When Toyota introduced the Sportivo variants of its XV40-series Camry and Aurion, they gave them what’s often referred to as a hero color – that color that’ll feature most prominently in media photos and the press fleet. But rather than give these sporty sedans a hero color traditionally associated with sporty cars, like a bold red or a bright yellow, they prominently featured Sportivos in what they called “Cyber Green”. Because mint green is sporty, apparently.
Cyber Green was certainly a distinctive shade and it’s always nice to see green cars on the road considering that color seems to go out of fashion for long spells. It was exclusive to the Sportivo variants of the Camry and Aurion, much like the boldest purples, oranges and yellows were exclusive to sports versions of the contemporary Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore. Though the green was the Camry Sportivo’s hero color, the Aurion was typically promoted in a bright gold called Aurora Gold.
Toyota isn’t the only company to choose a peculiar signature color for a car with sporting aspirations. The scintillating N variants of the latest Hyundai i30 and Veloster are almost always advertised in Performance Blue, a beguiling pale blue that looks like little else on the road.
Those of you outside Australia may be thinking the name Cyber Green sounds familiar or that you’ve seen this shade before. Curiously, it’s nearly identical to the Cyber Green used on Volkswagen’s New Beetle. Yes, Toyota used almost the exact color of the insufferably cutesy New Beetle on their sportiest mid-size sedans.
Aurion was simply the name of the Camry with the V6, somewhat disingenuously advertised as being a segment above the Camry; really, the Camry was almost as big as a Falcon or Commodore anyway but it was considered a mid-size here and the others full-size. Toyota Style Australia designed unique front and rear styling which was, in turn, used on Camrys sold in Asian markets. The new look was a massive improvement over the rather snubby snout of the regular Camry.
The Sportivo trim was more or less identical to the North American SE trim, using a firmer suspension tune, alloy pedals and sportier interior trim. Camry Sportivos were relatively rare, most XV40 models here typically being base models used in company fleets.
Aurion Sportivos are a more common sight although they could never match the Holden Commodore SV6 and Ford Falcon XR6 in sales – never underestimate the power of an established name, a perception of larger dimensions, and rear-wheel-drive. The Queensland Police Service did use Aurion Sportivos for some time, however. They were white, though. Not spearmint – sorry, Cyber – Green.
Are you a fan of Cyber Green?
The color works much better on the Beetle, I don’t usually like the “seafoam” green option (that light green-bluish hard to describe color available on many Japanese cars) but probably prefer it to Cyber Green on the Camry.
That said, the Aurion front and rear ends really do a good job of updating this generation Camry.
The beetle had a little more yellow in the color that gave it a bit more of the late 60s vibe when that color was popular. I didn’t mind the Beetle’s color. This one is a challenge.
I don’t hate it, but I think I’d prefer a darker shade of green on the Camry.
I’m just happy to see a green car of any shade, though. Like you said, you hardly ever see green cars anymore. My old Saturn was a dark Hunter Green, which I thought looked really nice.
And I just learned today that there’s a whole Wikipedia article about shades of green. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_green
I’m a fan of any green. My first car was a ’74 Chevy Malibu in Medium Metallic Green. My ’05 Scion xB was painted Camouflage (a shade of green, not an actual military camo). My current driver, an ’08 Prius, is painted Silver Pine Mica, a sort of gray-green.
It may be different in Australia, but in the US, dealers order cars for the lot, and they want cars in colors that sell quickly. Even when greens are offered, you’ll very rarely see them on dealer lots.
I’m generally prejudiced in favour of green cars. That colour on the Toyota wins the hell out of it. A++. Would buy. Two thumbs up—way up. An epic tour de force. I think it’s made more impactful by being on a Camry, a car ordinarily found in exciting uncolours like Medium Beige, Medium Taupe, Medium Ecru, Medium Sand, Silver Grey, White, Black, Formal Suit Blue, or House Wine Red.
(I don’t agree the VW colour is nearly the same. It’s significantly yellower and, to my eye, much less attractive as greens go)
That entire generation of Camry looks like 10 Lbs of oats in a 5Lb bag so anything to make it look nicer is appreciated especially a nice shade of Green.
Lucky for me I think the 2012 and newer Camries are getting cheap enough I can buy one of those if I need a used car or maybe an 02-06 if I want to really be frugal.
I like the green, but I like bright. Anything not ordinary gets a thumbs up.
The Hyundai N versions in pale blue with orange accents reminds me of the old Gulf racing livery. I don’t think it was a coincidence they chose that combo.
I think that green colour looks good on it. It’s just a mtter of taste, but there is just too many white and silvergrey cars out there. And any new car is grey on the inside. Beige if you’re “lucky”. time we get some more colours on the inside of cars too!
I too like green cars (and have had two), but I couldn’t live with this Seasick Green. It looks like the snotty splurk kids leave on a handbasin from inexpertly brushing their teeth with Colgate Minty SeeThru, either that or a green throat lozenge that’s been half-sucked through (and also spat into the basin by the same sickly child before the teeth-cleaning, but I’m digressing).
Can’t really see why Toyota thought the sporty version of their machines would sell best if painted in Faded Old Mint. Not really a hero colour, that.
