As a final design touch, these same panels feature an eye-appealing appearance. The new Toyota Camry's front fascia, defined by hood, grille, bumper and logo, is dignified and innovative and is completed by headlights that incorporate a projector-type low beam that offer both beauty and high performance.



2007 Camry Chassis

While designers optimized Toyota Camry's visual image, they also paid attention to generating a sense of excitement in the driving experience without sacrificing ride quality. To do that, they increased wheelbase (109.3 in., up from 107.1 in.) but maintained the same overall length, with a shortened rear overhang. Even with this lengthened wheelbase, engineers delivered a reduced turning radius.

Setting the stage for improved grip and driver feel are upgraded wheels for all four Camry grades. Gone are the 15-inch wheels previously standard on the LE. For 2007, the CE, LE, XLE and Camry Hybrid will ride on 16-inch wheels of either steel or aluminum, while the sporty SE gets unique aluminum 17-inch wheels with six spokes. These are optimized to help ensure brake-heat dissipation.

Thanks to the use of enlarged wheels, brake discs also were enlarged for improved feel and stopping power. Up front, ventilated 11.65-inch discs are used, with solid 11.06-inch discs at the rear. A new brake pad is adopted that provides 10 percent higher coefficient of friction for increased stopping power over the previous model. Finally, Toyota's Brake Assist, an electronic function that senses an emergency stop and applies increased braking power once the driver touches the brake pedal, is standard.

Front suspension is via MacPherson struts. At the rear, a dual-link strut system helps provide an optimal balance between smooth ride and secure handling. To help improve the Camry's handling and driver feel, all lower control arms were lengthened, all spring, shock-absorber and antiroll-bar values, and all suspension geometries, were rethought and recalibrated.

The completely revised chassis was lab-tested using specs simulating the road surfaces in every country in which Camry is sold. Then, to add real-world verification to their new design, engineers road-tested the new suspension design for more than 60,000 miles in more than a dozen countries.


Grades

An essential and primary goal was to ensure that even the least expensive Toyota Camry is equipped with a comprehensive list of features to enhance its comfort, convenience and value.

The CE gets an impressive list of standard features, including halogen headlamps with an automatic on/off feature, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a six-speaker 160-watt digital AM/FM/CD audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and a 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission. It also comes with 16-inch wheels, a full complement of seven airbags, a vehicle immobilizer and four-wheel disc brakes.

Toyota Camry LE adds to this package a long list of additional features, including an in-key remote keyless entry and eight-way-adjustable power driver's seat. A V6 engine with dual exhausts is also available.

Toyota's decision to distance the sporty Camry SE from the other grades had a significant effect upon the chassis specifications being developed for the new Camry SE. As was the case in previous years, LE and XLE use basically the same chassis specs while the SE uses springs, antiroll bars, shocks and bushings with firmer, sportier values than those used in the other two grades.

But for 2007, there are other differences, as well. The SE has a standard full body kit that positions the car 0.4-inches (10mm) lower than other Camry grades.

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