2024 Toyota Camry: Speculative renders appear in official Toyota video – UPDATE

September 2023: Toyota USA digs Theo's new Camry too!

If only they'd bothered to ask...

More than a year since our mate Theo dropped some handsome next-gen Camry renderings in our inbox, Toyota USA – or, at least, whichever agency they engaged – has used them in a new advertisement.

Posted to the Toyota USA YouTube page, one of the renderings appears on the cover of a faux comic book titled 'The Amazing Toyota'.

I've checked with Theo this morning, and he confirms the images were used without permission or even a heads-up.

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"Whaaat?? Shut the front door! How did you find this?" he asked, before confirming no contact had been made. The image was likely lifted directly from his social media, although they've appeared on other websites in the past year.

I suspect the agency responsible for the ad didn't actually know that the images were speculative and not official marketing images – which, really, says a lot for Theo's talent. It's probably a good time for them to cut him a good fat cheque, though...

Mike Stevens

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July 2022: New Camry imagined

The next-generation 2024 Toyota Camry sedan is expected to launch within the next few years, likely adopting hybrid-only powertrains.

A new rendering by Theottle has imagined a redesigned version of the world’s fifth best-selling vehicle ahead of its launch, previewing a look inspired by the recently-unveiled Crown Sport crossover.

The design reveals an evolutionary look over the current, eighth-generation Camry, with a familiar three-box sedan body joining Crown Sport-derived elements, including; slim two-tiered LED headlights, a full-width rear light bar, a sharp lower front bumper, gloss black highlights, and a rear lip spoiler.

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The current-generation Toyota Camry was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2017.

Last year, Toyota recorded 13,081 Camry sales in Australia – making it the top-selling medium car – contributing to 681,000 global sales, including 313,795 in the United States.

The humble sedan has been the best-selling passenger car in the US for the past two decades.

With the growing shift to electric power, the ninth-generation Toyota Camry is likely to retain the current GA-K architecture – potentially keeping the same 2825 millimetre wheelbase and underbody as a significant update.

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The platform also underpins the latest RAV4, Kluger, Lexus NX and RX, and the Crown Crossover.

However, a larger footprint is probable to allow for more room inside, particularly for the Chinese market where rear legroom is favoured.

Under the bonnet, the new-generation Camry is expected to see the deletion of the 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 engine in overseas markets, replaced by the all-new 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill, producing around 198kW of power and 420Nm of torque.

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Above: Toyota Crown Crossover

Toyota Australia deleted the atmo V6 from the local Camry line-up in 2021, while the turbocharged four-pot will replace the outgoing V6 in the Kluger large SUV early next year.

A more-powerful hybrid version of the 2.4-litre turbo is available on the 2023 Toyota Crown and Lexus RX, offering around 250kW of power and an advanced all-wheel-drive system capable of sending up to 80 per cent of power to the rear wheels.

This powertrain could form the basis of the rumoured high-performance GR Camry variant; however, Bob Carter, the outgoing executive vice president of sales at Toyota Motor North America, ruled out electrification for GR models – at least for the foreseeable future.

“When would we see the first electrified GR model, you may ask? "In five months? No. In five years? Quite possibly," he said.

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Above: Toyota Crown Crossover

In addition, the Japanese marque is likely to favour electrified versions of the Camry globally – another move foreshadowed in Australia, with one non-hybrid variant remaining in the current five-strong Camry range.

A plug-in variant sibling to the RAV4 Prime is possible, with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and high-output electric motors for a 225kW total system output.

The plug-in RAV4 can travel around 70 kilometres in all-electric mode with an 18kWh lithium-ion battery, making a Camry Prime an ideal setup for use as a fleet, taxi or rideshare vehicle.

A battery-electric variant of the next-generation Camry is unlikely, at least initially.

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Above: The current 2022 Toyota Camry

Inside, new technology will include a larger, widescreen infotainment system running Toyota’s latest kit, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ‘Hey, Toyota’ voice functionality, connected navigation and over-the-air software updates.

A digital instrument cluster and smartphone-based remote key are also likely.

Toyota is quietly marking 40 years since the Camry first debuted in 1982, with a minor update planned later this year.

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Above: The current 2022 Toyota Camry

So far, the company has announced new exterior colours and interior trims for the 2023 Camry, with full details to be announced in the coming months.

A new-generation Honda Accord is around the corner, but it is currently unknown if the new model will reach Australian shores.

The mid-sized sedan has declined for many years, with several rivals removed from sale in Australia – such as the Volkswagen Passat sedan and Subaru Liberty – but the Camry continues to have a strong lead due to its popularity with fleet, taxi and rideshare applications.