It may not be hyperbole to say that Toyota's future success in the U.S. hinges on whether or not consumers fall in love with the new 2012 Toyota Camry.

The Camry has been the best-selling sedan in the U.S. for 13 of the past 14 years. It accounts for 22% of Toyota's overall sales volume here, and it's the one car consumers associate most with Toyota.

It has also become synonymous for bland and boring cars. Buyers don't opt for the Camry because of its styling -- they bought it for its reliability and reputation. But now other automakers -- most notably Ford, GM and Hyundai -- are gaining in reliability and reputation. And their cars tend to be more modern and fun.

"It's critical they get this right," said Michael Robinet, vice president of global vehicle forecasts at IHS Automotive. "They are facing a deluge of competitors that are really getting it right."

The Camry could help reverse two years of setbacks for Toyota. The automaker took a hit last year due to massive recalls related to sudden acceleration woes, caused by sticky gas pedals and floor mats that snagged gas pedals. And this year, the automaker was dealt a blow when a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, forcing many parts suppliers to close and seriously hindering supplies of popular cars.

AOL Autos drove the 2012 Camry a few weeks ago at a resort in Cle Elum, Wash. Toyota has clearly taken a lot of care designing the interior – the dashboard looks like a hand-stitched horse saddle, and the seat and roof materials are a clear improvement over the prior generation.

Toyota has added a new in-car information service, En tune, which is easy to use and lets drivers connect to services like the popular Internet music service Pandora