After months of teasing releases on just about every aspect of the new Australian-built Camry Hybrid Toyota have at last launched the car which it hopes will find 10,000 homes a year with mainstream Aussies. The car was launched in Melbourne with two questions to be answered: pricing and what is it like to drive?

The car has been launched at a time of unprecedented scrutiny of the giant Japanese global car-maker. A massive recall in many major markets – not including Australia at this stage - after accelerator problems with it’s first mass-produced hybrid, Arius, have focused attention on the company like never before. Toyota Australia’s senior executive director, Dave Buttner said the recall does not apply to Australian cars that have a different parts supplier, but could not rule out a recall here.

In addition Mr Buttner said an investigation is underway into issues in Australia with Prius related to the braking system not `feeling’ right when the car hits rough roads or pot holes. Mr Buttner said this was a `feel’ only and no car had brake failure. He said the Australian-built Camry Hybrid used a different braking system than Prius.

Those issues aside Camry hybrid is Australia’s first locally-built hybrid using imported hybrid parts mated to the local Camry body. While that sounds simple it has been a project years in the making with major changes needed to the Altona, Melbourne manufacturing plant with Hybrid Camry production running alongside standard Camry and Aurion.

For most Australians Camry will re-define their view of Hybrid technology. Because it is in a familiar body shape with a familiar name Toyota believes the vehicle will be seen as a mainstream family car unlike hybrid-specific Prius which has flown the hybrid flag from scratch. “This car has the potential to change the automotive landscape in Australia,” said Mr Buttner. “Hybrid Camry gives us differences from our rivals: an affordable, Australian-made hybrid family car,” he said.

Toyota launched Hybrid Camry out of Melbourne using a mix of suburban roads and highway running to highlight the hybrid’s attributes: the petrol engine automatically stopping at lights and the engine and motor combining at cruising speeds. Camry Hybrid uses a seamless CVT transmission. The car's main battery is stored in the boot between the rear wheels and assists to give the car a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The boot is still a good size at 389 litres and the rear seats retain a 60/40 split with some access between the boot and the rear seat when folded.

There’s a bit of sway on corners but the car hangs on not much differently to a conventional Camry. When accelerating there’s a slight shudder as the petrol engine kicks in – but the overall feeling is pretty much seamless. The engineers have done a magnificent job of noise, vibration, harshness when underway, with the cabin eerily quiet as you pull up at a set of lights or in traffic. The air conditioning fan dominates the interior landscape as everything else shuts down awaiting a slight probe of the throttle.

Toyota plan to build 10,000 Camry Hybrid vehicles a year for the Australian market and a further 300 for New Zealand. The company says the hybrid Camry has the potential to save owners at least 1100 litres of fuel a year when compared to locally built six cylinder competitors -Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon – a saving of around $1320 a year based on $1.20 a litre. Toyota makes the point that the savings for fleet owners will be even greater, multiplied by how many cars on their fleets.

Camry Hybrid has slightly different styling cues to the conventional Camry – built in the same Melbourne facility – that make the car identifiable as a hybrid. The front mask includes blue-tinted headlamp extensions found on all Toyota hybrid vehicles. The front bumper shares styling cues with the latest generation Prius that not only provides cosmetic benefits but also improved aerodynamics.

The outer edges of the bumper flow into the sides of the vehicle with side faces that are almost flat for better airflow. Camry Hybrid’s radiator grille further differentiates the hybrid model with a unique design and satin-chrome finish, also used as a garnish on the boot lid. The lower grille is slightly larger and more rectangular giving additional cooling to the engine bay. Both hybrid cars feature 10-spoke alloy wheels

Hybrid badges are featured on the front guards and on the boot lid. The rear combination lamps have a clear cover and include LED lights that use less power and as a result reduce fuel use. Away from sight are three covers – under the engine, rear floor and fuel tank – that improve airflow and reduce drag. The overall drag coefficient is 0.27 which Toyota claims is among the best in mass-produced family cars.

The interior is Camry-as-usual, apart from the the instrument panel which reflects the hybrid technology. Turn the ignition `on’ and a luminous green `ready’ symbol shows the car is enabled, even though the engine is not running. In the instant fuel-consumption meter the needle points at the electric-only mode which means the vehicle is using no fuel and emitting zero emissions. Other specific hybrid features are the blue highlights on the dials and in the centre of the speedometer, a large `Hybrid Synergy Drive’ display. The main read out replaces the tachometer in the conventional car.

Altise 2.4 $29,990

Ateva 2.4 $32,490

Sportivo 2.4 $33,990

Grande 2.4 $39,990

Hybrid $36,990

Hybrid Luxury $39,990