Toyota Russia has previewed the facelifted global variant of the Toyota Camry which may, I state again, may be the new face of the Malaysian variant of the car. By the looks of it, we are still going to get that tank-like body as the major change is only upfront with new lights, grille and front bumper. The rear is largely untouched and still looks heavy if viewed from the side or from the three quarter angle. This is unfortunate, as the USDM variant is all about curves and looks a helluva better than this.




Yes we get to see a new nose which is much better than the earlier car but it still does not stir any positive emotions. This facelift makes the Camry only slightly more appealing than before. By slightly, I mean that my chequebook will still be more willing to come out for a Honda Accord or a Hyundai i40 rather than this less ugly Toyota. Less ugly does not mean handsome. Work still needs to be done okay.

I know Toyota intends to portray a more luxurious image for the Camry than over in the United States (below), but luxury is not about boxy shapes and all. Curves can be luxurious too. But this is Toyota. Change never happens in leaps and bounds. Unless the profit margin is truly affected.

But since things are not confirmed as yet, I do hope that Toyota Malaysia will try bring in the USDM styling instead of this global spec facelift. It may be a hope in hell, but at least its better than nothing.

I think Toyota Malaysia can breathe a sigh of relief again soon. The current Toyota Camry is a horrid, horrid looking thing. It looks like a piece brick with the front of a steam locomotive installed on it. But now, over in America, Toyota has just previewed the 2015 Toyota Camry at the 2015 New York Motor Show. The new Camry looks good, even almost good looking with all of Toyota's latest styling language.




 Now as the Malaysian Toyota Camry styling is actually based on the Toyota Camry sold in Russia and the Toyota Camry Aurion 3.5liter sold in Australia. This isn't completely different from the ones sold over in the States as it only requires slightly different bumpers, grille and maybe a fender change up front and at the rear. And if I were Toyota Malaysia (UMW Toyota Motors) I would be begging Toyota Global to supply us with this new facelift as soon as possible.

You folks should be aware that you actually see less new Camrys on the road compared to the previous model. No, it is not because Malaysians  suddenly realised that they are just buying it for the badge or that it drives like a boat instead of a car. It is simply because the Camry looks like crap. There is no simple way of putting it. It looks so bad that Toyota Malaysia had recently launched something called the 2.0G X (pictured above - note the X is not GX but G X. NOT that it makes any difference lah) which has goodies from the 2.5G variant thrown in at a more attractive price. Price attractive, looks slightly less so.

But the thing with this version is that 17inch wheels and tyres look tiny underneath the huge wheelarches. And its offset is so narrow that it looks undernourished too. It needs expensive 19inch wheels and a modelista bodykit. Now who wants ridiculously expensive wheels on an unclemobile?

What this new facelift does it cloth the Camry in something less bulky looking. It works. The interior is the same as the pre-facelift ones with some minor trim details added as are the engines. I hope Toyota brings this facelift for the Malaysian version very very soon. At least a dull driving car does not have to look dull too....like it does today. This may bring the fight back to Toyota against the current Accord which is the better all-rounder at the moment.