Toyota got us all excited for the 2018 Camry after releasing sporty teaser images prior to the car's unveiling at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. Then there were the spy shots showing a quad exhaust. Toyota has finally pulled the covers off the new Camry and it's safe to say that the eighth-generation model is a massive upgrade. Bob Carter, Toyota's senior vice president of automotive operations, says that the 2018 Camry is "the most captivating mid-size sedan we've ever produced." The goal was to take the iconic model in a new direction.

The new car is based on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture), which retains the company's amazing build quality while injecting some driving fun. The 2018 model will come in four trims: LE, XLE, SE and XSE. The sporty SE and SXE trims wear a very different body style compared to basic LE and luxury XLE trims. This body style is differentiated by a sculpted rocker panel, new 19-inch black wheels (XSE only), a rear spoiler, aggressive front bumper, and rear bumper with an integrated lower diffuser. Toyota has announced three powertrains, including a new 3.5-liter V6 with D-4S fuel injection and an all-new 2.5-liter four-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine. Both are paired to a new eight-speed automatic.

There will also be a next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) with a CVT transmission that simulates a six-speed automatic unit. Toyota has yet to announce power or fuel economy figures, although it promises that both will be improved when compared to the seventh-gen Camry. One area where the Camry has always been weak is driving dynamics. This new model should address this issue with a new double wishbone rear suspension system, which Toyota says is on par with premium luxury vehicles. There is also a new four-point engine mounting system that reduces unwanted noise, vibration and harshness. Toyota says that this new car is "a soul-stirring sedan."

The 2018 Camry will also be a very safe car thanks to standard Toyota Safety Sense. This includes pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and automatic high beams. There is also an optional blind spot monitor with cross traffic alert. All Camrys will come with 10 air bags and a standard backup camera. Infotainment is improved with a new Entune 3.0 system with a 4G connection that can update maps and points of interest as well as power up to five mobile devices. There is also an optional JBL premium audio system which can simulate a live concert venue. We will wait to see pricing and power figures, but so far it looks as if Toyota has done a great job improving its stodgiest model.