2002 Toyota Camry - News

Future ForecastMidsize mid-priced sedans-those conservative-looking cars so many people drive because they're roomy, comfortable and reliable-could become the hot market segment of '02. How? Toyota and Nissan both have concentrated on injecting a great deal of style into new models each will introduce this fall. The marketing buzzword for this is "expressive," as in "expressive styling." This fall, an expressive new Camry challenges the hot new Altima ("News," July '01), and a sexier Honda Accord is set to arrive one year later as an '03 model.

Camry's base four-cylinder gets an extra 0.2L of displacement, to 2.4L, with more horsepower than the current model's 133. The 3.0L V-6 engine carries forth, but with an increase in horses from the current 194 to 200-plus. Toyota will recontent all Camrys for '02, with more upscale interiors and features designed to attract younger buyers.

The Camry sedan illustrated here debuts in September, about the same time as the new Altima, which gets its first V-6 engine. A redone Camry Solara coupe is another year and a half away, however, and the convertible version isn't due until mid-2004. The sedan will have a heftier-looking nose, a broad shoulder line, a sleek roofline, and an elegant, somewhat Cadillacesque C-pillar. Expect Toyota to give the new car a tall hip point, like that of the Echo, Avalon, and Lexus LS 430. The '04 Camry Solara will also get unique sheetmetal to set it apart from the four-door, just like the current Camry/Solara setup.

BriefsBMW's '01 Z3 M roadster and coupe get the new S54 inline-six that powers the latest M3. The Z3 Ms get a five-speed manual in place of the M3's six-speed, and the 3.2L engine is detuned to 315 hp for the two-seaters. BMW claims a 5.0-sec 0-60-mph time for both versions. Base price for the roadster is $46,635, and the coupe is $45,635, including destination.

Acura confirms it will offer a six-speed manual gearbox in the '02 CL Type-S beginning this fall. A six-speed for the TL Type-S should follow by fall of 2002. Can a manual gearbox for the next-generation Honda Accord V-6 ('03) be far behind?

One engine to be offered here by 2004 in the Volkswagen SUV formerly known as Colorado (and not in the Porsche Cayenne) will be the V-10 turbodiesel that appeared in the AAC pickup truck concept in 2000. The 330-hp 553 lb-ft engine also will be a U.S.-market option in VW's upcoming D1 luxury sedan.

Honda is joining the horsepower wars, minivan division. It's at work on a 250-hp version of the Odyssey, using a substantially reworked version of the 3.5L V-6 that now makes 215 hp. The new Odyssey reportedly will have a five-speed automatic and unlike the current version, will require only regular gas.

Want to buy one of the last Oldsmobiles to come off the assembly line? Here are the end dates for its models: The Intrigue's last year is '02, which also will be the signoff for the short-lived Aurora V-6. The Alero and Silhouette disappear after '04, and the Aurora V-8 is gone after '05. The just-launched Bravada is scheduled for as far out as '07, but will serve post-'05 wearing another badge-probably Buick. extra text

Another economy sport wagon? Could be a trend. With similar Volkswagen and Mazda products on sale here, Mitsubishi is considering importing its new Lancer wagon. Powered by the same 2.0L/120-hp 130-lb-ft I-4 as in the new Lancer sedan, the wagon could reach our shores in less than a year. And take it from us: Mitsu also will build a wagon-bodied version of its AWD, 280-plus-hp Evolution VII-but not for U.S. consumption.

First DriveMazda Proteg5Right Place, Right TimeYou've got to hand it to the Europeans. They take a wagon, beef up the suspension, add aggressive-looking body trim, tweak the engine, and the result is a big seller-the sport wagon. While BMW's 3 Series, the Audi A4 Avant, and Mercedes-Benz' C320 sporty five-doors are snatching upscale SUV-wary buyers, Mazda is looking to lure even younger, more cost-conscious versions of the same into its $16,815 Proteg5.

Aggressive good looks are tooled into the design courtesy of an MP3 front fascia, large foglamps, side skirts, rear air dam, rear roof spoiler, and monochromatic scheme. The styling is dynamic, though reminiscent of the Mercedes C320 Sport Wagon (June '01).

