Toyota threatened in U. S.

Toyota Motor Corp. was already counting on the revamped Camry to spark a U.S. sales rally. The carmaker's flagship model is now under additional pressure as a stronger currency and Thailand's floods cut into profit.

The company reduced its earnings forecast last week by more than 50 percent for the year ending in March, blaming a slump in production after Thailand's worst floods in almost 70 years. The 2012 Camry was released in October with a goal of boosting sales hurt by Japan's earthquake and tsunami and retaining its title as the top-selling U.S. passenger car.

"There's a lot of pressure on that car," said Maryann Keller, an auto analyst and president at Maryann Keller & Associates. "It's been reviewed as being competitive within the midsize sedan segment, but not that much better or worse than competitors.