Toyota Camry Solara

Toyota Camry Solara
Overview
Manufacturer	Toyota Motor Corporation
Also called	Toyota Solara
Production	1998–2008
Model years	1999–2008
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door coupe
Layout	FF layout
Related	Lexus ES Lexus RX Toyota Avalon Toyota Camry

First generation and Mark V
Overview
Production	June 1998–June 2003
Model years	1999–2003
Assembly	Canada: Cambridge, Ontario (TMMC)
Designer	Warren J. Crain (1995)
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 L 5S-FE I4 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4 3.0 L 1MZ-FE V6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	105.1 in (2,670 mm)
Length	1999–2001: 190 in (4,826 mm) 2002–03: 191.5 in (4,864 mm)
Width	71.1 in (1,806 mm)
Height	1999–2001: 55.1 in (1,400 mm) 2002–03 Coupe: 54.3 in (1,379 mm) 2002–03 Convertible: 55.5 in (1,410 mm)

Second generation
Overview
Production	July 2003 – mid 2009
Model years	2004–2008
Assembly	United States: Georgetown, Kentucky (TMMK)
Designer	Noboyuki Kato (2001)
Body and chassis
Body style	Coupe Convertible
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Toyota K platform
Powertrain
Engine	2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4 3.3 L 3MZ-FE V6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	107.1 in (2,720 mm)
Length	192.5 in (4,890 mm)
Width	71.5 in (1,816 mm)
Height	Coupe: 56.1 in (1,425 mm) Convertible: 56.5 in (1,435 mm)

The Toyota Camry Solara, also more commonly known as the Toyota Solara, is a mid-size coupe/convertible designed and engineered by Toyota. Created to appeal to a demographic of more sport-minded drivers than those who prefer the Toyota Camry sedan, the Camry Solara aspires to blend "sporty" looks and style with spacious practicality. The front-wheel drive Camry Solara is supposed to have a more sporty image than the Camry sedan. However, all models of the Camry Solara only feature the "Solara" portion of the name on exterior emblems, and the "Camry" portion of the name is rarely used when referring to the car in general.

Prior to the production of the Camry Solara, the 2-door version of the Toyota Camry was simply known as the Camry Coupe. It was added to the third generation Camry lineup in 1993 for model year 1994 to compete with the Honda Accord and other cars in its class. However, due to it never being nearly as popular as the 4-door sedan of the Camry, the Camry Coupe was dropped in 1996 when the sedan was redesigned for model year 1997. A distant successor went into development in the mid-1990s, resulting a winning design entry in 1995 from Warren J. Crain of Calty Design and Research. After design approval, production development ran from 1995 to the first half of 1998. Patents were filed at the Japan Patent Office on January 18, 1996 under 1020408 and November 14, 1996 at the United States Patent Office USPTO under D407350.

In 1998, reviving the goal to compete with other similar coupes, Toyota launched the Camry Solara. Unlike its competitors, where the sedan and coupés are updated at the same time, the Solara's development lags behind of that of the Camry sedan by a couple years. Instead of mirroring the now-fourth generation Camry's appearance, the Solara had its own unique design with a swooped roofline, heavily creased sides, and unique front and rear fascia. The second generation, based on the 2002 Camry sedan, debuted in 2003 for model year 2004.

When the Camry sedan entered its seventh generation, there were no plans to update the Camry Solara to that platform. The Solara sold below expectations, as it inherited the unexciting handling from its Camry parent. Without a major update in the works, that left the Solara underpowered compared to the new iteration of the sedan. The Solara coupe was discontinued after the 2008 model year, though it was rumored that the coupe would be revived in 2010 albeit on a different platform. The Solara convertible, which accounts for the majority of sales, continued to be produced. Then, in June 2009, Toyota announced that the convertible would be discontinued.

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