Power comes from a 2.0L/130-hp (135 lb-ft) DOHC I-4, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox; a four-speed auto is optional. The P5 performs well, but could use the MP3's 20 extra ponies to give it the oomph its hard-hitting image projects. Cornering prowess has been enhanced with 16-in. wheels and tires, plus larger front and rear anti-roll bars. ABS-assisted four-wheel discs provide powerful, linear stops.

The sport bucket seats are comfy, with plenty of ample lumbar and lateral support. A 60/40-split rear seat makes it easy to load bulky items, for a total cargo capacity of 112.8 cu ft. Want a bit of Miata-like sportiness in something that can also handle home-improvement-center runs, a stroller, or a few golf bags? Consider the Proteg5.-Scott Mead

First Look2003 Hummer H2 SutTwo Generals Combine Forces For Rugged Luxury DominationExpectations are sky high for the arrival of the all-new '03 Hummer H2. The SUT concept, which actor/Hummer-owner Arnold Schwarzenegger drove to its New York Auto Show debut, includes a foldable midgate (similar to the Chevy Avalanche's) to allow full pass-through access and connection with the outdoors. A cockpit-like dash and center console with a hand-throttle-style gear lever and four-wheel-drive shifter radiate ruggedness and high-tech refinement.

Based on the Chevy Tahoe four-door platform, running gear will include many 11/42-ton heavy-duty truck suspension and drivetrain parts, such as a standard Vortec 6.0L V-8, full-time four-wheel drive, and 17-in. wheels. Both the Vortec 8100 and the Duramax 6600 are said to fit the engine bay, though are not yet available. Options will include a satellite navigation system, Night Vision, and a soft-ride airbag suspension.

Interior space in the new Hummer is a vast improvement over the four-corner seating of the original H1, yet, with rounded body panels and large mirrors, driver visibility isn't a problem. The first H2 will be a four-door closed-roof body, with an optional, small third-row seat next to the massive spare tire housed in the rear storage area. From the buzz this SUT got in New York, the H2 pickup will most likely be the next model. Pricing is still TBD, but expect it in the $45,000 neighborhood. Check out the July/August issue of our sister publication, Truck Trend, for more details.-Mark Williams

SpiedBmx X3Between Allroad And X5Latest word on BMW's entry-level sport/utility vehicle, the X3, is that it's a bit different from the current crop of crossovers: Don't think of it as a tall Audi allroad quattro-like version of the 3 Series sport wagon, one source warns. But it's not quite a smaller, less-expensive X5, either. This computer-generated image, based on spy shots taken at a test track, indicated it's much like the X3 we revealed in illustration form (Sept. 2000). The spy shots are of a test mule using a 3 Series wagon body on an all-wheel-drive platform.

Prospects for a pickup based on the X3, as illustrated in our September story, remain hard to gauge. BMW will be watching how Lincoln and Cadillac do with the Blackwood and Escalade EXT, as well as other potential variants, before making a serious commitment to a truck.

The X3 is due to arrive in 2003, or perhaps as early as late 2002 as an '03 model. It will share components with the next-generation 3 Series, which comes mid-decade, but sources hasten to add that the X3 won't be built on the 3 Series platform. Engines are likely to match the 3 Series lineup, however, particularly the smooth, powerful new 3.0L inline-six. The X3 presumably will be assembled in BMW's South Carolina factory, which currently builds X5s, Z3s, and 3 Series coupes.

SpiedFresh Apple PiePost-Camaro Chevrolet Needs More FlavorChevrolet is becoming a conservative car company. With Camaro rumored to be gone after '02 and the very limited-edition SSR (on the GMT 360 platform) joining Corvette as a halo car in '03, the bread and butter of the lineup emphasizes value over style and sexiness. Chevy's design staff, led by ex-Chrysler stylist Bryan Nesbitt, has lots of work to do. He arrives too late to affect the next Malibu, which comes in '03 on a short version of GM's Epsilon global midsize platform, with more "expressive" styling than the current model. A stretched version of the Malibu arrives about a year later with a hatchback body, packaged like last year's Traverse concept.

A new bigger, bolder S10 bows for '03 (spy photo), powered by twin-cam inline-four-, five-, and six-cylinder engines. Chevy will rename it Colorado, forcing Volkswagen to find another name for its '03 sport/utility vehicle. Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban get facelifts in '03, with upgraded interiors and Avalanche-style grilles.

