Since the Japanese Health Ministry first recognized Karoshi (literally death from too much work) in 1987, the number of claims has steadily increased. In fact, in the year between March of 2006 and 2007, there were 303 claims of Karoshi made, with 147 of those cases acknowledged as accurate by the government. Those are some sobering statistics, and the auto industry in Japan is certainly not immune to the problem. An unnamed man who was a lead engineer on the Camry hybrid project from Toyota died from overwork in January of 2006, according to a recent ruling by the Health Ministry. The forty-five year old man is said to have worked eighty hours of overtime per month, including nights and weekends. He died from heart disease the day before he was scheduled to leave for the U.S. as part of the team preparing for the Detroit Auto Show.

Toyota, for its part, has acknowledged the ruling and says it will work on improving the monitoring of its employees. This latest case will certainly lend some credence for some regarding the recent allegations of workers rights abuses by Toyota, though it is impossible for us to accurately say whether or not the auto giant is directly responsible for the man's death.

[Source: AP via Yahoo]

It's looking as if Aussie readers hoping to drive greener might soon be able to do so in a locally-produced machine. The first word of Toyota's desire to build the Camry Hybrid in the land Down Under came in October at the Tokyo Motor Show. Without government handouts assistance, however, it wasn't going to happen. Fast forward to the present: all signs point to a deal getting inked by the end of July, with Australian government reps saying that talks with the automaker are progressing "fruitfully." Once the agreement is formalized, look for the Camry Hybrid to go into production at the Altona plant where the Australian-market Camry and Aurion sedans are currently built.

[Source: The Age]

Toyota's Camry Hybrid is selling like crazy these days. Last year, Toyota managed to sell 54,477 Camry Hybrids, an impressive figure no doubt, and sales are showing no signs of slowing down. For example, in the month of March, Toyota set a new record for the hybrid version of the Camry by selling 6,930. For the year, it is on track to sell over 60,000 of its midsize hybrid sedan, a 10 percent increase over the previous year. In fact, the Camry Hybrid, which is EPA rated at 33 miles per gallon city and 34 miles per gallon highway, is easily outselling the 268 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 powered model, which is rated at 19 city and 28 highway. Historically, American buyers have shown a propensity to choose the largest engine available.

When sales of the Prius and the Camry Hybrid are combined, Toyota easily remains the world's leader in hybrid vehicle sales and appears a lock to remain that way, at least for the next few years.

[Source: Auto Observer]

Toyota is widely known as the leader in hybrid sales. The Prius is obviously the flag-bearer of the line-up, but don't forget about the Camry Hybrid. That car won the award as "Green Car of the Year" last year from the L.A. Auto Show, and also won the award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and it has been selling very well in Canada as well.

In fact, according to Tony Wearing, Managing Director of Toyota Canada Inc., "We are thrilled that Canadians have embraced the Camry Hybrid. The Camry Hybrid has accounted for almost 20 percent of all Canadian Camry line sales in the first seven months of this year." No actual sales figures were presented, but 20 percent of a car that sells as well as the Camry must be pretty good. Considering the harsh weather that drivers in Canada sometimes face, the fact that the hybrid does well there bodes well for the durability of the hybrid drivetrain. Good for our friends from Canada, eh?

Related:

• Camry Hybrid named 2007 Canadian Car of the Year
• Toyota Camry Hybrid is Green Car of the Year
• Hybrid Lexus RX400 outsells standard version 4-to-1

[Source: Canadian Driver]

Toyota has cut the price of the Camry Hybrid by $1,000 for the 2008 model year. The new price starts at $25,860 but to achieve that new price point they had to cut some previously standard equipment. The previously standard aluminum wheels have been replaced by steel units and the JBL stereo and leather trim on the steering wheel and shifter are no longer included out of the box. Those who don't want to pay extra will now be saddled with plastic grips and a single disc CD player.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd.]

