.
Toyota Camry Solara
The Toyota Camry Solara is a mid-size coupe/convertible produced by Toyota in two generations so far. It is based on the Toyota Camry and shares both the Camry's 2.4 L I4 and 3.3 L V6 engines. It is built exclusively for the North American market and sold only in the United States and Canada. The second generation Camry Solara is built in Toyota's factory in Kentucky. In Canada, it is known simply as the Toyota Solara. First generation Camry Solara
First generation (1999-2003)
The first generation went on sale in the fall of 1998 as a 1999 model to replace the Camry Coupe, and it was based on the mechanical platform of the previous generation Toyota Camry. It was built in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. The convertible arrived in 2000. The Solara was restyled in 2002, receiving minor changes to the front end and rear taillights. Mechanically, the 2.2 L four-cylinder engine was replaced with the 2.4 L engine offered on the redesigned 2002 Camry. The 2.4 L (2AZ-FE) engine offered similar gas mileage numbers as the 2.2 L engine (5S-FE), but with better power.
The 6-cylinder version of the Solara can go from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds while the 4-cylinder version can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 10 seconds.
Second generation (2004-present)
The second and current generation Camry Solara was introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model, and a convertible went on sale the next year. It offers a Lexus-like exterior appearance and is available with two gasoline-powered engines. The smaller one is the carryover 2.4 L 16-valve 4-cylinder rated at 157 hp, and a larger one is a new 3.3 L 24-valve V6 rated at 225 hp. The four-cylinder engine could be had with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, while the V6 was matched to a five-speed automatic with E-shift. Both engines feature Toyota's VVT-i technology. Unlike the first generation Solara, the SLE on the new model could be had with either the four-cylinder or V6 engine. The Solara with the 3.3 L engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in under seven seconds and run down the quarter mile in the low 15s. The 4-cylinder version of the second generation Solara can go from 0 to 60 mph in about nine seconds.
In 2006, the four-speed automatic was dropped on the Solara in favor of the five-speed E-shift automatic transmission.
.JPG){kind=link}