TORRANCE, Calif. — When Toyota rolled out its Toyopet Crown in the United States back in 1957, Elvis Presley was filming Jailhouse Rock, John F. Kennedy had just won a Pulitzer Prize for Profiles in Courage and President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed in his second inaugural address that "We do not fear this world of change."
Toyota's first year here was not a great success. The Toyopet Crown was underpowered and couldn't measure up to the long-distance demands of American driving — something that Toyota admits on its historical Web site. But Shotaro Kamiya, president of Toyota Motor Sales in Japan that year, said, "Even if our cars don't quite measure up at the moment, we don't have time to just stand around and watch. We need a bridgehead."There's no doubt that this is a philosophy that has worked for the Japanese auto giant in the U.S. market. To celebrate, Toyota is rolling out the 2007 Camry Hybrid 50th Anniversary Edition beginning in March. It will carry a sticker price of $32,300, including a $620 destination charge.
The special model will feature Blizzard Pearl paint, 16-inch alloy wheels with a graphite finish and 50th Anniversary Edition badging. A power moonroof and heated power mirrors are standard. Other features include a DVD navigation system with a four-disc changer, leather-trimmed bisque-colored interior, heated front seats and carpeted floor mats with the 50th Anniversary Edition logo.
Toyota says it will build only 3,000 units of the special-edition Camry Hybrid.
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