TOYOTA really is the Big Australian these days, devising two large family cars for the Lucky Country – the four-cylinder-only Camry and upcoming V6 Aurion. The former will probably prove to be the more relevant, as big-car buyers continue their relentless downsizing in search of better fuel consumption. Now, the most interesting model so far in the Camry line-up is the Sportivo, which doesn’t actually boast any more power. But it is a surprisingly dynamic vehicle to drive, and has the goods to finally get people to look at Toyota’s four-door sedan stalwart in a more exciting light.
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Toyota 380N Camry Sportivo 2.4
Released: September 2004
Ended: June 2006
Family Tree: CamryBuilt off the old front-wheel drive Toyota Modular Platform that also underpinned the previous two Camry editions, as well as the failed Avalon ‘large car’, the 380N was at least the most dynamic of the lot, especially in the racier Sportivo guise. However, there was nothing particularly inspiring about the 112kW/218Nm 2.4-litre twin-cam VVT-i four-cylinder engine (that carries over with light revisions to today’s 420L Camry), paired to either a five-speed manual or slow-witted four-speed automatic gearbox. Lucky it was spacious and offered a quiet ride.
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