Toyota-Excitment: New Supercharged TRD Aurion Brings The Two Together

[JoeT]

Aurion TRD Hints At Toyota Excitement

Toby Hagon
20 August 2007
www.drive.com.au

It’s the fastest Toyota ever sold here, but don’t go comparing the supercharged Toyota Aurion TRD to performance versions of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore.

Toyota today revealed its answer to the booming performance-car market in the form of the supercharged Aurion TRD.

The Aurion TRD is the most powerful Toyota ever sold in Australia and is designed to inject some much-needed excitement into the Toyota brand and bolster its position at the top of the sales charts.

In unveiling the Aurion TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Toyota admits its brand has a bland image, especially since the demise of sports cars like the Celica and MR2.

“It wasn’t really surprising to learn that the Toyota brand was strong in terms of quality, durability, reliability, affordability, safety and the environment,” says Toyota Australia divisional manager of the product management division Peter McGregor. “But missing were attributes such as style, colour, the ability to turn heads, performance, vision and excitement.”

With a V8-like 241kW of power from its supercharged V6 and more aggressive styling, the Aurion TRD represents the pinnacle of Toyota performance and brings some excitement to a brand known for its conservatism.

Indeed, the Aurion TRD appears to be an obvious competitor to performance versions of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.

However, Toyota is adamant that despite a $56,990 starting price the Aurion TRD is not a match for Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) and Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV).

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TRD Launches Twin Hotties

Mike Sinclair
20 August 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

Toyota's first performance saloon, the TRD Aurion, was unveiled today -- with not one but two models set to challenge the Aussie performance status quo.

The wait for Toyota's first performance tin-top, the TRD Aurion is over. And the new Toyota performance arm has arrived to taunt local V8 hot-shops and the likes of STi, Ralliart, VW's R-division and others with not one, but two models.

Priced at $56,990, just under the luxury car tax threshold, the TRD Aurion 3500S (S signifying sports) kicks off the range. Sitting above it, at the head of the hot Aurion offer is the $61,500 'sports luxury' flagship, the 3500SL.

Though the 3500S and 3500SL differ in equipment levels (see below) they share the same engine -- a bespoke supercharged version of the standard front-wheel drive Aurion's 3.5-litre transverse V6.

Developed by TRD in Australia in conjunction with V8Supercar regular Harrop Engineering (more here), the dual-VVT-i Quad Cam 2GR-FE V6 engine features the first series production application of the new Eaton TVS (Twin Vortices System) four-lobe supercharger.

Harrop Engineering selected the supercharger, designed and cast the casing and inlet manifold and designed the supercharger drive system. The company also carried out the engine finite element and airflow analyses before handing the project over to TRD's own engineers.

After TRD's work and over 100,000km of testing as far a field as central Australia, the end result is an output of 241kW at 6400rpm and 400Nm of torque at 4000rpm.

And it's not just all top-end either. According to TRD, the supercharged engine betters the standard Aurion's torque peak of 336Nm at just 1800rpm and has better than 300Nm of torque available from 1250rpm through to redline.

This output is enough to sprint the TRD Aurion from zero to 100km/h in 6.1sec. Toyota says the standing quarter (read: 400m) is dispatched in 14.2sec. And although fuel economy isn't expected to be high on the priority listing of buyers, Toyota says the vehicle returns an impressive ADR81/01 combined figure of 10.9lt/100km.

In both versions, the V6 is matched to a recalibrated version of the six-speed automatic transmission that graces the standard Aurion. There is no manual transmission option offered.

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Yaris Looms As TRD Third Wheel

Mike Sinclair
23 August 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

HiLux is a definite; however, Yaris may displace Corolla as TRD's third model.

Toyota Racing Developments (TRD) is looking to satisfy one of its core KPIs (key performance indicators) with its third model, currently the source of wide speculation.

Though the fledgling performance operation has just launched its first model, the TRD Aurion, it has confirmed it will launch a supercharged version of the HiLux all-wheel drive Double Cab later this year (more below).

Now speculation is rife as to the identity of the next TRD model. And with the go-fast division charged with lowering Toyota's age demographic and attracting new buyers to the brand (see more here), it now looks likely a Yaris-based vehicle will be the next cab off the rank.

Currently the top Aussie Yaris, the circa-$21K YRX is powered by 80kW/141Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. In markets like the UK and Europe, the Yaris has recently been offered variously as a T-Sport or SR version with the same 100kW engine that graces the new Corolla.

Though officially TRD personnel are tight-lipped, insiders have confirmed that the company's engineers are evaluating a similar 1.8-litre-engined version of the Yaris.

