- The 2012 Toyota Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car and 2012 Toyota Yaris B-Spec Club Racer rev up in time for the 2011 SEMA Show.
- The Camry Pace Car marks the first time a non-domestic car has paced the "Great American Race," notes Toyota.
- The Yaris SEMA offering is significant because it's the first racecar built for competition in the U.S. from the next-generation 2012 Yaris SE.
LAS VEGAS — Racing is the focus of Toyota's 2011 SEMA Show display, as the 2012 Toyota Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car and the 2012 Toyota Yaris B-Spec Club Racer take center stage.
The Camry Pace Car marks the first time a non-GM, Ford or Chrysler car has paced the "Great American Race," notes Toyota. Such a move may not be as controversial as it once was, given the fact that Toyota has invested $5.4 billion in its Georgetown, Kentucky, complex, which builds several U.S. vehicles, including the Camry and Camry Hybrid. The plant employs 6,600 people and has a payroll of $441 million, according to Toyota's corporate Web site.
The Camry Pace Car will lead the field for the start of the Daytona 500 on February 26.
Based on the 2012 Toyota Camry SE with its 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, the pace car gets a StopTech Big Brake Kit, TRD custom stainless-steel exhaust and Tein adjustable suspension. Safety equipment includes a roll cage, four-point Simpson racing seat belts, Whelen LFL Liberty LED lightbar and an onboard fire extinguisher.
The Yaris SEMA offering is significant because it's the first racecar built for competition in the U.S. from the next-generation 2012 Yaris SE.
The Yaris club racer will compete in the SCCA B-spec category in 2012. It gets Toyota Le Mans GT-One inspired graphics, a Cusco Zero-3 Series Suspension kit, eight-point SCCA-spec roll cage and a Beta Motorsports cat-back exhaust.
"It demonstrates how the Yaris offers a cost-friendly avenue for amateur racers eager to gain experience in SCCA wheel-to-wheel racing," said Toyota in a statement.
Inside Line says: Toyota makes more inroads into American racing with its 2011 SEMA Show offerings.
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jennyhop says:
05:36 AM, 11/17/2011
Nice post, really. LA AUTO SHOW 2011 started yesterday and there are tons of high resolution photos of the 2012 Toyota Camry and many more! You've got to see it, it's amazing!
http://www.wisecarshopper.com/2011/11/17/la-auto-show-2012-toyota-camry/
k55 says:
10:37 AM, 11/01/2011
Never understood why Toyota or Scion ......(or Mazda or Honda or whoever) cant make an offering like the Yaris 3 door ( 75% of what is displayed here) to make a cheaper alternative to the GTI or Mini Cooper S. Those seem to sell well so why couldnt a cheaper Yaris sport version sell with a hotter 1.6 or 1.7 or 1.8 ?
nwng says:
10:04 AM, 11/01/2011
is the economy so bad that toyota can't spring for a hop up IS or GS? Do the marketing folks know that in the driving world, camry = induced coma?
gaiakai says:
09:21 PM, 10/31/2011
eldaino2:
I can respect that. I'm more of a RWD kind of guy, but I AM genuinely curious about what the people like about the Yaris. Not knocking it or anything, you're right: I just don't get it.
Oh and just FIY, I'm not a fan of straight ahead speed either. Twisties FTW!
eldaino2 says:
07:47 PM, 10/31/2011
gaiakai,ne1butu2: hmmm...i dont think you guys get it.
i think the camry is eh, but you best belive that yaris would tear it up at a scca course.....that racing is not about straight ahead speed. its for real drivers.
gaiakai says:
06:37 PM, 10/31/2011
I don't understand. Why?
ne1butu2 says:
06:14 PM, 10/31/2011
These cars look ridiculous. And the term "track ready" means that they are able to race. Which is a joke.
yellowperil says:
04:34 PM, 10/31/2011
"The Camry pacing for the Indy 500? Seriously? Give me the Camaro please."
--The pace car for last week's race at Martinsville was a Toyota Venza . . .
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
iwant12 says:
03:48 PM, 10/31/2011
The Camry pacing for the Indy 500? Seriously? Give me the Camaro please.
stovt001 says:
03:44 PM, 10/31/2011
I wouldn't necessarily call that Camry "track ready". Usually that term implies ready to race around the track, not serve as a safety car for the track cars.