The next Cavalier may prove to be Chevy's most important project. Small cars are hot again, and Ford's Focus is eating GM's share of this market segment for lunch. Opel and Fiat are leading GM's Delta small-car platform program for an '04 launch. The next Cavalier comes only as a sedan, with a five-door hatchback added later. Saddled by the constraints of a global platform, the Chevy version is said to be on the plain side. Let's hope Nesbitt and company can inject some panache into the design, so it can compete with Ford's successful world compact.

Six PicksWinningest Formula One drivers in the modern era (as of the 2001 Grand Prix of Monaco)

1.Alain Prost 51 The four-time world champion had 199 starts in the '80s and '90s, versus five-time champ Juan Manuel Fangio's 24 wins from just 51 starts in the '50s.

2.Michael Schumacher 48 A three-time world champion with 152 starts as of this writing, he stands a good chance of surpassing Prost's record this year.

3.Ayrton Senna 41The late three-time world champion from Brazil had 161 starts between '84 and '94.

4.Nigel Mansell 31 This British driver switched to Indy cars in '95 after 15 years and 187 F1 starts.

5.Jackie Stewart 27 The Wee Scot won the World Championship in '69, '71, and '73 and had 99 starts between '65 and '73.

6.Niki Lauda, Jim Clark (tie) 25 Three-time champ Lauda raced 171 times from '71 to '85, versus 72 starts from '60 to '68 for Clark, who was world champion in '63 and '65.

Scoop2004 Chrysler LXReturn Of An All-American Rear-Drive SedanOur test drive and in-depth review of the Chrysler Super8 Hemi (June '01) revealed that the company is more than just toying with the notion of a new rear-drive sedan platform. Now these photos prove it: You're looking at the first test mule for the rear-drive '04 LX (formerly LH) models, spied wearing current front-drive 300M sheetmetal.

This 300M has been stretched between the front-door edge and front-wheel arch to accommodate a longitudinal engine and to give it a more powerful look. The rear wheels appear to have been moved forward. The car has four-wheel disc brakes and a short-long-arm rear suspension, with the differential attached to a subframe and swing arms and halfshafts placing the rear wheels; the front suspension appears to be MacPherson struts.

The new LX-based models will include the Chrysler 300N, Concorde, Dodge Intrepid, and perhaps a Hemi Super8 concept-based car. The Concorde and Intrepid probably will come only with the 3.7L V-6, while the 300N and Super8 are candidates for the 5.7L/353-hp Hemi V-8 engine that will make its first appearance in the new Dodge Ram sometime next year. Chrysler's LHS could be replaced either with something based on last year's 300 Hemi C convertible concept, or a large sedan, possibly reviving the New Yorker name. Chrysler does have concerns about marketing rear-drive sedans in the snowy Upper Midwest, a major market for traditional American sedans. The solution may be a combination of traction control and more aggressive all-season radial tires.

Review"Thunderbird 2002"Michael Lamm is one of autodom's best historians. So it's only appropriate that he chronicle the rebirth of one of America's best-loved classics. The first half of this well-illustrated volume covers the detailed design and development of the new T-Bird, including several early style renderings, as well as CAD illustrations of the chassis and various components. Later chapters deal with Thunderbird heritage, motorsport, and a particularly interesting section on T-Bird-related automobilia and collectibles. The book's wide, horizontal layout really complements the art. Its only drawback is that the text was written too early in the car's development process to offer driving impressions or performance numbers. Guess you'll just have to refer to MT's July '01 issue for that.-Matt Stone

"Thunderbird 2002" by Michael Lamm. Hardbound, 1211/48x911/48 in., 132 pages, 178 color and B/W photographs/ illustrations. $39.95 plus shipping; Lamm-Morada Publishing, www.Lamm Morada.com or www.motorbooks.com.

Fast Facts3 Number of states earning an A grade for driver and passenger safety, stressing seatbelt use (A for California and A- for both the District of Columbia [not really a state], and New Mexico).

11 Number of states that earned B grades, including Michigan (B+), Connecticut (B), and Iowa (B-).

18 Average states, including Georgia (C+), Arizona (C), and Louisiana (C-).

11 States that barely passed Seatbelt Use 101, which include Wisconsin (D+), Vermont (D), and Massachusetts (D-).

8 Failed. These include New Hampshire, Tennessee, and both Dakotas (all F).