This story contains independent illustrations made by Josh Byrnes for CarScoops. They are neither related to nor endorsed by Toyota
Forty years and going strong! Toyota’s Camry has been an industry kingpin with a score sheet of two decades as North America’s best-selling passenger sedan. The current generation has held the mantle since its 2017 debut.
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Blame changing buyer preferences and the endless quest to plant bums into SUVs, but the humble sedan has soldiered on in the face of others getting axed. Its most direct rival, the Honda Accord, has recently undergone a significant overhaul. So as a response, we’ve envisioned how the next Camry codenamed XV80 may look and dive into everything we know to date.
A Curvaceous Outlook
With a three-box design, this study taps into the Japanese automaker’s recent array of conceptual debuts as well as the latest Prius and the more crossover-ish Crown for an ultramodern appearance that looks fast whilst standing still.
The visual oomph starts at the front with slim, boomerang-shaped LED headlamps, a contrasting trapezoidal grille graphic and a very un-Camry-like curvaceous hood. Large wheels are pushed to the corners to cement a dynamic stance, while smooth side surfacing features just enough tension applied to the lower doors and shoulder line.
Muscular haunches and a full-width rear LED lighting cluster help define the rear, as does the tapering decklid, shapely rear quarter glass and lower diffuser panel flanked by quad exhausts.
Under The Skin
Underpinning the ninth-generation of the global Camry will likely be a modified version of the TNGA-K (GA-K) platform used under the current car and a handful of other Toyota and Lexus vehicles such as the Crown, ES, RAV4 and Highlander.
Not being all-new in this respect will raise some eyebrows; however, it’s the same state of play used by Honda and their new Accord. The rationale behind this is likely to be a shrinking sedan market and the re-diversion of development funds into BEVs.
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A larger infotainment display with improved graphics and Toyota’s latest operating system will feature. This bundles wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ‘Hey, Toyota’ voice functionality, connected navigation and over-the-air software updates. Other goodies will include a digital instrument cluster and a smartphone-based remote key entry, all likely heavily inspired by both the larger Crown pictured above and the new Prius.
PHEV Power, Goodbye V6
Series hybrid propulsion has been a dominant play for Camry, and the electron-assisted 2.5-litre will likely remain a core favorite as the mid-sizer enters its ninth generation. A plug-in hybrid shared with the RAV4 Prime is on the cards, packing 302 hp (225kW) with an EV range of up to 44 miles.
Beyond that, conjecture suggests it will utilize a new 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder in two states of tune to replace the 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine that once was the powerhouse of the range. The base 2.4-litre turbocharged unit will produce around 265 hp (198kW), while a more potent hybridised variant will pump out around 335 hp (250kW), sending power to all four wheels.
Rivals and Reveal
Camry’s core competitor set includes the newly redesigned Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, Kia K5, and Hyundai Sonata.
Reveal time is largely unknown at this stage. However, some pundits have signaled that it will debut as a 2024 or 2025 model next year.
What do you think of this design study? We’d love to hear your views in the comments below.
