Revving Up: New Toyota Camry XSE for NASCAR Cup Series, Echoing Road-Ready Model

Get ready to see the Toyota Camry in a whole new light. Fresh from its debut at the LA Auto Show, the 2025 Toyota Camry is hitting the NASCAR Cup Series track, and it's something to talk about.

The Camry XSE race car, set to compete next year, is a spitting image of its road-going sibling. Toyota, alongside TRD and Calty Design, has pulled off something pretty cool here – they've made sure the race car shares a bunch of features with the production model.

Up front, the race car sports what they call "distinctive hammerhead styling," C-shaped headlights, and that familiar Camry grille. Sure, most of the styling is just stickers, but Toyota points out the hood's got some new character lines and some nifty duct exits.

Around the back, you'll spot some changes like the revised quarter panels with sleek chamfered bumper corners that melt into the rear bumper. There's also thinner taillights and a massive diffuser – all adding up to a look that means business.

Paul Doleshal, group manager of motorsports at Toyota Motor North America, is stoked about the new Camry XSE race car. He's confident it'll showcase Toyota's eye for detail, just like the street version of the Camry. And the expectations are high, considering the outgoing Camry TRD Next Gen racer bagged 18 victories and 25 poles in the past two seasons.

The Camry XSE won't just be a one-hit wonder on the track. We're talking about eight of these beauties racing every weekend, starting with the Clash at the Coliseum in February.

As for the road-ready Camry, it's coming next spring as a hybrid-only ride, rocking a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It's got the power too, with the standard model boasting 225 hp and the all-wheel-drive version upping it to 232 hp.

So, whether you're a NASCAR junkie or just a fan of cool cars, Toyota's new Camry XSE is turning heads and burning rubber both on and off the track.