Toyota TRD Aurion – would you buy one?
March 16, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Previously whenever we’ve discussed the Toyota Aurion, readers have gotten themselves into some sort of argument for and against the upcoming performance orientated Aurion from Toyota Racing & Development. In Australia, when it comes to home grown performance cars, for decades now, there has only been two choices, a HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) or a FPV (ford performance vehicles).
The TRD Aurion is expected to cost more than the Ford XR-6 Turbo and Holden’s SS Commodore but less than the HSV/FPV cars, so the question is simple, would you buy a Toyota TRD Aurion (poll at the end of article).
So whilst Toyota Australia continues to deny that the Aurion is a direct competitor to any HSV/FPV car, its obvious that Toyota’s reasoning is due to the fear that the TD Aurion will not live up to the standards of HSV/FPV cars. Firstly, its not a V8, and whilst that is no longer an issue with the 6 Cylinder Turbo-charged FPV Typhoons putting the majority of HSVs stable (and V8 offerings from FPV themselves) to shame, the biggest issue is the Front-Wheel-Drive factor.
However, one aspect that needs to be questioned is Toyota’s entry into the “aussie performance car” market. Both Holden and Ford have been doing this for decades and whilst Toyota as a brand has a huge and rich motorsport history, as far as Australian bred performance cars go, its not exactly a household name.
Essentially the Aurion follows the same principle as the other two big name manufacturers, take your standard family sedan, put some performance parts in it and call it a performance car. For Holden & Ford this works wonders, but whether or not it will work for Toyota is another story.
“We don’t want Toyota drivers to think it’s too loud, but Toyota buyers must think it’s more sporty. The key to attracting people to the Toyota brand is to have something different.” TRD corporate manager Greg Gardner.
So what do you get? a Supercharged V6 engine putting out around 235kW of power (not yet official), six-speed auto box (no manual), bigger wheels and tyres, improved brakes, upgraded seats & interior, and a sports body kit to give the car a mean and aggressive look.
Toyota has been working hard for the last two years to get this car to the showroom, initially starting with a supercharged Camry and then moving onto the Aurion. No doubt that TRD has taken note of the success of Fords XR-6 Turbo range and realized that the Australian buyer is no longer just after raw V8 power, that there is now a market for force fed six-cylinder engines in the performance sector.
The whole idea of the TRD Aurion isn’t really to make money, the idea is to create a halo car that will help increase sales of the basic car. In saying that, TRD hopes to sell around 1,000 cars in the first 12 months.
“I will be happy if a TRD car brings someone into a Toyota dealership and they buy something else in the range.” Mr Gardner said.
Pricing for the TRD Aurion has not been finalized but there are some clues to what we might expect :
“It’s going to be more expensive than a Falcon XR6 Turbo ($44,000) or a Commodore SV8 ($45,000) … but it won’t be as expensive as an HSV or FPV car. It will not be priced against the Falcon XR6 turbo, though. It’s a lot more than just an engine upgrade.” Mr Gardner said.
From that we can gather that, one, Mr Gardner hasn’t realized the Holden have dropped the SV8 model from its lineup (there is the SS and SS V now), and two, that the Aurion is going to cost around $47 – 50,000.
So if we just simply compare the SS commodore and the XR-6 Turbo to the TRD Aurion (which is more expensive) this is what we get.
Ford XR-6 Turbo : Power 245kW Torque 480Nm @ 2000rpm-4500rpm – $44,000
Holden VE SS Commodore : Power 270kW Torque 530Nm @ 4400rpm – $45,000
Toyota TRD Aurion : Power 235kW Torque unconfirmed – ~$47-50,000
So will we buy a TRD Aurion? Its not an easy question to answer before we get our hands on the car. But as far as spending around $50,000 on an aussie performance car goes, its hard to look past choices from the big two established brands!
The TRD Aurion will be on sale from August 13th.
If you haven’t voted already:
Print it: 
Paul, come out of the closet and fess up???
oh not this paul guy again going on with crap again oh well keep up the love for toyota someones gotta love it
Paul, I have friends who do nursing and nothing wrong with it as someone has to do it and it would be hard as
CQCQ has anyone heard Pauls response on his job, over
ah ive had enough for tonight im tired because i actually put in a decent days work (and dont confuse that with a hard days work)
seeya guys (for now)
ha ha ha yeah nothing wrong with nursing hey someones gotta wipe my bum when i am too old to do it he he he
ok couldnt resist im going now cyas
Andrew M…. Iam in stitches laughing so much. Always great following your mindset around the traps
Your right to a degree Andrew, my memory is long from the last labour days though I guess we should be glad we dont have George Bush as a contender ………so much fun to listen to though.hahaha
Honestly however wrong I am very coincidental that Klink and Andrew.M are posting within 2 minutes of eachother each time… and when I made a note of this earlier they all of a sudden say ‘Im my own man’ at the EXACT same time as a Klink comment to try and legimitimise it.
