THIS might be a new Camry review, but it contains traces of Radiohead, True Blood and even The Pointer Sisters, so don’t dismiss this is just another dull old Toyota write-up. The Atara S is said to be different, and so is our take on this important car, and we trust you won’t be bored. Indeed, you may even like what you read, since it’s that sort of car. Toyota says there’s been plenty of Australian input to improve this Camry, so we drove it longer and harder to find out what’s new (and better).

40 Series Camry
Released: July 2006
Ended: November 2011
Family Tree: CamryTHE sixth-generation Camry featured an all-new chassis, bringing the mid-sized Toyota in line with the rest of the global Camry models instead of the rebodied 1997 version introduced in 2002 with the Mk4. There were some changes to the 117kW/218Nm 2.4-litre VVTi four-cylinder petrol engine, mated for the first time to a five-speed automatic gearbox or a five-speed manual gearbox. Other new-to-Camry features included electronic stability control and curtain airbags. The model grades were Altise, Ateva, Sportivo and a luxury Grande, while the ancient Avalon series (based on the 1992 Camry) was replaced by a slightly modified V6 version known as the Aurion. A minor facelift of both models was introduced during 2009, while a Hybrid version – the first vehicle of its type ever produced in Australia – followed in early 2010. Approximately 100,000 vehicles were made annually at the Altona, Victoria plant, with about 70 per cent exported, mainly to the Arab nations.
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