Interesting how different the effect of the green on this Toyota is compared to the green on your Buick Electra post earlier. I dont like this Cyber Green on a sedan at all, I think it belongs on an overtly sporty car like a Lotus Elise, or MX 5. The Green Buick though is perfect to my eyes, discreet, suave, plush. Also, the Buick’s green interior is a big “Yes!”
This car is getting a lot of love but it shall receive none from me. There are a lot of greens I like on cars, but this one is not one of them. The problem is that it cannot decide what it is. It is not a little yellow and is not a little blue. It is neither dark nor light. It is not bright like Kelly green or subdued. Move it a bit in any of the directions I have described and it could work. But as is, this would be at the absolute bottom of my list. I would sooner drive a white or silver one. Which is saying something as I am thoroughly sick of white and silver.
Totally agree. Rather than “Cyber Green” (what’s cyber about it?) it should’ve been “Meh Green”.
Nice article and pics William. One aspect to this paint colour I find attractive, is the slight illusion of translucence it achieves in its appearance. Like the paint effect some die casts have, it almost looks like you can see the underlying metal surfaces through the paint finish.
Hyundai offered a similar green about a decade ago that I found more attractive, as it was less saturated and more subtle. And generally looked more elegant. Cyber Green has a 1970s vibe to it.
One of my all time favourite shades of green was offered on the Plymouth Volare. Looking especially attractive on the wood paneled Premier wagon.
When you combine green and wood paneling my mind immediately goes to the Wagon Queen Family Truckster. This isn’t really so bad, but it does look very 1970s to me.
I was totally unaware they offered this colour. Mind you, Sportivo variants are ultra rare anyway – I mean, a sporty Toyota sedan? My mental wheels spin, tractionless. A Camry or Aurion (I can never tell them apart) was more likely to be a government or company fleet car; it’s the kind of car you bring home from work rather than what a private buyer would choose.
I’ve seen one XV40 Sportivo. It was white. Kinda says it all…..
My dad’s 1979 Peugeot 504 has got the same color and it looks Nice
My old 99 Suzuki Grand Vitara was a two-tone with forest green on top three quarters and silver along the bottom. I believe Australia got that colour combo as well. It’s still my favourite two-tone paint combo on any car.
Back in the mid-90s it seemed like every new Camry was dark green. I like that mint green on the Aurion above. I also like the new Crosstrek colors (I had to look them up) Cool Gray Khaki and Sunshine Orange. Non-metallic/non-pearl paint on new cars looks fresh to me.
Agree, although the Crosstrek’s Desert Khaki is my favourite.
Not a green that would be my first pick, but far higher up the totem pole than the dreadful dreary silvery beige seemingly most Camrys wear in this generation.
The styling is significantly improved, I think the regular version we got in the US version is the ugliest Camry. The front/rear styling changes make it look Holden/Falcon like, and better compliment what turns out to be a rather attractive body.
I tend to like darker shades of green, but this isn’t bad. My preference would be for more brightwork to break up the color. Maybe chrome door handles and mirrors, but I suppose that doesn’t go with the “sport” theme.
US market Camrys and Avalons were offered in a similar color, closer to the Accent in a comment above, and I believe it was exclusive to the Hybrid in the Camry lineup. It was elegant but the color of the subject car is a little too youthful and unbefitting, almost looks like a respray.
Remember these? They are also usually featured in this odd hero color (new term for me – makes perfect sense).
Snot green like that yuk, and I drove an emerald green car for 7 years a mitta green EH Holden for 8 years a 73 MK2 Corona in green for a couple of years, I like green cars and have owned a dozen or more Vauxhalls a Simca Aronde 51 Humber ten 71 XY Falcon and more.
“…and was the Pontiac Tempest also available in metallic mint green?”
I saw a US market Camry of that vintage in that exact same color yesterday. I’d forgotten that they offered that here.
Coincidentally I saw one last week, and got a photo. Not a popular colour, and probably not the best sporty Camry Toyota have done either. I haven’t driven a Sportivo, but would say that the V6 cars have enough power to make things a bit more interesting.
I am an owner of a 2007 Cyber Green Camry Sportivo. Bought it in 2012 and still own it to this date in 2023. Car’s done 285,000Km without any issues! It’s suspension is not bad so I can push a bit around bends but it just lacks power… I know what the car is designed for so not fussed at all and I leave to have fun in my Skyline and just enjoy Toyota’s reliability 😁 I service the car myself (oil, brake pads, etc) and it just runs! Spent max around $2500 in oil, oil filter, tires, brake pads, rotors, batteries etc in 11 years so not bad I guess…
I have to say that despite not taking care of the paint the way I used to in the first 5 years of ownership (fortnightly wash and wax.. now with kids and busier with work it’s lucky to get a wash once a year lol), the paint is of excellent quality! No clear coat has peeled off, except for one panel that got repainted because my brother in law scratched it badly…
I originally wanted a black Camry sportivo but this just happened to be the right price at the time so I got it. But no regrets, the colour is lovely and my daughter loves it too! It’s easy to find in a parking lot and often a head turner until they see the Camry badge at the back lol