Hey, yes CALTY is involved in many US models and rarely succeed in designing non-USA models. Just like how the Lexus LS design never is delegated to CALTY. CALTY has two studios in both Newport Beach, California and in Ann Arbor, Michigan, so I'm guessing you're close to one of them. They always have some form of input, especially for US production models. All Toyota pickups since the 2016 MY are solely designed by CALTY, including the 2007-14 Tundras before that. Tacoma was originally designed by CALTY in the early 1990s, while the 2nd generation model was by Hino Trucks in Japan in the early 2000s.

The 6th generation Camry SE had primary input from CALTY, while the current model (have photos of the whole design process), was designed mostly in Japan. SE/XSE/(later TRD) were exclusively designed in the USA during 2015, after the main car was finished in December 2014 and signed off by execs in early January 2015. I am figuring since about 2018, USA became frustrated with Toyota Global Headquarters and began developing their own AWD model based on the RAV4. That's why the AWD Camry and ES are not V6. It was a USA only development, which marked the beginning of USA taking over Camry development. This was probably where Japanese management shifted Toyota Technical Center Ann Arbor to take ultimate responsibility for all regions the car will be sold in going forward.

Like the 2016 Tacoma, which was entirely developed by TMNA in California and in Michigan (2012-15), the 2025 Camry has echoed that formula. Similar story with several generations of Avalon and of course, first generation Venza. Add the Grand Highlander and TX to that as well. Camry is definitely going to be dropped from several markets as a result, which clearly was the big project for the 8th generation to become a global offering, failing to meet targets.

I can't really get into it, but from obtuse as it gets Kirk Kriefels, clickbait "news" articles, and litany of sources, I'm frankly letting people earn their confusion. I have heard about prototype vehicles and powertrains for this program. Testing with numbers provided to me, production dates and launch dates, delays, background development info overall, and more. I'm not excited about it, so I never really say much. Plus, it's confidential information I shouldn't even be sharing and mostly haven't. Type in a search bar on Google or YouTube for anything on this car, then you'll see why I am annoyed. It's not being redesigned for 2024, it does not have a TTV6, it does not only have an eCVT, it does not have a manual transmission, it does not look like most of those renderings which have altered the sheetmetal WAY TOO much, and you won't see it until late autumn outside of camouflage when it's revealed. The next reveal will be the 4Runner next winter.

From Motor Trend to TFL to Car and Driver, Motor1, and etc, so much misinformation and nonsensical hearsay, hurting public knowledge of what is coming. I haven't watched a lot of those videos, but from seeing comments and video descriptions, it's pretty clear to me a lot of fallacies exist within their reporting. I don't think anyone is going to bother rebutting false claims from accurate knowledge the way I would, so it is often left challenged and people wrongly believe it to be true. The car does have more AWD options for once and a very powerful Hybrid Max, plus Prime being developed. Yeah you lose the V6, but it's replaced with something more powerful.

The 8th generation Camry is great car and anyone who wants an XSE V6 or TRD V6, needs to get it by next March.


It's a minor delay, the original EOP date was July 2023 per scheduling going back to 2018. Bear in mind 380D development barely began in 2019 and for this one, they require roughly 3-4 years for a Major Minor Change vs a Full Model Change (like the 2018 Camry). It's a glorified facelift per that term, just like the 2023 Accord.

The expected launch date was always going to be late 2023, not MY 2023 in 2022 like a lot of people were expecting (and I warned against). It shifted back about 2 years ago to early 2024, when some test processes weren't going to be even possible until January 2024. The current model will be in production for 6-7 months from July, then wrap for 9th generation. Q1 2024 start, spring launch. Car will be revealed in November. The Accord (2QD Project) was a less enthusiastic effort and I expected both of these redesigns to be extremely carryover, after both were new from scratch for 2018.

Honda since 1997 has abided strongly by a 5 year cycle for the Accord in 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, and narrowly missed launching the Accord on time for 2023. Before that it was 4 years, which was horrible headache internally to keep up. They weren't able to respond on their own time to market conditions, when being forced to start the next generation effort before the active new generation even went into production. So they extended it to 5 years, so they called launch a new model and then get started on the replacement the year after. It takes 4 1/2 years for most Japanese automakers to develop cars like these and sometimes 5-6 years. This is why cycles have gotten longer, but even so it's a matter of shifting resources.

