10 Things to Expect from the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD

Are you prepared for the hottest ever factory Toyota Camry? If the latest model's extroverted nature and surprising athleticism weren't enough to convince you that the Camry's staid persona isn't actively being eroded by Toyota, the 2020 Camry TRD just might. This all-new trim level will be getting a sportier suspension tune and wild styling accents that build on the current Camry's sport-themed XSE trim level. Swipe through our gallery of the 2020 Camry TRD as Toyota has presented it so far (final specifications are forthcoming) to find out what to expect.

TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development, and it has served as the performance-minded arm of Toyota for decades. Of late, the TRD name has been applied mostly to upgraded trucks and SUVs equipped for serious off-roading. The 2020 Camry TRD marks the outfit's first recent foray into pavement pounders (TRD also is fettling the larger Avalon sedan for 2020).

How serious is TRD about this sportier Camry model? It's installing red seatbelts in it. This flourish typically is reserved for high-performance sports cars and sportier versions of luxury cars, not family sedans like the Camry. Their presence in the Camry TRD should be indication enough of Toyota's aspirations here. Other interior upgrades include subtle red-colored stitching, a TRD shift knob, and red-hued dashboard lighting.

Six-cylinder engines are increasingly rare in today's mid-size sedans, as most automakers are switching to turbocharged four-cylinders for their sedans' upgrade options. So consider it neat that Toyota is sticking with the 3.5-liter V-6 that's optional on the regular Camry for the TRD model. The only competitor that still has a V-6 is the all-wheel-drive Ford Fusion Sport, although it also gets two turbochargers.

Curiously, TRD isn't juicing the Camry's V-6 engine for any extra power. The Camry TRD will make the same 301 horsepower as the non-TRD Camry with the V-6, although it will have a freer-flowing exhaust system (terminating in a pair of large, round exhaust tips). It's difficult to complain about the lack of extra horsepower when the Camry XSE V-6 on which the TRD is based reached 60 mph in 5.8 seconds in our testing.

Without offering specifics, Toyota claims the Camry TRD's body shell will be stiffer than a regular Camry's. The underbody will benefit from additional bracing.

Backing up its intent to make the Camry TRD "track tuned," Toyota will bolt a firmed-up suspension to the TRD's firmed-up body shell. There will be stiffer coil springs, TRD-specific shocks, and new anti-roll bars front and rear that increase the Camry's resistance to body roll by 44 percent and 67 percent. The entire suspension is set to lower the Camry's ride height 0.6 inch, a boon for handling as much as for looks.

Beyond their snappy good looks, the Camry TRD's 19-inch matte-black wheels are each said to be 3.1 pounds lighter than their counterparts on the non-TRD Camry. The rims also are a half-inch wider and wear Bridgestone Potenza summer tires for added grip.

Most people will zero in on the Camry TRD's red-painted brake calipers, but few will notice that they're now two-piston units up front (the Camry XSE's are single-piston pieces) and clamp onto 0.9-inch-larger brake rotors. Toyota is targeting improved stopping power and better brake feel through the brake pedal.

Yes, Toyota really went Fast and Furious on the Camry TRD's body kit. The most flamboyant aspect, of course, is that tall, angular rear wing-easily the most aggressive such aerodynamic (or styling) accent ever to grace a Camry. Other add-ons include the black-colored winglets around the lower-body region front and rear (with thin red piping included!) and a finned diffuser element between the tailpipes.

As with the non-TRD Camry XSE model, the Camry TRD will be offered with a two-tone paint option in which the roof is painted black. The treatment is daring and spicy for the mid-size segment, especially given how the whole roof isn't black (see how it splits the roof pillars behind the rear doors?).