Toyota GR Camry: Performance version rendered as executive hints at GR sedan

Toyota’s Gazoo Racing performance division could be focusing on a different body style – and it’s not an SUV.

While the sub-brand has fettled with three- and five-door hatchbacks and two-door coupes, a four-door sedan could form the basis for the next GR model.

That is according to Motor Trend, which recently spoke with Bob Carter – the outgoing executive vice president of sales at Toyota Motor North America.

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Toyota GR Camry rendering by Theottle.

The official claimed customers would need to “stay tuned” concerning a performance sedan, while indicating an electrified GR car could “quite possibly” arrive within the next five years.

With the GR Corolla hatchback only revealed in recent months, there is a possibility the hot hatch could morph into a sedan to compete against the Hyundai i30 Sedan N (or Elantra N) and Subaru WRX, amongst others.

This seems like the most obvious suggestion, as parts from the GR Corolla can be easily transferred across to its sedan twin.

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Above: Japanese-market Toyota Camry with GR Parts

However, another possibility could be to extend the GR treatment to Toyota’s venerable mid-size sedan, the Camry.

With this in mind, rendering artist Theottle has imagined what a GR Camry could look like.

Drawing inspiration from the GR Corolla, highlights for the high-performance Camry include; a unique front bumper design, vented bonnet, front quarter air outlets, side skirts, bulkier rear wheel arches and a squared-off rear bumper.

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Toyota GR Camry rendering by Theottle.

Performance brakes with red GR-badged calipers sit behind black 19-inch alloy wheels sourced from the US-market Camry Nightshade special edition.

Under the bonnet, the GR Camry could pick up a number of powertrains from the Toyota parts bin.

One option is a modified version of the turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder petrol engine fitted to the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, although it’d likely require more power to facilitate the Camry’s added body weight.

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Above: the 2007 TRD Aurion, powered by a supercharged 3.5-litre V6

A supercharged version of the naturally-aspirated ‘2GR-FKS’ petrol V6 found in the Kluger large SUV, and in the local Camry until early 2021, is another possibility.

This engine currently produces 224kW of power and 336Nm of torque, with forced induction a likely necessity to reach the 250-300kW and 500-550Nm outputs necessary for a performance GR sedan.

More than a decade ago, Toyota Australia developed a locally-produced TRD Aurion powered by a supercharged variant of the previous ‘2GR-FE’ six-cylinder engine.

The short-lived four-door was produced in an effort to target the Subaru Liberty GT and Mazda 6 MPS (and the V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive Holden Commodore SS and Ford Falcon XR8).

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The new Lotus Emira V6 coupe continues to use this supercharged Toyota-sourced ‘FE’ engine, where it is mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission – making it a perfect fit for the GR Camry, albeit with a supercharger bolted to the newer ‘FKS’ iteration.

However, stricter global emissions standards could restrict Toyota Gazoo Racing to a smaller-capacity four-cylinder mill, such as the all-new 2.4-litre turbocharged engine found in the Lexus NX and RX and the US-market Toyota Kluger (known as Highlander outside of Australia).

To meet additional performance needs, electric assistance (such as the 270kW/550Nm hybrid setup in the new-generation RX 500h) would be a likely requirement, but electrification was ruled out by Carter – at least for the foreseeable future.

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

The petrol-electric combination in the RX500h includes a high-output e-axle mounted to the rear wheels for all-wheel-drive grip, although the GR-Four system or an on-demand torque-vectoring AWD setup would be more likely.

Carter could also be referring to a less-potent GR Sport-badged variant of the Camry for the North American market with the 2.4-litre turbo, to replace the 3.5-litre V6 that remains available for that market.

Toyota currently offers the Camry with GR Parts for the Japanese market, while its United States line-up includes a Camry TRD with styling enhancements, but no additional power.