Toyota Announces Bold Move with Gas-Electric Hybrid Powertrain for 2025 Camry
In a bold move to push hybrid technology into the mainstream of the U.S. market, the next generation of the Toyota Camry will come equipped with only a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. This announcement was made by the Japanese automaker on Tuesday, as they unveiled the ninth generation of the midsized Camry sedan in Los Angeles.
The 2025 Camry will combine a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric drive system, which will be tuned to deliver more power in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the car. This new hybrid powertrain will deliver 232 combined horsepower, nearly 15% more than the outgoing Camry with a mechanical all-wheel drive system, Toyota claims.
Toyota’s decision to make the new Camry an all-hybrid vehicle line was influenced by compliance with tougher U.S. fuel economy rules, as well as the performance they were able to achieve with the hybrid powertrain.
David Christ, head of the Toyota brand in North America, stated that dropping the four- and six-cylinder combustion models in favor of the all-hybrid vehicle line was also driven by market demand. While Toyota has accelerated development of electric-vehicle technology, they still believe that demand for hybrids and plug-in hybrids will remain robust.
The new Camry will compete in a segment largely abandoned by Detroit brands, with direct competitors including the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Tesla Model 3. The Tesla Model 3 outsold the Camry in California, a key market for Toyota, during the first nine months of 2023, according to data from the California New Car Dealers Association.
As the 2025 Camry is set to hit showrooms next spring, Toyota did not disclose pricing or fuel-efficiency figures. However, the cheapest Camry hybrid model currently sells for about $2,400 more than the most inexpensive combustion Camry.
The new Camry is expected to appeal to customers seeking fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability, and the move aligns with Toyota’s commitment to offering a “multi-pathway” approach seeking to satisfy customer needs in every market.
Joe White
Reporting by Joe White in Detroit