It has always been A for Apple, B for Ball and C for Camry (or Corolla) in most parts of the world. Yes, this car is the second-biggest seller for what is essentially (in this quarter), the largest carmaker in the world. Yes, the see-saw between General Motors and Toyota keeps going on, but that doesn't change this fact: the Camry is a very important car for the Japanese numero uno. So they just cannot get it wrong with this car, which sells in tens of thousands across the world. In fact, the world over, 6.2 lakh Camrys were sold in 2011 - but that was the outgoing model. The new Camry was launched worldwide in January and by the first half of 2012, 4.1 lakh units had been sold. Now why am I spouting figures? That's because with this car, Toyota cannot afford to get too adventurous. The essential DNA of the Camry has to remain untainted with every successive generation, but the car still has to be exciting and relevant every six-seven years or so.
What we have here is the seventh generation Camry, and you know what, it looks the best one so far. There is more than a hint of Lexus about it, which can only be a good thing, because this one's predecessor was too much like a barge - it turned heads only because it was imposing, not because it was pretty. This one, however, has a crispness to its overall lines that give it a more modern appearance. It is still a barge, but one wearing a sharp suit that hides its bulk effectively.
The front end has enough chrome to give Sudarshan Shetty's steel art installations a complex. We Indians will love it! When viewed in profile, the headlamps seem too close to the Corolla Altis, but that's it. The daylight openings are large, giving the insides a very airy and spacious look. And it is spacious, especially for the rear passenger, who gets pretty good headroom. The tail lamps are like Hyundai Sonata meets Audi A4/VW Jetta. Overall, this car looks younger and more premium.
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