We conducted an interview with Mr. Michihiko Sato (MS), Toyota Camry's Chief Engineer, at Changi Exhibition Centre where the launch of the all new Camry was held. Tackling our questions, this was what he had to say:

SGCM: Mr. Michihiko, thank you so much for allocating time to us for the interview. Now that the next generation Camry has finally seen daylight, how well do you think the sedan will stand out from its competitors such as the Nissan Teana and the Hyundai i45?

MS: We specifically came up with a design that exudes a sense of prestige as well as luxury for our target audience. As a result, we have an advantage in the luxury segment. Moreoever, based on the sales volume of our previous Camry, we are already in the lead. But we had to give the current Camry an edge to move it up a notch to stay ahead of the competition. Hence the exterior, especially on the bonnet, has been tweaked for a more magnificent and dynamic look.

SGCM: Since these are all aethetical factors, what is the mechanical intention behind the new design?

MS: The power flow of the car has been improved for both the 2.5-litre and Hybrid powerplants. Thanks to the 40kg weight lost over its predecessor and other parts of the car that enhances aerodynamism, the new Camry also realises better fuel consumption.

SGCM: With the hype in engine-downsizing, is there a likelihood to switch to forced-induction in the future Camry?

MS: Well, we don't know anything about the future. But one thing we do know is that we'll be investigating the possibilities of improvement as well as our competitors in the market to allow us to stay ahead.

SGCM: With regards to the Camry's engine, why is the 2.0-litre Camry not equipped with a dual VVT-i engine?

MS: Unlike the 2.5-litre Camry, the 2.0-litre Camry you see here today is using the former Camry's engine. As a result, there aren't any additional changes to it. There are different series to Toyota's engine. The 2.0-litre Camry uses the AZ series while the 2.5-litre uses the AR series. Hence, it was a our choice to enhance the 2.5-litre instead of the lower variant. Another reason is also due to the fact that we want to be in line with our marketing strategy which is to focus on the 2.5-litre Camry.

SGCM: Last but not least Mr Michihiko - as for the 2.5-litre Hybrid, why isn't a lithium-ion battery pack used and why is it located behind the boot space and not under the rear seats?

MS: Japan is currently facing issues of producing sufficient lithium-ion batteries to meet the high demands in Japan. As a result nickel hydride battery was considered. From an engineer's point of view, it'll be a better idea for the battery pack to be under the rear seats only if the car is a hatch. This maximises space for the occupants on board. An example will be the recently launched Prius C. But given that the Camry is a sedan, having the battery pack behind in the boot space would make more sense.

Michihiko Sato is the chief engineer responsible for the development of the 7th generation Camry. Born on 26 January 1958, he graduated from the University of Kyoto in 1982. Mr Sato first joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1982, where he was a member of the vehicle overall performance evaluation group.

As the chief engineer of the All New Camry, Mr Michihiko Sato is now part of the Product Planning Group.