Showing posts with label altis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label altis. Show all posts

Monday, July 10, 2017

New Toyota Camry/Daihatsu Altis (XV70)

Back in January, Toyota launched the all-new Camry at the North American International Auto Show and while Americans are the first to get the new model, not to mention that it was part of this year's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series alongside its rival Ford Fusion and the soon-to-be-replaced Chevrolet SS, it's hard to fathom what will the Camry for the world market will be since the previous model but the new Camry we last saw in NAIAS last January has now arrived on the Japanese market and it promises to be a global midsize sedan known the world over with its new styling, new high-tech features, and eye-catching performance that sounds very promising but is it?

2018 Toyota Camry
2018 Daihatsu Altis

Like almost all of the wide-body Camrys since the Gracia, Toyota will sell you the new Camry for 3,294,000 Japanese Yen ($33,000) but if your nearest dealership was a Daihatsu and you want a midsize saloon like this one, don't fret because its Daihatsu Altis equivalent is now available to order starting at 3,499,200 Japanese Yen ($35,000). So, what's new with the design, perhaps? 

Come to think of it is a mashup of something old, something new, something Asian-American or so they say. Up front, the front lamps look like it came from the old V50-spec Camry of 2006 while the bumper is more of an enlarged version of the one seen in the previous generation model. The grille is now T-shaped like the ones on the C-HR compact crossover, just to give the new Camry a keen look that won't be as tasteless as a tasteless sugar-free vanilla ice cream you bought at the supermarket. On the back view, well, let's just say it looks nice enough for a Camry of this magnitude but if you are asking for more about the back, better talk somewhere else.

2018 Toyota Camry interior
2018 Toyota Camry interior
2018 Daihatsu Altis interior
2018 Daihatsu Altis interior

Inside, it's becoming more luxurious than the previous model and while the dashboard kind of reminds you of the Prius, the instrumental panel looks suspiciously familiar to the Nissan Teana L33, one of the Camry's chief rivals in the midsize saloon stakes. The instrumental panel looks very vivid and easy to see out of, the spacing on the rear is very promising indeed as well as the boot space is big enough for your yard sale hauls you bought last weekend with the grannies.

2018 Toyota Camry
2018 Daihatsu Altis

Okay, enough about the design impression because it's time to get an earful about how the new Camry behaves with its earful TNGA platform, the new Camry promises to be comfortable and stable while delivering fun-to-drive handling you wouldn't expect on a car like this. It's also more rigid and even lighter as good thanks to its lightweight materials on the body. While this car delivers the sporty handling you would expect on a Japanese midsize saloon like this, the powertrain is not what you called convincing.

Like last time, the Camry is hybrid-only but it bears the brand new 2.5L A25A-FXS petrol engine mated to an 88kW electric motor and at long last, a Li-ion battery, resulting in a combined power output of 211PS of power, and with a CVT standard, fuel efficiency varies by 28.4 to 33.4km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards but due to the WLTC Mode standards in force by next year, these stats are now irrelevant.

Still, if you are one of the people who go by the name of Truex Jr., Hamlin, Busch, Jones, Kenseth, Suarez, Sieg, Gaulding, and Gase, best to stick back to your NASCAR because with a performance of that caliber, the new Camry won't match against its NASCAR equivalent but for an average joe, it's not half bad to drive that Camry. It may not be as fun as a NASCAR but for work and at play, this Camry always gets the job done and this is more than just a family car you can take it for work, it's a road trippers' car fit for your next weekend trips, especially when this car comes with Toyota Safety Sense P and a wide array of safety tech great enough to keep yourselves safe and happy.

So, I think that's enough about talking about the new Camry and its Altis equivalent from Daihatsu despite being involved in NASCAR, it's nowhere near as fun as its NASCAR equivalent but you can feel thankful that this car isn't as tasteless as a vanilla ice cream and with its sharper design that looks uncanny for a midsize saloon, it's even more attractive as well and that is the bottom line.

Available colors: Platinum White Pearl Mica, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Emotional Red, Steel Blonde Metallic, Graphite Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica Metallic.

Photo: Toyota/Daihatsu

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Daihatsu Altis (AVV50N) Minor Change

2015 Daihatsu Altis

Following the launch of the new 2015 Toyota Camry minor change, it looks like its equivalent from Daihatsu, the Altis, is not far behind as it follows suit as well.

Just like what you expect from the Camry minor change, the 2015 Altis features a slim front grille, LED-infused headlamps, and a large trapezoidal lower intake on the bumper with integrated fog lamps. On the back, you can also expect a rear bumper and a chrome strip that bridges the rear lamps.

2015 Daihatsu Altis interior

2015 Daihatsu Altis interior

Like the Camry, the 2015 Daihatsu Altis' improved interior features a new backlit instrumental panel with 4.2-inch TFT display between the dials, a revised steering wheel with three spokes, and a new centre console. It even comes with a SD navigation system as well.

It still comes with the 2.5L 2AR-FXE engine connected to an electric motor and a nickel metal battery while mated with a CVT gearbox. Running on petrol engine alone, it produces a standard 160PS/6,000rpm of power output, and 213Nm(21.7kg-m)/4,000rpm of torque output, but running on the 2JM electric motor, it produces 105kW of power and 270Nm of torque. When both the engine and motor are in place, combined power output is 205PS. Simple as pie as it works. Fuel economy? 23.4km/L on JC08 Mode scale.

