Toyota has revealed its radical new 2018 Toyota Camry at the Detroit Motor Show, a surprising move for the notoriously conservative Japanese car maker.
The all-new Camry will debut shortly after the closure of Toyota’s Australian manufacturing facilities, with local cars instead imported from Japan.
The biggest change involves the drivetrain layout, with the traditional four-cylinder front-wheel drive layout replaced by a 5.8-litre fuel-injected V8 feeding power to the rear wheels. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a huge surge in power, with a 12.0:1 compression ratio releasing 540kW at 9000rpm.
Performance is said to be vastly improved, with a 0-100km/h time of around 3.5sec and a top speed of 350km/h, despite the unusual step of replacing the six-speed torque-converter automatic with a four-speed manual with a triple-plate clutch. The new transmission is said to be bulletproof, however, which should reduce servicing costs.
Weight has remained roughly similar at 1450kg, however the revised drivetrain has led to a suspension overall, with unequal length double wishbones up front and a live axle with panhard rod at the rear. Again, simple, proven technology which again should reap benefits at servicing time.
Possibly the most controversial aspect of the new Camry is Toyota’s decision to remove the doors. In an effort to reduce the average age of the Camry buyer, occupants are now forced to clamber in through the window, where they’ll find a basic interi…
Oh, oops. Apologies, we didn’t read the press release properly. This is actually Toyota’s new NASCAR racer, so it has absolutely nothing to do with a regular Camry bar some headlight stickers.
The new road-going Toyota Camry will land locally in the fourth quarter of 2017 and continue to provide safe, reliable, unexciting transport for thousands of Australians.
