When Toyota took the wraps off their latest secret TRD project at the 2014 SEMA show, the car within was stock 2015 Toyota Camry XSE. Perhaps, they missed the point of SEMA? This show is all about wild, crazy, accessories, and aftermarket. However, the joke was on us.
Toyota started the engine and it sounded different at idle. Something is different, but what is it? The driver revved the engine a few times and there was no doubt, there is a V8 or something similar under the hood! Need to have a look-see under the hood. However, the whole body hinged up, like a proper drag racing funny car!
This is a fully built, tube-chassis dragster with a tuned 5.7L V8 engine up front. This engine has its origin in the Toyota Tundra, but it also has a TRD supercharger and special tuning to make around 612 horsepower at the dyno. That’s not all. It also has a nitrous system for 100, 200, or 300 shot of horsepower. So this “Camry” is capable of over 900 horsepower on full boil.
However, the Camry body is fully stock, with working doors and stock interior panels. This is nice trick Toyota played on us. Lets hope it translates to more fun vehicles in the showroom. Check out TFLcar first drive of the 2015 Toyota Camry XSE.
Check out this insider TFLcar video from 2014 SEMA show.
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFL since 2011.