When I saw the very light refreshes for 2021 on both the Accord and Camry, it became obvious that their replacements would be very carryover and the goal was to minimize the cost of changing cosmetic details. This wasn't the case with the more significant 2015 Camry and 2016 Accord midlife facelifts, were expensive to execute. Plus, save the differentiation for the "redesigned" next gen cars. It's all turning out like I expected, save for the 6-7 month delay for the Camry.

FYI everyone, the Accord sedan is dead in 2027 when production of the latest generation model concludes. I learned that sometime in late 2021, even before the new 2023 debuted. Honda is done with that car and cares much more about the Civic. The Accord will go Crosstour again (ala Crown and Outback), but probably designed better this time around and maybe hybrid only. The goal was to use the 2018 Accord basis for 10 years, then replace it with an all new vehicle currently under development as a crossover and no longer a sedan. Toyota has too many vehicles I imagine to bother doing that with the 2031 Camry.

Of course they are, but they have zero credibility as news outlets. Thankfully there's Japanese sources over the American and Euro glorified blogs. Funny how they haven't leaned on any of their Toyota "sources" to find out when the 2024 Tacoma will be revealed, yet I pretty much leaked that already for them? LOL

I knew that Toyota was possibly going to discontinue the Camry in several global markets and JDM, but since I do not comment in Camry specific spaces, it never really came up as relevant, seeing as I'm based in the USA and it's not going away here yet.

 

Okay but the real version is the V6. The 4 cyl is the econobox spec.

 

I don't disagree with you. I would only buy the V6 (I've owned two of them), but the fact is, most people are happy with the I4. If you look at North American and world wide sales numbers, the V6 Camry sales dwarf the four cylinder Camry since the 90's

 

think you've got that reversed... 4 cylinder camry sales dwarf (far outnumber) v6 camry sales - i'm guessing 20:1.

 

won't be 'real' much longer...

 

​​​​​​ That's what I meant to say. I got the wording reversed. Thanks for correcting that. 20:1 sounds about right

 

If the V6 Camry is 5% of sales you can't blame Toyota for killing it.

 

V6 Camry sales have been that way since I bought my first one in 1999. In 2006 the cost of a fully loaded LE four cylinder was $15k, and an LE with the 3.0L was nearly $30k. The SE 3.3L was even higher, I bought mine around $26k because the 2007 model year was out and I bought one of the few remaining 2006 models that the dealerships were trying to get rid of to clear leftover inventory. Most people don't care about the engine and opt for the lower cost, lower mpg model

 

I didnt realize Major Model Change exists. MMC is - minor model change. And then you have FMC - full model change.

The fact that Toyota considers something FMC, does not mean it is all new platform that has very little to do with existing platform.

 

That’s true for most car models from any manufacturer.

The fact remains that the V6 version really made the Camry a competitive offering. I have had the current gen as a rental many times and its a competent car with great room inside. If it wasn’t for the SUV hoopla, I still feel its more than satisfactory transportation for most families going from point A to point B. Its definitely much better than a RAV4.

The main entries of Camry, Accord, Taurus, Maxima, Galant had good run from 80s to 2000s. Unfortunately its a dying segment soon to be replaced by weird styled Evs with LCD touchscreens and yoke steering wheels.

 

​​​​​​As someone who has owned and driven multiple V6 Camrys, I agree. Very reliable, comfortable car. Drives smooth as butter. FWD kinda of sucks, but I could live with it. If I hadn't made the move to EV'S, I would definitely own another one

 

The Toyota Century gets no more than double digit sales every year and Toyota has kept it for a century.

 

Then why do most buyers get the 4? The obvious answers are price and fuel economy.

 

All else equal, FWD (and AWD) are two of your best friends when the roads get slick.

 

I am sorry about that mistake! I forgot, like one of our resident former TMNA product planners once nicely (not so much now) said to me, Major Minor Change.

For proof, look here.



In August 2015, Toyota began production of this for the 2016 model year.


2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab Long Bed V6 SR5 4x4 (2015)

2012-15 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab Long Bed V6 SR5 4x4

Seem quite similar to the other before it? Definitely was, so that's what Toyota considers the descriptor Major Minor Change. Mid Model Change applies as you know to midlife updates differently. Toyota themselves consider the new 2025 Camry a Major Minor Change and some people who have been told about it, consider a facelift even. Crain's Automotive News considers it to be "freshening", not a full redesign. It's already on TNGA and the longest running TNGA-K vehicle, like the Accord, it hasn't been expected to deviate much from outgoing car's styling. The design was already signed off in mid-2021 and they've been testing prototypes of the new car at proving grounds since early 2022. Spy shots will be coming out in some weeks, I guess around May or June.