For a nameplate that has become synonymous with the automotive equivalent of ‘beige’, Toyota is sure hyped about the styling and character of its next generation sedan coming to the Detroit Auto Show in January.
On Thursday, Toyota dropped the first official teaser of the 2018 Camry revealing the rear quarter of the car. From this angle, it looks more aggressive and stylish than anything else we’ve seen from the Camry, with swooping lines, (fake) vents under the thinner LED lamps, and a boot spoiler. But then again, that doesn’t say much, as Toyota’s mid-size sedan family hasn’t exactly been on the forefront of design.
Toyota execs have high hopes for the new iteration of the Camry that will have a difficult task ahead of it, as SUVs have eroded the segment in recent years, with the RAV-4 poised to steal its sales crown in the USA for the first time ever next year.
According to Autonews, Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A, told reporters at the brand’s holiday party in Detroit: “The first time that I had the opportunity to see and drive this vehicle, this was a Camry that sent chills up my back.”
Spy shots of the 2018 Camry suggest that, if anything else, the new model will look sharper and more planted on the road (see our artist’s rendition here). Under the skin, it will ride on Toyota’s TNGA modular platform that we first saw on the 2016 Prius, while a recently spied prototype hinted at the development of a hotter TRD-tuned variant with a 3.5-liter V6 pushing upwards of 300 horses. Standard models are expected to be powered by a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four from the Lexus NX and IS. A hybrid version will also be available.
Photo Gallery
