When green doesn't necessarily mean go
You had to be a die-hard tree hugger in 2007 to want to shell out 6,000 $ extra to drive one of the very first Toyota Camry Hybrids instead of a normal Camry. Indeed, at first glance they were nearly identical.
At the time, when someone was spotted driving a Prius, everyone instantly knew that this guy (or gal) was out to save the world. But the Camry driver went unnoticed, even if he had the very best intentions. Now that’s tough on the ego.
Today, the difference in price between a normal Camry and its hybrid counterpart hasn’t changed. However, since 2010 the “green” Camry features more distinctive traits, which its owners are undoubtedly very proud to exhibit. The Japanese automaker has caught on. Distinctive profile So the Camry Hybrid is now recognizable by its original, more expressive grille, its exclusive wheels and rear bumper and its LED tail lamps. Which is good, as there are millions of Camrys cruising all over North America. This visual differentiation isn’t exclusive to Toyota, though. Hyundai also chose to set its Sonata Hybrid apart from the two other new versions introduced this year. Ford decided to go the other way, however, maintaining the status quo on its Fusion Hybrid, the other direct competitor of the Camry that we put to the test. Distinctive engine Of course, the Camry’s distinctive tech specs are what really set it apart. Its 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine operates on the Atkinson cycle and not the Otto cycle common to all normal gas engines today. It’s coupled with a high-torque electric motor/generator hooked up to an HV nickel-metal hydride battery. This duo can produce up to 187 hp, while the classic 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder mill powering the other Camrys only generates 169 hp.
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2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review |
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