Toyota Camry Hybrid celebrates its first birthday in the country under the aegis of Toyota Kirloskar Motors India. The model which was launched this time last year also enjoys the status of being the first ever locally manufactured hybrid car in India. Another reason for the company to celebrate Camry Hybrid anniversary is its sales volume since the last year. The hybrid car accounts for 75% of the total Camry sedan sale in India.
Features
Toyota boasts of being a leader in hybrid technology and it is the first auto manufacturer to have launched this technology globally with Prius. Apart from being the only hybrid car in its segment, Camry also enjoys some best in class features such as three zone air conditioning, front seat ventilation system, rear armrest with controls, manual sunshades for rear door windows, collapsible headrests in the front seats, slide and recline seats at the rear, etc. The cabin also features a back monitor with corner sensors that notify any obstacles in the way wherein a rear camera displays clear view of what's happening at the back.
Engine
Under the hood, the car packs in a newly developed 2.5 liter petrol engine with an electric motor especially designed for Camry which collectively gives out a power output of 202.2bhp. This model comes with Electronically Controlled Continuous Variable Transmission or E-CVT which enhances the driving performance along with reduced fuel consumption. The car produces a mere 122.8gms of CO2 emissions per km which makes it a greener car. It provides one of the best mileage figure in the segment with 19.16 kmpl. A combination of electric motor and petrol engine, it results in intelligent driving standards. It monitors the driving conditions and accordingly controls the motor and engine output for optimum fuel efficiency. At rest, the engine automatically cuts out, thus reducing wastage of fuel and CO2 emissions.
Hybrid Technology
Toyota Camry Hybrid has been built on Hybrid Synergy Drive, a powerful and well known technology that effortlessly shifts between the two driving conditions. The system intelligently decides the usage of electric motor or petrol engine or both under specific driving conditions. This feature also makes it more powerful than other conventional cars. The technology specially comes in help when driving on an incline or on high speed. It senses the need for more power and thus releases more energy through the electric motor to the wheels.
Another interesting feature of the Camry Hybrid is regenerative braking technology. The car automatically charges itself while driving. It captures the heat generated from friction during braking and uses it to recharge itself. So plugging it in for charging is never required.
Safety
As far as safety is concerned, the battery pack and the electric circuits come completely sealed and protected against unintentional contact. So it is perfectly safe to drive the car in the monsoons. The car has been designed keeping in mind Indian road conditions. Its sturdy built coupled with features like hill-start assist control, anti-skid braking system, vehicle stability control, traction control and electric power steering, makes it both safe and tough for country’s driving conditions.
The car comes with four airbags in the front which give maximum protection in case of an accident. The construction of the vehicle body is such that it disperses collision energy through other frame components to absorb energy. This in turn controls the cabin from deformation and provides safety.
Conclusion
Priced at INR 30 lac, Camry Hybrid has already been sold 541 units since last year. The Director and Senior VP sales and marketing Mr. N. Raja expects to see the sale of the hybrid version increase with time as the new technology catches up. He also urged other manufacturers to join the movement to make driving experience greener. With satisfactory sales figures since the last year, plans to launch more hybrid version in India are underway.