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 is readying the launch of the all-new Toyota Altis here in Malaysia. We've got a scoop on the actual car that will be sold here in Malaysia. The photos you see herein were taken from the local Toyota distributors during the 'New Model Training' course for sales personnel conducted very, very recently. We are so darn fast in getting you the pic simply because we care. About you readers lah, not about keeping secrets.

Anyway, what you see is the Corolla Altis 1.8E (A) with a bodykit. This could be an option that is not stated in the price list at the moment which you can see on the Toyota Malaysia website. The Altis we're getting will be like the one sold throughout Asia. You can see the similarities with the one from the Taiwan website pictured below. But being Malaysian spec, you can see that the car ha more chrome around the grille and wheels which are heavily polished. We like our Toyota to have more 'bling' in line with the so-called prestigious image that Toyota has in Malaysia. It looks like the new Vios, in line with Toyota's current design philosophy. At least it doesn't look dull and boring like Toyotas of old. The only problem with a Toyota is that you will see too many of them on the road at one time. A bad thing if you're into being different but a good thing if you're into anonymity.




The 1.8E you're viewing will be priced at RM114,000 OTR (individual ownership), the 2.0G at RM123,000 OTR (individual) and the 2.0V at RM136,000 OTR (individual). The 2.0V gets traction control over the other two. There is also a 2.0V with additional safety package that adds 5 additional airbags (front side, curtain, driver's knee airbag)  compared to the 2 driver and pasenger airbags featured in all models. This model will be sold at RM139,900 OTR for individual sale.


The 1.8E is powered by a 1.8liter 4cylinder engine that makes 139ps / 173Nm. The 2.0G & V makes 145ps / 187Nm. These engines are not as powerful as some other engines but being Toyota, should be supremely reliable. All are coupled with a CVT gearbox with 7 vitrual speeds for the driver to play with. The 2.0V gets paddle shifters over the other two. In terms of overall technology, Toyota is offering us average tech. You can see that at least they're offering the car with a decent CVT transmission instead of that ancient 4 speed automatic that you still see in the Vios and sadly, the Camry 2.0. The suspension is just a beam axle but so are most of the cars in this class these days (Mazda, Honda have proper independent rear suspensions - if you want bragging rights, buy these over the staid Toyota). At least they're not skimping out on the safety stuff these days (if you pay for it - 2.0V variant).


The Toyota Altis will come with a 3 year warranty or 100,000km or which ever comes first. Typically Toyota, still at minimal warranty when others are offering 5 years. Of course, being a Toyota it may never fail for at least 5 years. So this is subjective in some ways unless you get a lemon of a car.

So there you have it, the new Toyota Altis. Soon to be launched over here. Remember, you saw it here first!