The post Clear-Cut Leader: The 2021 Toyota Camry Adds More Variants While Advancing Safety appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>All Camry models for 2021 also get an added dose of tech and luxury with a new floating multimedia screen in 7-inch or 9-inch sizes, plus a new herringbone seat pattern on the XLE grade. Capping off the long list of enhancements, restyled front ends lend greater distinction among Camry grades.
This expansion for 2021 follows a year in which Camry added an all-wheel drive option and its first-ever TRD performance model. The “L” grade has been discontinued for 2021. The LE now becomes the point of entry for the model line.
All told, the 2021 Camry offers 17 different choices in the midsize sedan segment today. Those choices include:
The wide array of choices plus Camry’s alluring, coupe-inspired design and renowned Toyota quality and value are reasons why Camry maintains leadership in the mid-size sedan category. Camry holds its status as America’s favorite midsize sedan for 18 years running and, as well, is one of the longest-running nameplates in the auto industry.
Bold New Look Up Front
A new look up front distinguishes the comfort-oriented LE and XLE grades from the sport-oriented SE and XSE for 2021. A new front fascia for the Camry LE and XLE grades shows a more defined lower intake area. The gas version of the LE grade also debuts a new 17-inch alloy wheel design, while the XLE features a redesigned 18-inch alloy wheel. The SE and XSE grades show off a bolder redesigned lower fascia shape featuring a honeycomb style grille and side vent inserts, plus new side vent accents.
Accentuating the revised design, the 2021 Camry augments its exterior paint palette with new Blueprint replacing Blue Streak Metallic and a new, exclusive color for the Camry TRD, Ice Edge with a two-tone Midnight Black Metallic roof. The XSE grades now offer the two-tone Supersonic Red with Midnight Black Metallic roof combination.
The performance-tuned Camry TRD, which debuted for 2020, keeps its exclusive, aero-enhanced design. The 2021 Camry TRD now comes standard with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, plus heated exterior mirrors. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert are now standalone options on LE, SE and SE Nightshade grades. XSE and XLE grades already have those features as standard.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+
Toyota is a pioneering force in the adoption of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) ever since it made the advanced safety features standard across many of its model lineup for 2017, five years ahead of the voluntary commitment by many OEMs with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make it standard on virtually all light vehicles. For 2021, the Camry is one of the first Toyota models to include TSS 2.5+, the next phase in Toyota’s evolution of safety systems. A number of functions that are part of the Toyota Safety Sense have been enhanced.
For starters, the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), features multiple enhancements. By enhancing the system capabilities, it is now possible for the system to help detect not only the vehicle ahead but also a preceding bicyclist in daytime and even a preceding pedestrian in low-light conditions. TSS 2.5+ also enhances the PCS w/PD system with intersection support. At intersections, the system may detect an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian when performing a left-hand turn and may provide audio/visual alerts and automatic braking in certain conditions. Additional PCS functions include emergency steering assist, which is designed to stabilize the driver’s emergency steering maneuvers within their lane while avoiding a preceding pedestrian, bicyclist or vehicle.
Camrys that come equipped with Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which can activate the feature above 30 mph, have a system designed to perform vehicle-to-vehicle distance controls down to 0 mph and resume from a stop. DRCC also includes a new feature that allows for smoother overtaking of slower vehicles. If traveling behind a vehicle traveling slower than the preset speed, once the driver engages the turn signal with steering input the system will provide an initial increase in acceleration in preparation for changing lanes; after changing lanes, the vehicle will continue acceleration until it reaches the preset driving speed.
Lane Departure Alert is designed to help notify the driver via audible alert if it senses the vehicle is leaving the lane without engaging a turn signal. When DRCC is set and engaged, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is designed to assist the driver by providing a slight steering force to help center the vehicle in its lane using visible lane markers or a preceding vehicle.
Additional TSS 2.5+ features include Automatic High Beams, which detects preceding or oncoming vehicles and automatically switches between high beam and low beam headlights. Road Sign Assist (RSA), which is designed to recognize certain road sign information using a forward-facing camera and display them on the multi-information display (MID).
Toyota’s Rear Seat Reminder will come standard on all 2021 Camrys. The feature notes whether a rear door was opened within 10 minutes of the vehicle being turned on, or at any time after the vehicle has been turned on, with a reminder message in the instrument cluster after the engine is turned off, accompanied by multitone chimes. The 2021 Camry is the second Toyota to feature Rear Seat Reminder, as it already comes standard on the 2020 Toyota Highlander.
In addition to the TSS 2.5+ system, to help Camry drivers change lanes with confidence, Blind Spot Monitor is designed to help detect and warn you of vehicles approaching or positioned in the adjacent lanes. Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) can offer added peace of mind by helping to detect vehicles approaching from either side while backing out and alerting you with a visual and audible warning. These features come standard on XLE and XSE grades and are available on certain LE and SE grades.
Camry All-Wheel Drive is Smarter All-Wheel Drive
The all-wheel drive option that Camry debuted for 2020 is projected to account for about 15 percent of Camry’s 2021 sales. The Toyota-developed Dynamic Torque Control AWD system is available as a standalone option for the four-cylinder LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade and XSE grades. Notably, the Camry AWD is a North America-only model developed in the U.S. and assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. Camry AWD uses the high-efficiency 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine teamed with an eight-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission.
Dynamic Torque Control AWD provides effective traction for inclement and slippery weather while minimizing AWD’s typical drag on fuel economy. The system can direct up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels, in response to acceleration from a start or slippage at the front wheels.
When AWD isn’t needed, the electromagnetic controlled coupling on the rear drive axle can disengage the propeller shaft to prioritize fuel efficiency. The AWD is designed to re-engage in an instant when needed and its operation is transparent to the driver and passengers.
The addition of AWD does not affect passenger space, trunk room, ride comfort, cabin quietness or vehicle agility. Inside, the car has the same rear seat hip point height as the Camry Hybrid.
The transformation to AWD adds just 165 lbs. (LE grade; other grade weights vary) over FWD versions. The suspension tuning, wheels, and tires differentiating the Camry model grades carry over to the AWD versions. That means, for example, the Camry XSE grade features the same sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels in both FWD and AWD versions.
All AWD grades offer an optional Cold-Weather Package, which adds heated seats and mirrors on the LE; heated seats, mirrors and steering wheel on the SE; and heated steering wheel on the XLE and XSE, as heated seats and mirrors are already standard on those grades. All other standard and optional features are shared with the Camry FWD model grades. For 2021, The Cold Weather Package will now be a standalone option for FWD and Hybrid grades as well.
Camry TRD: Track-Tuned, Road-Refined
Initially, the “TRD” identifier for Toyota Racing Development was seen only on off-road toughened Toyota trucks and SUVs. Yet, TRD has been deeply involved with all facets of Toyota motorsports for more than 40 years, with a trophy case full from victories in rallying, IMSA® GTO and GTP® road racing, NASCAR®, and NHRA® Funny Car racing.
The sophisticated, high-strength TNGA-K platform that underpins the Camry was like an open invitation for TRD to rev up the sedan’s performance. The result was the first-ever Camry TRD performance model for 2020, and this road-tamer continues for 2021 with upgraded standard features, including Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The JBL Premium Audio system is now an option on Camry TRD just as it is on other grades.
The Camry TRD is equipped exclusively with a direct-injected, 301-horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V-6 teamed with the Direct-Shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring sport mode and paddle shifters. A specially-tuned TRD cat-back dual exhaust system conveys a throatier idle and acceleration tone.
The TRD Look + Function
The aerodynamic body kit, which includes a front splitter, side aero skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser, not only adds a track-ready look but also improves high speed vehicle stability. Camry TRD wears a gloss black front grille with a sport mesh insert and black exterior badging.
Distinctive red pinstriping, red painted brake calipers, red TRD badging and polished stainless steel TRD exhaust tips complete the road-hungry look. The 2021 Camry TRD is available in solid Midnight Black Metallic, or in two-tone schemes featuring new Ice Edge or Wind Chill Pearl with a Midnight Black Metallic roof.
In the cabin, the TRD treatment outfits the Camry with Black Sport SofTex®-trimmed front seats with red accents and red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also has red stitching, and even the seatbelts are red. A shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, along with unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and a unique TRD meter with red-illuminated accents and multi-information display (MID) start-up animation complete the cabin upgrades.
TRD Handling Thrills
TRD engineers developed this special Camry’s dynamic characteristics through extensive testing at Toyota Arizona Proving Ground, TMC Higashi-Fuji Proving Ground (Japan), and MotorSport Ranch (Texas). Chassis enhancements abound, including thicker underbody braces that increase torsional rigidity.
The TRD-tuned suspension lowers Camry by 0.6 inches for a reduced center of gravity and more aggressive stance. Stiffer coil springs and sway bars increase roll stiffness by 44 percent in the front and 67 percent in the rear. A unique set of TRD shock absorbers, 19 x 8.5-inch matte-black alloy wheels, and optional Bridgestone Potenza 235/40R19 summer tires complete a chassis package that improves body control, handling agility and steering precision.
The Camry TRD’s front brakes are larger with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers, compared to 12.0-inch rotors and single piston calipers on the Camry XSE grade. Brake performance is tuned to provide more direct feedback.
Foundation for Agility and Ride Comfort
Extensive use of high-tensile-strength steel in the TNGA-K platform, along with innovative fastening methods including laser screw welding and advanced adhesives, give Camry its rock-solid feeling on the road. Optimally tuned MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension endow the Camry with a ride-handling balance befitting luxury vehicles. (SE and XSE grades have sport-tuned springs and shocks.)
