Toyota has given its Camry saloon a fresh look and improved interior technology to keep it relevant in an increasingly SUV-centric age. Power will again come from the 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain and we're expecting the car to land in Ireland sometime in 2024.
Hybrid system enhanced
Although the drivetrain looks the same on paper, Toyota has said it has fitted the powertrain with a lighter and more compact electric motor for added power and 'enhanced performance' from the outgoing 217hp set-up. There aren't any official figures for the updated Camry as yet, but the Japanese company further says that the hybrid system has been tuned to rev lower at slower speeds, while the car's suspension has been recalibrated too to enhance the Camry's comfort and its handling.
Beyond that, it's mainly a visual and tech update for the four-door saloon. The principal changes on the outside relate to the light clusters fore and aft, with the LED headlamps now C-shaped and framing what Toyota calls the new 'hammerhead' grille. Around the back, it's much the same story, with the bar that the 'Camry' spaced model lettering sits on now cutting into the light units.
Toyota will sell the Camry on either 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, which is the same as the pre-facelift models ran on.
Now with added voice assistant
Inside the Camry, a modern, open concept has been adopted with subtle changes to material finishing to massage the quality feel of the interior ambience. Equipment will once again include items such as keyless entry and a push-button start, dual-zone climate control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
There are also two screen setups, pairing a seven-inch digital instrument cluster with an eight-inch central touchscreen in one case, while twin 12.3-inch displays will be fitted in the higher-grade cars. It's not yet clear which format will be fitted to Irish cars.
In terms of added tech, Toyota will offer the option of an Intelligent Assistant in the facelifted Camry, that can be activated with the cheery phrase 'Hey Toyota' and which controls the nav, the audio, the climate control and more. Top-spec cars are also expected to come with a head-up display, a JBL six-speaker premium audio system, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a panoramic camera system, and front and rear parking sensors with automatic emergency braking.
Safety equipment will include blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and a whole host of items under the Toyota Safety System umbrella, including dynamic radar cruise control.