New Hope For A Camry Hybrid

Green Car Congress reports via Nikkei News in Japan that Toyota will be offering a Camry Hybrid in the the second half of 2006. While this isn't the first time that such a claim has been made by the press -- around this time in 2004 multiple sources reported the model would be available in 2005 -- recent sales figures support production of Camry Hybrid as a likely move by Toyota.

What can we expect? Though there hasn't been any official word from Toyota that such a model will even grace the floors of dealerships, this enthusiast isn't afraid to speculate (or enthusiastically dream, as it may turn out...)

As a Camry hybrid would directly compete with Honda's new Accord IMA, I'd expect to see the electric-motor assistance system on one of the more powerful of the Camry's available engines; hopefully the 3.3l V6, achieving a power output of around 250 horses. Combined fuel economy in that case would be around 31 miles per gallon. Hypothetical emissions would be in the 5-6 tons per year range. As for price, I predict the base to sit somewhere in the low 30's.

Such a model would surely reflect the success of past hybridizations for Toyota. In late 2004, when news of a hybrid Camry began to circulate, Mike Millikin said it best: "Toyota clearly sees the opportunity. Number one global automaker. The hybrids will help take them there."

It's hard to stay grounded with such an exciting concept. Hopefully consumer interest for the hybrid model will reflect the buzz the net is seeing right now, and push Toyota in the right direction, if they're not already off to a running start.

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