Camry has long been renowned for quietness in its class, and the current-generation model improved on that by incorporating noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures previously found exclusively on luxury models. Extensive sound absorbing insulation includes foam or vibration-dampening materials throughout the vehicle, along with a thicker dash silencer mat across the entire firewall section. A special vibration-damping coating is applied over a wider area of the underfloor, and noise-proofing material encompasses more surface area under the headliner.
Striking Yet Elegant Cabin
The Camry relays information to the driver via three available displays. New for 2021, a floating 7- or 9-inch central touch-screen display, like that of the new-generation Toyota RAV4, combines audio and navigation. Customizable features and smart phone-like touch screen icons ensure familiar and convenient operation.
For even greater functionality, Camry also offers an available 7-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster. Available on XLE and XSE, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD) projects vital information, including speed and turn-by-turn navigation directions, onto the lower portion of the windshield.
The Camry’s interior melds functionality, elegant styling, and impeccable craftsmanship. The dash design gives the driver a sporty cockpit-type feel while treating both the driver and the front passenger to expansive outward visibility. A sweeping character line flows down from the instrument cluster and bisects the center console waterfall.
Surfaces throughout the cabin employ soft-touch premium materials. New interior trim for 2021 in all grades gives a sophisticated, higher-tech look with linear dark, wood inlay or patterned metal depending on the model grade.
Long-distance seat comfort, a Camry hallmark, has been combined with ratcheted seat design for 2021. Exquisite stitching on the front- and rear-seat surfaces, one example of the high level of craftsmanship, is found throughout the vehicle. New for 2021, the XLE grade features a luxurious looking textured herringbone seat pattern. Ventilated front seats are available on the XLE and XSE.
Interior color choices, depending on exterior color, include Ash, Macadamia, or Black. The sport-oriented XSE grade also offers an exclusive Cockpit Red interior for a touch of exotic sports car flavor.
High Power, High Efficiency, Low Cost of Operation
The 2021 Camry offers a choice of three powertrains: 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder, 3.5-liter V-6 and next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II). The Dynamic Force 2.5-liter engine is a strong but smooth operator, yielding an impressive 203 hp at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5,000 rpm (206 hp and 186 lb.-ft. for XSE grade, which uses a dual-outlet exhaust). Most AWD grades have 202 hp, while the Camry XSE AWD grade has 205 hp with dual exhaust.
The Camry’s four-cylinder engine uses a very high compression ratio (13:1) and Toyota’s innovative D-4S fuel injection, which employs both direct injection and additional port injectors. The engine is chock-full of Toyota’s most advanced technologies, including Dual VVT-i with VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing intelligent system by Electric motor) and laser-clad valve seats. A variable cooling system, variable oil pump and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system all contribute to the engine’s high thermal efficiency and outstanding fuel economy.
Genuine V-6 Performance at a High Level
The 2021 Toyota Camry is one of the few midsize sedans to still offer a V-6 engine, and this one is a gem. The 24-valve, DOHC 3.5-liter engine is equipped with the D-4S direct injection system, along with a specially-developed VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide) variable valve timing system for the intake, with VVT-i on the exhaust. The VVT-iW system can switch the engine to the Atkinson cycle, which reduces pumping losses by delayed closing of the intake valves. The bottom line: it goes fast but sips gas.
Output is outstanding, with 301 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,700 rpm.
Direct Shift 8-speed Automatic
In all Camry gas grades, both the 2.5-liter engine and the 3.5-liter V-6 are teamed with the Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers satisfyingly crisp-yet-smooth, quick-shifting to deliver an exemplary blend of performance and refinement. Close mid-range ratios improve passing performance, while the wide range of torque converter lock-up yields for a more direct driving feel while contributing to enhanced fuel efficiency. Control logic optimizes precise matching of engine torque on downshifts for smoother transitions.
Toyota Hybrid System
The Camry Hybrid powertrain is the most efficient and powerful offered since the Hybrid debuted for 2007. The super-efficient Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) combines the output of the 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine and an electric motor (MG1), while using that motor and a second motor (MG2) for hybrid battery charging. In the Hybrid, the gas engine employs an even higher 14:1 compression ratio and is tuned to produce 176 hp and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with the 118 hp electric motor, the total Hybrid system net output is 208 hp.
The hybrid system, however, gives the Camry Hybrid performance similar to the four-cylinder gas version. Sequential Shiftmatic technology allows the driver to “shift” the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT). It mimics a quick-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission via paddle shifters (on SE and XSE grades) or with the console-mounted shift lever.
The Lithium-ion (Li-ion) hybrid battery pack is installed beneath the rear seat and does not reduce passenger room or trunk capacity. The battery’s position also contributes to a lower center of gravity. Along with the traditional Camry Hybrid NORMAL, ECO and EV drive system modes, a SPORT mode allows for an increase in power from the hybrid system for improved acceleration response relative to throttle pedal input.
The clever Auto Glide Control (AGC) feature helps to enhance fuel efficiency by calculating efficient coasting logic. AGC can be activated only when the vehicle is being operated in the ECO drive mode. When activated, AGC limits the loss of vehicle speed through engine braking, acting more like a neutral gear to allow longer coasting. An AGC indicator light illuminates on the multi-information display when AGC is in operation to alert the driver of reduced engine braking.
Toyota Audio
The base Toyota Audio system for 2021 gains a new, dramatic looking and easy-to-use 7-in. floating touch screen display. The system features Android Auto, Apple CarPlay® and Amazon Alexa® compatibility. The full-featured system includes AM/FM, SiriusXM® with 3-month All-Access trial, Siri® Eyes Free, hands-free phone capability, plus advanced voice recognition and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology.
Higher grades have Toyota Audio Plus with a new 9-in. floating touch screen display. All audio systems have Connected Services trials, which include Safety Connect (1-year trial). Most grades also add Service Connect (10-year trial) and Remote Connect (1-year trial). In addition, WiFi Connect (3-month up to 2GB trial), allows up to five mobile devices to connect using 4G LTE.
Audio Plus is also offered with a JBL® 800-watt, 9-speaker premium audio, which includes a subwoofer. The JBL system is also part of the top-of-line available Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation, which provides over-the-air updates and includes a 3-year trial.
Remote Connect provides remote start and door unlock capability, vehicle status notifications, a guest driver monitor and vehicle finder (1-year trial). Available Service Connect can provide up-to-date vehicle information on fuel level, maintenance alerts, and more.
Star Safety
All 2021 Camry models have 10 standard airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, and Smart Stop Technology. All Camrys also come equipped with a standard backup camera.
Limited Warranty and ToyotaCare
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. On the Camry Hybrid grades, all HV components are covered under the Hybrid System Warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles. Additionally, the hybrid battery warranty is now 10 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first. The Camry also comes standard with ToyotaCare, a plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years, unlimited mileage.
You can find all 2021 Toyota Camry and Toyota Camry Hybrid materials and assets here.
2021 Camry Pricing
The 2021 Camry has new entry point with the LE grade and starting MSRP of $24,970, and all Camry hybrid grades get a lower starting MSRP for 2021.
Full pricing for the 2021 Camry is as follows:
The post Clear-Cut Leader: The 2021 Toyota Camry Adds More Variants While Advancing Safety appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>The post Toyota Gains More Traction on the Road and in the Sedan Segment with the Launch of Camry and Avalon All-Wheel Drive Models appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>It’s the first AWD Camry since 1991, and the first-ever Avalon with AWD. The Toyota-developed Dynamic Torque Control AWD system will be available as a standalone option for the Camry LE, XLE, SE and XSE grades and on Avalon XLE and Limited grades.
In recent years, market demand for AWD passenger vehicles has increased significantly, due in no small part to the rising popularity of SUVs and crossovers. Midsize sedan customers outside the luxury category, however, have had relatively few AWD choices. Now, Toyota gives them two more with Camry, America’s best-selling midsize sedan for 17 years, and Toyota’s flagship sedan, Avalon.
Notably, the Camry AWD and Avalon AWD are North America-only models developed in the U.S. and assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky.
Both the Camry AWD and Avalon AWD get a high-efficiency 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine teamed with an 8-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission. Most Camry AWD grades have 202 horsepower, while the Camry XSE AWD and both Avalon AWD grades have 205 hp with dual exhaust. The new AWD system balances added traction with exemplary fuel efficiency. While Avalon AWD EPA-estimated fuel economy will be released closer to its on-sale date, EPA-ratings for Camry AWD are:
The Camry and Avalon AWD models underscore Toyota’s commitment to the sedan category. Both the new-generation Camry and Avalon sedans offer hybrid models, and, last fall, both added their first-ever TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance versions.
Toyota previously offered an AWD Camry in 1988-1991, called the AllTrac.
Smarter All-Wheel Drive
To many car buyers, “all-wheel drive” may mean one thing, but there are many different AWD technologies on the market. Toyota found an ideal type of AWD for Camry and Avalon in its new-generation RAV4 compact SUV introduced for 2019. The Dynamic Torque Control AWD system provides effective traction for inclement and slippery weather while minimizing AWD’s typical drag on fuel economy. Admittedly, the system name is a mouthful; Camry and Avalon models equipped with it will carry a simple “AWD” badge on their trunk lids.
The Camry and Avalon AWD system can direct up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels, in response to acceleration from a start or slippage at the front wheels.
Notably, when AWD isn’t needed, such as on long highway stretches, the electromagnetic controlled coupling on the front of the rear drive axle can disengage the propeller shaft from the differential to prioritize fuel efficiency. The AWD is designed to re-engage in an instant when needed. AWD operation is transparent to the driver and passengers. On that note, the Camry and Avalon AWD models match their FWD counterparts in critical passenger space, trunk room, ride comfort, cabin quietness and vehicle agility.
All-American Effort
Neither the new-generation Camry nor Avalon was originally planned to have an AWD version, so the engineering team at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development in Saline, Michigan, developed them to meet the market demand for AWD sedans. The flexibility and components of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), and specifically the Camry and Avalon’s TNGA platform, allowed the team to develop the AWD versions in-house with improved efficiency.
Far more than a vehicle platform, TNGA brings together new approaches to engineering, design, production and materials. Its flexibility to develop different models from the same tools had already been proven. The North America-only Camry and Avalon AWD show that TNGA can be used by individual Toyota regions to tailor vehicles to that market’s local needs.
Since the RAV4 is also based on the TNGA platform, the opportunity to share components and basic engineering was built in. The team combined the upper body structure of the Camry and Avalon with the engine, transmission, transfer case and rear differential from the RAV4. The RAV4’s version of the multi-link rear suspension was adapted with some modifications and tuning to suit the sedans. Both the Camry and Avalon AWD use a modified version of the propeller shaft from the all-new Highlander SUV.
Adapting the AWD drivetrain to the Camry and Avalon required floor structure modifications, plus the use of an electronic parking brake and a saddle-style fuel tank with an optimized capacity for AWD models rather than the flat-style tank in the FWD models. Inside the car has the same rear seat hip point height as the Camry and Avalon hybrid models. Despite the addition of a rear differential, the trunk floor height remains the same as in the FWD versions.
The transformation to AWD adds just 165 lbs. over the Camry FWD while the Avalon AWD weight is similar to that of its FWD V6 siblings.
Customers can expect the Camry and Avalon AWD to provide similar ride and handling characteristics as the FWD models, plus of course the added traction capability. The suspension tuning, wheels, and tires differentiating the Camry and Avalon model grades carry over to the new AWD models. That means, for example, the Camry XSE grade features the same sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels in FWD and AWD versions.
The Camry AWD will be model year 2020 and arrive at dealerships in early spring. All AWD grades can get an optional Cold-Weather Package, which adds heated seats and mirrors on the LE, heated seats, mirrors and steering wheel on the SE, and heated steering wheel on the XLE and XSE. All other standard and optional features carry over from the FWD versions of the LE, XLE, SE and XSE model grades, including the latest Toyota Audio multimedia systems with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
The Avalon AWD will be model year 2021 and go on sale next fall. Both XLE and Limited AWD grades will receive a standard heated steering wheel while other standard and optional features carryover from the FWD versions.
Toyota Safety Sense-P
All 2020 Camry and Avalon models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) a suite of cutting-edge active safety systems that includes:
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) are available on Camry and standard on Avalon. Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) with Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB) also are available on both models.
Star Safety
All 2020 Camry and Avalon models have 10 standard airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, and Smart Stop Technology. All come equipped with a standard backup camera.
The post Toyota Gains More Traction on the Road and in the Sedan Segment with the Launch of Camry and Avalon All-Wheel Drive Models appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>The post Get A Grip: Toyota Introduces New Camry and Avalon All-Wheel Drive Sedans appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>In recent years, market demand for AWD passenger vehicles has increased significantly, due in no small part to the rising popularity of SUVs and crossovers. Midsize sedan customers outside the luxury category, however, have had relatively few AWD choices. Now, Toyota gives them two more with Camry, America’s best-selling midsize sedan for 17 years, and Toyota’s flagship sedan, Avalon.
Notably, the Camry AWD and Avalon AWD are North America-only models developed in the U.S. and assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky.
Both the Camry AWD and Avalon AWD get a high-efficiency 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine teamed with an 8-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission. Most Camry AWD grades have 202 horsepower, while the Camry XSE AWD and both Avalon AWD grades have 205 hp with dual exhaust. The new AWD system balances added traction with exemplary fuel efficiency.
The Camry and Avalon AWD models underscore Toyota’s commitment to the sedan category, a space that some brands have been leaving while Toyota has been expanding choices. Both the new-generation Camry and Avalon sedans offer hybrid models, and, this fall, both added their first-ever TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance versions.
Toyota previously offered an AWD Camry in 1988-1991, called the AllTrac. The company appreciates the loyalty, patience and perseverance of all those customers and dealers who sent letters, emails, comments and texts asking for a modern AWD version of America’s favorite sedan.
Smarter All-Wheel Drive
To many car buyers, “all-wheel drive” may mean one thing, but there are many different AWD technologies on the market. Toyota found an ideal type of AWD for Camry and Avalon in its new-generation RAV4 compact SUV introduced for 2019. The Dynamic Torque Control AWD system provides effective traction for inclement and slippery weather while minimizing AWD’s typical drag on fuel economy. Admittedly, the system name is a mouthful; Camry and Avalon models equipped with it will carry a simple “AWD” badge on their trunk lids.
The Camry and Avalon AWD system can direct up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels, in response to acceleration from a start or slippage at the front wheels.
Notably, when AWD isn’t needed, such as on long highway stretches, the electromagnetic controlled coupling on the front of the rear drive axle can disengage the propeller shaft from the differential to prioritize fuel efficiency. The AWD is designed to re-engage in an instant when needed. AWD operation is transparent to the driver and passengers. On that note, the Camry and Avalon AWD models match their FWD counterparts in critical passenger space, trunk room, ride comfort, cabin quietness and vehicle agility.
All-American Effort
Neither the new-generation Camry nor Avalon was originally planned to have an AWD version, so the engineering team at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development in Saline, Michigan, developed them to meet the market demand for AWD sedans. The flexibility and components of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), and specifically the Camry and Avalon’s TNGA platform, allowed the team to develop the AWD versions in-house with improved efficiency.
Far more than a vehicle platform, TNGA brings together new approaches to engineering, design, production and materials. Its flexibility to develop different models from the same tools had already been proven. The North America-only Camry and Avalon AWD show that TNGA can be used by individual Toyota regions to tailor vehicles to that market’s local needs.
Since the RAV4 is also based on the TNGA platform, the opportunity to share components and basic engineering was built in. The team combined the upper body structure of the Camry and Avalon with the engine, transmission, transfer case and rear differential from the RAV4. The RAV4’s version of the multi-link rear suspension was adapted with some modifications and tuning to suit the sedans. Both the Camry and Avalon AWD use a modified version of the propeller shaft from the all-new Highlander SUV.
Adapting the AWD drivetrain to the Camry and Avalon required floor structure modifications, plus the use of an electronic parking brake and a saddle-style fuel tank with an optimized capacity for AWD models rather than the flat-style tank in the FWD models. Inside the car has the same rear seat hip point height as the Camry and Avalon hybrid models. Despite the addition of a rear differential, the trunk floor height remains the same as in the FWD versions.
The transformation to AWD adds just 165 lbs. over the Camry FWD while the Avalon AWD weight is similar to that of its FWD V6 siblings.
Customers can expect the Camry and Avalon AWD to provide similar ride and handling characteristics as the FWD models, plus of course the added traction capability. The suspension tuning, wheels, and tires differentiating the Camry and Avalon model grades carry over to the new AWD models. That means, for example, the Camry XSE grade features the same sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels in FWD and AWD versions.
The Camry AWD will be model year 2020 and arrive at dealerships in early spring. All AWD grades can get an optional Cold-Weather Package, which adds heated seats and mirrors on the LE, heated seats, mirrors and steering wheel on the SE, and heated steering wheel on the XLE and XSE. All other standard and optional features carry over from the FWD versions of the LE, XLE, SE and XSE model grades, including the latest Toyota Audio multimedia systems with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
The Avalon AWD will be model year 2021 and go on-sale next fall. Both XLE and Limited AWD grades will receive a standard heated steering wheel while other standard and optional features carryover from the FWD versions.
Toyota Safety Sense-P
All 2020 Camry and Avalon models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) a suite of cutting-edge active safety systems that includes:
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) are available on Camry and standard on Avalon. Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) with Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB) also are available on both models.
Star Safety
All 2020 Camry and Avalon models have 10 standard airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, and Smart Stop Technology. All come equipped with a standard backup camera.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2018.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit ToyotaNewsroom.com.
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]]>The first-ever Camry TRD combines a track-tuned chassis and a 301-hp V-6 engine with knockout design that seems to taunt more expensive sport sedans. The new model exemplifies TRD’s holistic approach to performance development, which it has applied to all types of competition vehicles for 40 years. As a result, the Camry TRD is as sophisticated and comfortable in its road manners as it is quick and agile.
The new TRD joins Camry’s six other grades, which include L, LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade Edition and XSE. The sportier SE and XSE grades wear noticeably different body detailing than the L, LE and premium XLE grades, highlighted by a sculpted rocker panel, 19-inch black machined-finish alloy wheels (on available on XSE), a subtle rear spoiler lip, aggressive front bumper, and rear bumper with a lower diffuser. The TRD takes the design even further with aerodynamic enhancements and unique trim.
TNGA: Building Now and for the Future
The new-generation Camry introduced a more emotional design with a lowered but still roomy cabin and gaze-stealing coupe-like profile. It was the first of the company’s new-generation vehicles to emerge from Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which represents a completely new strategy to the way the company designs, engineers, and packages its vehicles. Much more than a new body structure, TNGA brings together new approaches to engineering, design, production, and materials.
TNGA retains all of Toyota’s traditional values of outstanding build quality and safety while injecting a fun driving experience that plays on all the senses. For the Camry, the mechanical manifestation of that process is the TNGA-K platform, along with the Dynamic Force 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and Direct-Shift eight-speed automatic transmission (8AT).
Most critically, TNGA delivers on Toyota’s commitment to a high level of driver and passenger safety. Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) is a suite of cutting-edge active safety systems and standard on every Camry model. These systems include:
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) with Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB) are also available.
