Ninth-Gen Toyota Camry Launched In Singapore As Hybrid-Only Model

The new ninth-gen Toyota Camry made its ASEAN debut this week as it gets launched in Singapore this week, and it arrives in the island republic as a hybrid-only offering.

The new ninth-generation Toyota Camry has made its ASEAN region debut this week as it gets launched just across the causeway in Singapore. Notably, the Camry for said market arrives solely as a Toyota HEV-badged hybrid-only offering.

Bearing a new XV80 chassis code, this is effectively a heavily revised iteration of the existing XV70-gen Camry that’s still on sale locally through UMW Toyota Motor. A total of seven exterior paintjob options, along with three interior colourway choices, are available to Singaporean buyers.

For Singapore, the Toyota offers this new Camry in Elegance Hybrid guise, and it retails at SG$246,888 – approx. RM818,138. Said figure is rather hefty, but does include the neighbouring island republic’s notoriously pricey COE – Certificate Of Entitlement.

The new ninth-gen Toyota Camry is a heavily reworked iteration of the current-gen Camry that's still marketed and sold locally by UMWT, albeit sans a HEV-badged hybrid variant as what neighbouring Thailand gets.

Like the higher-specced North American model, the SG-spec new Camry features a 2.5-litre 4-cyl naturally aspirated petrol mill under the hood, and it’s augmented by an e-motor and compact lithium-ion battery pack. Altogether, it boasts a total system output of 232 HP.

No all-wheel-drive (AWD) option here, so drive goes to the front wheels (FWD) via CVT automatic box. Typical of Toyota, it remains coy on performance data, instead favouring to highlight this Camry’s frugal ability to sip as low as 5.5 litres/100 KM of fuel and emit as low as 115 g/KM of CO2.

The latter figures qualifies the new Camry under Singapore’s current Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES), specifically under its A2 classification.

Visually, the new ninth-gen Camry launched in Singapore mirrors its North American counterpart closely.

In terms of appearance, the new Camry for Singapore mirrors its North American counterpart. It rocks full-LED lighting front and aft, the former matched with striking new DRL pattern, as well as snazzy 18-inch wheels, amongst other things.

On board, key equipment and amenities include all-leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, paddle-shifters, powered front seats, heads-up display (HUD), as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.

Passengers, on the other hand, get treated with powered and reclinable rear seats, rear sunshade, dedicated touch control panel integrated in the rear armrest, massive 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 9-speaker JLB audio suite.

Just like its predecessor, the latest-gen Camry now available in Singapore is loaded to the brim with plenty of luxuries, convenient amenities, tech, as well as safety features.

As for safety, the new Camry sold in Singapore sees its cabin laced with 8 airbags at its base, followed by a sleuth of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features that include adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, blind spot monitor, 360-degree camera, and more.

The fact the new Camry is sold solely as a hybrid (HEV) in Singapore is perhaps indication on how it will be marketed elsewhere in ASEAN. Singapore aside, Toyota looks set to introduce the new Camry in Thailand next given recently reported sightings of camouflaged units in said Kingdom.

The new ninth-gen Camry’s entry into Malaysia remains to be seen still, as is the possibility of being sold solely as hybrid-only like Singapore, combustion (ICE)-only as seen in the Middle East, or both side-by-side like the latest Innova Zenix MPV and Corolla Cross crossover SUV.