Toyota Camry Solara

Toyota Camry Solara
Production period:	1998-2009
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Coupé , convertible
Previous model:	Toyota Camry Coupe

The Toyota Camry Solara , also known as the Toyota Solara , was an upper mid-range vehicle offered as a coupé or convertible and manufactured by Toyota between the summer of 1998 and mid-2009.

The Camry Solara was intended for customers who wanted it sportier than those who bought the Camry sedan , and combined a sporty look with practical load volume. All models are only labeled as "Solara", while the name "Camry" is rarely used in connection with this car.

Before the appearance of the Camry Solara, the two-door version of the Camry was only available as a "Camry Coupé". It was added to the model range in the spring of 1994 to take over from competitors such as B. to be able to stand up to the Honda Accord . After the Camry Coupé was not as successful as the sedan, production was stopped in mid-1997.

In the fall of 1998, Toyota released the Camry Solara to once again compete with other coupes on the market. Unlike the sedan and coupé versions of the Honda Accord, which were always revised at the same time, the development of the Solara always lagged behind that of the Camry sedan by a few years. Instead of corresponding to the fourth generation sedan , the Solara showed its own styling with a curved roof line, wide recessed sides and its own front and rear design. The second generation, based on the fifth generation sedan , didn't come out until the summer of 2004.

When the sixth generation of the Camry sedan was presented towards the end of 2006 , there were no further plans for a revision of the Camry Solara, as it was selling less than expected.

Camry Coupe (1994-1997)

See Toyota Camry (XV20, 1996-2001)

Camry Solara (1998-2003)

1st generation
Image does not exist Toyota Camry Solara Coupe (1998-2001)
Production period:	1998-2003
Body versions :	Coupé , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 2.2-3.0 liters (101-149 kW)
Length:	4826-4864 mm
Width:	1806 mm
Height:	1379-1410 mm
Wheelbase :	2670 mm
Empty weight :

The first generation of the Camry Solara - also known as the Toyota Mark V - was presented in the fall of 1998 and replaced the Camry coupe. It was based on the earlier generation of the Camry and was built at Toyota Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario . This model had a 2.2-l-R4-motor type 5S-FE, 135 hp (101 kW) and a torque of 199 Nm at 4400 min ^-1 or a 3.0-liter V-6 engine, type 1MZ-FE, 200 hp (149 kW) at 5200 min ^-1 made and a torque of 290 Nm at 4400 min ^-1 reached. It accelerated from 0-100 km / h in 7.1 seconds. Both engines correspond to the fourth generation of the Camry, but have been slightly revised so that they offered around 2 hp and 6 hp more power.

The Toyota Camry Solara was also the first vehicle in the Toyota model range to be equipped with a premium stereo system with CD player and cassette deck in accordance with the 1997 partnership between Toyota and JBL Professional . The SE models had 15-inch steel rims with axle caps as standard. 15-inch alloy wheels were also available on request. The sports package also included a newly tuned wheel suspension, a steering wheel covered with perforated leather, eight-way adjustable seats covered with perforated leather, 16-inch aluminum rims, newly tuned steering, slightly modified chrome equipment and a rear spoiler.

In 2000, the convertible in SE and SLE equipment was added, and all JBL stereo systems were supplied with a 6-disc CD changer and cassette deck.

Facelift

The Camry Solara was redesigned in late 2001, with the grille, taillights, and headlights changed. The latter now had four instead of two light bulbs. There was a chrome logo on the steering wheel (instead of the previous embossing) and smaller fog lights. A remote control was now available for the trunk, and the wooden surfaces showed Mustard Wood instead of Oxford Burlwood . There were also new special equipment and special equipment packages, such as heated leather seats or a styling package that included a three-spoke steering wheel, a leather gear lever knob, emblems in Black Pearl and other axle caps.

The 2.2 l in-line four-cylinder engine was replaced by one with 2.4 l displacement (type 2AZ-FE), which was also offered for the revised Camry sedan. This new machine was chosen because, with the same fuel consumption as its predecessor, it offered more power thanks to the use of variable valve control (VVTi), a technology that increases both performance and emissions. The new engine values were: 157 hp (117 kW) at 5,600 min ^-1 and a torque of 220 Nm at 4,000 rpm ^-1  - 22 hp (16 kW) more than its predecessor.

