Toyota has produced more than 1.6 million Camry sedans in Australia since commencing production of the car in 1987.

Camry has been Australia's best-selling mid-size car for the past 17 years running and is the country's leading automotive export.

Shipments to the Middle East, Toyota Australia's main export market, began in 1996 and have taken off since the early 2000s.

So far, Camry deliveries to overseas customers have topped 850,000 - half of all Camrys produced in Australia.

Today, approximately 75 per cent of Toyota's local production - built at the company's Altona factory in Melbourne - is destined for overseas customers.

Last year, more than 70,000 Altona-built Camry sedans were exported.

Camry is a global car and the backbone of Toyota. Nearly 15 million have been sold in more than 100 countries.

Last year, 60,000 Camrys a month were delivered to customers around the world. Half were sold in the United States and about one-fifth in China.

Remarkably, Australia is the third-biggest country for Camry sales with more than 25,000 delivered to local customers last year.

Toyota Australia's senior executive director of sales and marketing David Buttner said the global reveal of the next-generation Camry, including the unique-to-Australia Camry Atara, was a special moment for Australia.

"It was in Australia that Toyota first tasted success beyond its Japanese domestic market," Mr Buttner said.

"Local breakthroughs include the first LandCruiser imports from the late 1950s, the first production outside Japan from 1963 and the first country to export Camry apart from the parent company itself."

"It is a proud record which has earned Australia a special place in Toyota's history," he said.

Next-generation Camry will be powered by a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces more power while using less fuel.

The new fuel-efficient and more environmentally sustainable engine will be built at Altona from the latter half of 2012.

Approximately $300 million of investment will be injected into the Australian economy to build the new engine line.

Toyota's new engine boosts Camry's power by more than 10 per cent and lifts torque by more than five per cent - including solid gains in the mid range.

At the same time as achieving more power and torque, new Camry uses substantially less fuel - around 10 per cent*.

Atara grades will produce a little more power and torque, thanks to improved twin exhaust manifolds.

The new range is equipped exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission that offers a sequential manual shift mode.

On Atara models, it can be operated with paddle shifts at the driver's fingertips for sporty driving and greater enjoyment.

All new Camry models, including Atara, feature Toyota's latest electric power steering system.

The system regulates assistance based on vehicle speed - light effort for parking and moderate effort at higher speeds.

It helps fuel economy because electricity is consumed only when power assistance is necessary - and it's more friendly to the environment because there's no hydraulic fluid.

Long-praised as a benchmark for quietness in the mid-size segment, new Camry resets the standard with an even higher level of refinement.

New or additional sound-absorbing devices have been placed in areas where noticeable sounds can enter the cabin.

In particular, engineers focused on suppressing noises that are near the frequencies of human speech to provide an environment that is more comfortable for conversation.

A more rigid body structure, revised suspension and new aerodynamic aids all contribute to greater straight-line stability, crisper steering response and overall ride comfort.

The taillights and side-view mirrors incorporate aero-stabilising fins which create air vortexes that stabilise the body and contribute to handling stability.

Under-body aerodynamic elements regulate airflow, also contributing to ride smoothness.

Every exterior panel on Toyota Camry is new.

New Camry's exterior is elegantly simple yet modern, emphasising a wide, low stance.

Crisp, precise character lines, a strongly curved door cross-section and more defined rocker panel mouldings deliver a more expressive appearance.

Headlights have a more dynamic shape, with a pronounced curvature of the main-beam unit merging into the bumper cover.

The taillights wrap tightly into the body sides, with their top sections extending into the bootlid.

Camry Atara, unveiled exclusively in Australia, has its own lower-body design and mesh upper grille section.

Atara features a three-part lower grille section that houses foglamps.

Atara's more prominent rocker panel mouldings cleanly link to integrated front and rear under-body spoilers, emphasising width.

While the new Camry's external dimensions are very similar to the previous generation, it has a more inviting and spacious interior as well as a greater perception of space.

A new dashboard design, modified seat locations, redesigned seats and 'lean' door, pillar and headliner trim all combine to add interior space and improve visibility.

Repositioning the driver's seat and the tilt-telescopic steering wheel provide better visibility and positioning for the driver.

The accelerator pedal and front seats have been moved forward while the rear-seat hip point was moved back.

