I hope that 268hp is rated correctly unlike the last Camry that showed a 20hp difference from what Toyota claimed. The Cobalt SS had more power than it if I remember correctly.

 

More rated power than the Camry. Sh...the Cobalt SS actually has like 240 or 250 from the factory.

 

Although the outside looks as boring as ever, it looks like the interior has taken two steps forward with a clean design and higher quality materials.

 

very chunky---ugly too. Aura owns this

 

Some impressive tech there. 0.27Cd- wow. I'm hybrid shopping, I might hold out.

 

That engine, the 3.5 V6, was supposed to be rated in the 280 range so it did go down 20 horses.

 

It's 306 horses in the IS350 that just came out. I'm guessing they're doing the market positioning thing, and perhaps some detuning to make it a better fit for Camry?

 

268 is SAE2... the loss in power for the previous design was because it went from SAE1 to SAE2. So now loss in power expected here. 268 is exactly what the Avalon went to (from 280) when SAE 2 came into play, and this is the exact same motor as the Avalon has.

The IS350 use the 3.5 as well, but it's 306 horses SAEII. It is more aggresively tuned and has a more advanced and more aggresive variable valve timing system that I don't quite understand.

The GR-series motor is going into all sorts of stuff, even the RAV4 has the 268hp 3.5
Our 4runner has a more torque-tuned version of the GR V6 in 4 liter variant. I don't think it has direct injection though but I could be wrong.

 

Just when you thought import-fawning couldn't be taken to any higher levels....

I agree about the looks too. Total disappointment. Has Toyota ever heard of focus groups?

 

It says its all new, but it doesn't look it to me. It looks like it got the same treatment that the DTS got this year, new nose and tail and new interior, but the doors and C-pillar look like they are off the previous gen.

I wonder if they have gotten around to designing a better exhaust system, one that doesn't hang down like 6 inches lower than the rear suspension.

 

I would bet that stuff like the seat fabric is always considered when a car is redesigned, regardless of automaker. Toyota just puts this kind of crap in there to make it sound like they are going above and beyond.

 

I'd say that the seat fabric was worth a specific mention:

 

Outside it reminds me of a mazda. Inside looks nice.

 

Wow! From silkworms - who'd have thought of that!

...still reminds me of Car and Driver magazine a few years ago, burbling over the new plastic wheel covers on one of their favorite Hondas...

 

Thats great about the seats having a built in moisturizer and all, but rarely do I find myself driving naked enough to enjoy a benefit like that. It stills sounds like marketing hype to me.