Toyota TRD Aurion HiLux Sports Vehicles
February 23, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Its a shame Toyota didn’t make it to the Brisbane International Motorshow with their range of TRD cars, but at least Toyota will use the Melbourne International Motor Show to reveal its new locally designed TRD range of prestige performance vehicles.
Firstly, if you didn’t get to see them, we had the first spy shots of the TRD Aurion a few weeks back, and we recently road tested the Toyota Aurion Sportivo ZR6. The supercharged 3.5-litre V6 TRD Aurion sports sedan will be the Halo car for Toyota to help boost the image and credibility of the Aurion.
However, Toyota Racing & Development have gone a little crazy and brought out a supercharged 4.0-litre V6 HiLux sports utility! I guess one only has to take note of the number of modified Hilux’s on the road to realize that there is a market for a fast, useful Toyota ute!
Toyota has high hopes for TRD, perhaps to one day match the likes of HSV and FPV. TRD is the long-established umbrella for Toyota racing activities around the world.
The recently formed Toyota Style Australia has been responsible for exterior and interior design and Toyota’s TRD Division has taken charge of mechanical specification. Key local suppliers have worked to achieve breakthrough TRD developments which have been endorsed and approved by Toyota’s rigorous global quality system.
Print it: 
It’s starting to look the goods now Paul! And its not being called a SPORTIVO!!!!
I think the TRD version looks pretty damn good
however, I still can’t believe, Toyota would firstly put all this effort in to making a new car to compete with the Commodore and Falcon, make it FWD, and THEN, try to bring out a Supercharged version… still FWD..
I mean seriously Toyota, logic should dictate, that you if you really wish to compete and be successful, its good to realize why the other 2 are so successful.
Also, if TRD want to be taken seriously, they need to have a halo car, the Aurion TRD isn’t it.
We need the Celica GT4 back, or at least a TRD AWD Toyota Corolla Turbo.
The TRD Aurion looks decent doesnt it.. prity similar to the Sports concept. I do agree FWD isnt ideal (way for eg to get some cred is to have people taking these cars to the track to race, with FWD I doubt this would happen) but for the road it should handle well enough. I wish they considered AWD though, that would have put the cat amongst the pigeons, 250kw, lighter, AWD… can only dream. And as for the Hilux, I think thats a bad idea that coming out under TRD, talk about how to cheapen your image in an instant, an SUV is not a performance car.
I was so sure you were going to get flamed by Paul then for your FWD comments Alborz…
I thought it was going to come over all cloudy real quick.
But I couldn’t have said it any better than Paul did.
^
Lol good, Im not predictable yet! Also in the TRD range from what Ive read is a TRD Yaris and Corolla. Only the Aurion and Corolla will be supercharged, the rest are just cosmetic and I think with the Yaris it has a bigger engine.
It would be good if Toyota added the TRD to their models, like VWs GTi and R. Add more appeal to the Toyota range
I didn’t really take into account your comment about cheapening the image with the HiLux!
Its a very good and valid point, It would similar to HSV making a HSV captiva or FPV Territory (mind you, the Territory deserves an FPV version!)
Lol yep, or HSV Rodeo – not good. I think the article got it right, there is a market for that type of car, however it shouldnt be associated with TRD.
I believe the TRD Aurion and Hilux are damn good looking machines. I’ve been eagerly waiting this moment and only wish i could make it to the Melbourne Car Show. Good on ‘ya Toyota for producing what seems to be great cars to come. You have my whole hearted support. However, AWD would have been the icing.
Love the TRD’s – great !!
I like the vehicles – but not the photo!!
They’ve just put up some stuff about them and the people behind them here:
http://trd.com.au/TRD/#main/vehicles/mims
fukin outh the new hilux is awesome. hope it got like scoop and big wheels unlike the current model which i own and the wheel department is lagging
There are very cool shots of both cars here:
http://www.trd.com.au
But only one of the hilux, and no real specs for it. Anybody have more info on it?
the hilux trd concept is good but why such ugly 17″ wheels.Should be at least 18″ machined.
I hope they upgrade the interior to leather,add the overhead maps lights(wiring already in the roof of current aussie hilux),side mirror led indicators,sports alu pedals(all in available in toyota’s hilux vigo’s thailand).They should change the head lights to the thai toyota fortuner suv(same platform as the hilux), 2 gang version not unlike the territory.When are we going to get a real rear seat belt for the middle passenger.
at 50K, an AWD TRD aurion would have sold more than the Holden SS, liberty GT, passat 4-motion AWD, and xr6 turbo combined.
at 55K, not so sure.
TRD will sell more hiluxs then aurions you wait and see,trd aurions need awd to better hsv sales ,good to see Toyota putting some thing interesting on the market
Have ordered the ’08 4X4Vigo Hilux, which is due in mid October. I would be very grateful if someone could recommend and/or point me in the right direction as to where I could source accessories (i.e. tubular side steps, exterior canopy cover c/w roll bars etc), as our local dealership has a limited supply of stocked accessories. My understanding is that I may have to source accessories far outside of my region (Barbados, W.I.). Of which I am prepared to pursue, should this become necessary. Any info pertaining to reliable contacts / suppliers would be greatly appreciated.
i want bambaer
Aurion looks ok, nothing the latest clubsport but 2nd best.
What i really want which i think will blow 90% of utes off the road, is a TRD workmate. So light, so fast!, i reckon the only ute to leave it behind would be a hsv.