PM Anwar Ibrahim chooses Toyota Camry over the Mercedes S600!

KUALA LUMPUR: It was only three days before Anwar Ibrahim was sworn into office as Prime Minister. And the new PM has already announced the vehicle of choice for carrying out his duties, it's the Toyota Camry.

What however comes as a surprise is his rejection to use a new ‘Mercedes S600’ as his official car. As the S600 no longer exists, we assure you, he was talking about the new S580e plug-in hybrid.

Why is the Prime Minister rejecting the idea of using the German limo? According to the Premier, the order for the new car was placed by the Prime Minister’s Department before he took the charge. The order was rejected as he does not wish to bear any new expenditure to be made on his account. Instead, he will be utilizing any of the existing vehicles in the office for his work.

Meeting with the reporters at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya, the Prime Minister confirmed that the department was able to cancel the Mercedes order made by the previous government, well in time before delivery. Also, he jokingly asked the reporters if Camry was an appropriate choice.

Was the move a PR stunt or a cost-saving choice, can’t be said for sure; however, we do know that the Camry is a pretty modest choice for the prime minister. It packs all the luxury and comfort of a modern-day car and can even make a Lexus blush.

The Malaysian-spec Camry was updated earlier this year and is powered by a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force engine generating a maximum power of 209 hp and 253 Nm of peak torque. The drive is sent to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The top features which we think the prime minister will find most appealing are - the reclinable rear seats and the touch-activated control panel on the center armrest.

What do you think of PM Anwar Ibrahim’s take on his car choice? Let us know in the comments.

Also Read: 2023 Toyota Camry Nightshade Edition: Key highlights