Toyota Solara Lives to See Another Year

Word came today that Toyota has decided to spare the Camry Solara from the guillotine — at least for one more model year. It had been widely speculated that after the Camry sedan was redesigned for 2007, the Solara would be canceled.

The Solara is, however, Toyota’s only convertible, so the automaker has made a rational decision to stay in the segment. The Solara was last redesigned for 2004, and it’s based on a nearly 7-year-old platform. Without a major redesign coming soon, Toyota’s convertible is at risk of becoming uncompetitive — even against the poorly crafted Chrysler Sebring and Pontiac G6.

There’s no information on the 2009 Solara’s on-sale date, specifications or pricing, but we’ll keep you informed as more information arrives.

This Just In: Solara Lives! (Official Toyota Blog)

Comments

Isn't the Solara Toyota's only coupe, also (not including the Scion brand)?

The Solara really doesn't have any stiff competition in the convertible segment, but as a coupe it's lacking.

Is the G6 and Sebring convertible really that bad? You guys can't seem to say something bad about an old Toyota without throwing in a shot against the domestics...

I had a solara 05 and i traded it in on the g6 it cheaper and faster plus it a hard top

Cody, even though the Solara is old it's still surprisingly very competitive against the domestic convertibles.

http://www.cars.com/go/compare/trimCompare.jsp?acodes=USB80TOC142C0,USB80POC123A0,USB80CDC063B0

That's why I said it doesn't have any stiff competition in the convertible segment. After all these years it's still a competent package.

But the coupe variant isn't up to par with the Accord Coupe and Altima Coupe.

why was it necessary to say the G6 is poorly crafted? Its no worse than the Solara on the inside and looks much better on the outside. It also handles better and has a hardtop while the Solara has a soft top. Its also on a newer, stiffer chassis. The Solara is an also ran and that's why Toyota doesnt want to spend big money to redesign that model. The Sebring also has a hardtop and offers more features than the Solara.

That's very nice to hear; the Solara seems like it has a potential for Toyota, being it's only two-door other then the Scion tC.

Let's see a redesign for the Solara!

Hertz & Avis renters...rejoice!

The G6 convertible looks better on the outside and no worse than Solara in the inside?
Geez, no wonder we keep getting pathetic designs from the automakers, because the consumers are blind.

J,

Although I wouldn't agree w/sheth on his assessment of the G6's interior, I do agree that the exterior of the G6 is very nice. I do feel (because styling is personal preference), that it is better looking than the Solara. I guess that makes me one of those dumbasses that doesn't blindly hate on all things domestic.

cody,

Maybe because I see those G6 (Coupe, Sedan and Convertible) EVERYWHERE and EVERYDAY where I live, therefore it looks old already.

The blind comment is more referring toward the interior comparison.

Since the Solara will be available for 2009, when do you think we will see it on dealer's lots?

At lease the Solara is something different than the Sebring which has not really changed since it first came out.