Camry

Make
Toyota
Segment
Sedan

Toyota clearly had something interesting in mind when it reached out to customizer Dan Gardner Spec to build its insane 600 hp C-HR crossover for this year's SEMA show. Its 2.4-liter engine alone isn't anything special, but it's been modified with a turbocharger and a number of other improvements for that crazy horsepower figure. Along with a set of Brembo brakes, a limited-slip diff, and a ton of other performance add-ons, you'd think Toyota was thinking of tackling something like the Nurburgring front-wheel-drive record.

Well, it isn't, at least not at the moment. But it could if it wanted to. Autocar spoke with Dan Gardner himself at SEMA, and he confirmed that his enhanced C-HR is the "real deal." He added that the "Toyota NGA platform the C-HR is built on is really stiff, so we worked on developing the handling characteristics. We wanted to make a supercar killer – the whole point is that it doesn't make sense." With an estimated 10,000 hours of work put into the project, why would something like this just sit and collect dust once the show is over? That's what we're wondering. "The car was built for SEMA and Toyota has no plans for it from now on. But it's the real deal," Gardner said.

"Personally, it would be a dream to take it to the Nordschleife. I have no doubt it could set the front-wheel-drive record there." So why on earth isn't Toyota going to try? No clue. We're of the opinion it should give it a go. What about a production version? Fat chance, so we'll push for the 'Ring record attempt for now.