Toyota Camry Hybrid Instrument Cluster Sneak Peak

Japanese manufacturer Toyota released yesterday the first photo showing the instrument cluster on their future Camry hybrid. As the manufacturer says, the new Camry is like no other, "and is certainly very different from all other locally produced cars." This is because the Camry will become the first hybrid to be built locally in Australia too.

As you can see in the photo, the instrument cluster is designed in such a way that the driver has all the info he/she needs about the Hybrid Synergy Drive. A green light lights up to "ready" when the ignition is switched on, even when the petrol engine is not turned on. At this point, the needle of the fuel consumption dial points at the electric mode only.

The choice of colors for the dials seem to be quite pleasing, with a combination of white and blue surrounding the Hybrid Synergy Drive display.

Even if this photo does not show per se the interior of the Camry, it is the first one to showcase a part of the interior environment and feel of the hybrid. Toyota says the moment of its release was chosen to coincide with the debut of the second testing stage of the hybrid, prior to its production start in December and market debut in February 2010.

"Hybrid Camry will have substantially more power than the petrol-only car while using at least 20 per cent less fuel," David Buttner, Toyota Australia executive director said. "It will save motorists hundreds of dollars a year in fuel - and the more you drive, the more you'll save on fuel."