It's the 2007 Canadian Car of the Year. It might soon be built in Oz. And it could be yours. What are we talking about: the 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid.
Lamps Plus has a year-long contest (OK, OK, technically it started in February and ends at the end of December 2007) to get people interested in Lamps Plus. The grand prize is a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid vehicle. You don't need to buy anything to enter, but the rules say the winner "must be a licensed driver and will be required to provide proof of insurance at time of delivery. Winner is responsible for title, license, registration, dealer preparation costs, auto insurance and other fees associated with prize. Winner must take delivery of prize from the automobile dealership designated by Sponsors." The winner to be announced next January. You can enter your name for the drawing here, and I hope you're patient.

[Source: Lamps Plus]

I have been having an ongoing email conversation with a man who lives in California about the state of the green automotive choices for someone who fits into the middle-class kind of vehicle, but who wants a sense of style in their car and some driving pleasure. Past vehicles owned by this potential buyer include a hand-me-down Volvo 850 and a Mazda Miata. He is in the market for a new car, and as a reader of AutoblogGreen, would like something environmentally friendly, and possibly a bit "up-market" in appearance. He would also prefer a hatchback for practicality. His claim is that there are no stylish, mid-priced vehicles that fit his needs on American roads today. Is he right? The only logical thing to do is to look at each option, weigh the pros and cons of each and make the best decision possible. Maybe our readership can help pick out a non-economy car that offers style, driving pleasure and is reasonably green.

Please, continue after the break, and help out a fellow reader make a wise decision.

If you want a 2007 Camry Hybrid 50th Anniversary Edition, it will be yours - oh, yes, it will - for $31,680. This limited edition hybrid is meant to celebrate Toyota's 50 years of business in the United States. Only 3,000 of these special editions will be made at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky. The Camry recently won Motor Trend's Car of the Year and the hybrid version won Green Car of the Year from Green Car Journal (see related links below).

The 50th Anniversary Edition Camry Hybrid is unlike any other Camrys, with "stunning" Blizzard Pearl paint, unique 16-inch alloy wheels with a graphite finish, and exterior badging that reads "50th Anniversary Edition." A moonroof, voice-activated DVD navigation system with a four-disc changer, leather-trimmed bisque-colored interior, heated front seats, and a carpeted cargo mat grace the interior, along with 50th-Anniversary-Edition-only features like brushed stainless dash appliqué, illuminated front door sills, and carpeted floor mats with the "50th Anniversary Edition" logo.

These cars will be rolling to dealers next month. Toyota's full press release is after the jump, and don't forget to check out our high-res image gallery.



Related:

• Toyota Camry Hybrid is Green Car of the Year
• Redesigned Toyota Camry, including hybrid model, is Motor Trend's Car of the Year
• Toyota looking to build hybrid Camry in Australia

[Source: Toyota Motor Sales]

Toyota has been building Camrys for the US market in Georgetown, Kentucky for 20 years now and the plant has produced about 6.7 million vehicles. Since the first Camrys rolled off the line, Toyota has added production of the Avalon and Solara and over the years has also built other Camry derivatives such as the Sienna, and Lexus ES. The Kentucky plant is the primary source of US-market Camrys and the exclusive world-wide source of the Solara and Avalon. This week the Georgetown plant began producing the hybrid variant of the Camry as well becoming the second US assembly plant to produce hybrid vehicles after the Ford Kansas City plant that produces the Escape Hybrid. Toyota currently plans to build about 48,000 hybrid Camrys per year in Kentucky. This marks Toyota's first hybrid production outside of Japan.

The Camry Hybrid combines a 147hp 2.4L Atkinson cycle four cylinder with a 141hp electric motor which working together produce up to 187 combined horsepower. The drive-train also includes a continuously variable transmission. The Camry uses a nickel metal hybrid battery that can provide the electric motor with 40hp. Since the electric motor obviously capable of much more than is currently being used, it's probably just a matter of time before some enterprising after-market hackers substitute a different battery and create a plug-in version that can run more often on just electric power. The hybrid Camry is rated at 40/38 city/hwy mpg compared to 24/33 for the regular 4 cylinder model. The full press release is after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota announced on Friday that the new price of its 2007 Camry Hybrid and it's a smooth $26,200. This is a $300 increase over the Camry Hybrid's current price and will affect vehicles produced in the U.S. on or after November 1 or that arrived here on or after on October 30. No reason was given for the price increase, but combine this will the reduction of federal tax breaks for the Camry Hybrid (which kicks in today) and procrastinators are probably mulling over a Honda Insight right about now. Nahh.

