2012 Toyota Camry Introduced in the US [Gallery]

The North American division of Toyota today introduced the seventh generation Camry to the US customers, who will get to choose from three powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine developing 178 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque, a 3.5-liter V6, available in the SE and XLE grades, delivering 268 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of peak torque, and a Hybrid variant, using a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

New for the 2012 Camry Hybrid, an EV Drive mode allows the driver to operate the car on the electric motor alone for up to 1.6 miles at lower speeds (below approximately 25 mph). The EV indicator illuminates when the vehicle is being propelled solely by the electric motor.

The all-new Camry and Camry Hybrid will offer six different model grades to choose from. Camry will be available in the entry-level L, value-driven LE, premium XLE and sporty SE grades. The XLE and SE are available with four-cylinder or V6 engines. The Camry Hybrid is offered in LE and XLE grades.

There are also four new body colors, two of them (Attitude Black Metallic and Clearwater Blue) are all-new to Toyota in the U.S.

Interior highlights for 2012 include a new dashboard design, modified seat locations, redesigned seats and “lean” door, pillar and headliner trim. The Camry LE and XLE grades feature either ivory or gray seating color, while the Camry SE features unique upholstery in black-on-black or black-on-gray.

For 2012, the Camry offers four seat-covering materials: fabric in the LE and XLE; fabric with SofTex in the SE, standard leather trim on the XLE V6 (optional in the XLE four-cylinder), and Ultrasuede with leather available for the SE and XLE Hybrid.  Heated seats are standard on the XLE V6 and are available for SE, XLE four-cylinder and Hybrid with variable temperature control.

Also, two steering wheel designs, with integrated audio and Bluetooth controls, are featured: a four-spoke for LE, a leather-wrapped four-spoke for XLE, and a sporty three-spoke, leather-wrapped wheel for the SE.