The new Toyota Camry and Avalon are already pretty aggressive-looking sedans – seemingly hellbent on shedding their anodyne image – but clearly there are a number of people who believe that’s not enough. There’s so many of them, in fact, that the Japanese carmaker has seen fit to introduce even sportier variants of these models in the United States, tuned by Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
Based on the Camry SE and Avalon XSE models respectively, the Camry and Avalon TRD’s upgrades go beyond the skin, with the “track-tuned” chassis on the two cars having been developed at the Toyota Arizona Proving Ground, the Higashi-Fuji Proving Ground in Japan and the MotorSport Ranch in Texas.
Power comes from a 3.5 litre naturally-aspirated V6 with D-4S direct injection and VVT-iW, producing 301 hp and 363 Nm and paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Both models come with a specially-tuned catback dual exhaust system that provides a throatier idle and acceleration sound.
Underneath, Toyota has fitted thicker underbody bracing to increase rigidity, as well as new coil springs that provide a 15 mm drop in ride height. Together with the revised dampers, they improve body control, handling agility, and steering precision.
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