Toyota Scepter

This article is about the Toyota Scepter and Toyota Camry version sold outside of Japan. For all other Camry models, see Toyota Camry.

The Toyota Scepter is a mid-size car produced by Toyota between 1991 and 1997. Outside of Japan, the Scepter is known as the third generation Toyota Camry.

Class re-classification

In 1990, Toyota replaced the compact V20 Camry will an all-new V30 series exclusive to Japan. While marginally larger than the V20, the V30 had to comply with Japanese tax legislation. To meet the "number five" tax bracket, the Camry had to adhere to the 1,700millimetre (66.9in) width and 4,700millimetre (185.0in) length limit. Particularly in the United States, the narrower model would not generate enough sales. As a result, a "wide body" Scepter model was designed. This came to be known as the Camry XV10 in all markets outside of Japan. The smaller Camry varied in other area besides the size. Although the underpinnings, doors and fenders, and overall basic design cues were common between the two cars, the Camry sported harder, more angular front- and rear-end treatment, with the Scepter presenting a more curvaceous lines. This rounded silhouette was shared by many other Toyota's of similar vintage: the Corolla and Celica, along with the Avalon from the mid-1990s to name a few. This was a departure from the second generation Camry models which, although they had many more rounded panels than the first generation, were nevertheless generally slab-sided in shape.

The Scepter, in its international Camry form is regarded as the first Camry to break into the large car market, or what Toyota billed at the time as "world-sized". At the same time, the once subcompact Corolla was moved to the compact class, and the Camry moved to the mid-size class. This Scepter model marked the transition away from a smaller vehicle into a larger, more luxurious family car.

The Japanese market received a new V40 series Camry in 1994, but the Scepter lived on until 1996—skipping a generation before being replaced by the XV20 Camry globally. This new model ceased the era of separate Camrys—a global Camry—and a smaller Japanese domestic market version. In Japan, the smaller Vista took up the former V40 Camry role from 1998.