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DETROIT – Camry, the best-selling sedan for four straight years, has become something of an icon for its appliancelike utility. Toyota hopes its all-new 2002 is a move from “sensible to sensual.” I suspect folks will continue to flock to it because it is bigger, quieter, safer, quicker and costs less.

“There’s a certain Camry-ness that is recognizable and familiar,” said Dana Hargitt, Camry project manager at Toyota’s Technical Center in Ann Arbor, and to keep the new one at the top of the sales charts it needs to amplify those qualities. Restyling the best-selling car, even when the goal is to make it more sensual, was conducted carefully. It looks sharp without being radical. That should appeal to the large middle ground of buyers who want a fresh look but not something wacky. Certain styling cues, like the taillights, remind me of a Ford Taurus, and its profile is not unlike a bigger Honda Civic. Functionally, the coefficient of drag, or the ease with which it slips through the air, has dropped from .30 to .28, and that has benefits both in terms of fuel economy and lower wind noise.

For 2002 the model lineup has been simplified. The base CE has been dropped and the LE now has more standard equipment. With air conditioning, power windows, power locks, AM/FM/CD player, cruise control and power outside mirrors, the LE starts at $18,970. With an automatic transmission, it starts at $19,800, which is $615 less than a comparably equipped 2001. An LE with the V-6 and an automatic transmission is $22,260, or $925 less than last year.

The XLE begins at $22,295 with the four-cylinder and $25,405 with the V-6. A sporty SE starts at $20,310 with the four-cylinder and a five-speed manual and $23,700 for a V-6 automatic.

The new car is cheaper partly because development costs were slashed by nearly 30 percent, according to Hargitt. It is also easier to build. Crank windows, for example, are no longer offered, and that means it was not necessary to engineer and design two window systems. Also, Hargitt said the production process at the plant in Kentucky has been simplified so it is easier to build, and that, too saves money. This new Camry has approximately 85 percent domestic content, but that will shift to nearly 100 percent over the lifetime of this design.

The new chassis platform developed for the 2002 Camry first saw duty under the Highlander sport-utility vehicle. It is roomier because the 107.1-inch wheelbase is 2 inches longer than the previous model’s. It is wider and taller, as well. The hip point has been raised to make the seating position more upright, which in turn means less bending to get in and out.

My test drive in an LE with the automatic transmission was limited to less than 10 miles, but based on that limited time behind the wheel I can report that the new Camry does indeed carry the torch of the previous car, but now it burns even brighter. The totally new 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that will be specifie d by about 75 percent of customers cranks out 157 horsepower, a 15 percent increase over the last engine. It produces more torque, as well, so it accelerates away from a stop with more authority. This engine qualifies for an ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) rating and gets 23 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway with the automatic transmission. The automatic is so efficient that the five-speed manual only gets 1 mpg better mileage.

The 3.0-liter, DOHC V-6 is rated at 192 horsepower, and while that may be less than some competitors, overall drivability remains first rate.

Toyota’s reputation for building cars with an uncanny lack of noise continues with this one. The four-cylinder engine has a pleasant engine note, but that is the loudest thing you hear. The body structure and floor pan have been refined for added stiffness. Curved panels in the floor, for example, and stiffening braces under the seats and spare tire well, all contribute to eliminating road e.

The instrument panel sweeps across the vehicle and no longer curves down into the center console, and that makes the front seat spacious. The instruments are black with white numerals, but the sporty SE package is the reverse. A key improvement to the interior is added legroom for back-seat passengers, enabled by the longer wheelbase.

Look for more on the new Camry once I get the chance for a local test drive. Until then, rest assured that although the 2002 is totally new, its basic Camry-ness is still intact.

Price
The LE has a base price of $18,970; the SE’s base price is $20,310; and the XLE’s base price is $22,295.

Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles.

There is no At A Glance box because this was not a regular test drive. We will have a regular test drive after production models are available.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.4-liter, 157-hp 4-cyl.
3.0-liter, 192-hp V-6
Transmission: Manual or automatic Front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 107.1 inches
Curb weight: lbs.
Base prices: $18,970 for an LE with the 2.4-liter, 4-cyl.
$20,310 for an SE with the 2.4-liter, 4-cyl.
$22,295 for an XLE with the 2.4-liter, 4-cyl.
Mpg rating: 23 city, 32 hwy. 2.4-liter 4-cyl.
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