Eitherway, no Im not a nurse… but its a well paid industry, in fact the graduate salary is well above $30k LOL
Bavarian Missile you are real great to read too around the traps too. Agree with your last comment about George W Bush.
Paul. wrong again. So what is your job as wont rev you.
Paul. Mate no crap you are wrong. Dont fret the small crap! So where abouts are you in Aussie land? Iam at Grafton NSW
Lol Im not divulging such information! Not that its a bad industry or anything, but because I see no obligation to do so online.
Must be bad, as you comment about builders wrongly. I make your whole years wage on one home which I just get contractors to build for me – good hey. You dont stand on the intersection waving traffic down late at night!
Bite me
Hey Colonel I know your not Andrew M , come on Paul I love my Toyotas too but I am sure you can agree Toyotas have their own down falls in areas, they cant be everything to all people, no car can.
I think we all no that the trades are earning more than the more educated these days ,my brother is a mining engineer earning around $150-200 k a year but living in minus 35 conditions sometimes and no life style . Me nope I am a self confessed CUB ,{cashed up bogan}with no regrets and a more than great lifestyle.
I guess if your happy with your lifestyle surely that’s all that matters. There are equally as many infernal students that preach down to CUBs that more than likely are happy driving their $1500 Combis blowing smoke with green piece stickers on the back windows, as there are major bogans in their VL Commys front seat laying back so far their looking out the back window and doff doff music is to be heard 500 metres away.
Would I buy one of these TRD Aurions ? MMM Toyota make good cars I know they do but their entering a group of contenders that have been fighting each other for decades along with the supporters of each product , I guess where not interested in something that just doesn’t come across as…………. Blokey !
Well said and how dam true!
Klink (or Roberto, whatever you like to be called), when I graduate as a civil engineer, you certainly won’t be earning more than me for 1 house in my first year… And if you don’t think there is a shortage of engineers, you’re very wrong. Many firms are filling positions with foreigners, as there is simply not enough graduates to fill positions in Australia.
“I make $30K a year Paul; mate Mr Bean states smarter things than you.” I’m pretty sure you’ve been commenting on wages also. Yeah, engineers make 1/10th of builders – Mr Bean says things much smarter than that too.
Hey Jbot, mate how is JLo. Mate I build multiple homes and get know it alls like you to do the work. You have no chance to match my wage as you are so wet between the ears you will serve tea in your first proper job that you get into with your qaulifications. Mate, you should of been on last night when your bumchum was fisting himself up the wall with his idiotic comments. Oh thats right, he displays similar intellect to you.
Mate just get over it and comment about cars – Iam sure you will get a great career in your field and will be successful, it all takes time and it is great you are getting focussed on a good career move.
Go to 4.29pm as comment never originated from me – rather your acquantance who is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo out of touch with reality
AUGUST 2007 SALES: Commodore 4899 ~ Falcon 2973 ~ Aurion 1873 ~ Mitsubishi 380 – 658. OVERALL YTD: Toyota 20938 ~ Holden 12209 ~ Ford 9544.
Fords range is not as broad as ever two car makers. Aurion not huge sales numbers. Commodore outsold all.
Chief factor here is the very fierce retail competition offered that Holden does heaps of, consumer confidence and many new releases.
Does any one know how sales of this car are presently going compared to HSV & FPV has been on sale for a month now.
David, no idea. Dare say HSV then FPV then TRD. Interesting to see the numbers?
g`day guys,i`ve just tuned into this site, and after veiwing the comments in the latter part of this list, i actually for got what the site was about. am i in the who`s dick`s bigger than who`s site?
mate it would be nice to come on here to talk about cars but when people keep throwing uneducated life assumptions at you it is very hard not to defend silly comments
Big John… mate turn it up, this website is cool and is very good, great writeups and occassional red necked comments by varied people in life. Take it in your stride and dont be a worry wart
Just wondering Klink, why did you change your name from Roberto?
Bot boy…………….whatever, whatever I do what I want
Big John,
I’ve been told I don’t like cars by the great one(A.F.),when I do,told to go hug a tree by another.
I wasn’t sure if he meant me to do it with my car or not & assumptions made about me being some old conservative who wears cardigans who occupies the RH lane doing 20 below the limit.Geez I’m so radical I don’t have body piercings or tatts.
Do I care? No I come back often to have a look & maybe annoy someone in an inoffensive way with something I have written.It rubs the jagged edges off & you just might broaden the horizons & learn something.
126 logs is getting a little long…there just might be one or two stirrers here…you never know.
I would not buy this on two reasons:
1. I am a Ford man and the XR6 Turbo is cheaper.
2. Also i’m all about numbers and a Definate 245kw is better than a ‘PROPOSED 235kw’.
So there you have it not only is the XR6T cheaper but would also leave the TRD on the Quarter.
Theres also a new Falcon orion range with more power than the current BF this TuRD is not quite as fast an BF XR6 turbo and about to be upgraded.
The TRD Aurion ,what a joke……the only people that drive a Toyota Aurion are the over 55 brigade.The car itself is down right ugly….lets face it if you where going to fork out $45,000 plus would you buy it.Resale value would be a problem.
