IMAGE  CREDITS -Toyota

                                               

Toyotas new 2007 Camry Hybrid - Toyota extends its hybrid leadership by making its exclusive Hybrid Synergy Drive available in the 2007 Camry. The Hybrid Synergy Drive System consists of gas and electric power sources that are complementary and produce a combined 187 horsepower. This system varies power between gas and electric, or both, as needed. Camry powers driver and passengers around using propulsion from its 105kW battery and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The first set of Camry Hybrids will be produced in Japan. In October, Toyota will begin producing approximately 4,000 Camry Hybrids per month in its Georgetown- KY plant.                                                            Specifications       Engine                                      2.4-litre four-cylinder       HP    187 HP@ 6300 rpm       Displacement     2.4 liter       Torque    137 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm       Weight lb (kg)    --       Acceleration 0-62  mph        8.9 sec.       Top speed    --       Battery Output    245 volts       Tank Size    17.1 gal, Variable       Price (approx)    $25,900  The first half of this system consists of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine that generates 147 hp and is coupled to a continuously variable transmission. The second half of the Hybrid Synergy Drive equation consists of 105-kW electric motor and 244-volt battery pack that delivers a peak of 40 hp. The battery pack consists of 34 nickel metal hydride modules, each of which contains six 1.2-volt cellsa. Small, high torque electric motor that produces 40 horsepower, an ultra-small inverter with a specially designed compact battery and a transaxle to provide the economy and seamless performance hybrid drivers seek.               The 2007 Camry Hybrid comes with an "ECO" button that limits energy consumption by the Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and under certain conditions can help improve fuel economy. Camry Hybrid comes with a long list of standard features. These include a tire-pressure monitor system, halogen headlamps with automatic on/off, a premium JBL audio system with an audio auxiliary jack and Bluetooth(R) technology, cruise control, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, an eight-way-adjustable power driver's seat, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, 16-inch aluminum wheels, heated outside rear-view mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control heating and air conditioning with a Plasmacluster(TM) ionizer, micro dust and pollen filter and much more.              The hybrid gets dressed up a bit more with a matte-chrome grille, blue-tinted headlight reflectors, LED tail lamps, and the hybrid badges. The Plasmacluster ionizer helps reduce airborne mold spores, microbes, fungi, odor, germs and bacteria inside the passenger cabin. Because there are situations in daily driving in which the gas engine in a Toyota hybrid is completely shut down, air-conditioning and power-steering systems are driven electrically, rather than by the engine. This ensures these features will continue to operate, whatever the status of the Camry Hybrid's drive system.         The Camry Hybrid with Hybrid Synergy Drive will yield exceptional fuel efficiency with preliminary estimated ratings of 40 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway and 39 mpg in combined driving. Additionally, Camry Hybrid is expected to be certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), just one of a handful of cars to meet the strict AT-PZEV standard.        Americans bought a record 107,897 Hybrid Priuses and  430,000 Camrys in calendar year 2005. Prius is Toyota's and world's first mass-produced gas-electric hybrid and went on sale in the U.S. in August 2000 so Toyota expects about 45,000 Camry Hybrid sales in calendar 2006.