Camry TRD: Track-Tuned, Everyday-Fun
The new-generation Camry design sent a strong message about the new athleticism that TNGA instilled into the model. The Camry TRD puts an exclamation point on that character with both its design and driving performance.
Many have seen the bold “TRD” graphics on off-road-capable Toyota SUVs and pickups, which reflect the company’s involvement with off-road racing. Toyota Racing Development, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary, has long been deeply involved with all facets of Toyota car racing, as well. The performance developer’s technical prowess and engineering passion have driven Toyota to world championships in rallying and IMSA GTO and GTP road racing. Today, TRD delivers a winning combination in NASCAR and NHRA racing, among others.
The Camry TRD embodies TRD’s holistic approach to vehicle enhancement. It’s powered by Toyota’s direct-injected, 301 horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V-6 teamed with the Direct-Shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring sport mode and paddle shifters. A specially-tuned TRD cat-back dual exhaust system conveys a throatier idle and acceleration sound.
TRD engineers went through the Camry chassis to sharpen agility while preserving ride quality. “Track-tuned” means exactly that. The engineers developed this special Camry’s dynamic characteristics through extensive testing at Toyota Arizona Proving Ground, TMC Higashi-Fuji Proving Ground (Japan), and MotorSport Ranch (Texas).
Thicker underbody braces increase torsional rigidity, and unique coil springs lower the Camry by 0.6 inches for a reduced center of gravity and more aggressive stance. Camry’s chassis is further enhanced with stiffer coil springs and sway bars for increased roll stiffness of 44% in the front and 67% in the rear. A unique set of TRD shock absorbers, 19 x 8.5-inch matte- black alloy wheels, and Bridgestone Potenza 235/40R19 summer tires complete a chassis package that improves body control, handling agility, and steering precision.
The front brakes are larger with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers, compared to 12.0-inch rotors and single piston calipers on the Camry XSE grade. Brake performance is tuned to provide more direct feedback. (The 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD shares many of these modifications, as well.)
Bold TRD Look
Calty gave the Camry TRD functional aero elements, taking advantage of the new-generation model’s edgier design and the more aggressive stance of the TRD-modified chassis. The aerodynamic body kit, which includes a front splitter, side aero skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser, not only looks sinister but also improves high speed vehicle stability.
Camry TRD wears a gloss black front grille with a sport mesh insert and black exterior badging. Distinctive red pinstriping, red painted brake calipers, red TRD badging and polished stainless steel TRD exhaust tips complete the road-hungry look. The 2020 Camry TRD is available in solid Midnight Black Metallic, or in one of three two-tone schemes featuring Supersonic Red, (a Camry TRD exclusive color combination) Windchill Pearl or Celestial Silver with a Midnight Black Metallic roof.
The TRD treatment continues into the cabin, which is outfitted with Black Sport SofTex®-trimmed front seats with fabric inserts, red accents and red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also has red stitching, and even the seatbelts are red. A shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, along with unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and a unique TRD meter with red-illuminated accents and multi-information display (MID) start-up animation complete the cabin upgrades.
TNGA-K Platform: Foundation for Agility and Ride Comfort
The underlying TNGA-K platform that gives the Camry TRD its heightened agility also forms the foundation for the impeccable handling and ride quality in other Camry grades. Extensive use of high-tensile-strength steel, along with innovative fastening methods including laser screw welding and advanced adhesives, give Camry its rock-solid feeling on the road.
Optimally tuned for the high-strength TNGA-K platform, MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension endow the new-generation Camry with a ride-handling balance befitting premium luxury vehicles. The front suspension tower brace embedded within the cowl body contributes to the Camry’s handling prowess and stability in corners. (SE and XSE grades have sport-tuned springs and shocks.)
A ring-shaped frame at the rear of the vehicle structure enhances rigidity. Additional braces added to the rear suspension increase the vehicle’s lateral rigidity. Camry long ago built a reputation for quietness in its class, and the new-generation model improves on that by incorporating noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures previously found exclusively on luxury models.
More extensive sound absorbing insulation includes a hood insulator and upper and lower fender separator. The passenger compartment is further insulated from engine and road noise using foam or vibration-dampening materials throughout the vehicle, along with a thicker dash silencer mat across the entire firewall section. A special vibration-damping coating is applied over a wider area of the underfloor, and noise-proofing material encompasses more surface area under the headliner. Wind noise is greatly suppressed in the new-gen Camry, as well.
Colors: Warm, Cool or Hot
You don’t give a car a striking new design and then blunt it with dull colors. Camry’s palette of vibrant yet sophisticated hues includes Wind Chill Pearl, Ruby Flare Pearl, Brownstone, Galactic Aqua Mica, Super White, Celestial Silver Metallic, Predawn Gray Mica, Midnight Black Metallic, Blue Streak Metallic, and Supersonic Red. Camry XSE also offers a Midnight Black Metallic roof option paired with a choice of Blue Streak Metallic, Celestial Silver, or Wind Chill Pearl body colors.
Interior color choices, depending on exterior color, include Ash, Macadamia, or Black. The XSE and new TRD grades also offer an exclusive Cockpit Red interior that seems right out of a sports car.
Striking Yet Comfortable Cabin
The Camry’s interior is a fusion of functionality, futuristic styling, and impeccable craftsmanship to look and feel more like a luxury sedan. The dash design gives the driver a sporty cockpit-type feel while treating both the driver and the front passenger to more expansive outward visibility. A key visual element of this driver-focused design concept is a sweeping yet elegant character line that flows down from the instrument cluster and bisects the center console waterfall.
Surfaces throughout the cabin employ soft-touch premium materials. Using an approach typically seen in home furnishings, the design employs a mix of tones and hues throughout the space rather than following a strict color profile.
Long-distance seat comfort, long a Camry hallmark, is at its best in the new-generation model. Exquisite stitching on the front- and rear-seat surfaces is one example of the high level of craftsmanship found throughout the vehicle. Ventilated front seats are now available on the XLE grades (part of the Driver Assist Package).
More Information, Easier to Access
The Camry relays information to the driver via three available displays. A 7- or 8-inch central touch-screen display combining audio, navigation and climate control is seamlessly integrated into the center console in a modern, flush-surface design. Customizable features and smart phone-like touch screen icons ensure familiar and convenient operation.
For even greater functionality, Camry also offers an available 7-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster. An available 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD) projects vital information, including speed and turn-by-turn navigation directions, onto the lower portion of the windshield.
High Power with Class-Leading MPG
The 2020 Camry offers a choice of three powertrains: 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder, 3.5-liter V-6 and next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II).
The Dynamic Force 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is a strong but smooth operator, yielding an impressive 203 hp at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5,000 rpm (206 hp and 186 lb.-ft. for XSE grade). The four-cylinder L grade achieves an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city/41 highway/34 combined. (Fun fact: the 1983 Camry, the first in the U.S., had a 92-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission and has a manufacturer-estimated 23 mpg city/29 highway/26 combined fuel economy.)
The Camry’s four-cylinder engine uses a very high compression ratio (13:1) and Toyota’s innovative D-4S fuel injection, which employs both direct injection and additional port injectors. The engine is chock-full of Toyota’s most advanced technologies, including Dual VVT-i with VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing intelligent system by Electric motor) and laser-clad valve seats. A variable cooling system, variable oil pump and a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system all contribute to the engine’s high thermal efficiency and outstanding fuel economy.
Genuine V-6 Performance at a High Level
The 2020 Toyota Camry is one of the few midsize sedans to still offer a V-6 engine, and this one is a gem. The 24-valve DOHC 3.5-liter engine is equipped with the D-4S direct injection system, along with a specially-developed VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide) variable valve timing system for the intake, with VVT-i on the exhaust. The VVT-iW system can switch the engine to the Atkinson cycle, which reduces pumping losses by delayed closing of the intake valves. The bottom line: it goes fast but sips gas.
The power output is exceptional, with 301 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,700 rpm. Yet, the 3.5-liter V-6 engine comes with exemplary fuel efficiency with a manufacturer-estimated rating of 22 city/33 highway/26 mpg combined (XLE grade).
Eight Gears, No Waiting
Both the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine and the 3.5-liter V-6 are equipped with the Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers satisfyingly crisp-yet-smooth, quick-shifting to deliver a remarkable blend of performance and refinement. Close mid-range ratios improve passing performance.
The transmission’s torque converter offers a wider range of lock-up compared to the previous 6-speed automatic transmission for a more direct driving feel while contributing to enhanced fuel efficiency. Control logic optimizes precise matching of engine torque on downshifts for smoother transitions.
Toyota Hybrid System
The 2020 Camry Hybrid gets right down to business with a manufacturer-estimated mpg of 51 city/53 highway/52 combined on the LE grade. (XLE and SE Hybrid are rated at 44 mpg city/47 highway/46 combined.) The big jump in fuel economy over the previous-generation Camry Hybrid owes to the more efficient Toyota Hybrid System (THS II), which, like the other Camry powertrains, is also engineered to provide spirited performance and driving enjoyment.
The THS II system combines the output of the 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine and an electric motor (MG1), while using that motor and a second motor (MG2) for hybrid battery charging.
In the Hybrid, the gas engine has an even higher 14:1 compression ratio and is tuned to produce 176 hp and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. The hybrid system, however, gives the Camry Hybrid performance similar to the four-cylinder gas version. Sequential Shiftmatic technology allows the driver to “shift” the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT). It mimics a quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission via paddle shifters (on SE grade) or with the console-mounted shift lever.