The result is that the couple distance (the length between the hip points of occupants in the front and rear seats) has been increased by 15mm.

Together with clever sculpting of the new front seatbacks, rear knee room has been improved by 46mm.

Further details of the new Camry interior will be released closer to the car's launch in late November.

Toyota Australia today was a major participant in the global reveal of the all-new seventh-generation Camry.

The simultaneous launch of the new mid-sized vehicle in global markets signifies a strong resolve from Toyota Motor Corporation.

The Australian Camry range will feature a unique model variant named Atara.

Toyota Camry debuts a new design with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride.

Every exterior body panel on Camry is new.

A new 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivers more responsive performance and better fuel economy.

Camry will now be fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission – replacing the current generation's five-speed.

Interior space has been further increased, especially for rear-seat passengers.

Camry and Atara sedans for the Australian market will be built at the company's manufacturing plant in the Melbourne suburb of Altona.

New Camry, including Atara, will arrive in local dealership showrooms from late November.

A new Camry Hybrid, also built in Australia, will be released in the first quarter of 2012.

Toyota Australia's senior executive director of sales and marketing David Buttner said next-generation Camry is a new-era car with more sophistication, greater emotional appeal and enhanced rational reasons for purchase.

"Camry is the smart, safe and worry-free leader of the Toyota brand – a symbol of Toyota's benchmark quality, durability and reliability," he said.

"The next-generation car is intended to do everything better, which is important because our loyal Camry owners have big expectations."

Mr Buttner said the introduction of the Atara badge would add an extra dimension to the Camry brand, appearing on Camry models targeted mainly at private buyers and the user-chooser segment of the fleet market.

"We believe the introduction of Atara reflects the added style and sophistication of the new range."

"Atara signifies that next-generation Camry will lead its segment with overall specification, performance, quality and value that are appreciated by Australian motorists," he said.

Atara has two origins:

• A Hebrew word for "crown" – which is a natural extension of Camry, which also means crown.
• A derivation of the Japanese word "atarashii", which means "new".

All new Camry models will be equipped with vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-skid brakes, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.

Toyota Australia expects a strong five-star ANCAP rating.

Local Toyota engineers have ensured the next-generation Yaris hatch will suit Australian conditions and driver expectations.

The Toyota Technical Centre in Melbourne contributed to the steering calibration, which delivers the type of feedback and directness appreciated in this market.

The local engineers also confirmed the overall chassis package for Australia which provides sharp handling - similar to that preferred by European drivers.

Next-generation Yaris is highly suited to city driving with an urban-friendly, tight turning circle of just 9.4 metres.

The adoption of electric power steering provides added assistance at parking speeds while requiring relatively small steering input on roads that require frequent turning with narrow corners.

Body rigidity has been improved to reduce twisting and torsion as well as excess suspension movements, particularly at the rear.

The result is greater driving enjoyment, better rear-wheel grip, sharper steering response and improved driving stability during turning.

New Yaris will build on the current car's strengths - efficient engines and easy-to-drive character, especially around town - by offering even greater agility.

New Yaris will be launched in Australia in October.

Ken McGregor, a visual artist manager and art consultant to Art Series Hotels, left Alice Springs on August 1 and plans to walk 1500km to Kiwirrkurra in Western Australia to raise funds for kidney dialysis.

He aims to raise more than $100,000 for the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal being run by the Nganampa Walytja Palyanjaku Tjutka Aboriginal Corporation .

Over the month he’ll average 40-50km a day to help fund the operating costs of the mobile dialysis unit and Purple House dialysis clinic.

The mobile dialysis unit vehicle is being built in Adelaide and is designed to handle the remote, corrugated desert roads. It will deliver much-needed treatment to the isolated communities, so kidney disease sufferers can continue to live close to their families.

Ken McGregor said he hopes publicity from his desert walk will highlight the problem of kidney disease. Ken said if he had to, he’d do it on his hands and knees.

Desert communities began the program in 1999–2000, when 50 artists created works which raised $1million at an auction at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

His support crew for the desert walk, including a photographer and videographer, is using a four-wheel-drive Toyota FJ Cruiser

Donations can me made here.

Ken McGregor has also produced a coffee-table book, Portraits of Western Desert Artists, with royalties from sales to be donated to the Desert Walk.