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2015 Toyota Camry 2.0 turbo could add some zest to the company's leading seller

Toyota has confirmed both a new Camry design, and separately, a new 2.0 liter turbocharged engine in the Lexus family. This is could be a match made in heaven.
2015 Toyota Camry 2.0 Turbo

Automakers in the US market struggle to make space between their models and the 2015 Toyota Camry will be no different. Luckily for Toyota its Camry is front wheel drive and its similarly sized Lexus models are rear, or all-wheel drive. When it arrives late fall the new Camry will have a dashing new design crafted after the new Corolla and new Avalon, both of which saw sales gains after the styling changes were applied. However, Toyota has not (yet) announced any new engines for the Camry. That could soon change.

New Turbo Engine First Appears this Fall In Lexus
In just a few short months the 2015 Lexus NX 200t compact/mid-size crossover will begin sales in the US market. This vehicle will be the first in the Toyota/Lexus/Scion to use the company’s new 4-cylinder, 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. Toyota and Lexus executives have made it no secret that the engine will eventually migrate to other models and brands in the family. This new engine in the Toyota Camry would fill a need the company has recently created.

New Trims Already Announced In 2015 Camry
The 2015 Toyota Camry will have a new model trim that combines the popular sporty look of the SE and the plush and powerful XLE with its available V6 engine. Called XSE, the trim will provide customers with an option for both sporty looks and comfort. However, this leaves space for a dedicated sporty Camry that does not intrude on the Lexus IS line of rear-drive, V6 compact sport sedans. If Toyota were to offer a new trim level with the Camry SE looks and turbocharged engine, the model might stand alone well in the line-up.

Camry Turbo Could Be a Great Family Addition
A Camry SE turbo in 2015 or 2016, priced below the V6 XSE, might draw in customers from the Scion family looking to step up to a family car, but not give up driving excitement. If the 2.0 Turbo Camry has better fuel efficiency than the current V6, and we assume it would, the car could make sense economically as well as stylistically.

Torque News is scheduled to drive the new NX 200t crossover in July and we will issue a full report. Our full attention will be on the NX, but we will try to also consider our impressions of this new high-toque engine and its possible applications in Toyota’s most popular vehicle.

Related Stories:
2015 Camry gets an extreme makeover
Lexus NX 200t has a very familiar engine design that works well for BMW - Details here

Automotive News
Toyota

Comments

Matthew (not verified)    June 23, 2014 - 7:18PM

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Well, if Toyota can do *anything* to spice up the Camry, it would be welcome. I've driven lots of them - mostly as rentals on the road - and every time I drop them off saying: "I'd never, ever, ever, buy one of these. It's like driving a marshmallow."

To be fair, it seems like both the Camry and Honda's comparable Accord have become rather "dull" in the past few years. I don't find either very attractive or inspiring (disclaimer: I'm an Acura TL owner). In my mind, they have become the "Oldsmobiles" of their day. Not that anybody really has inspiring design these days (maybe Cadillac to a small degree). I find it impossible to tell the tail end of a Hyundai from a Mercedes some days; but it's not just boring design that is a challenge to Camry. At least the models you get when renting one are simply dull. Sure, the rentals don't have all the glitzy navigation and stuff, but really, the controls knobs, steering wheel and seating is soooooo 1980.

Oh well; I'm probably not a Camry candidate ever. But when I see how some companies have tried to really push their image - even Lincoln and Jaguar are giving it a go - I wonder if Toyota shouldn't just dump their design team and start fresh. There are only so many ways to resculpt the PlayDoh; then you just have to crumple it up, and start again.

Looking forward to your review after you drive it!

John Goreham    June 23, 2014 - 9:53PM

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Excellent comment. Thank you for posting this view, which many share. I understand your point. Rental fleets do no favors to these nameplates. Toyota makes about 500,000 Camrys per year and Honda about the same number. The question I always ask folks that say the Camry or Accord they drove was dull is this: Are the ones you drove the sportier SE V6 Camrys or the sedate, four cylinder LE and XLE models. With regard to the Accord, similar question - Have you driven the V6 Accord coupe with the 6 speed manual (which it has made for a decade or so)? I have driven the Accord on the track and was amazed. I owned two V6 Accords and they were as fast and handled as well as many much more expensive German "sports sedans" I have tested. Designs on family cars like this are targeted to the vast middle, so I won't hold my breath for Ferrari looks. But underneath these cars, if selected carefully can really be great drivers. Check out this story for a counterpoint: http://www.torquenews.com/1083/2014-honda-accord-v6-manual-amazing-racetrack