The TNGA-K platform’s packaging allows the hybrid battery pack to be installed beneath the rear seat, rather than in the trunk area, as it was in the previous-generation Camry Hybrid. That enables a larger trunk while the battery’s position contributes to a lower center of gravity. As on the Toyota Prius, the power control unit (PCU) is lighter and more compact than in the previous Camry Hybrid, as a result of integrating microcontrollers and using a power stack structure. This construction allows the unit to be packaged directly above the transaxle, thereby lowering the vehicle’s overall center of mass and allowing a lower hood height.
Higher Tech Hybrid
The 2020 Camry Hybrid is equipped with a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack on all grades. Along with the traditional Camry Hybrid NORMAL, ECO and EV drive system modes, a SPORT mode allows for an increase in power from the hybrid system for improved acceleration response relative to pedal input.
The clever Auto Glide Control (AGC) feature helps to enhance fuel efficiency by calculating efficient coasting logic. AGC can be activated only when the vehicle is being operated in the ECO drive mode. When activated, AGC limits the loss of vehicle speed through engine braking, acting more like a neutral gear to allow longer coasting. An AGC indicator light illuminates on the multi-information display when AGC is in operation to alert the driver of reduced engine braking.
Toyota Audio
Camry drivers and passengers will enjoy enhanced connectivity and entertainment through the Toyota Audio multimedia systems. The base system uses a 7-in. touch screen display and for 2020 adds Android AutoTM to join Apple CarPlay® and Amazon Alexa® compatibility. The full-featured system includes AM/FM, SiriusXM® with 3-month All-Access trial, Siri® Eyes Free, hands-free phone capability, plus advanced voice recognition and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology.
Higher grades have Toyota Audio Plus with 8-in. touch screen display and add HD Radio, CD player and Connected Services. The latter include Safety Connect and Service connect (3-year trial), along with Remote Connect (6-month trial). In addition, WiFi Connect (6-month trial), powered by Verizon, allows up to five mobile devices to connect using 4G LTE.
Audio Plus is also offered with JBL® 800-watt, 9-speaker premium audio, which includes a subwoofer along with Clari-Fi® technology that restores fidelity to compressed digital music formats. The JBL system is also part of the top-of-line Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation, which provides over-the-air updates and includes a 3-year trial.
Remote Connect provides remote start and door unlock capability, vehicle status notifications, a guest driver monitor and vehicle finder. Available Service Connect can provide up-to-date vehicle information on fuel level, maintenance alerts, and more.
The L grade comes standard with one USB media port and one USB charge port, while all other grades come standard with two USB charge ports in addition to the one USB media port.
Star Safety
All 2020 Camry models have 10 standard airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, and Smart Stop Technology. All Camrys also come equipped with a standard backup camera.
Limited Warranty and ToyotaCare
Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. The Tacoma also comes standard with ToyotaCare, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.
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]]>The post A Course in Winning: Toyota’s First-Ever Camry TRD and Avalon TRD Models Arrive as TRD U.S.A. Celebrates Four Decades of Motorsports Championships appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>Now, fans can also experience track-inspired Camrys on the street with the first-ever Camry TRD. Joining the TRD family also will be the Avalon TRD, creating the best-handling and boldest-looking Toyota sedans ever. Both vehicles receive unique styling developed by Calty Design, Toyota’s U.S. design center.
The 2020 Camry and Avalon are the first Toyota sedans to earn the TRD badge with a comprehensive, track-tuned performance enhancement. TRD is Toyota Racing Development, the carmaker’s motorsports division which is also responsible for developing performance-enhanced production models and parts and accessories.
The Camry TRD and Avalon TRD models have arrived in dealerships, a great way to wrap up the 40th anniversary year of TRD U.S.A. (Fun fact: the top song on Billboard’s year-end pop singles music chart in 1979 was “My Sharona” by The Knack. Yes, it was that long ago.)
The new TRD sedans will have more company, too. The 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road model is the first-ever TRD-enhanced version of America’s best-selling compact crossover SUV. And, the TRD Handling Package for the 86 sports car inherits the track-tuned chassis hardware and tuning from the 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Edition, which was the first passenger car to wear the TRD badge.
“Over its four decades, the equity behind the TRD brand has grown massively,” says Dave Wilson, president of TRD U.S.A. “TRD has played a direct role in Toyota and Lexus winning the most prestigious motorsports events in America – the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Baja 1000, Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Indy 500, Daytona 500 and the Chili Bowl Nationals, to name a few. With the tremendous success TRD and Toyota have enjoyed in NASCAR, racing TRD-powered Camrys, a Camry TRD edition seemed like a natural.”
Racing Improves the Breed
Just as Toyota’s off-road-ready TRD pickups and SUVs inherit their performance heritage from a long line of championship off-road and desert race trucks, the Camry TRD and Avalon TRD reflect four decades of championship-winning auto racing history. The 2020 Camry TRD and Avalon TRD models blend V6 performance with greater agility, precision and body control, all packaged with attention-grabbing TRD design and everyday drivability.
“One of the keys to the success in every TRD edition vehicle is the commitment to authentic performance improvement, not just styling,” says Wilson. “If you see a TRD-badged car or truck, you can be assured it is not just a decal package. There is a tangible performance improvement – suspension, exhaust, intake tuning, etc.”
These exciting new performance sedans embody TRD’s holistic approach to vehicle enhancement. Notably, both are powered by Toyota’s renowned 301 horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine teamed to an 8-speed automatic transmission with sport mode and paddle shifters. The V6 exhales through a specially tuned TRD cat-back dual exhaust, giving both models a throatier idle and acceleration sound.
The Camry TRD and Avalon TRD models are as sophisticated and comfortable in their road manners as they are quick and agile. Thicker underbody braces increase torsional rigidity. TRD coil springs lower both sedans by 0.6 inches for a reduced center of gravity, while stiffer TRD stabilizer bars increase roll stiffness.
A unique set of TRD shock absorbers along with Bridgestone Potenza 235/40R19 summer tires (available only on Camry TRD) complete a chassis package that improves body control, handling agility, and steering precision. The 19 x 8.5 inch matte-black alloy wheels on both models reduce unsprung mass by 18 pounds compared to the 19-inch wheels on the Camry and Avalon XSE models.
Front brakes for both models are larger with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers compared to 12.0-inch rotors and single-piston calipers used on Camry and Avalon XSE grades. Brake performance was also tuned to provide more direct feedback, matching the sporty dynamics of the vehicles.
The TRD Look
Like all TRD vehicles, the 2020 Camry and Avalon TRD models are designed to stand apart. Calty Design Research, Toyota’s design studio, gave both cars striking aero elements, taking advantage of the edgier designs of the new-generation Camry and Avalon and aggressive stance of the TRD-modified chassis. On both models, red pinstriping, red-painted brake calipers, and red TRD badging complete the road-hungry look.
The Camry TRD is available in solid Midnight Black Metallic, or in one of three two-tone schemes featuring a Midnight Black Metallic Roof and Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl or Celestial Silver.
The TRD treatment turns the Camry cabin into a sport sedan cockpit with just the right touch of sophisticated luxury. Black Sport SofTex®-trimmed front seats feature fabric inserts, red accents and red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also has red stitching, and even the seatbelts are red. A shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, along with unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and a TRD multi-information display (MID) visual start exemplify the exceptionally high level of detail imparted by the TRD enhancement.
The Avalon TRD is available in Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic and Midnight Black Metallic. Its cabin features Black Sport SofTex-trimmed heated front seats with Ultra-suede inserts and red accents.
Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday … It Works
Long before Toyota introduced the 1997 Tacoma TRD Off-Road, the first production model to feature TRD performance tuning, the motorsports division had filled a trophy case. TRD made the Toyota name ubiquitous on podiums in Mickey Thompson’s SCORE World Desert Championship, CART, ChampCar Endurance Series, IRL IndyCar and IMSA.
“This success has elevated the reputation and credibility of TRD among the U.S. motorsports industry and fan base,” Wilson says. “The increased integration of TRD across Toyota’s lineup of cars and trucks is an intentional strategy built upon our mutual success.”
It All Began with a Sedan
After 23 years of the TRD logo adorning mainly trucks and SUVs, the Camry TRD and Avalon TRD models may have surprised some. Their addition to the line, however, seems entirely fitting, since Toyota’s racing history began with a sedan.
In 1957, Toyota entered its first competition, campaigning a Toyopet Crown in the grueling 1957 Mobilgas Rally Around Australia. A new motorsport division called Toyota Sports Corner (Tosco) was started to manage the effort. Weighed down with spare parts and extra fuel, the Toyopet had just 48 horsepower to move its 3,700 pounds through the 19-day, 10,500-mile competition.
Of the 87 cars that started the rally, 52 finished, among them the little Toyota in 47th place. It was a start. The following year, another Toyopet Crown won the inaugural Yomiuri Rally Around Japan. The rally performances helped establish Toyota’s reputation for durability.
Tosco’s victories continued in the 1960s, with three class wins in the inaugural Japanese Grand Prix in 1963 with a Toyota 2.0-liter Crown, 1.6-liter Corona, and 700cc Publica. In 1967, a Tosco-prepared Toyota 2000 GT sports car won the first Fuji 24-Hour Endurance Race and also set endurance records. Later, the Toyota 7 was the company’s first purpose-built sports racer, built for FIA Group 7 racing. With a 590-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, a squad of 7s swept the top four positions in the June 1968 Grand Cup of Suzuka. In 1969, the Toyota 7 won the championship in the World Challenge Cup Fuji 200-Mile.
The U.S. got a glimpse of Toyota’s competition spirit and ability in 1973. That year, the company entered a Corolla 1600 in Michigan’s Press-on-Regardless Rally and netted its first World Rally Championship (WRC) win.
