Posted on 11/15/2023 9:39:27 PM PST by Olog-hai
The next generation of the Toyota Camry, the best-selling sedan in the U.S. market, will come with only a gas-electric hybrid powertrain, the boldest move yet by the Japanese automaker to push hybrid technology into the heart of the U.S. market.
The 2025 Camry will combine a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric drive system tuned to deliver more power in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the car, Toyota said.
Compliance with tougher U.S. fuel economy rules was a factor in Toyota’s decision to make the new Camry an all-hybrid vehicle line, dropping four- and six-cylinder combustion models that made up about 85% of sales in the current model year, David Christ, head of the Toyota brand in North America, told Reuters. Another factor behind the decision was “the performance we were able to get out of the hybrid,” he said. …
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Oops! I read 2.5 Liter gas engine and thought that was the gas tank size.
:-)
Toyota will be OK, they have “non-Biden’s-USA Commie CAFE standards” markets to sell to (like the classic “LC-70 Pickup” in the following MotorBiscuit article):
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/we-cant-have-these-toyota-trucks-in-u-s/
https://global.toyota/en/company/profile/facilities/manufacturing-worldwide/japan.html
https://global.toyota/en/company/profile/production-sales-figures/
Hybrid actually makes sense. At cruise, a car that size only needs 15-20 horsepower, the bigger, less efficient engines we all grew up with were only big to provide torque for acceleration and hill climbs. The rest of the time they only wasted gas. Small, highly efficient engine with electric boost for acceleration and hill climbs is rational. I’d buy one if I could afford it and it met my needs. (Which are now met by a minivan, owing to age-related disability.) And the car was simple to control. I don’t want to have to have an associates’ degree in computer science to turn on the wipers.
Yes, Toyota will be fine, but will US Toyota owners?
Toyota was fighting against it until Brandon took office.
Ford and GM surrendered while Trump was still there.
Many of the people on the top of the auto industry are complicit. How many countries’ governments do they want to fight?
There are other considerations, such as maintenance costs, parts costs and insurance costs. Ever heard the old saying, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride”? There’s a reason the Camry LE is (was) so popular, and that’s best bang for the buck in all categories including longevity.
Can this Congressional insanity be undone?
“Toyota built with lockwashers”
LOL!
Thanks for not knee-jerking like most posters.
My old man was a Mechanical Engineer who loved efficiency and mileage before it was cool. Loved diesels. Taught people that you burn gas when you brake. Would have loved regenerative braking.
I think most people here misunderstand. The choice for Toyota is not internal combustion vs hybrid, it is hybrid vs pure electric, thanks to congress. Old man Toyoda thinks plug in electrics are not practical, and refuses to build them as the once Big 3 have acquiesced to. . He is out there resisting the sophomoric liberal arts majors running our global central planning experiment, calling for all electric mandates. Bless him for resisting the plug in only mobility surrender narrative.
Although hybrids are complex, Toyota has experience building the least troublesome vehicles and experience with hybrids. Some say the hybrid RAV4 is the most in-demand, hard to find vehicle in the market (best used value retention).
Hybrid battery replacement is easier and cheaper than full electric by far, and battery technology has improved.
Not putting down Tesla, I wouldn’t turn it down if somebody was going to give me one. And wouldn’t drag race against one.
I agree with the poster who said Lexus are often cheaper and better cared for than the equivalent Toyota, in the used market.
The.Sienna minivan released last year is only hybrid and there has been no problem selling them.
Where is big oil? Shouldn’t they be leading the charge agaoia this non sense? Looking out for us?
It's not incompetence.
It's intentional.
I too like hybrids as long distance rental cars.
Get rid of Biden and his ilk and Toyota owners (and other US drivers) may get to keep their freedom of choice. (ICE, Hybrid or EV).
I’ve owned a few hybrids. Never say never, but never again.
The Dodge Darts replaced the Rambler Americans. Rambler drivers were the worst.
Hybrid is fine. It’ the full EV that doesn’t work.
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