Big sedan sales may be down but you might want to reconsider that as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially announced the arrival of the all-new Camry. Riding on an all-new platform, the 2019 Camry packs a new engine, more tech, and dynamic looks.
From the looks of it, the Philippine-spec Camry looks similar to the Thai-Spec model, which in turn looks like the Japanese version. That means we get the same sharp front end with slim headlights and bold grill. There's a lot of gentle curves and sweeps that flanks the side of the car, and the rear gets sharp-looking tail lights and an integrated trunk lip spoiler. The Philippine-spec 2019 Camry comes in two variants, the 2.5 G and the plusher 2.5 V.
Inside, it's a combination of gloss black trim pieces, leather, and wood. The uniquely-designed driver-oriented center console employs geometric shapes and houses a sizeable infotainment system. Taking a page from Lexus, the gear selector is moved closer to the driver, plus, there are power seats for both driver and front passenger in the top of the line model.
With luxury in mind, the all-new Camry boasts a tri-zone automatic climate control system and the 2.5V even gets an integrated touch panel in the armrest to control the rear reclining seats, air-conditioning, and audio system. Rear sun blinds are also included in the all-new Camry. From the driver's seat, there's a new instrument cluster graphics and even a heads-up display, just like the one offered in Thailand. All local versions get 7 airbags, stability control, smaartphone mirrorlink, and cruise control.
The V6 engine has been dropped for the local-spec 2019 Camry leaving it with just one engine choice. As the variant name suggests, it is a 2.5-liter motor. While the displacement is the same, almost everything inside has been re-engineered. Thermal efficiency has been improved, according to Toyota, and it now packs more power. Whereas the soon-to-be outgoing model has 178 PS, the new one now packs 184 PS. Torque is retained at 231 Nm and both variants are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Opt for the 2.5 V and it gains three driving modes, namely Eco, Normal (default), and Sport.
Prices for the 2019 Toyota Camry are as follows:
Camry 2.5 G: Php 1,806,000
Camry 2.5 V: Php 1,992,000
Note: Add Php 15,000 for White Pearl paint