Cya (not verified)    July 20, 2014 - 7:19PM

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Ok so the Camry was the number one mid-sized selling sedan for 2013 and you want them to fire the design team ? Are you an idiot ? First of the Acura rear end looks like it was stolen right off a Cadillac and 2nd your "rent a cars" are probably LE models and not the SE which includes paddle shifts, sport trimmed seats, steering controls, fog lamps (etc. etc.) and an EXCELLENT 6 speed Triptronic transmission that can change from sport to auto and back in an instant without buck or grind and will also auto shift into "sport like" mode while in automatic based on pedal pressure. Also, the Camry SE comes standard with four wheel disk brakes, ABS, Independent front and rear wheel suspension, 6 speed Triptronic Transmission (best transmission I've ever owned), Front and side airbags, Bluetooth hands free audio, steering wheel controls, touch screen radio panel and leather trim; and, I got mine out the door for $21,000 tax/tag/title 4K off sticker without fuss from the sales agent. It also has @179hp (transmission adds a pull feeling of at least 20 more hp) and 30hwy/22city/25combined (I get 26mpg all day long). Also, as far as speed goes I eat standard 2.5 Accords, Altimas, and Hyundais all day long. I passed a Honda (in a legit race on the highway) at @ 115mph like he was going backwards and I had just shifted from 4th to fifth. The Toyota governs out at 125mph at @4,500rpm IN FITH GEAR!!! It still has ONE MORE GEAR as it's a 6 speed transmission. A bully boy chip adjustment and this car does over 140MPH EASY. Personally, I think that's a plenty of spice from a 2.5liter normally aspirated four cylinder at $21K out the door. ... P.S I try to race TLs all the time but they never bite, they always wimp out... lol

Val (not verified)    November 6, 2014 - 3:00PM

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Your review is so spot on. I have a 2014 Camry SE with the XSP trim and I have to say that it's the best car that I've ever driven and it's fast! I was nervous about going to a 4-cylinder engine but was tired of the horrible 12mpg in my Dodge Challenger R/T. Before that, I had a Mercedes SLK350. The Camry not only handles better than all of the previous cars I've had, but is roomy, comfortable and stays at an average of 26mpg even with mostly heavy, city traffic and fast acceleration. Sales numbers don't lie, there's a reason why this car is #1.

XTad (not verified)    July 28, 2015 - 6:46AM

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So you are basically saying that they should spice up the boring (whatever it means) Camry by taking avay it's marvelous sounding V6 and replacing it with just another boring and dull turbo four?

John Goreham    July 28, 2015 - 3:25PM

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Not sure if the comment was in reply to my story XTad, but I am careful not to call the Camry boring. Particularly in comparison to its segment peers. In the story I suggest the 2.0t might be an added engine that would expand the line - "If Toyota were to offer a new trim level with the Camry SE looks and turbocharged engine, the model might stand alone well in the line-up. - - A Camry SE turbo in 2015 or 2016, priced below the V6 XSE, might draw in customers from the Scion family looking to step up to a family car, but not give up driving excitement..."

Kurt Carstens (not verified)    July 10, 2014 - 10:59AM

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The Camry is a fine car. Granted, the exterior styling and interior can do with more up to date styling. They never sold particularly well in the UK. The replacement for the Camry in the UK is the Avensis, which is also rather dull and does not sell well. The new 2015 Camry looks a lot better. I wonder if Toyota will have a rethink of bringing the Camry back to the UK?

John Goreham    July 28, 2015 - 3:28PM

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Although I am not an expert on UK vehicles my travel there leads me to believe that the Camry is the wrong size to do well in the UK. Just like it is the wrong shape and size to do well in it own home market, where the Toyota Aqua (Prius c) is usually the top selling "car."

JB (not verified)    August 5, 2014 - 1:49PM

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Auto companies are in the business to make money. Period, full stop. Whoever thinks Toyota should fire their design team and come up with a new one needs to give their heads a shake. The Camry has been the best selling car in the US for almost 15 years straight. The Corolla is the biggest selling model of all time. Toyota is the largest and one of the most profitable car companies in the world. I would say give their design team a bonus! If you don't like the cars, buy another brand. You would seem to be in the minority though...
Just saying.......