The exhibit of Toyota at the 2011 SEMA focuses on racing as it puts spotlight on the 2012 Camry Pace Car for the Daytona 500 and the B-Spec Club Racer 2012 Yaris.
The 2012 Camry serving as the pace car for the Great American Race marks a spot in history as a non-Chrysler, Ford or GM to do the job. The move may not actually be a controversial one as the Japanese car manufacturer has poured in around $5.4 billion of investments to its Kentucky plant that makes vehicles for the U.S. market like the Toyota Camry and its Hybrid version. This Toyota complex has about 6,600 employees with a payroll of around $441 million.
The 2012 Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car will do its job when the race kicks off before the end of February 2012.
The Pace Car will be based on the 268 HP 2012 Camry SE that makes use of a V6 3.5L engine. The setup also gets a brake kit for StopTech, stainless steel exhaust customized by TRD, and adjustable suspension by Tein. For safety, the Camry gets a roll cage, 4-point seat belts by Simpson, an LED lightbar by Whelen LFL, and a fire extinguisher.
The Yaris on display at the SEMA show this year is a very important piece of automotive since it is the first Yaris SE-based race car built in the United States. The Club Racer will be compete against other race cars in the SCCA B-spec segment next year.
The B-Spec ready Yaris Club racer sports graphics similar to the LeMans GT-One Toyota entry, suspension kit by Cusco Zero, roll cage conforming with SCCA requirements, and cat-back exhaust from Beta Motorsports.