For the first time in 30 years, the Toyota Camry will once again be offered with an AWD system. The Toyota-developed Dynamic Torque Control AWD system will be available as a standalone option for the North American Camry LE, XLE, SE and XSE grades. This is after Toyota Motor North America Research and Development in Saline, Michigan, conducted extensive market research and determined that there is demand for midsize sedans with an AWD system.
Interestingly, the Toyota Camry was never planned to have an AWD system, so this development process became an all-American effort developed exclusively for North America. Because the TNGA platform is shared across numerous Toyota models such as the RAV4, its engineers were able to utilize various components from other vehicles to create the AWD Camry.
Do note, however, that it is not a matter of simply getting the Toyota RAV4’s AWD system and then transplanting it into the Camry. Rather, the development involves floor structure modifications, plus the use of an electronic parking brake and a saddle-style fuel tank with an optimized capacity for AWD models rather than the flat-style tank in the FWD models. Other components added to the Camry AWD include the RAV4’s multi-link rear suspension with some modifications and tuning to suit the sedan body and a modified propeller shaft from the all-new Highlander midsize SUV.
It isn’t just the Camry that’s getting the AWD treatment as Toyota has also added this system to the Avalon full-size sedan. The Avalon also required a few structural modifications in order to utilize the new AWD system.
The Camry’s new AWD system will only be available with the 2.5-liter Dynamic Force inline-4 petrol engine that produces 202 hp on most variants and 205 hp for the Camry XSE. Power is sent through an 8-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission. The Dynamic Torque Control AWD system has the ability to send up to 50% of the engine’s power to the rear wheels in adverse conditions.
The Toyota Camry will go on sale in the early spring of 2020 while the Avalon AWD will go on sale as a 2021 model year in the fall of 2020.
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