We Malaysians are a poor sordid lot. We get things somewhat slower than other countries. Especially when it comes to Toyota Camry cars. I wrote in April 2014 that the Americans were getting their Camry facelifted. I also stated that it looked fantastic compared to what we are getting. Take a look at the pic below. Look at the lights. Front and rear. We're not getting this more aero looking Camry. Nope.


Then Toyota launched the global spec facelift of the Camry. I wrote about that sometime in August 2014. This is the model that is pictured at the start of this article as well as below and this version is the one that Thailand has already started selling early this month. We're just getting it produced with bookings commencing too. We're getting the 2.0, 2.5 and a 2.5 hybrid that should come in under RM200K (which is funny money for a Camry. Hybrid or not).


This is also the model UMW Toyota previewed here recently. Basically its a less curvy version of the USDM (US Domestic Market) CamryI mentioned above. We get the lights that some other markets got for their earlier cars and a curvy new bumper. I remember driving a rental Camry with this front lights over in Perth a couple of years ago. Minus the more curvy front bumper design of course.


I suppose this is just Toyota being Toyota. A bit of this, a bit of that. Same ol', same ol'. But I have to say that at least it looks better than that tank we have on our roads now. See below.

Pre facelift Camry - angle and photo courtesy of Toyota...which somehow makes the car seem awkward.

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.