TRD Begins a New Era
Tosco became Toyota Racing Development in 1976, with a mission to expand Toyota’s motorsports involvement and to develop parts and accessories for production cars. Three years later, its American wing, TRD U.S.A., opened with a similar mission. TRD looked at the entire motorsports landscape in America to see where Toyota vehicles could fit in and succeed.
In 1981, TRD partnered with Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers (AAR) team to compete in IMSA’s GTU (under 2.5-liter) class with the Celica, powered by a TRD-developed four-cylinder Toyota engine. By 1985, the collaboration had won 10 victories. They next entered the IMSA GTO class (over 2.5 liters) with a specially built, tube-frame Celica racecar, winning the 1987 championship — the first time a Japanese manufacturer had won that title.
In the early 1990s, Toyota sponsored Gurney’s AAR Eagle Mk. III car in IMSA’s GTP class, winning 21 out of the 27 races entered, and taking the 1993 championship.
Desert Runners
Toyota saw off-road racing as the ideal way to demonstrate the tough-as-nails durability of its compact pickup truck. In 1983, TRD teamed with Cal Wells III and his company, Precision Preparation, Inc. (PPI), to create one of the most successful partnerships in motorsports. With race vehicles based on Toyota’s pickup, Toyota/PPI dominated the Mickey Thompson (MTEG) stadium series and also won multiple SCORE World Desert races and championships with drivers Rod Millen and Ivan “Ironman” Stewart. In 1993 alone, Stewart won the Mint 400, Baja 500 and Baja 1000.
TRD took its off-road racing to TORC (The Off-Road Championships), and off-road successes continued.
Even before Toyota introduced the 1997 Tacoma TRD Off-Road, its dealers had been selling a line of TRD parts to enthusiasts to fortify their own vehicles. The success of the parts program and then the first factory TRD truck spurred Toyota to offer additional TRD models, eventually including today’s Tacoma TRD Sport for enhanced on-road performance and the Tacoma TRD Pro for all-out off-road capability.
For 2020, the line of TRD trucks and SUVs also includes the Tundra TRD Pro; 4Runner TRD Off-Road, Off Road Premium and Pro; Sequoia TRD Sport and Pro, and the first-ever RAV4 TRD Off-Road.
Toyota-Powered Open-Wheel Racing
In that same vein, the 2019 86 TRD Edition and now the 2020 Camry and Avalon TRD echo Toyota’s decades of success across the spectrum of tarmac racing. After IMSA, Toyota made a foray into open-wheel racing, including sponsoring and supplying engines for the Formula Atlantic series until 2004. TRD developed a version of the 4AG 1.6-liter engine used in Toyota’s MR2 sports car and Corolla GTS sport coupe, producing 240 horsepower and able to rev to 12,000 rpm. Among drivers in the series were Jacques Villeneuve, Jimmy Vasser and Patrick Carpentier.
Joining the upper echelon of open-wheel racing, Toyota’s engines won 38 races in CART and the IRL IndyCar Series. Critically, TRD engineered and built the engines for its cars in both series rather than buying and branding a third-party engine, as others had done. A TRD-powered car won the Indianapolis 500 in 2003.
American Institutions
By the 1990s, Toyota set its sights on two American motorsports institutions, NASCAR cup racing and NHRA drag racing. In 2000, Toyota became the first import car company to race in NASCAR, entering a V6 Celica in the Goody’s Dash Series. Four years later, in Toyota’s first year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Tundra drivers won 9 races and 13 pole positions.
That year, Toyota also won its first NHRA Funny Car victory at the Winternationals in Pomona, California, and four years later clinched the Funny Car championship. From 2010-2013, Toyota won four consecutive Top Fuel dragster championships.
By the early 2000-teens, Toyota had won championships in all three top NASCAR series. TRD USA engineers designed and built the V8 Tundra and V8 Camry engines for their respective NASCAR series. TRD USA has continued its astonishing run of victories, including in Daytona Prototype championship racing and USAC sprint cars.
Lexus has played a major role in TRD’s history, as well. Notably, Lexus-powered prototype-class cars competed in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series from 2004 to 2009, including winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona three years in a row, 2006-2008. For 2019, the newly formed AIM Vasser Sullivan (AVS) race team is campaigning two Lexus RC F GT3s in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
40 Years … and Counting
TRD has made racing – and winning – in America’s most demanding motorsports an integral part of Toyota’s DNA for four decades. That drive to succeed is the impetus behind the largest range of TRD models that Toyota has ever offered, from a track-tuned lightweight sports car to trail-taming trucks and SUVs. Now, TRD is challenging established sports sedans with the 2020 Camry and Avalon TRD models.
Here’s to a successful next 40 years.
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]]>The post Camry TRD and Avalon TRD Bring Track-Inspired Styling and Performance to the Streets appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>These two sedans have an appetite for curves and a distinct exhaust note bristling with attitude. With aerodynamic-enhanced styling by Calty, Toyota’s U.S. design studio, and chassis performance fortified by TRD, these revved-up Camry and Avalon models are the track-inspired sedans for which enthusiasts have been asking.
When Toyota introduced the new-generation 2018 Camry, sales of the sporty SE and XSE versions spiked. A year later, Toyota introduced the all-new 2019 Avalon, which came in an available XSE grade for the first time ever. These sedans are stylish and fun to drive. Toyota is pushing the limit even further with Camry TRD and Avalon TRD, both with greater track-inspired handling performance and styling. These models include most standard content from the Camry SE grade and Avalon XSE grade, combined with exclusive TRD chassis enhancements and tuning.
Roaring to Go
The new Camry TRD and Avalon TRD embody TRD’s holistic approach to vehicle enhancement. Notably, both are powered by Toyota’s renowned 301 horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V6 and 8-speed automatic transmission with sport mode and paddle shifters. The V6 breathes easier with a TRD-tuned cat-back dual exhaust, giving both models a throatier idle and acceleration sound.
Thicker underbody braces increase torsional rigidity, and unique coil springs lower both vehicles by 0.6 inches for a reduced center of gravity. Specially tuned shock absorbers and lighter 19 x 8.5-inch matte black alloy wheels complement the new springs and lower stance to improve body control, handling agility and steering precision. The front brakes are larger with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers compared to 12.0-inch rotors and single piston calipers found on XSE grades.
Brake performance was also tuned to provide more direct feedback, matching the sporty dynamics of the vehicle. Active Cornering Assist was also added to both models, reducing understeering by providing brake force to the inner drive wheel when the accelerator pedal is depressed.
Calty gave both models striking aero elements, taking advantage of the edgier designs of the new-generation Camry and Avalon and aggressive stance of the TRD-modified chassis. The aerodynamic body kit, which includes the front splitter, side aero skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser, blends a bold styling element and improves high speed vehicle stability to aid in driver confidence. Add to it red pinstriping, red-painted brake calipers, and red TRD badging and both sedans have a road-hungry look.
These TRD sedans will continue to deliver all the quality, durability and reliability that is synonymous with Toyota. Both models will come standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P, a suite of advanced driver-assist technologies.
Camry TRD
Toyota’s commitment to enthusiast drivers is apparent in the level of detail that TRD and Calty poured into these models.
On Camry TRD, the matte-black 19 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels are a half-inch wider, yet 3.1 pounds lighter (each) than the 19 x 8.0-inch alloy wheels on the XSE grade. Paired with Bridgestone Potenza 235/40R19 summer tires, this combination reduces unsprung mass, increases lateral grip, and quickens turn-in response.
Camry’s chassis is further enhanced with stiffer coil springs and front/rear sway bars for increased roll stiffness of 44% in the front and 67% in the rear. To complement spring changes, a unique set of TRD shock absorbers were developed to control vehicle vertical and roll movement during spirited driving while still maintaining a plush on-road ride.
In addition to the TRD aero body features, Camry TRD wears a gloss black front grille with sport mesh insert and black exterior badging. Available colors include the appropriately dramatic Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic — all three of which are two-toned — and Midnight Black Metallic. Polished stainless steel TRD exhaust tips on the catback exhaust complete the exterior makeover.
Inside, the Camry TRD driver will be seeing red – in the trim, that is. The cabin is decked out with Black Sport SofTex®-trimmed front seats with fabric inserts, red accents and red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also has red stitching, and even the seatbelts are red. A shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, along with unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and a TRD MID visual start up complete the cabin upgrades.
Camry TRD will be on sale in September and have an MSRP of $31,040.
Avalon TRD
TRD’s modifications work the same magic on the Avalon as they do on the Camry. Avalon TRD gets Black Sport SofTex-trimmed heated front seats with Ultra-suede inserts and red accents. Its interior is also adorned with red-stitched TRD-embroidered headrests, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching, red seatbelts, a shift knob with an embossed TRD logo and red stitching, and unique TRD floor and trunk mats.
The matte-black 19 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels paired with Michelin 235/40R19 all-weather tires reduce unsprung mass by 18 pounds compared to the 19-inch wheels on the 2019 Avalon XSE. As on Camry TRD, the unbridled tone of the 301-hp V6 bellows through stainless steel TRD exhaust tips. The red pinstriping on the aero body elements, and the red seatbelts and accents complete Avalon TRD’s styling.
Avalon TRD is on sale in dealerships now and is available in Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic and Midnight Black Metallic. It has an MSRP of $42,300.
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]]>The post The Real Cannonball Run: Toyota Production Engineers Get Gritty in One Lap of America appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>By the end, she held off a McLaren 720S supercar to tie for the blue ribbon in the One Lap of America Wet Skid Pad Challenge (“OLoA”) — a measure of vehicle traction, suspension, braking and handling.
“It was an incredible experience,” said Brophy, Toyota’s first female production engineer to participate in the race. “It was intimidating, but so rewarding.”
