The first Australian built Toyota Camry Hybrid has been purchased by an owner of a Prius that has done 240,000km.
The Prius will be kept as the families second car.
Colin and Eunice Elvey came to Australia from New Zeland and loved their car so much they bought it with them.
“It’s the best car I’ve ever owned – I couldn’t leave it behind,” Colin said. ??”I race go-karts and I drive the Prius like a go-kart.” ??Eunice loves the car so much Colin was left with a small car for his daily commute to work.
“I was just about to buy a latest-model Prius when I heard about Hybrid Camry,” Colin said. ??”I’ve always had a policy of buying locally. In New Zealand I always bought locally, and because later this year I qualify for Australian citizenship, I’ve now decided to buy Australian. “??”I got on the waiting list last July to make sure I got one of the first cars.”
Most of the kilometres on the Prius were done touring New Zealand. With their next trip planned for the Easter holidays, the family are taking the new Camry from Melbourne to Byron Bay and Colin has high expectations.
“I drive the old Prius really hard and still get 5.3litres/100km,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we get from the Hybrid Camry.”
“The Camry will be the first new car we’ve ever bought and we intend keeping it a long time,” he said. “Round Australia has to be the ultimate goal.”
Colin and Eunice took delivery of their Hybrid Camry on February 15th, the first day it was on sale.
With 140kW of power produced by the combined 2.4 litre petrol engine and the electric motor, the Camry uses 6.0 litres per 100kms. This is almost 32 per cent more fuel efficient than the petrol engine Camry.
The Hybrid Camry is the first built in Australia car that combines electric power steering, electronic brake control, regenerative braking and electric air conditioning.