Word is, however, TRD's local engineers aren't entirely happy with the 1.8-litre Yaris' performance 'as delivered'. The situation could be further complicated if Toyota takes the decision to add the 1.8-litre Yaris to its non-TRD line-up.

It's understood TRD is searching for "a clear performance advantage" over the European T-Sport model. And therein lies the rub -- given the price sensitive nature of the marketplace, their hands are somewhat tied. A TRD Yaris might not have to compete directly with the likes of Ford's $24,990 Fiesta XR4, but it would certainly have to undercut the current top of the light hot hatch heap, VW's $26,990 Polo GTI.

And even this elevated pricetag may not be enough to allow TRD to profitably engineering its own performance upgrade.

It was initially presumed the Corolla would have a walk up start to be the next TRD-fettled Toyota to hit the roads Down Under.

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2007 TRD Aurion Specifications

Engine
Type: Six cylinders, 60 degree V-formation, chain-driven DOHC with roller rockers, four valves per cylinder, all alloy, cross-flow heads, cast-iron cylinder liners
Capacity (cc): 3456
Bore x stroke (mm): 94.0 x 83.0
Compression ratio: 10.8:1
Fuel system: Sequential multi-point electronic port fuel injection with ACIS, hot-wire airflow meter
Fuel type: 98 RON PULP
Fuel tank capacity (lt): 70
Fuel economy (lt/100km): 10.9
Carbon dioxide (g/km): 257
Emission rating: Euro IV
Max. power: 241kW at 6400rpm
Max. torque: 400Nm at 4000rpm

Drivetrain
Transmission description: U660E six-speed automatic, electronically controlled with lock-up torque converter and artificial intelligence shift control

Steering
Type: Rack and pinion
Operation: Power
Turns lock to lock: 3.2

Brakes, etc
Front: Ventilated discs, 325mm x 32mm with alloy dual-piston front calipers
Rear: Ventilated discs, 310mm x 18mm with alloy single-piston front calipers
System: ABS anti-skid brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist
Traction Control: Std.
Vehicle Stability Control: Std.

Suspension
Front: TRD sports suspension with increased coil spring rates and re-tuned shock absorbers, ball-joint-mounted anti-roll bar
Rear: TRD sports suspension with increased coil spring rates and re-tuned shock absorbers incorporating internal rebound springs, ball-joint-mounted anti-roll bar

Wheels, etc
Rims: 19 x 8J alloys
Tyres: 245/35ZR19 93Y

Body and dimensions
Type: Monocoque, four-door sedan
Length (mm): 4890
Width (mm): 1820
Height (mm): 1460
Wheelbase (mm): 2775
Front track (mm): 1572
Rear track (mm): 1562
Ground clearance (mm): 104
Towing capacity braked/unbraked (kg): 1600/500
Seats: 5
Luggage capacity (lt): 504



TRD Aurion 3500S & 3500SL

Mike Sinclair
23 August 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

The company that also brought you the Prius and Camry has just unveiled the world's most powerful front-wheel drive production saloon.

What we liked
>> Monster V6's refinement and urge
>> Sharp turn-in and great manners
>> Styling enhancments

Not so much
>> Tyres too noisy
>> Dash needs pizzazz to match seats

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.5/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

OVERVIEW

For many of you, whether you read any further than this first paragraph or so will be a test of open mindedness... For a number of reasons.

What we're covering here is the launch of a performance vehicle that for many is simply back-to-front. Real Aussie performance fans choose rear-wheel drives don't they?

What we're covering here is also the launch of a performance division of a brand that for many is the antithesis of excitement. Sure, it's a brand that wins Australian and world rally championships, competes in Formula 1 and has a 50-year history in motorsport (that started Down Under!), but it's also the brand that brought us the Prius and Camry. Isn't it?

If you've got this far, then you probably have already worked out the wait for Toyota's first performance tin-top, the TRD Aurion is over. And with it, Toyota's own homegrown special vehicles operation, Toyota Racing Developments is officially out of the closet and into the car building game.

In doing so, the Australian operation is officially the first ever to use the TRD moniker as the producer of turn-key road-legal passenger cars.

In doing so it has also launched onto the Australian marketplace what by our reckoning is the world's most powerful front-wheel drive production saloon. A car that's capable of almost 260km/h and is faster down the quarter mile than the (in)famous GT HO. Still thinking about hybrids and rep mobiles?

Enter the TRD Aurion. Once tipped to challenge the best from HSV and FPV head-on, more recently Toyota has carefully managed expectations of the front-wheel drive supercharged V6's power output and performance credentials. Given the end result it need not have been so circumspect.

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First Drive: TRD Aurion

Glenn Butler
22 August 2007
www.drive.com.au

Toyota's first attempt at a true Aussie sports sedan has produced a car with plenty to like... and some things to fear.

Toyota has launched the TRD Aurion sports sedan, the first of many 'sports enhanced' models from Toyota's fledgling Toyota Racing Development performance brand.

Toyota believes the $60,000 TRD Aurion, which features a 241kW supercharged engine, sports body-kit and more dynamic suspension – and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just over six seconds – will appeal to a more sophisticated consumer than similar models from its main competitors, Ford and Holden.

In fact, Toyota is actively shying away from comparisons to similar-sized, locally-built vehicles from direct rivals Holden and Ford. Instead, the company which spent millions convincing Australians the Aurion large sedan is rival to the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, wants us to believe the TRD Aurion is instead a competitor for the Subaru Liberty GT, Mazda 6 MPS and European models from Audi and Volkswagen.

In part this is because TRD doesn't think it is worthwhile trying to tempt Ford and Holden loyalists away from their ingrained beliefs.

"The [Ford and Holden] tribalists will not contemplate another brand as they aspire to own the latest version of the car their fathers drove," Mr Buttner said. "We believe this car will appeal to a more sophisticated buyer."

TRD is offering the Aurion in two specification levels, the 3500S ($56,990) and the 3500SL ($61,990). Both are front-drive sedans based on the Aurion Sportivo (SX6 and ZR6 respectively), with significant mechanical changes and visual enhancements.

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First Drive: Toyota Blows Sport Into Aurion

Marton Pettendy
23 August 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Toyota puts its performance cards on the table with the supercharged TRD Aurion.

Five years in the making, the most powerful, and most expensive, new Toyota ever seen in Australia is a reality - almost six months after the Japanese giant’s Toyota Racing Development brand was trumpeted at the Melbourne show in March.

Delayed by a longer than expected development quest for meaningful and reliable performance gains over the Camry-based large-car upon which it is based, the supercharged TRD Aurion sedan is the first model from Toyota’s ambitious new special vehicle division in Australia - the only nation in which TRD now exists as a separate vehicle brand under Toyota.

Late it may be, but slow the TRD Aurion is not. Unlike Ford and Holden, Toyota isn’t shy about revealing performance figures for its homegrown sports sedan, which exceeds Toyota’s own target outputs of 235kW/395Nm by delivering 241kW at 6500rpm (a 20 per cent increase) and a healthy 400Nm of torque from a similarly peaky 4000rpm on 98-octane premium unleaded fuel.

Toyota says more than 300Nm of torque is available between 1250rpm and redline, and that at 1800rpm the TRD engine matches the naturally-aspirated Aurion's 336Nm torque peak.

That’s 37kW and 64Nm up on the 204kW at 6200rpm and 336Nm at 4700rpm outputs delivered by the regular Aurion’s 3.5-litre DOHC alloy V6 on PULP (200kW on ULP), thanks to a new four-lobe Eaton TVS (Twin Vortices Series) supercharger, which makes its world production-car debut in the TRD Aurion.

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TRD Exports On Hold

Paul Gover
3 September 2007
www.carsguide.com.au

The adventurous new Toyota TRD Aurion will not be leaving Aussie soil any time soon.

The supercharged V6 will not be sent overseas, even though Toyota Australia has a huge export business and there is foreign interest in the car.

The Aurion was developed for Australia, and that means it will be held at home while the new TRD operation gets on its feet.

It probably won't be exported until the second-generation TRD Aurion, sometime after 2010. It is not a priority as Toyota works to establish itself in a field dominated by performance cars from Ford and Holden.

“Yes, we have had a lot of interest in the car. We've had inquiries from the Middle East, the US and New Zealand already,” Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Dave Buttner says.

“But it's not the right time. We need to focus on the home market for the moment,” he says.

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Toyota Australia Website
Toyota Aurion TDR On The Way, But Mitsubishi's 380 TMR Is Dead!!!
Next Generation Toyota Camry & Aurion Australian Production 'Locked & Loaded'

[KUZCO]

its a yota so its the best car in segment no need for road test either, and i swear you aussies make the sweetest seats for your cars i had a gto and all people talked about was the seats and those seats on the yota look great.

[GMusa]

if u ask me it looks like the new Accord. but the ground effects are pretty nice. Still, give me a CTS or a G8 GXP!!

[HoeyHimself]

The only cool thing Toyota has ever built...ever..and it still lacks in performance to its competition. Throw a V8 in it, get it over with.

[Quickening]

With all that power and still not that fast. 6.1 seconds.

I like the seats.

All that body kit, more power, new pedels, sporty steering wheel, etc. All ruined by the automatic tranny. O and FWD...

Now where is my HSV to kick this things ass.

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by Quickening

With all that power and still not that fast. 6.1 seconds.

I like the seats.

All that body kit, more power, new pedels, sporty steering wheel, etc. All ruined by the automatic tranny. O and FWD...

Now where is my HSV to kick this things ass.

In my view the body kit and go fast add ons look to fussy and overdone. 6.1 seconds isn't all that fast?... It's very competitive, the question will be is how this thing is set up dynamically, Toyota has a reputation of setting average handling dynamics.
I'd be very curious to see the reviews on this vehicle.

Remember it's a 6cyl not a V8.

[Squachy]

Originally Posted by Quickening

With all that power and still not that fast. 6.1 seconds.

I like the seats.

All that body kit, more power, new pedels, sporty steering wheel, etc. All ruined by the automatic tranny. O and FWD...

Now where is my HSV to kick this things ass.

Toyota's "excitement" seems to be throwing numbers at the problem (hp and money). They appear to lack any kind of sense when it comes to sport. They CAN do it as some of the vehicles in the past exhibit but thye've been long dead.

The 0-60 is LIKELY a TINY bit less (5.9 or 6.0...but not like it matters much)because the conversion is 0-96km > 0-60mph. BUt it doesnt seem like much of a improvement anyways. Doesnt the current Camry V6 clock in at around 6.4?

[ctaylorzl1]

It is deffinatly a hot looking car, with a sweet interior to boot, but the lack of manual tranny puts a damper on things, and 6.1 seconds 0-60 really isnt that fast. It needs to be in the mid to low 5's IMO!

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by Squachy

Toyota's "excitement" seems to be throwing numbers at the problem (hp and money). They appear to lack any kind of sense when it comes to sport. They CAN do it as some of the vehicles in the past exhibit but thye've been long dead.

The 0-60 is LIKELY a TINY bit less (5.9 or 6.0...but not like it matters much)because the conversion is 0-96km > 0-60mph. BUt it doesnt seem like much of a improvement anyways. Doesnt the current Camry V6 clock in at around 6.4?

No the camry doesn't come with a V6, the aurion is a camry with a 3.5 V6 engine and different front and rear end... it hits 0-100klm in around 7.4.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

The only cool thing Toyota has ever built...ever..and it still lacks in performance to its competition. Throw a V8 in it, get it over with.

Not really. I used to admire the GT4 Celica and at least it was AWD. The MR2 although taily were purportedly plenty of fun. And lets not forget the Supra. It all died out pretty quickly and they seem to have achieved their targets. Hopefully, someone with half a brain can figure out that the TRDs sporting tendencies are flawed, in that they don't offer a manual amd their ESP settings are attrocious. I can only imagine how nose heavy this thing is going to be. I think it will be a mild success, but wont steal any customers from HSV, FPV or even any SS customers. Although the seats do look cool, the rest of the interior is starved for inspiration. It looks much lke the base ATX I hired earlier this year. I wonder if any one actually stuck the duller globe in the dash so you aren't blinded at night (they were too cheap to install a dimmer setup).

[mikmak]

Oh, and the economy (although real world tends to be worse) is pretty impressive for a Supercharged Donk. I actually liked the normally aspirated version once you got into the mid range. It just sucked down low.

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by ctaylorzl1

It is deffinatly a hot looking car, with a sweet interior to boot, but the lack of manual tranny puts a damper on things, and 6.1 seconds 0-60 really isnt that fast. It needs to be in the mid to low 5's IMO!

I agree it really should offer a manual transmission in this class of vehicle.
6.1 seconds is quick for a V6! most V8s aren't that much quicker...

[asim]

This had to be the most exciting vehicle Toyota is building today. Too bad it isn't all THAT exciting. Front wheel drive, and the other things that is keeping it back to become a true sports vehicle is ruining the car.

[mikmak]

Just noticed that it requires 98RON. Does the XR6 (turbo of course) need the same?

[Squachy]

Originally Posted by ford&holden

No the camry doesn't come with a V6, the aurion is a camry with a 3.5 V6 engine and different front and rear end... it hits 0-100klm in around 7.4.

sorry forgot Aussie Camry's only come in 4 bangers. I was thinking of the V6 North American Camry, non supercharged (after reading another thread) the 0-60 is the same 6.1.

Kinda pathetic if the supercharged Aurion (which is basically a tarted up V6 Camry) makes the same numbers.....