DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Toyota teases next Camry

Toyota has released the first official image of its next-generation Camry, which will replace the Australian-made mid-size sedan when the Japanese car-maker ceases local production in Altona at the end of next year.

No information accompanied this single teaser shot, which shows a rear three-quarter design – complete with LED tail-lights -- that vaguely resembles that of the upcoming Lexus LC Coupe, with Toyota confirming only that its vital new medium sedan will make its global debut at the Detroit motor show in January.

"The all-new 2018 Toyota Camry takes Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. Check out the eye-catching sedan," it said in an overnight release.

The 2018 Camry, which was spied in testing in July, is not only important in North America, where it's Toyota's top-selling model, but in Australia, where the replacement for the company's top-selling medium sedan is expected to come from Thailand.

Apart from a more dynamic exterior design, expect the new Camry – which should hit local showrooms either late next year or early in 2018 – to be based on Toyota's new global platform, which underpins the latest Prius.

That should bring improved ride, handling and refinement, plus better efficiency due to weight reductions of up to 100kg.

Of course, the new Camry will again be available with a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, but it remains to be seen whether Toyota Australia's next Camry will come with more powerful turbo-four or V6 engines.

The need for a large traditional sedan appears to have diminished following the axing homegrown Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore models by the end of 2017, and Toyota told motoring.com.au last November it was considering axing the Aurion in favour of a Camry V6.