2006 Toyota Camry Solara

History

The 1999 model year brought the introduction of the all-new Camry Solara sport coupe. It became Toyota's newest entry in the sport specialty segment.

Solara was aimed at consumers entering their peak earning years, who are nostalgic for the sports cars of their youth, but need more room and comfort than a sports car can provide.

Camry Solara became the first Toyota Division vehicle to take full advantage of Toyota's North American engineering, styling and manufacturing facilities. It was jointly engineered by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan and the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was styled at Toyota's CALTY Design Center in Newport Beach, Calif. and built exclusively at Toyota's award-winning production facility in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

For 2000, the Solara was powered by either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, equipped with either five-speed manual or four-speed electronically controlled transmissions. Solara rode on four-wheel independent MacPherson strut suspension including front and rear stabilizer bars with anti-vibration sub-frames and gas-filled shocks. Solara offered an Úpgrade Package that included 16-inch alloy wheels and tires, a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, a tighter, more controlled level of suspension tune, and a rear spoiler. The package was offered on the SE model with the V6 engine.

On the inside, all Solaras were equipped with an assortment of high-level feature content such as power windows, doors and locks, cruise control, fog lamps and dual-illuminated vanity mirrors. On the outside, Solara was available in ten exterior colors and all colors were complimented by coordinating interiors in either Ivory or Charcoal. Standard safety features included a driver- and front-passenger airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), driver- and front-passenger seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts in all seating positions and four-wheel Anti-Lock brakes.
For 2000, the Camry Solara added a convertible to its lineup.

The 2001 Camry Solara carried over with no new changes. The Solara Convertible was unchanged as well, with the exception of one new exterior color, Indigo Ink.

For 2002 the Camry Solara received slight cosmetic changes. It received more aggressive front bumpers and headlight assemblies. The rear had new attractive taillights. The Solara received an all-new 2.4-liter four-cylinder that generated 157 horsepower.

The 2003 Camry Solara coupe and convertible were both unchanged.

The 2004 Camry Solara was completely redesigned and was introduced in August, 2003. Camry Solara production was shifted from Cambridge, Ontario Canada to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) in Georgetown.

The 2004 model was distinguished by a sleek, new exterior design, a roomier, more luxurious interior, enhanced safety technology and a higher level of sporty performance.



The new SE Sport grade combined an exclusive body styling kit with suspension and interior enhancements to give this model a sharply defined performance image and feel.

As before, Solara offered both four-cylinder and V6 engines. However, the 2004 model gained a significant performance boost thanks to a new 3.3-liter VVT-i V6 engine available in all models. The all-aluminum V6 produced 225 horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 240 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 RPM, compared to 198 horsepower and 212 lb.-ft. of torque from the previous 3.0-liter V6. The V6 is teamed exclusively to a new five-speed sequential automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com)

A convertible model with power top arrived in the spring of 2004 as a 2005 model. The Solara Convertible was available in SE and SLE grades, both powered by a 225-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine that is optional for coupe models. To ensure passenger comfort, the convertible top featured a headliner and a glass rear window. An available windscreen could be installed when the top is down to further suppress wind turbulence. The all-window control system allowed the driver to open and close all door- and quarter-windows by pressing one button on the instrument panel.

For the 2006 model year a five-speed sequential automatic ECT-i became standard on all four-cylinder models while driver-seat power lumbar support became standard on SE and SE Sport grades.

Source - Toyota