Toyota has just unveiled the all-new Camry dedicated to the NASCAR Series, and let me tell you, it's far from the friendly four-door sedan offered to the general public.
In addition to a new version, the Japanese manufacturer's race car also changes its name for 2024. The Toyota Camry TRD gives way to the Camry XSE. This marks the fifth car that Toyota puts on the NASCAR series track.
Camry and Performance
When you see the Toyota Camry, the last thing you'd imagine is a race car. Well, that was true a few years ago, but the Japanese manufacturer's sedan now boasts a much more sporty and dynamic appearance. This is precisely why the brand drew much inspiration from the regular car in designing the Camry XSE NASCAR. David Wilson, the President of Toyota's performance development division (TRD), mentioned, "the most important thing, really, in the process, is racing with cars we sell," in the official NASCAR Series press release. According to him, this is "what allows fans to recognize the Camry as opposed to the Mustang and the Camaro…". Ford has just presented the Mustang Dark Horse, and Chevrolet the Camaro ZL1. The latter will probably be replaced as the Camaro is nearing the end of production.
The new Camry XSE NASCAR offers a racier and more sophisticated look than the previous model. The car features several striking design elements, such as the front section with a grille that opens and extends into the headlights, which Toyota refers to as "the hammerhead style." The front bumper has huge air intakes, giving a very aggressive appearance to the front of the Camry XSE when combined. Even though the latter has only two doors, it closely resembles the regular car, which makes it visually intriguing.
Where the NASCAR production car and the general model differ the most is in terms of mechanics. The new generation production Toyota Camry is equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with standard hybrid technology. On the other hand, the NASCAR car is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V8 engine that produces 670 horsepower. This is what makes the competition so intriguing. Nevertheless, Toyota and the NASCAR Series are working on developing clean fuels while promoting electrification.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
