DETROIT — Unveilings and non-merciful ribbing were on the schedule for Toyota on Press Monday of the North American International Auto Show when President Akio Toyoda appeared to debut the 2018 Camry series alongside special guests from the NASCAR circuit.
Following a preview video featuring Toyoda himself in a spokesperson search vignette graced also by stars such as William Shatner, Toyoda stepped on stage to redirect focus to the intended “stars.”
“So I didn’t get the job, [but] the role should go to these Camrys,” he declared. Rolling into the spotlight were new XLE and XSE models that that Toyoda mentioned belonged to two different formats: “Sexy and really sexy!”
“Our goal was to make the XLE much more premium, and the XSE sporty and distinctive,” he said, adding that the designs’ dimensional details were accomplished through what he called Toyota New Global Architecture.
In an interval video, it was that the 2018 Camry would be marketed with three new powertrain options: as a 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.5 4-Cylinder, and a Toyota Hybrid System abbreviated as THS II, according Toyota site releases.
Also in the pit were Camry models set to debut as part of NASCAR’s racing line, with Toyoda introducing Senior V.P. Bob Carter, 2015 Sprint Cup Champ Kyle Busch and Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
The aspect of just a 2015 win did not help Busch that day, with Toyoda humorously testing his response to public pressure (“Seriously, what happened?”). Yet any awkward stumble that Toyoda could cause was brushed away by Busch with “We’ll get them next year!”
With the promise of Toyota investing $10 Billion during the next five years, President Toyoda reiterated the company’s mission “to simply make this new Camry as unexpected and provocative as possible.”
In a closing declaration of thanks, Toyoda shared his gratefulness “for all your feedback, input and support; for pushing us to be better. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and in fact, it’s what drives us to create cars like this new Camry. A car I’m truly proud to call a Toyota!”
For more information on the new series, please visit the following page: http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2017-naias-detroit-toyota-camry.htm