Related:

• Where federal rebates for Toyota and Lexus hybrids stand as of Oct. 1

[Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.]

We've recently pointed to two reviews of the new Toyota Camry Hybrid, one fairly positive and the other fairly negative. Now, USA Today's test driver James Healey comes down a little bit on both side of the equation. He likes the Camry's rated fuel economy of 39-mpg (even though he only got 32.7 while testing the car and was not driving conservatively) and the feel of the roomy interior. He doesn't like extra cost or noise of the electric motor. Also, the shudder of the gasoline engine "seemed more pronounced than you get starting the engine in a conventional gasoline car", he wrote. So, the consensus seems to be that the Camry a good choice for people who need a room sedan with decent gas mileage, but we've got a ways to go until we get the holy grail of hybrid vehicles.

[Source: USA Today via EV World]

We linked to AutoblogGreen reader Jason Coyne's blog last week when he posted a review of the Toyota Camry Hybrid he recently purchased. He then wrote in to say he appreciated the extra attention his review got from that link (among others) and that someone sent him feedback on the review questioning just how green hybrids are. So, in good blogger fashion, he took a whack at the topic with a post titled "Are Hybrids Really Green - An Economic analysis of the real cost and benefits of owning a hybrid." Coyne breaks the costs down to two aspects: personal cost and cost to society, and figures that both come out ahead because he bought a hybrid. He wins because he saves an estimated $9,000 over the life of the car and society wins because hybrids emit fewer emissions and investing in a hybrid is voting with his dollars to encourage the auto manufacturers to make even cleaner cars tomorrow.

[Source: Geeks With Blogs]

AutoblogGreen reader Jason Coyne suggested we take a look at his review of the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which he just picked up from the dealer last weekend. A lot of his review focuses on aspects of the Camry unrelated to the hybrid guts – like the keyless fob and the DVD navigation system – but he does include a section on the power train. His initial impression is that the hybrid system works well, even for an aggressive driver like himself, but he does feel a little lack of power above 40 mph. The engine's somewhat noisy then, and he feels the push. He has been getting about 38 miles per gallon, which matches the EPA's estimate, and thinks that less aggressive driver will get more. 

Coyne's review is well written and detailed (and he uses the word scuttlebutt, which I like). Hop on over if you're interested in learning more about the Camry Hybrid or just want to see the word scuttlebutt in context.

[Source: Geeks With Blogs, Jason Coyne]

With the Toyota Camry Hybrid's lineage (Toyota hybrid technology, Camry styling), it seems like it could be an ideal car for a lot of people. But it's not for one reviewer over at epinions. Mkaresh has written over 400 reviews for epinions (of cars and tires and related items) and so knows his stuff. He certainly knows he doesn't like the Camry hybrid. He found it lacking compared to the Lexus ES 350 he drove the same day, and lacking overall in punch and looks. The shift from the electric to gasoline systems was too noticeable for him, and the handling was weak. Reliability comparisons from multiple Camry Hybrid drivers will be collected on Mkaresh's TrueDelta site, but for now the word is look elsewhere for an enjoyable hybrid experience.

[Source: Epinions.com]

There are a lot of ways to get around in an automobile without a standard gasoline engine. While some people my enjoy the unique look of most hybrids or the distinct smell of biodiesel, anyone who wants to drive smarter without drawing any attention to themselves will get the chance next month when Toyota begins selling their hybrid Camry.
Canada’s The Gazette (via Mixedpower.com) points out the high stakes of this model, saying that analysts could downgrade the entire hybrid market if sales are slow. But, since the Camry is the top-selling sedan in North America and this new version doesn’t look all that different than previous models AND with ever-climbing gas prices, it will not be surprising if all those analysts will have to have some other dire predictions to make. Last year, Toyota sold about 450,000 Camrys in North America, compared to about 550,000 hybrids sold worldwide.