Fizzboy7

So today Autoblog said Mr. Toyoda admitted the current Camry isn't hitting it's mark and will have more emotion injected into the facelift. I had to bite my tongue when I read the article. Just how many times in the last twenty years have we heard this same damn promise?

Many of us, including myself, stating several times the current Camry is a huge let-down style-wise and a step down from the last generation. I made several posts specifically describing in detail what is wrong with the front, side, and rear. Now, like clockwork, management catches on and has to fix something that should have not needed fixing in the first place (hello Honda Civic). We have been saying for a few generations, the Camry needs more emotion and better styling. Sedate family sedans in this class no longer cut it thanks to other makes raising the bar and giving style, along with reliability and everything else in one package. This lackadaisical, dated, and sheltered way of running a company is a sad shame and inexcusable for 2014. Toyota could have sold tens of thousands of more Camrys if they had the right sense to follow popular trends and create an attractive and styled shape.

Now, it's come down to admitting fault, which is basically admitting failure. Very unToyota-like and very disappointing. We have been saying all along what Mr. Toyoda is finally catching onto. Again, I scratch my head and wonder how people with such limited vision can run such big companies. That may sound harsh, but I believe it. There is absolutely no good reason the current Camry should have been signed off with the styling it has. A complete waste of money and opportunity for more sales.

Sorry to vent here. I've been thinking about what to write about this topic all day. I love the company and I loved the last gen Camry with it's lythe styling. I'm only so disappointed because I want good things for the company. I don't want to hear apologies, and someone who should know better, have to admit mistakes. It never should have happened in the first place, as many of us called out here three years ago. I also don't like hearing promises and seeing the same mistakes. It's insulting to the public.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Eh if they plan to infuse more emotion into the line-up now fully I'm on board. I can forgive current design in light of this

Fizzboy7

Hoovey, you are a model of calmness and forgiveness. I need some ice cream.

jwong77

You make it sound as if the Camary isn't the best selling car. What's wrong with vanilla if that's what buyers in this segment want? Doesn't the sales numbers pretty much speak for themselves?

LexFather

It's a Camry, vanilla, owners are happy, internetz isn't..what's new...

Current model wasn't developed under Akio...

Could the Camry be better? Sure.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

I strive for zen

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

It's a family sedan.

It's supposed to be sedate.

People don't want sportiness when they have kids and old people and groceries in the car.

They want spaciousness, ergonomics, durability, cost effectiveness, cheap insurance, cheap maintenance, cheap starting price, and ease of use.



What you have described and complained about is how a Camry isn't designed like a luxury sports sedan.

Let me state the obvious: it isn't and will most likely never be.

Tantrix

I think a blind person could have figured this one out. I guess a team of designers getting paid about a million a year each couldn't. This design reminds me of the older kia and hyundai days. absolutely no style.

Aron9000

I think that is the entire point of a Camry. Like others have said, vanilla sells, if you hate this car, go buy a Dodge Charger.

SteVTEC

Sales of the 2012 Camry in the U.S. were down by nearly 70,000 units vs. the 2007 Camry when it was new. Yes, the current generation is a sales disappointment. It's as bland as can be and doesn't even drive that nicely. Sure a lot of people still want vanilla, but guess what? 70k Camry buyers went elsewhere. Weaker argument for sticking with vanilla.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Even if the sales number is good,changing the design is a smart move.Accord and others have taken away sales and will continue to with it's present ugly design both in and out.Also Camry discounting is huge with a low interest loan number.So good sales numbers but lower profit..
Camry will always sell well no matter how it looks but the lower numbers are showing people are starting to get tired of vanilla.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

I'd pick the new Accord (or the old one for that matter) over the last couple of generations of Camry

TangoRed

Yup. I think the Camry could possibly have a more impressive design but it needs to stay bland to appease its customers, car rags/internet be damned. As long as Consumer Reports likes it they're in good shape- and I don't mean that in a bad way.

spwolf

man, every year new articles come up about why Camry will be dethroned next year, and every year Camry sells the best.

It is now 3rd year of Camry and every other competitor has had a major facelift. When it came out in 2011, it has won comparo's against competition. Here many have said that SE looks really good.

And there is nothing to feel bad about Toyota.

For 2013, Toyota will have highest operating profit in the history of the company and in fact, it will have highest operating profit of any automotive company in the history.

Oh noes, Toyota has big problems, too many profits and too many cars sold.

Remember how Sonata was supposed to catch Camry? Or Fusion? lol. I bet new one will end up being similar to all the Camry's... they simply sell too many and have to cater to too many tastes... thats why it ends up being bland.

spwolf

And 2012 Camry was pretty good to Toyota:
(started sales Sept 2011)

2009: 356,824
2010: 327,804
2011: 308,510
2012: 404,886
2013: 408,484