Two popular Japanese models get the nip and tuck treatment.
THERE’S a new look and feel to two popular vehicles that are both best-sellers in their segments: The elegant Toyota Camry sedan and the rough-and-ready Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck have gotten facelifts and here’s how their brand new looks measure up.
New, flowy lines
The current Toyota Camry has been the country’s leading mid-size executive car for three years with some 28,000 units sold to date.
If you’ve been in or seen one, it’s easy to understand why. The Camry has all the goods a family man or a corporate climber would like in his car, and in an appealing form too.
Those wielding the scalpel at UMW Toyota Motor have been careful not to upset the balance and the new face-lifted Camry gets subtle revisions in key areas without changing its elegance.
The Triton 3.2’s new honeycomb grille gives the truck a more aggressive appearance. Available in three variants of 2.0E. 2.0G and 2.4V, the new Camry’s most obvious changes are in the front – the grille is larger now to give a wider appearance and lower stance. The restyled front bumper sports smooth lines that merge with the lower portion of the grille for a flowy look.
The headlights are also revised to what Toyota calls a three-dimensional (3D) look, creating a more pronounced edge to the front of the car.
The rear tail lights get similar 3D styling with thicker lens and more light emitting diodes (LEDs) for quicker illumination and better visibility.
Complementing the exterior changes are a new set of alloy wheels with slimmer spokes, which add to the sporty factor. The 2.0E and 2.0G get 16-inch wheels while the top-of-the-line 2.4V wears them an inch thicker.
Interior wise, doses of woodgrain trimmings enhance the image of luxury. While perforated leather seats adorn the 2.0G and 2.4V variants, the entry level 2.0E is updated with new a seat fabric that looks and feels better.
The Optitron instrument panel, known for its clarity even in strong sunlight, has new meter designs to enhance information readability. Among the new features is the auxiliary jack in the centre console that enables portable music devices to interface with the car’s audio system.
The new, elegant lines of the Toyota Camry. The 2.4V variant gets a new Smart Entry and Start System where drivers can unlock doors and start the car without having to take the key fob out of their pockets or handbags.
Cruise control and high intensity discharge headlights are standard in the 2.4V and 2.0G variants. The 2.0E and 2.0G variants use a 147bhp 2.0-litre Variable Valve Timing with intelligence engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.
But if you need more performance, the 2.4V sports a more powerful 167bhp 2.4-litre block coupled with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Dual front airbags and an anti-lock braking system are offered in all variants but the 2.4V comes with the additional traction and vehicle stability controls.
The air conditioning system across the variants is dual zone type with automatic climate control and a Plasmacluster built-in ioniser that promises to reduce airborne germs and odours.
On-the-road prices with insurance for the Thailand-assembled Camry are RM144,990 for the 2.0E, RM154,990 for the 2.0G and RM174,990 for the 2.4V.
More room to manoeuvre
When launched three years ago, the Mitsubishi Triton double cab pick-up truck had one of the roomiest interiors but its Achilles’ Heel was its cargo area, which was the smallest if compared with its competitors.
Well, the new face-lifted Triton fixes the problem with an additional 180mm of space.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has also added a few new touches to the styling of the Triton family. The Triton 3.2 and 2.5 variants get a sporty grille with a honeycomb design and a re-profiled bumper with angular cutouts for the fog lamps, while the lower bumper portion is now painted silver.
The two variants’ wheel arches are now body-coloured, and the range topping Triton 3.2 comes with side steps and newly designed 17-inch alloy wheels (one size up from the 16-inch wheels on the Triton 2.5).
The baby of the family, the Triton Lite, meanwhile, features a colour-keyed front bumper with a two-bar grille and new shape headlights for a stylish look.
However, these three variants still bear their distinctive Star Wars “Clone Trooper” helmet appearance.
Revisions to the interiors of the Triton 3.2 and 2.5 see a new two-tier centre console that houses a new RV meter which displays data such as range, average speed and fuel consumption. The meter also has a digital compass, barometer, altimeter and thermometer.
These models also boast better seat fabrics and armrests, which come in handy during longer drives.
The Triton 3.2 is powered by a 3.2-litre turbodiesel engine, the Triton 2.5 by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel block and the Triton Lite by a 2.5-litre single camshaft diesel engine.
The Triton 3.2 and Triton Lite come with a four-speed automatic transmission and a five-speed manual gearbox respectively, while the Triton 2.5 is available in both.
Prices OTR with insurance for the Triton 3.2 is RM101,980; the Triton 2.5 manual, RM89,576; Triton 2.5 automatic, RM94,576; and Triton Lite, RM63,333.
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