NEWS: Toyota’s new hybrid…and new recall

By Michael Banovsky

Middleweight hybrid

As if it wasn’t expected already, Toyota has confirmed it will build a hybrid Camry. Production will start in late 2006, in a supposedly re-freshened or redesigned Camry for sale in 2007.
Expect the powertrain to be similar to the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX330h – a 3.3L 6 cylinder engine with variable valve timing mated to their Hybrid Synergy Drive for a combined output of around 268 horsepower.

Also expect prices to increase accordingly – about $2-4000 over the V6 model. The new model should be previewed at the Detroit International Auto Show in January 2006.


Award-winning trucks get recall

Toyota is recalling 880,000 trucks, 789,000 of which were sold in North America. Affected models are the Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and 4Runner built between May 2001 and December 2003. Toyota has discovered a front suspension issue that could lead to steering problems. The fix is for front-suspension ball joints that could fail prematurely.

One accident has reportedly occurred in Japan, and information on expected recall costs has not been disclosed.