Aero tweaks, suspension tuning, and throaty exhaust set these sedans apart from Toyota’s other offerings.
Not long ago we’d be wrinkling our eyebrows at the idea of a performance-spec Toyota Camry and Avalon. But then came the Toyota 86, and the reborn Supra, and it’s not like the Camry hasn’t been getting a bit more interesting in the last few years. Now, Toyota has dropped its official announcement for the Camry and Avalon TRD – a pair of unlikely sports sedans that will seek to inject a bit more excitement in the brand.
How will that happen? We saw a video preview of both cars earlier this week showcasing some of the aesthetic upgrades, and there are a few. Each sedan wears a body kit designed by Calty that includes a front splitter, side aero skirts, a rear diffuser, and the all-important decklid spoiler. The sporty look is further enhanced with an infusion of red, which shows up on pinstriping, brake calipers, and with the TRD badging. Both cars also ride on black TRD-spec 19-inch wheels, but the Camry gets an extra dose of black trim with a unique gloss black front grille.
Inside there’s a similar dressing-up in the form of red accents and stitching for both cars. TRD embroidered headrests are part of the package, as are red seatbelts, red shift knob, and TRD-specific floormats. The upscale Avalon gets suede inserts in its heated front seats, while the Camry gets fabric inserts.
If, by this point, you’re thinking the TRD treatment is all show and no go, you’re at least partially wrong. The primary mechanical changes are found in the suspension, where both cars get just over a half-inch drop and tuned shocks for better bite. Additional unibody bracing is added to increase rigidity, and larger 12.9-inch front brake rotors are fitted with new dual-piston calipers. In this instance, the Camry receives additional attention in the form of stiffer spring and sway bars, increasing roll stiffness by 44 percent in the front and 67 percent in the back. Apparently, Toyota believes Avalon buyers will still favor a little more comfort in their luxury sports sedan.
Sadly, Toyota doesn’t list any power upgrades for either car. That means the 3.5-liter V6 underhood will soldier on with 301 horsepower, which isn’t bad by any stretch but won’t necessarily set the Autobahn on fire. The TRD package does, however, include a new cat-back exhaust system which Toyota says helps the engine breathe better, while sounding a bit more butch in the process.
The new Camry and Avalon TRD models will have limited availability starting in the fall of 2019.
Source: Toyota
Toyota Racing Development Turns Up Heat for Camry and Avalon
• Toyota’s First-Ever Camry TRD and Avalon TRD
• Track-Tuned Chassis Upgrades
• Aggressive Cat-Back Dual Exhaust
• Exclusive Matte-Black 19-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Calty-Designed Aero kit
• Unique TRD Interior Trim
• Limited Availability
PLANO, Texas (Nov. 15, 2018) – Toyota is once again bringing its racing pedigree to the road as it unveils the Camry TRD and Avalon TRD, two sedans with an appetite for curves and a distinct exhaust note bristling with attitude. With aero-enhanced styling by Calty, Toyota’s U.S. design studio, and chassis performance fortified by Toyota Racing Development (TRD), these revved-up Camry and Avalon models are the track-tuned sedans that enthusiasts have been asking for.
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 twotoned
— 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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