Toyota Camry bags best designed car award

Dec. 12, 2006: The Toyota Camry has been adjudged the best designed car of the year on Indian roads by Top Gear, a leading automobile publication in the country.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor launched the Sixth generation new Camry in March 2006 within months of its global debut.

In November in the US, the redesigned Camry had been declared the Car of the Year by Motor Trend, the world's automotive authority and part of PRIMEDIA's Consumer Automotive Group.

To be eligible for the Best Designed Car of the Year, a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned, and released in the 12 months prior to January 1, 2007 (cars with modifications such as new engines or that are variants of existing models are not eligible). This year's field of contenders for Best Designed Car of the Year included the Honda Civic, Zen Estillo, Chevrolet Aveo, Lancer Cedia and the Toyota Camry.

Toyota developed the 6th Generation Camry with a theme of "creating a new standard for premium luxury sedans". It also offers some of the highest levels of safety and environmental performance in its class as well as advanced equipment that provides comfort befitting a high-class vehicle. In India, Toyota offers the manual and automatic versions of 2.4 ltr petrol versions in 5 shades of Super White II, Silver Metallic, Black, Beige Mica Metallic and also the newly introduced Light Blue Metallic.

Receiving the award at a glittering function in Mumbai, Makoto Ono, Director Corporate Planning Division, TKM said, "The Camry is the one car that offers something for nearly everyone--performance, efficiency, and roominess."

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has so far sold 857 sixth generation Camry since its launch in March 2006. TKM has also sold a total of nearly 4000 units from its debut to India in 2002. Camry has registered a sales growth of 28 % over last year.

Currently there is a waiting period of four to six months from the date of booking for the new Camry with nearly 100 odd pending bookings.

The modern design inspires a sense of authority and stability. The thin and wide headlamps have two vertical accent lines to create sharp and sporty front end. The exteriors also sport 'Intelligent Wipers' that work automatically by sensing raindrops on the windshield. The lean and straight proportion coupled with "scoop edges" the car expresses a vigorous look.

Price: The 6th Generation Camry is priced at Rs. 22,10,500/- for the Automatic Transmission Version and Rs. 20,48,500/- for the Manual Transmission Version (Ex-Showroom New Delhi)

About Toyota Kirloskar Motor

TKM is a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and the Kirloskar Group. TKM has invested nearly Rs. 1,500 crores in its plant at Bidadi, employing over 2,300 people. The plant started production in December 1999 and has a capacity of producing 60,000 units annually.