The V6 was expanded to 3.5 liters and produced a prodigious 268 hp.
The refreshed 2010 Toyota Camry added a sporty SE, swapped out the 2.4 four-cylinder for a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine (except for a hybrid version), added standard stability control, and had cosmetic changes.
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