The Toyota Camry is to return to the UK, as a hybrid model to take on rivals including the Ford Mondeo Hybrid.
The large Toyota saloon will replace the current Avensis, which is set to be dropped from the Toyota line-up after persistently declining sales.
Camrys have not been sold in the UK since 2004, but the model is a major part of the Toyota line-up in other markets and the world’s best-selling saloon. The car enjoys a high reputation and profile in the US – Toyota Camrys have won two of the last three championship titles in NASCAR, America’s biggest motorsport series.
When the Camry goes on UK sale in 2019 it will be offered only with a hybrid drivetrain. This will effectively be the same unit already offered in the hybrid version of the RAV4 SUV, combining a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. The car’s arrival will extend Toyota’s hybrid choices to eight, stretching right across the Japanese brand’s model range.
Toyota is not providing any specification or pricing details of the 2019 Camry yet, but says it expects the car to ‘maintain the company’s presence in the large and executive saloon market.’
The current Camry uses the Toyota New Global Architecture platform that also underpins a host of Toyota’s latest European models. It is a larger car than the Avensis that it will replace, and is expected to be more attractive to buyers, especially in the fleet market, as a result.
