Check Out Toyota's Custom Concepts for the SEMA Show

For a second year in a row, Toyota is organizing the Dream Build Challenge competition for the SEMA Show, but whereas in 2012 it had four of its own race car drivers build a one-off model, this time, it called in athletes from other sports as well.

The four competing models (in Toyota's own words) are the following:

-BMX rider Drew Bezanson with partner Skullcandy created the “Crusher Corolla” inspired by music and BMX.

- Supercross stars Justin Brayton and Josh Grant with partner Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross, built “Let’s Go Moto Tundra” for desert competitions and training

- Freestyle skier Simon Dumont and partner Oakley will showcase the “Ultimate Dream Ski 4Runner” complete with customized ski racks and a grill.

- NASCAR driver Parker Kligerman and partner Kyle Busch Motorsports built the “CamRally” capable of handling rougher terrain

You can vote on which one you like more at the ToyotaDreamBuild site for the next few days ahead of their SEMA Show reveal on November 5 in Las Vegas.

In addition to the aforementioned concepts, the Toyota brand will also showcase a couple more custom models, including a Triathlon-Themed RAV4 and the DC Shoes Tacoma truck.

PHOTO GALLERY

Toyota Camry, Prius V and RAV4 Lose Consumer Reports Recommendation

Consumer Reports pulled its recommendation for three of Toyota’s cars, including the popular Camry sedan, due to poor crash test results. Although Lexus, Toyota and Acura were ranked as the U.S. auto industry’s most reliable brands in Consumer Reports’ annual new-car reliability survey, the magazine withdrew its recommendation for the Camry, Prius v and RAV4 because they received poor ratings in the latest IIHS crash tests.

“Honestly, we don't take this lightly, but virtually every vehicle now in the family sedan category has been tested and the only one that has gotten a 'poor' is the Camry," said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “At this point, we don't feel we can continue to recommend people buy a Camry when there's other good choices out there that do better on the test,” he added.

Last year, the IIHS included crashes that involve only a front corner of a vehicle in its tests. Consumer Reports waited to see how the entire industry was affected by the test before adjusting its buyer recommendations. Traditionally, the magazine does not recommend consumers to buy a car that gets poor crash test results.

The Camry was the third best-selling vehicle in the U.S. through September, behind two full-size pickup trucks. Sales were up 1.3 percent from the same period last year to 318,990 cars.

Toyota says it has made changes to the Camry to improve its performance in the crash tests and IIHS is planning to retest the car in December.

By Dan Mihalascu

Story References: Consumer Reports via Reuters

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO

Care for a 680HP Toyota Camry Coupe with a NASCAR Flair? [Gallery & Video]

When is a fairly new Toyota Camry worthy of making it on a coveted auction list like the one from RK Motors among other special automobiles? Why, when it has been turned inside out and upside-down, naturally. As you can see from the pictures, this is no ordinary Camry but a special concept created as a collaboration between RK Motors and Toyota for the 2010 SEMA Show.

Inspired by NASCAR, the fully functional model sports a custom fabricated, two-door body with a two-tone paint-job, special aero enhancements, side exhaust pipes and TRD wheels. The same racing flair can be found inside the five-seat (four if you want to be realistic) cabin that has been individualized with TRD accessories.

That's all fine and dandy, but the real kicker about the NASCAR Edition Camry Coupe is what lies under the hood: a 358 cubic inch or 5.9-liter TRD NASCAR V8 delivering 680 horsepower at 8500rpm, linked to a Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission with a Ram dual-disc street clutch.

According to the release, "racecar handling is achieved through modified MacPherson struts in the front and a Venza-modified multi-link independent rear suspension".

Despite these heavy modifications, the car was made to be street-legal. However, RK Motors does note that it "may not be emissions compliant in all 50 states".

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO