© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Toyota at SEMA
Toyota asked four of its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers to put their own spin on the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry by creating custom cars for the 2017 Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show in Las Vegas. And in a direct challenge to the NASCAR drivers, TV host and racing analyst Rutledge Wood also created his own Camry. In addition, Toyota unveiled two special versions of the new C-HR crossover.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Martin Truex, Jr. Camry
The driver of the No. 78 NASCAR Cup Car, Martin Truex, Jr. teamed with the Toyota Motorsports Technical Center to build his take on the new 2018 Camry. After deciding on the right shade of black paint, all chrome pieces were treated with cobalt Cerakote, and then the paint and trim received a matte clearcoat. A front splitter and a rear spoiler add additional downforce, and American Racing built forged 20-inch matte wheels that are replicas of the wheels on Truex’s Cup Car.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Martin Truex, Jr. Camry
The engine receives an AEM cold air intake and Toyota Racing Development-tuned stainless steel exhaust system. The suspension gets upgraded to Tein coilover shock absorbers, and the custom wheels are shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 tires. The stock brakes are replaced with a StopTech Big Brake Kit, including 2-piece slotted rotors and forged 4-piston calipers with Hawk Performance brake pads. The all-black theme carries over to the interior with black leather, black stitching and MTJ logos embroidered on the head restraints.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Kyle Busch Camry
The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch worked with Chuck G Fabrication to create the Rowdy Edition II Camry. Finished in black paint with a bare metal finish for the front splitter, rear spoiler and rear diffuser, this Camry features a chrome wrap over the roof and A-pillars. Busch worked with American Racing to design custom 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 tires.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Kyle Busch Camry
Performance upgrades to Busch’s Camry include an AEM cold air intake with a K&N filter, Tein coilover suspension, and a TRD stainless steel exhaust system with Chuck G Fabrication custom exhaust tips. The front binders get replaced by a StopTech Big Brake Kit with 2-piece drilled AeroForm rotors and Hawk Performance pads. Inside, the Rowdy Edition II Camry features black leather with red stitching and Rowdy Edition logos.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Denny Hamlin Camry
Winner of the 2016 Daytona 500 and 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the year, Denny Hamlin wanted to create a Camry that would be ready for the track as well as the street. Hamlin’s Camry is finished in white with Hamlin’s signature colors of black and chrome red accents to highlight 3-inch wide fender flares. The extra room allows custom 10-inch-wide and 20-inch tall American Racing alloys wheels that fit 285/30R20 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Denny Hamlin Camry
Inside, Hamlin added Recaro seats in black leather with Schroth Racing 4-point harnesses and custom harness bars for the track. Hamlin’s Camry also features Tein coilover shocks, an AEM cold air intake, a K&N filter, a TRD stainless exhaust, a StopTech Big Brake Kit and 2-piece drilled AeroForm rotors.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Daniel Suarez Camry
The 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year, Daniel Suarez worked with the Toyota Motorsports Technical Center to create a Camry that is both elegant and sporty. The exterior features pearl white paint with black roof and A-pillars, with an additional custom front splitter, a rear wing and a rear diffuser. Suarez helped design custom aluminum ductwork for the hood. The 20-inch wheels are Rotiform VDA 3-piece forged alloys.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Daniel Suarez Camry
Inside the Camry, Suarez added custom leather seats with his signature stitched in red, as well as carbon fiber trim. Performance upgrades include an AEM Cold Air Intake, a K&N filter, a TRD stainless exhaust, Tein coilover suspension, a StopTech Big Brake Kit with 2-piece slotted rotors, forged 4-piston brake calipers, Hawk Performance pads and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 tires.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rutledge Wood Camry
To compete with the NASCAR drivers, racing analyst Rutledge Wood also created a custom Camry for SEMA, working with Real Time Automotive Solutions to create a wide-body Camry finished in custom “Burble” paint. Custom parts created from composite materials and 3D printing include the hood, front bumper, rear bumper, rocker panels and rear diffuser. The 20-inch Rotiform 3-piece Custom Rose Gold wheels are 10 inches wide in front and 11 inches wide at the rear.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rutledge Wood Camry
The interior features baseball glove leather with contrasting stitching.
The car is lowered using a Megan Racing suspension kit; wheels and fitted with 275/30R20 Continental ExtremeContact tires at the front and 285/30R20 at the rear. The brakes are Wilwood Dynalite with cross-drilled rotors and 4-piston forged calipers. Wood also specified a Magnaflow exhaust system.
© Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
C-HR R-Tuned
Toyota joined forces with DG-Spec to create a crossover-utility vehicle that would really push its limits on track. Based on the new C-HR compact crossover, the C-HR R-Tuned accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, produces 1.7g of lateral acceleration, and it set an impressive lap time of 1:25.22 at Willow Springs International Raceway.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
C-HR R-Tuned
The stock C-HR engine left its perch for a 2.4-liter Toyota engine built with forged internal components, a reinforced valvetrain and a custom DG-Spec Garrett turbo system to produce more than 600 horsepower. The standard CVT was replaced with a 5-speed manual transmission, but the C-HR R-Tuned remains front-wheel drive. Fitted with a remote reservoir and a triple-adjustable DC-Spec Motion Control Suspension, the C-HR R-Tuned also receives Brembo racing brakes, Toyo race tires and added functional aerodynamics to create 300 pounds of downforce at track speeds.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
C-HR Beat Box
Who hasn’t played along with a favorite song, tapping drum rhythms on the steering wheel or dashboard? Another custom C-HR for the SEMA show, the C-HR Beat Box takes things a step further, turning the C-HR into a drum machine. Touch points in the interior allow the driver and passenger to create drum tracks by tapping out beats, while custom interior lighting follows the drum line.