Camry Solara (2004-2009)

2nd generation
Image does not exist Toyota Camry Solara Cabriolet (2004-2006)
Production period:	2004-2009
Body versions :	Coupé , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 2.4–3.3 liters (117–168 kW)
Length:	4890 mm
Width:	1816 mm
Height:	1425-1435 mm
Wheelbase :	2720 ​​mm
Empty weight :

The second generation of the Camry Solara had been completely redesigned compared to the first. It was introduced in the summer of 2004 and had a rounder body. An XM radio and / or a GPS navigation system were available as options.

The second generation cars, based on the sixth generation sedan , were heavier than the 1.5 generation. The four-cylinder engine was taken from the previous and there was a new, larger 3.3-liter V6 engine, the 225 hp (168 kW) at 5,600 min ^-1 , a torque of 325 Nm at 3600 min ^-1 possessed and 6 , Accelerated from 0–100 km / h for 9 seconds. Those who ordered a four-cylinder model could choose between a manual five-speed gearbox and a four-speed automatic, while the six-cylinder model was always equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission. Both engines had Toyota's VVTi variable valve timing.

Production of the Solara was relocated to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) for the second generation .

At the beginning of 2006, the four-stage automatic for the four-cylinder model was discontinued in favor of the five-stage MMT automatic.

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  Rear view

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  Toyota Camry Solara Coupe
  (2004-2006)

Facelift

From June 2006 the revised Solara was sold.

The name “Solara” on the rear of the car was now in straight capital letters instead of the previous italic name. On the Solara SE there were LED taillights, standard spoilers on all equipment lines and the taillights had moved to the rear bumper.

Toyota Camry Solara Coupe (2006-2008)

There was also a model called SE Sport , which differed from the other lines with a different spoiler, noticeable changes to the front of the vehicle (such as smaller fog lights), new nameplates and slightly modified headlights and grille. The changes in the interior included instruments from Optitron , blue instrument lighting , a new steering wheel that looked similar to the recently revised steering wheel of the Camry SE, a different gear shift lever, a CD player for MP3 and WMA and the possibility of connecting external audio devices such as iPod , Zen , cassette , Bluetooth compatibility and voice-controlled navigation on the V6 SLE model. With these improvements and additional equipment, the Solara was one of the most affordable cars.

The two engines of the predecessor were installed unchanged. According to the new SAE guidelines for power measurement, the four-cylinder model now had 155 hp (116 kW) power and 214 Nm torque, the V6 model was specified with 210 hp (157 kW) power and 298 Nm torque. However, the Solara had a weaker engine than the comparable Camry sedan.

At the end of 2008 the production of the Solara Coupé was stopped. The cabriolet, which achieved larger numbers than the coupé, was initially to be continued to be built. In June 2009, however, Toyota announced that production of the convertible would also be discontinued.

Use of the model name

The name Solara was previously for a car of the PSA group , the Talbot Solara , a notchback model of the hatchback Simca 1307 , that of Chrysler Europe before the takeover by Peugeot , used was developed 1978th Therefore, the rights to use this name on a car remained with the PSA group. From time to time special models with names from the past appear. Mitsubishi Australia used this name for the medium trim level of the Magna model .

Web links

Commons : Toyota Camry Solara  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Camry Solara on Toyota Official US Website
• SolaraGuy.com, a forum for the Camry Solara (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} 2004 Camry and Solara Review and Specs , JB Car Pages (English)
2. ↑ 2008 Toyota Solara Full Review Consumer Guide (English) ( Memento of the original from April 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
3. ↑ 2002 Toyota Camry Solara Review and Specs , JB Car Pages (English)
4. ↑ 2008 Toyota Camry Solara Review US News (English)  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
5. ↑ 2006 Toyota Camry and Solara Review and Specs , JB Car Pages (English) ( Memento of the original from October 13, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
6. ↑ Neff, John: Toyota Camry Solara Convertible Saved from Gallows Pole , Autoblog.com, August 11, 2008 (English)
7. ↑ Autonews article (English)  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
8. ↑ Motortrend article (English)