Even more so, since Brophy helped build the car.
A Legendary Rally
Every year during the first week of May, gearheads from across the country gather for the 3,500-mile, eight-day marathon, a grueling event where drivers compete in time trials at some of America’s toughest venues with long transit drives in between. If the race sounds familiar, that’s because OLoA is the successor to the Cannonball Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Run, a cross-country road race that inspired the film “Cannonball Run,” starring Burt Reynolds and Roger Moore.
Participants in OLoA aren’t just professional race car drivers — they range from enthusiast car owners to engineers. For years, teams of Toyota production engineers and technicians have competed in both OLoA and the 24 Hours of Lemons.
Brophy’s win marks the first time the Toyota PE Team from Georgetown, Kentucky, has taken first place overall in an OLoA event. Toyota engineer Andrew Brownfield, representing the PE Team behind the wheel of a 2013 Toyota 86, scored a single event win in the drag competition on day four at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, and in time trials on day six at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Illinois. The PE Team and their colleagues from West Virginia’s White Buffalo Racing Team, which ran a 2018 Camry 4-cylinder, were jointly awarded the Mike Hedin Sportsmanship Award.
“The teams ran strong all week with no mechanical failures and no safety incidents,” said Toyota engineer Justin LaChausse, attributing team prep and collaboration to their winning performances.
Better Engineers Make Better Cars
But it’s not all just fun and games. Toyota’s teams work together as support crews, and they troubleshoot issues on the fly. The engineers come from a variety of departments, each bringing their own unique skill set to the competition.
“You get to work with people that you wouldn’t normally work with day to day,” said Brophy, who works in Final Assembly to help introduce new models. “So, we all have our own area of expertise. Everybody brings something different to the table, and everybody can learn a lot from one another.”
But Brophy points out that OLoA is much more than a team-building exercise. The race also teaches the production engineers crucial lessons in vehicle safety and performance, often giving them instant feedback that directly impacts how to improve Toyota’s vehicles.
Despite the eight days of early morning wake-up calls, three hours of sleep and convenience-store dinners, the drivers are already looking forward to next year.
“Everyone has a lot of fun together because we’re all doing what we love,” said Brophy. “Motorsports are our passion, and you get to share that. That’s camaraderie.”
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]]>The post Toyota Drivers Victorious in Grassroots Racing appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>“It helps a lot when BMR (Bill McAnally Racing) brings me a great car like they did,” said Kraus. “They prepared me a great car here. We had to push Sonoma behind us from what happened there. Overall, we came to (Oregon) knowing that we won last year, kept up the momentum and won this year.”
Toyota drivers have now won eight of the last nine races at the 0.375-mile Oregon race track. Kraus’ teammates Hailie Deegan (third) and Brittney Zamora (fifth) also finished in the top five.
With the result, Kraus extended his points lead to eight points over Deegan.
Erik Jones was the highest-finishing Camry driver in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Chicagoland Speedway where he finished seventh. It was his second-consecutive top-10 finish.
“The DeWalt Camry was good, and it was good at the end,” said Jones. “I really think we had a top-four car. We just gave up to much on the second-to-last run. We were loose and fell back to 15th and just had to work up from there. It made it kind of difficult to get the track position from there.”
Martin Truex Jr. (ninth) also finished in the top 10.
Brandon Jones drove double-duty at Chicagoland Speedway, racing in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). In both races, Jones was the highest-finishing Toyota driver, finishing runner-up in his Tundra and fourth in his Supra.
“All in all, this is where we need to be,” said Jones following the NXS event. “We had great stages. Great points day – it’s what we need to do to get back into this thing.”
Jones moved to 11th in the NXS point standings while teammate Christopher Bell is third.
A day earlier, Jones led a contingent of six Toyotas in the top 10 in the NGOTS race as all three Kyle Busch Motorsports entries scored top-six finishes. Jones won the first stage and led 13 laps (of 150). Fellow Tundra driver Austin Hill earned his first career-series pole award, starting from the first position and leading 11 laps before finishing fifth.
“I don’t know if we could have done something else with pit strategies or not, but that’s why we had good pit position there,” said Hill. “We did learn a lot and that’s the most fun I’ve had in a truck race in a long time.”
ARCA
Toyota Racing development driver Harrison Burton finished second in the ARCA Menards Series event at Chicagoland Speedway. It was Burton’s fifth-consecutive top-10 result in his fifth ARCA start this season.
“We had a great night with the Venturini Motorsports team,” said Burton. “We aren’t running for the driver’s championship over here, but they are leading in the owner’s points and it’s really important for us to keep them up front.”
POWRi | USAC
Toyota-powered drivers swept a pair of midget car features with Kyle Larson winning Saturday’s USAC National Midget Series event at the Dirt Oval at Route 66 Raceway, while Christopher Bell dominated the POWRi feature at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway.
Toyota drivers led all 30 laps in each event as Bell collected his 55th national midget series win, the most by any Toyota-powered midget driver in history.
What’s Next
Erik Jones and the NASCAR Cup Series head to Daytona International Speedway where the Camry driver scored his first career-series win last season. The Cup Series races on Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC with the NASCAR Xfinity Series opening the weekend at the superspeedway on Friday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN.
NHRA returns to action, heading north to New Hampshire where the series will compete at New England Dragway on Sunday, July 7 at 1 p.m. EDT on FS1.
In grassroots racing, POWRi will run back-to-back races at Fairbury American Legion Speedway (Illinois) and Angell Park Speedway (Wisconsin) on July 6 and July 7, respectively.
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]]>The post Camry Funny Car Victory in Charlotte appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>NHRA
Shawn Langdon came from behind to drive his Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry to his first-career Funny Car victory in Sunday’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte. With the win, the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion became just the 17th driver in NHRA history to triumph in both Top Fuel and Funny Car history. J.R. Todd also advanced to the second round on Sunday for Toyota. All four Kalitta Motorsports drivers have now claimed a victory in the first six NHRA events this season.
“To get this win is very gratifying,” said Langdon. “I went 0.069 in the final and left fourth. It just shows how good these guys are and how hungry they are to win. There’s so many things going on in my life, that I just sat in the car and closed my eyes and said just give me this one time right here, I need to use it. I don’t say that too often, but this time it worked.”
In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta was the highest finishing Toyota driver as he advanced to the second round.
NASCAR
Kyle Busch was the highest finishing Toyota driver in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Talladega Superspeedway with a 10th-place finish on Sunday. Busch continues to lead the MENCS point standings and is the only MENCS driver to earn top-10 results in the first 10 races of the season.
“When you got older tires and cars started to ill-handle a little bit, it was interesting,” said Busch of the racing on Sunday. “It was just interesting how you could be all over the place and not just be stuck. Guys were moving a little bit, you could make some moves a little bit. There was a section of race where the bottom lane didn’t move anywhere, and the top lane didn’t move anywhere – we were stuck where we were at for like eight laps.”
Supra driver Christopher Bell finished third in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) event at Talladega. Bell led the race twice for 16 laps and qualified for the ‘Dash 4 Cash’ this Saturday at Dover International Speedway, competing for another $100,000 check.
“To get out of there with a top-four and be in the Dash 4 Cash next week is something I’m really proud of and that was what we had circled,” said Bell. “Obviously, we want to win, but to be able to get a top-four and know that we have a shot at $100,000 at Dover is something I’m smiling ear-to-ear about.”
ARCA
Todd Gilliland earned his second-career ARCA Menards Series victory on Friday at Talladega. Gilliland took the lead on Lap 43 of the race and led the field to the checkered flag.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Gilliland. “We won in our first start at Toledo in 2015 and it seems like we’ve been so close every time we’ve raced in ARCA since then, but something would jump up and keep us out of victory lane. We were finally able to get the weight off our shoulders here today. It’s a huge relief and I think it’s exactly what I needed to get my confidence up over on the Truck side too.”
Gilliland held off a last lap charge from fellow Toyota driver Riley Herbst, who finished runner-up in the race, while Camry driver Brandon Lynn rounded out the top-three.
FORMULA DRIFT
Three Toyota drivers advanced to the Round of 16 in Saturday’s Formula DRIFT, ‘Round 2: Scorched’ in Orlando, Florida. Toyota Corolla Hatchback driver Fredric Aasbø was the top qualifier and advanced to the Top 16 before he finished ninth. Toyota 86 drivers Ken Gushi and Ryan Tuerck also advanced to the Round of 16 on Saturday.
POWRi
The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League’s three scheduled weekend races in the Midwest were cancelled due to inclement weather.
What’s Next
Toyota racers will compete in multiple series this upcoming weekend. NASCAR heads to Delaware where the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS), NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series (NGOTS) are set to compete at Dover International Speedway. The MENCS race is on Sunday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Fox Sports 1. The Xfinity Series race takes place at Dover on Saturday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m. EDT on FS1, while the Truck Series competes on Friday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. EDT on FS1.
NHRA travels to Georgia to compete at Atlanta Dragway with television coverage on Sunday, May 5 on FS1 beginning at 6:00 p.m. EDT.
Lexus and AIM VASSER SULLIVAN return to action in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with their first sprint race of the season at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course on Sunday, May 5 with coverage on NBC Sports Network beginning at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
The ARCA Menards Series races in Tennessee at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EDT.
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]]>The post 2018 Camry and Sienna Get Spring Makeover Thanks to CarPlay and Amazon Alexa Retrofit appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>To expand these features to current owners, Toyota is excited to announce that both Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility can be added to 2018 Camry and 2018 Sienna vehicles.
“We are always striving to bring highly desirable services to our vehicles. This new program enables CarPlay and Amazon Alexa on some of our most popular vehicles already on the road.” said Steve Basra, vice president of Connected Technologies for Toyota Motor North America. “It’s a great opportunity to surprise and delight our existing customers.”
Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa installation will be performed at Toyota dealerships. All 2018 Camry and 2018 Sienna owners will receive a notification from Toyota encouraging them to contact their dealer for additional details or to schedule an appointment.
Separately, although Toyota has previously announced plans to install Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology for V2X on vehicles in the U.S starting in 2021, we have decided to pause our deployment at this time. This decision is based on a range of factors, including the need for greater automotive industry commitment as well as federal government support to preserve the 5.9 GHz spectrum band for DSRC. We will continue to re-evaluate the deployment environment as we work toward creating a safer and more efficient driving ecosystem.
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]]>The post Carma Project and Toyota Unveil Spanish-Language Version of Peer-to-Peer Takata Airbag Recall Platform appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>According to data provided to Carma Project by the independent Takata Monitor and sourced from the United States Census Bureau, zip codes where a majority of residents are of Hispanic descent are more likely to have unrepaired faulty Takata airbags than those with lower concentrations of residents of Hispanic descent. The Takata Monitor’s research indicates that only approximately 52 percent of vehicles equipped with potentially deadly Takata airbags have been repaired in regions with a high concentration of Hispanic residents (between 80 and 100 percent). Conversely, in areas where the Hispanic demographic makes up a lower percentage of the population (20 percent or less), completion rates are significantly higher.
Regions reflected in these data have been identified by zip code, according to information provided by the United States Census Bureau. For specifics, please see chart.
“Given the urgency and magnitude of this recall, targeting the Spanish-speaking community is part of an overall outreach strategy,” said Carma Project CEO Fabio Gratton. “The higher rate at which unrepaired airbags exist within this community makes it important that we raise awareness there.”
This latest update from Carma Project will further help address the recall of deadly Takata airbags, which is labeled “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history” by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall continues to impact vehicles built by 19 different automakers, with a projected 70 million airbags expected to be recalled by the end of 2019. In the face of more than a dozen deaths and hundreds of alleged injuries industry-wide, millions of drivers and passengers continue to be at risk.
Despite extensive efforts by manufacturers, such as recall letters, public service announcements, and dealer interventions, consumer response to fixing these potentially life-threatening airbags continues to be lower than hoped, with 1 out of every 3 affected airbags still unrepaired.
“We know that friends and family can play a powerful role in influencing how people make decisions about safety, particularly in the Hispanic community” said TMNA Vice President of Product Quality and Service Support Tom Trisdale. “Our partnership with Carma Project is designed to motivate and incentivize people to share critical information about the recall, including how to get the remedy completed for free.”
Carma Project was designed to facilitate the process of people helping people by alerting them to the Takata recall. By combining the trust of word-of-mouth communication within a game design that infuses incentives for individuals alerting their friends and family, the Carma Project hopes to connect Toyota with hard-to-reach owners who haven’t brought in their vehicle for repair.
In connection with Toyota’s support of the Carma Project, people can earn financial rewards by signing up for Carma Project and sharing Takata airbag recall information with their friends and families. A simple license plate photo or typing a VIN into a recall lookup tool on Carma Project’s website allows involved Toyota, Lexus, and Scion owners to immediately take action and book an appointment for a free Takata airbag fix. Referring individuals can also earn financial rewards for every eligible Toyota, Lexus, or Scion that is fixed.
To learn more about the program, how it works, and to sign up, please visit www.CarmaProject.com.
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]]>To learn more about Toyota Motorsports and to hear interviews with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, and more, tune into the all-things-Toyota podcast, Toyota Untold, Episode 3: "Drive Fast, Turn Left."
For more on Toyota Racing, click here.
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]]>The post Toyota Racing Development Turns Up Heat for Camry and Avalon appeared first on Toyota USA Newsroom.
]]>Many Toyota enthusiasts already know the equity behind the TRD badge seen on the brand’s hardcore, off-road-ready pickups and SUVs. Conquering the Baja, however, is just one of many feats won by TRD vehicles across the motorsports spectrum. Now, TRD brings its track tuning to sedans that blend greater agility, precision and body control with attention-grabbing design and everyday drivability.
When Toyota introduced the new-generation 2018 Camry, sales of the sporty SE and XSE versions spiked. A year later, Toyota introduced the all-new 2019 Avalon, which came in an available XSE grade for the first time ever. These sedans are stylish and fun to drive. And Toyota is pushing the limit even further with Camry TRD and Avalon TRD, both with greater track-inspired handling performance and styling. These models include all standard content from the Camry SE grade and Avalon XSE grade, combined with exclusive TRD chassis enhancements and tuning.
Camry TRD and Avalon TRD will both be model year 2020 and available in fall 2019.
Roaring to Go
The new Camry TRD and Avalon TRD embody TRD’s holistic approach to vehicle enhancement. Notably, both are powered by Toyota’s renowned 301 horsepower DOHC 3.5-liter V6 and 8AT with sport mode and paddle shifters. The V6 breathes easier with a specially-tuned cat-back dual exhaust, giving both models a throatier idle and acceleration sound.
“Track-tuned” means exactly that. TRD engineers developed the dynamic characteristics through extensive testing at Toyota Arizona Proving Ground, TMC Higashi-Fuij Proving Ground (Japan), and MotorSport Ranch (Texas).
Thicker underbody braces increase torsional rigidity and unique coil springs lower both vehicles by 0.6 inches for a reduced center of gravity. Specially tuned shock absorbers and 19 x 8.5 inch matte black alloy wheels complete a suspension package that improves body control, handling agility, and steering precision. The front brakes are larger with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers compared to 12.0-inch rotors and single piston calipers found on XSE grades. Brake performance was also tuned to provide more direct feedback, matching the sporty dynamics of the vehicle.
Calty gave both models striking aero elements, taking advantage of the edgier designs of the new-generation Camry and Avalon and aggressive stance of the TRD-modified chassis. The aerodynamic body kit, which includes the front splitter, side aero skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser, blends a bold styling element and improves high speed vehicle stability to aid in driver confidence. Add that with the red pinstriping, red painted brake calipers, and red TRD badging and both sedans have a road-hungry look.
These TRD sedans will continue to deliver all the quality, dependability, and reliability that is synonymous with Toyota. Both models will come standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P, a suite of advanced driver-assist technologies, among these Pre-Collision Braking.
Camry TRD
Toyota’s commitment to enthusiast drivers is apparent in the level of detail that TRD and Calty poured into these models.
On Camry TRD, the matte-black 19 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels are a half-inch wider, yet 3.1 pounds lighter (each) than the 19 x 8.0-inch alloy wheels on the XSE grade. Paired with standard Bridgestone Potenza 235/40R19 summer tires, this combination reduces unsprung mass, increases lateral grip, and quickens turn-in response.
Camry’s chassis is further enhanced with stiffer coil springs and front/rear sway bars for increased roll stiffness of 44% in the front and 67% in the rear. To compliment spring changes, a unique set of TRD shock absorbers were developed to control vehicle vertical and roll movement while maintaining on-road TRD ride quality.
In addition to the TRD aero body features, Camry TRD wears a unique gloss black front grille with sport mesh insert and black exterior badging. Available colors include the appropriately dramatic Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic — all three of which are two-toned — and Midnight Black Metallic. Polished stainless steel TRD exhaust tips on the catback exhaust complete the exterior makeover.
Inside, the Camry TRD driver will be seeing red – in the trim, that is. The cabin is decked out with Black Sport SofTex®-trimmed front seats with fabric inserts, red accents and red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also has red stitching, and even the seatbelts are red. A shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, along with unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and a TRD MID visual start up complete the cabin upgrades.
Avalon TRD
TRD’s modifications work the same magic on the Avalon as they do on the Camry. Avalon TRD gets Black Sport SofTex-trimmed heated front seats with Ultra-suede inserts and red accents. It also gets red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching, red seatbelts, a shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, and unique TRD floor and trunk mats.
The matte-black 19 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels reduce 18 pounds of unsprung mass compared to the 19-inch wheels on the 2019 Avalon XSE. As on Camry TRD, the unbridled tone of the 301-hp V6 bellows through stainless steel TRD exhaust tips. The red pinstriping on the aero body elements, and the red seatbelts and accents complete Avalon TRD’s styling.
Avalon TRD will be available in Supersonic Red, Windchill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic and Midnight Black Metallic.
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]]>Turning Even More Heads: Camry Nightshade
The 2019 Camry, already known for its stylish exterior, adds the Nightshade Special Edition package to the SE grade on which it’s based to give a blacked-out look that is sure to turn heads. Black 18-inch wheels and a black spoiler highlight this special edition package.
Additional exterior accents continue the theme in the form of black window molding, black mirror caps, a black shark fin, and black door handles, while black exterior Toyota emblems complete the Nightshade’s look. The Camry Nightshade Special Edition will be available at dealerships in 2019 in colors Midnight Black Metallic, Celestial Silver, and Super White.
Highlander Nightshade is Sexy and Sleek
The Highlander Nightshade Special Edition makes the SE grade even sportier, adding black accents to its rear spoiler, shark fin antenna, exterior door handles, and mirror caps. Black 19-inch wheels, complete with black lug nuts, will match the black headlights and fog lamps. The Toyota emblem on the back will get the same treatment.
The Highlander Nightshade Special Edition will be available this January in a limited run of 5,000 total units, available in Midnight Black Metallic, Predawn Gray Mica, Salsa Red Pearl, and Blizzard Pearl.
The Camry and Highlander Nightshade Special Editions comes on the heels of the 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition announcement last month, which added the same black accents to its Limited grade. The 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition is available in select colors: Midnight black Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic and Blizzard Pearl.
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