Toyota Builds 7-Cylinder, 700-Horsepower CamryCar and Driver (Car and Driver)The ranks of cool Japanese performance cars are growing by the hour, it seems. Subaru just announced three new manual transmission models, and Toyota is focused on bringing additional GR models to the U.S. But some of these Japanese tuner cars are nuttier than others, as exemplified by a dual-engine, seven-cylinder Toyota Camry revealed over the weekend at the 24-hour Super Taikyu Race, as brought to our attention by our Hearst Autos relatives at Car and Driver.Toyota was up front about the fact that this Camry concept is not for public sale, but that doesn't make it any less wild. The pedestrian sedan's drivetrain has been turned completely around, with the G16E-GTS three-cylinder from the GR Corolla replacing the traditional four-banger in the nose; the turbocharged 300-hp triple-cylinder powerplant exclusively drives the front axle. To make matters more extreme, Gazoo Racing's new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder has been installed in the trunk, and supplies 400 horsepower to the rear axle.The all-wheel-drive Camry puts down a total output of 700 horsepower, theoretically making it one of the quickest Toyota sedans ever. (Currently, Toyota's most potent Camry offers 232 hp.) It's not immediately clear which transmission the concept Camry is using, though we suspect a significantly beefed-up automatic or dual-clutch unit would be required.AdvertisementAdvertisementEither way, the likelihood of this dual-engine sport sedan becoming a production model is nil. That won't stop us from ogling its mechanicals and design, though. Beyond the absurd powertrain, Toyota paid homage to Japan's prolific tuning culture by giving the dual-engine Camry a prominent side-exit exhaust system, stretched fender flares, and a towering wing.A second Camry concept was also revealed at the Japanese endurance race, designed in the Bōsōzoku-style with an Americana twist. Wild paint meets whiskey aesthetics, including a 1980s-era digital gauge cluster and a manual shift knob of a glass on the rocks. (The Kentucky reference is apt, given that the Camry is currently manufactured in the Bluegrass State.) Towering, wide exhaust pipes are the most prominent feature of the Bōsōzoku-style sedan, but the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a rear-wheel-drive conversion are also, allegedly, part of the build.The impetus for such bonkers Camry builds came from inside Toyota, with Toyota Racing being pitted against Gazoo Racing; Gazoo Racing, naturally, took the most performance-forward approach, but Toyota Racing's Bōsōzoku model has a special place in our hearts. Plus, the appearance of two performance-focused Camrys has us hoping that Toyota will someday build a GR Camry with the new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder under the hood.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
