1992 Camry: “Remember when Nissan and Toyota made four-door sedans that, despite being as dependable as the sun and as trouble-free as an anvil, were sort of dumb-looking? It’s time to file those memories away with your eight-track tapes and your Bob Dylan records. The times have indeed changed, and there’s no more stunning example than the new Toyota Camry.”
1997 Camry: “The designers have mixed in some sporty cues to give it a more youthful appeal and to help separate it from its larger Avalon cousin.”
2002 Camry: “Styling is all new, designed to add sensuality to what has been a bland design.”
2007 Camry: Toyota engineers opted for enhanced performance and style, shooting for an athletic, energetic image. “Camry buyers,” Toyota executives explained, “felt that the car was too ‘ordinary.’”
2012 Camry: “The 2012 Camry was just introduced, and among the usual remarks about the car being more fuel efficient, less expensive, and filled with safety equipment, the company said another goal was to give it an ‘engaging driving experience.’”
2015 Camry: “So even though plain-Jane styling and everyday driving dynamics have served the Camry very well over the years, Toyota’s decision to unleash a more stylish, more responsive Camry for 2015 was actually a pretty safe bet.”
2018 Camry: “Looks sporty, right? Toyota USA chief Bob Carter even said that this newest Camry ‘will send chills up your spine.’”
What’s the point of this post? Since the dawn of the internet, we’ve been told with every Camry iteration that “This time it’s different.” Well, the upcoming version of American’s perennial best-selling sedan will have to withstand the gravitational pull of Tesla’s Model III. Some Camry customers might ditch “This time it’s different” and switch to something, you know, different — even if it’s beyond their normal car budget. Tesla might play the role of the innocent child here: