Toyota launches TRD Aurion - Page 4

Steffo · 25-08-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squalo

You should take a look at what's going on with superchargers - they are amazing things these days. Forget the old 6/71 style, the latest centrifugal blowers are compact, efficient and well priced for the power return they give.

The TRD does not use a centri. It has a twin-screw... which is an evolution of the roots-type (like the 6/71) design.

And centri's aren't all that... they're a turbo driven by a belt rather then exhaust gas. They have the weaknesses of both belt and exhaust driven designs working against them... niiice. I'm yet to see a factory production car with a centrifugal blower. They've all either been roots, or are now screws. Even big dollar expensive stuff like the Koenigsegg CCXR (1018hp, 0-160km/h in 4.4 sec, 400km/h+ top speed) or Mercedes-McLaren SLR (616hp, 0-320km/h in 28 sec etc) use screws.

FPV8U · 25-08-2007, 05:55 PM

TRD give us a Manual and AWD or RWD and i would consider this, looks fantastic.

Evan better throw the 3UZFE into it...

Bossxr8 · 25-08-2007, 07:20 PM

[QUOTE=Unco]a few more details here: http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25733F00225F08

the TRD Aurion is about 100Kg's than an XR6T, so let's not just focus on Kw figures. Power:Weight is what makes a car quick. having said that, Toyota themselves say that this car is not designed to compete with Ford and GMH tribalists.. http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...9?OpenDocument

QUOTE]
Thats just a total copout from TRD as they know that they aren't good enough compared with the others. 57k for a car that has less power and is just a bit slower than an SS or XRT that sell for 14k less. What a joke.

Unco · 26-08-2007, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Thats just a total copout from TRD as they know that they aren't good enough compared with the others. 57k for a car that has less power and is just a bit slower than an SS or XRT that sell for 14k less. What a joke.

i think you'll find that TRD could have produced a more powerful car if they wanted to compete with SS's and XRT's. they are aiming for a totally different market segment compared to Ford and Holden.

FPV8U · 26-08-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unco

i think you'll find that TRD could have produced a more powerful car if they wanted to compete with SS's and XRT's. they are aiming for a totally different market segment compared to Ford and Holden.

I think they would have got concerned of torque steer, at factory power levals now it should be a good thing, but you wait untill people start throwing pulley kits, Intake, Exhausts, Etc at them.

Still for their first real crack at this sort of thing in Australia it's a good effort and they certainly went to the right People in Harrop Engineering for the Engine/Blower development.

Deadman · 26-08-2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unco

i think you'll find that TRD could have produced a more powerful car if they wanted to compete with SS's and XRT's. they are aiming for a totally different market segment compared to Ford and Holden.

If they wanted to compete they need to go AWD. They use the 'market segment' rubbish because they know they can't rev up a FWD car as high as FPV / HSV can, it's not a matter of not wanting to compete - they know the car 'can not' compete at the moment, so have to put the right spin on it. They won't be saying any of that stuff if and when they get an AWD variant in to the market.

Barry_v · 26-08-2007, 09:05 AM

TRD should put one of their SC kits on a Tarago V6, those things hammer already lol.

Bossxr8 · 26-08-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unco

i think you'll find that TRD could have produced a more powerful car if they wanted to compete with SS's and XRT's. they are aiming for a totally different market segment compared to Ford and Holden.

Thats wrong as they struggled to get to the power level they are at now, that was the reason it was delayed because the power just wasn't where they wanted it. They knew it was going to get beaten by the much cheaper SS/XR's so they changed tack to save face. Early on they said they would take on the Ford and Holdens.

jdg · 26-08-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Geez for $57,000 245kw really isn't much is it???

How much does an XR8 or SS cost or an XR6 Turbo???

For that price they are pushing into FPV and HSV territory which are pushing 300kw plus.

It doesn't even have friggin AWD!!!

How are they going to market the piece of junk?

It's going to have less power, worse handling, sound crapper AND be more expensive than a Ford and Holden. Anybody who buys it deserves to be shot

Apparently Toyota are saying it will be more "sophisticated" than the HSV and FPV.

I can't believe it's seriously going to cost that much for a bodykit and a supercharger slapped on.

The worst thing is that knowing people the TRD Aurion is going to sell like hotcakes.

Hopefully everyone who buys it will understeer into the nearest tree.

Can't wait for the comparos.

Well sure its alot more than an SS-V or an XR8 but compare it to say a Subaru Liberty GT and it doesnt look so expensive.

Saying a bodykit and a supercharger slapped on is a bit rich. Isnt an XR6 turbo an XT with a bodykit and turbo slapped on?

IMO everything about it looks great, exterior and the interior trim. Only thing i dont like it the middle console.

Nikked · 26-08-2007, 05:14 PM

I think people are under estimating this car, and are in a denial over its potental. Toyota are number 1 worldwide because of a smart dessions and marketing. They also tend to throw money at the R&D department to make sure a car is right. With cars like the Supra, Celica GT4 and MR2 being competent sports cars, the TRD Aurion could be a nasty surprise to the large sedan peformace segment. An wow, its FWD, there are somecars FWD that handle increbly well, plus people seem to like the missing trans tunnel. Whats with all the bullshite about not having enough power and "Cost too much for a supercharger and a body kit", you could say that about a GT-P, witch seems a bit overpriced.

**Polyal** · 26-08-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikk O'lass

I think people are under estimating this car, and are in a denial over its potental. Toyota are number 1 worldwide because of a smart dessions and marketing. They also tend to throw money at the R&D department to make sure a car is right. With cars like the Supra, Celica GT4 and MR2 being competent sports cars, the TRD Aurion could be a nasty surprise to the large sedan peformace segment. An wow, its FWD, there are somecars FWD that handle increbly well, plus people seem to like the missing trans tunnel. Whats with all the bullshite about not having enough power and "Cost too much for a supercharger and a body kit", you could say that about a GT-P, witch seems a bit overpriced.

What?

The supra is the only good Toyota sports car. The celica was only ever good in GT4 guise, and the MR2 was only good when it is MR. All of these are sports cars, not sedans and are RWD or AWD.

Good FWD cars? Focus RS, Integra Type R (DC2??), and a host of frenchies; all not sedans.

It will be interesting to see real life times.

Unco · 26-08-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikk O'lass

I think people are under estimating this car, and are in a denial over its potental. Toyota are number 1 worldwide because of a smart dessions and marketing. They also tend to throw money at the R&D department to make sure a car is right. With cars like the Supra, Celica GT4 and MR2 being competent sports cars, the TRD Aurion could be a nasty surprise to the large sedan peformace segment. An wow, its FWD, there are somecars FWD that handle increbly well, plus people seem to like the missing trans tunnel. Whats with all the bullshite about not having enough power and "Cost too much for a supercharger and a body kit", you could say that about a GT-P, witch seems a bit overpriced.

spot on. some people sound like they have no idea who TRD are.

[sarcasm] yeah, i'm sure TRD are really struggling to put an engine/car combo together that will beat a SS commodore[/sarcasm]

andrewts · 26-08-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikk O'lass

I think people are under estimating this car, and are in a denial over its potental. Toyota are number 1 worldwide because of a smart dessions and marketing. They also tend to throw money at the R&D department to make sure a car is right. With cars like the Supra, Celica GT4 and MR2 being competent sports cars, the TRD Aurion could be a nasty surprise to the large sedan peformace segment. An wow, its FWD, there are somecars FWD that handle increbly well, plus people seem to like the missing trans tunnel. Whats with all the bullshite about not having enough power and "Cost too much for a supercharger and a body kit", you could say that about a GT-P, witch seems a bit overpriced.

Well given that the normal Aurion's chassis and gearbox are hindering the performance of the engine, and the car overall, I'm willing to say the same for this car, which is FWD. Yes some FWD cars are the duck's nuts, but the Aurion, and trust me on this, is not. It does cost too much for what it is. It is not in the same league as the GT-P, not a good comparison. It is in the same league as the XR6 Turbo, which (IMO) is better looking, goes faster, handles better and is WAY cheaper. It's also got a better interior, better visibility and you will have no problems towing the boat on a holiday at 140km/h. This car is definitely not a competitor to the Holden and Ford (let alone FPV and HSV) offerings, as it is just a normal Aurion with a few backyard bolt-ons and a bloody big price tag.

Ryan · 26-08-2007, 09:25 PM

Doesn't look too bad. Give it RWD or 4WD, and I would definitely see it as a threat to HSV/FPV.

I really wish the Supra would come back though.

jdg · 26-08-2007, 09:38 PM

Unfortunately thats what's happening these days. Alot of manufacturers are changing their product lineup to what will give them the most sales. Which is fair enough in a way, but I dont think Toyota have had hardcore sports car in a while.

WASP · 26-08-2007, 10:13 PM

Well I won't get into a debate about how good, or not this car is until I see one in the flesh and drive one. What I will say is its the most exciting Toyota I have seen since the Supra RZ TT. I still miss mine and would have another one if the opportunity presented itself (and shed space!).

Bossxr8 · 27-08-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikk O'lass

I think people are under estimating this car, and are in a denial over its potental. Toyota are number 1 worldwide because of a smart dessions and marketing. They also tend to throw money at the R&D department to make sure a car is right. With cars like the Supra, Celica GT4 and MR2 being competent sports cars, the TRD Aurion could be a nasty surprise to the large sedan peformace segment. An wow, its FWD, there are somecars FWD that handle increbly well, plus people seem to like the missing trans tunnel. Whats with all the bullshite about not having enough power and "Cost too much for a supercharger and a body kit", you could say that about a GT-P, witch seems a bit overpriced.

If Toyota are so brilliant why was the TRD brand a failure in the US, and was discontinued. Just because its Toyota doesn't mean its an instant success, just look at the Avalon.

The Celica was nothing but a hairdressers car with limp wristed performance and handling, only the GT4 was any good and even that was overpriced and underperforming. AFAIK it sold for nearly 80k here back in the early 90's, which would have been twice what an Evo or WRX was going for back then.

mowog · 27-08-2007, 09:38 AM

The TRD Aurion

I have been a fan of light FWD cars for many years. I have owned a few Mini’s (the real Mini not BMW’s excuse for a car) and even more Mini Mokes. I even tried a Suzuki Swift GTi for a while they were all great FWD drives that I had a great deal of pleasure driving. I owned a few RWD sedans in the early years the last being an XD Falcon S pack. The old Falcon had a few mods and was great fun to drive. The came the family and what seemed like a never ending procession of “Family FWD” cars. There were Mitsubishi’s Toyota’s & Chryslers. They were all very capable family transport. There was even a Corolla Sportivo in that long line of cars, it was a very interesting hi powered FWD car 141kw thru the front wheels it was a ball to drive so long as the roads were dry. Then came my first AWD car a Ford Territory it has a RWD bias but its hard to pick it because of the AWD system but there is most certainly none of the heavy dead feeling of a FWD. Then a RWD joined the Territory in the garage. An XR 6 Turbo Ute with the awesome 6 speed ZF auto. I had forgotten the pure driving pleasure that a high performance RWD car can produce. The feeling of over 400nm pushing you out of a corner on the edge of oversteer. With all the FWD cars I owned I developed a driving style that was fun but it just does not compare to the fun of the XR6 Turbo. The feeling of being pushed out of the corner under power is just so much better than being dragged around the corner in an understeering FWD.

And this is what will be the killer for the TRD Aurion. This car has to compete in a market with cars like the Falcon XR’s & FPV’s and the Commodore SS and SS-V & HSV all of these are in a price band that starts below the Aurion with cars like the XR6 Turbo and the Commodore SS right up to competing with the likes of the FPV F6 & the HSV Club Sport. Toyota might think that people looking at their car won’t be considering the others but on this they are wrong. Against the Subaru and Mazda it fails on the Tech level because it’s FWD. Against the European cars it lacks snob value.

Squalo · 27-08-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

If Toyota are so brilliant why was the TRD brand a failure in the US, and was discontinued.

I don't understand this comment - the TRD Aurion is the first ever TRD road car - ever - in the whole wide world - before this TRD has only ever produced purpose-built racecars.

Bossxr8 · 27-08-2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squalo

I don't understand this comment - the TRD Aurion is the first ever TRD road car - ever - in the whole wide world - before this TRD has only ever produced purpose-built racecars.

TRD offered go fast bits for US Toyotas.

mowog · 27-08-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squalo

I don't understand this comment - the TRD Aurion is the first ever TRD road car - ever - in the whole wide world - before this TRD has only ever produced purpose-built racecars.

TRD Produce Supecharger Kits for the HiLux and also for the last generation Camry. These kits were sold with full warranty by dealers in the USA.

TRD also produced kits (not superchargers) for the 2ZZGE 1.8 as fitted to the Celica and Corolla Sportivo. These kits were piston and cam kits all intended for road use.

They have a wide range of products for other Toyota's as well.

Squalo · 28-08-2007, 12:14 AM

Thanks guys,

I could have worded my post a little better - here's another attempt

TRD have never done a complete road car before, so this is new ground and I'm not sure you can use past history as a guide to determining how the car may or may not fare in the market. How's that?

:

It's worth noting that Ford has never done the TRD thing (here in Oz at least) by offering aftersales hot-up bits for Falcons, but their off the shelf sporting sedans have always done well sales-wise; ditto for the red camp. So by that measure, the TRD Aurion just could be what Toyota should have been doing all along...

All conjecture; we'll know soon enough. As someone else pointed out, Toyota has an enviable record in getting new product to market in as short a period as possible. A month from now we'll have an idea of what the market thinks.

When's BFYB normally run? Although many here see it as a bit pricey, it could be a dark horse...

Bossxr8 · 28-08-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squalo

When's BFYB normally run? Although many here see it as a bit pricey, it could be a dark horse...

It was just on, won by the SS again.

A TRD Aurion wouldn't stand a chance in hell. Its slower and performs worse than an SS or XRT for 14k more. How does that make it a dark horse. It will finish well down the pack. Considering the regular Aurion SX6 came next to last on the track and overall how is a powered up version going to do any better with more potential understeer to deal with, and Toyotas usual approach to soft suspensions for a heap of extra money. It would have been in the same price category as the Force 6 and Clubbie R8, and they would smash it everywhere. Next year it will be up against the Orion XRT, Typhoon, GT etc as well as the SS again so it doesn't stand a chance. I guess we'll have to wait to see the reviews but the only one i've seen so far talked about a lot of torque steer, so we'll wait and see, but its definately no track weapon.

Squalo · 28-08-2007, 02:59 PM

Agree with most of that Boss, but sometimes the total is not equal to the sum of the parts... I'm no Toyota fanboy, but I'm still reserving judgement until some real hard data on this thing comes out. I hope it is what it appears to be - another decent car on the market can't possibly be viewed as a bad thing.

But certainly the white F6 is at the top of my shopping list for Xmas right now.

Rev28K · 31-08-2007, 07:23 AM

Wheels just mentioned that Neil Bates got a 1:59 sec laptime out of it at Phillip Island – That is way quicker than I expected it to be. The V8’s should still beat that time but anything under 2 minutes at the Island is good.

Also mentioned that the ex-Ford suspension guru working on it changed the rear to less toe-in (neutral?) and found that the rear end was more taily/responsive (well “Duh”).

Poetic Justice · 31-08-2007, 02:27 PM

A lot of people taking magazines as gospel here...

I've driven plenty of examples of the N/A Aurion and I can tell you now they don't get eaten by SS and XR6T as much as you think...

5.4 GT · 31-08-2007, 02:44 PM

Saw a TRD Aurion in silver yesterday out near the airport (the guy was fanging it everywhere, obviously had just gotten it). Complete rubbish off the line but once it got moving it really went. I think it could give an XR6T or XR8 a run for it's money once it was rolling at about 60kmh+ but below that cya later Aurion. Sounded alright for a V6 too.

R0BD0G · 31-08-2007, 05:56 PM

definately looks abit flash

Steffo · 31-08-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackout

A lot of people taking magazines as gospel here...

I've driven plenty of examples of the N/A Aurion and I can tell you now they don't get eaten by SS and XR6T as much as you think...

Neither does a 1.3L Toyota Yaris going full pelt while the SS or XR6 Turbo driver is not caring about it.

Rodp · 31-08-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveO_SP

Saw a TRD Aurion in silver yesterday out near the airport (the guy was fanging it everywhere, obviously had just gotten it). Complete rubbish off the line but once it got moving it really went. I think it could give an XR6T or XR8 a run for it's money once it was rolling at about 60kmh+ but below that cya later Aurion. Sounded alright for a V6 too.

Apparently. A co-worker just bought an Aurion and "apparently" it's a ballsy little car. He was a little hurt that on the numerous times he saw me in the office that I wouldn't come to the carpark to see his car, knowing I was a car nut... he did have a few stories of slaying a number of XR6's. But it's an Aurion, I could care less. :P