2015 Toyota Camry to get TRD factory performance package

Toyota plans to make TRD factory performance packages and parts for the 2015 or 2016 Toyota Camry. For those Camry fans who may not be familiar with TRD, it stands for Toyota Racing Development. Until recently, the TRD group developed parts for the Tacoma and Tundra off-road trucks. However, TRD has been involved in the Camry NASCAR racer for many years. Toyota has indicated that this will be the year that racing pedigree starts to trickle down to the Camry.

Camry XSE V6
The most likely Camry to benefit from the TRD group’s bolt-on parts magic is the new XSE. The XSE is the Camry that has a sportier look and feel. The SE used to be the sportier Camry, but this year the XSE became the cool trim. The XSE is available with a very popular 4-cylinder that makes the Camry class-competitive with its peers in the mid-size family car market. However, it is also available with a 268 horsepower V6. That engine coupled to its paddle-shifted 6-speed automatic is capable of spinning the tires at 40 MPH, as we recently discovered in our testing. This is the model that with a few tweaks could be very, very interesting.

Toyota Comments on TRD Camry
Bill Fay, the general manager of the Toyota Division of TMS, let the cat out of the bag in a recent interview with Autonews.com. While discussing the idea of expanding the TRD group’s magic, Mr. Fay said "I think we'd probably start with Camry and see if there is a little magic we could work with some of the TRD equity that we have." Asked when this could happen Mr. Fay told AutoNews this could happen as soon as late this year, which means on the 2015 Camry, but more likely in 2016.

Camry XSE Attracting Younger Buyers
One other interesting tidbit about the Camry XSE was a comment that Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.'s senior vice president of automotive operations made. He explained that the average buying age for the LE version of the Camry is 57, but that the average for sportier Camry buyer is just 45. That is the same as the Lexus IS sports sedan buyer’s age.

Source Note: We first saw this reported at TundraHeadquarters.com by Tim Esterdahl

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