Toyota’s Australian-built Camry now has vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control (TRC) standard across the entire range.
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From August 2007 production, the Altise, Ateva and Sportivo models gain the technology, joining the top-line Grande, which has had it fitted since July last year.
VSC helps maintain vehicle stability during cornering, and TRC helps optimise traction when accelerating on slippery surfaces, Toyota Australia said in a statement.
The three automakers building cars in Australia – the other two are General Motors’ Holden unit and Ford – have come under fire recently from local consumer publications for not fitting stability control as standard to their locally-produced models, all large cars. It is increasingly becoming a standard fitting on competing imported models.
the Australian-made Camrys – which have slight styling differences from the models built in the US – also have active braking with intelligence (AB-i), which incorporates ABS anti-skid brakes with brake assist (BA), and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).
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By GlobalDataToyota Australia also exports Camrys to the Middle East and Asia-Pacific markets such as New Zealand and it was not immediately clear if the specification upgrade also now applies to export models as well as those sold in the domestic market.
“Our research quite clearly shows that one of the major purchase triggers in the medium four-cylinder market is safety,” Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner, said.
“Buyers are risk averse, and are expecting technology such as VSC and TRC to be included as standard equipment on an increasing number of models.”
The extra equipment will boost recommended retail prices of the cheaper Camry models by $A490 to $750.
Toyota Australia claimed the Camry has dominated the medium passenger car segment there so far in 2007 with sales of 15,084 to the end of July, more than double its nearest rival, which sold 7,507.
Industry observers expect the Australian new car market to top 1m units this year.