The suspension's been improved for added comfort and high-speed stability. The NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) has been reduced thanks to the added insulation material within the front doors and underneath the carpet.

The 2015 Altis is only available with the HYBRID 'G Package" variant and it's priced at 3,413,782 Japanese Yen.

Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Mica Metallic, Dark Steel Mica, Attitude Black Mica, Red Mica Metallic, True Blue Mica Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica Metallic.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.

Toyota Camry AVV50 Minor Change



2015 Toyota Camry

Last 2011, the Toyota Camry luxury midsize saloon has been transformed into a hybrid-only saloon and the first hybrid saloon to introduce the 2AR-FXE engine connected to an electric motor and nickel metal battery. Three years later, the hybrid saloon from Japan has now been given a minor change so what's new?

The 2015 minor change Camry features a slim front grille, LED-infused headlamps, and a large trapezoidal lower intake on the bumper with integrated fog lamps. On the back, you can also expect a rear bumper and a chrome strip that bridges the rear lamps.

2015 Toyota Camry interior

2015 Toyota Camry interior

On the interior, it features a new backlit instrumental panel with a 4.2-inch TFT display between the dials, a revised steering wheel with three spokes, and a new center console. Aside from the cosmetic changes on the interior, there have been some hardware changes on the interior such as the implementation of Toyota's T-Connect SD navigation system.

If you're new here, what is T-Connect? T-Connect is Toyota's new telematics service along with sat-navs compatible with this and a smartphone app.  In addition to the voice controls, T-Connect allows third-party apps to be downloaded to the navigation system. There's an online help service that integrates and improves the functions the G-BOOK currently provided. In short; T-Connect from Toyota features interactive voice response, service for downloading apps to the sat-nav, improved online help, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

2015 Toyota Camry

You still have the 2AR-FXE (2.5L DOHC Dual VVT-i) engine loaded with Toyota Hybrid System II, which produces a standard 160PS/6,000rpm of power output, and 213Nm(21.7kg-m)/4,000rpm of torque output while mated with a CVT gearbox, When switched on EV mode, the 2JM electric motor is operated and it generates 105kW of power and 270Nm of torque. When both the engine and motor are in place, the combined power output is 205PS, that's more than its rival, the Honda Accord Hybrid, would do. The fuel economy is 23.4 km/L on the JC08 Mode scale but for those who opted for the 16-inch wheel option, fuel economy is improved to 25.4km/L. Hmmm...How come there's a trick for this?

In terms of mobility, the suspension's been improved for added comfort and high-speed stability. The NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) has been reduced thanks to the added insulation material within the front doors and underneath the carpet.

Safety-wise, the Camry is available with the optional Pre-Crash Safety System, Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Assist, and automatic high beam which automatically switches on the headlamps when the area is too dark or if it's nighttime.

The 2015 Camry hybrid sedan starts at 3,207,600 Japanese Yen.

Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Grey Mica Metallic, Dark Steel Mica, Attitude Black Mica, Red Mica Metallic, True Blue Mica Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica Metallic.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Friday, May 11, 2012

New Generation Daihatsu Altis (AVV50N)

After a two year hiatus, the Daihatsu equivalent of the Toyota Camry, the Altis, is back and this time, it was based on the all new, hybrid-only Toyota Camry that was launched in Autumn last year. If you never heard about the Daihatsu Altis, you're not alone. Toyota owns Daihatsu, right? The Daihatsu Altis was launched in March 2000 and what Daihatsu do is throwing away Toyota badges in the 6th generation Camry. Same thing happened when the Altis went full model changes from 2001 and 2006 until in 2010, Daihatsu won't be selling the Altis because they fed up with this until now...

2013 Daihatsu Altis

2013 Daihatsu Altis

2013 Daihatsu Altis interior

This is still the current-generation hybrid-only Toyota Camry but replaced with Daihatsu badges on it. You still have the 2AR-FXE (2.5L DOHC Dual VVT-i) engine loaded with Toyota Hybrid System II, which produces a standard 160PS/6,000rpm of power output, 213Nm(21.7kg-m)/4,000rpm of torque output, and the fuel economy of 23.4km/L on JC08 Mode scale (26.5km/L on 10-15 Mode scale). One trivia that the 160PS power output can be increased up to 206PS once the 105kW 2JM electric motor is active. Like any other hybrids, the new Altis has EV Mode that keeps only the 2JM electric motor active rather than the 2AR-FXE engine for zero-emission driving. The CVT is the standard transmission offered for the new Camry for enhanced fuel economy and comfortable driving on winding roads.

Being a SU-LEV (Super Low Emission Vehicle) needs to be the safest, and the new Altis has the memo for that. It includes the finest safety features available such as Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake force Distribution, Pedestrian Warning system that emits noise on some pedestrians, including the blind, Hill Start Assist Control, Discharge Headlamps, 7 SRS airbags, and Global Outstanding Assessment (GOA) for a reinforced bodywork.

Available in seven exterior colors such as White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Dark Steel Mica, Attitude Black Mica, Olive Mica Metallic, and True Blue Mica Metallic. It's available only in "HYBRID G PACKAGE" trim.

My comment:

What is the difference between Toyota Camry and Daihatsu Altis? Well, the only difference I can expect was the badges and that's it. Nothing. The same current Toyota Camry Hybrid, the same luxurious interior, the same 2AR-FXE engine, that's what I expect. Don't start asking what's the difference of these two because this Daihatsu Altis can only be find at your nearest Daihatsu dealer.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co, Ltd.