ShaneT: Seems like you know your cars mate! :-) You made the Aurion T.R.D sound even better.. I would buy one on paper or not on paper, I have sat inside one of these (the demo inside showroom) And I was speechless…Just sitting inside this gorgeous beast and copping a feel is enough to make you want her, yet alone hearing the engine being charged. I would buy one at the drop of a dime… BUT being the impatient one I am I decided to go for the Aurion ZR6 for the time being, its the closest thing I could have to that amazing TRD…I know I will own it one day.. Until then I will be looking but not touching ;-)
I think the Aurion TRD looks awesome. I’d have one if it didn’t cost so much.
And what is this with people bagging the initials TRD??? some people just clutch at straws defending their CommaDOR’s
I used to think that commodores were alright but with the sort of problems and recalls that they constantly have, what’s the point? I’d proberly buy a falcon before i bought a commodore, and definitely an aurion before either.
AWD should make the TRD Aurion perfect. I’m also looking forward to a TRD Corolla with the Aurion non-turbo engine to leave the Alloytecs for dead.
Hey guys, my dad owns a TRD Aurion 3500SL and hes loves it! I have to say he has quite a lead foot and every time he has come accross a XR6 Turbo or SS commodore he has raced and FLOGGED THEM!!!
Dan – your dad may be a traffic light hero… yet whether or not He FLOGGED THEM… means nothing unless you or your dad are certain that the driver of the XR6 or SS agreed to actively take part in a race with your dad.. which I very much doubt.
I mean not everyone who owns/drives a performance car/street machine is a hoon or a leadfoot etc some of us are responsible drivers and look after our car which is why we prefer to just cruise – it’s just another case of the minority [usually teenagers L/P platers] ruining it for the majority
Note: you’d be hard pressed to find a car enthusiast refer to an Aurion as a Performance car.
^Agreed Wheelnut! To add to that, the Aurion also may have moods on the TRD too! Though both a SS (Stock) and XR6T (Stock) are faster than a Stock TRD Aurion anyway so I can not see that the TRD Aurion would be faster than the two. Unless there is moods on the TRD Aurion like I mentioned. But then there is too much spin because of it’s a FWD.
Wow it doesn’t have a Manual option, some people truly need to get over this whole “if it’s not a manual I’m not buying” Crap! The 6 speed autos are more fuel efficient, more reliable and overall quicker. Unless your a Supercar driver (which most the Ford and Holden owners THINK they are because they own there vroom vroom 8 cars) and KNOW how to shift properly at all times in all situations will you MAYBE benefit from the Manuals. Anyways I used to own a corolla did 500 000km before it gave up, you would struggle to get that out of any kind of Ford or Holden. AUSTRALIA ACCEPT CHANGE NOTHING STAYS THE SAME.
First, you cannot compare a Toyota to a Ford or a Commodore. This is due to the unquestionable fact that over the years Toyota has gained the reputation for selling higher quality vehicles in most classes than any other comparable mass producing manufacturer. The numbers speak for themselves as Toyota Motor Co. was claimed the world’s highest selling car manufacturer for 2008.
Second, if a Toyota provides a car in a certain class that has a lower engine power rating than other cars in the same class it does not mean that they are faster. The first part of the answer is that Toyota follows the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)’ standard codes and tests in determining the HP output of an engine while other manufacturers don’t necessarily, never correlate the published HP values for two vehicles with the performance output if the ratings are not significantly different. The second part of the answer is that Toyota vehicles always have a better overall design. That means the best combination of the involved mechanical parts (engine, axels, wheel base, gear and others), even if the HP rating is less the Toyota might be faster.
Third, Toyota is a differently oriented company than other competitors. Toyota’s soul aim is to sell mass production vehicles this yields more profits. After the reputation they gained over the years they rarely go towards producing customized and more consumer oriented vehicles. They produce vehicles that are practical, durable and have reasonable performance. I.e. Toyota focuses into producing vehicles that provide the best combination for all aspects for the price you pay. Frankly speaking what they offer is much more complex and much harder to design than a “V8 Commodore”, this means that if they needed to design a V8 in the first place they would build a yard stick that would smash all the other cars in range.
Toyota employs expert teams of professional and experienced engineers that aim for that pursue perfection in their work (which is the new Lexus campaign slogan by the way).
The main reason you cant compare a Toyota Aurion to a Commodore or Falcon is because they have such different characteristics.. the main one being the fact that the Toyota is FWD whilst the Ford and Holden are RWD which will inherently affect the way the car performs and handles in different situations. I mean would you really compare a Yaris to a Konigsiegg? – it’s the same thing
And If Toyota wanted to build a V8 that would “smash” its competitors… why the hell didn’t they given that they have more money and more resources than Ford and Holden
Thing is Toyota like to think that the Aurion is Game Changing when in actual fact they wanted to change the game by trying to get AVESCO to change the rules and regulations of V8 Supercars to suit them.. yet they were willing to accept the rules and regulations of F1
You’re right Lexii [plural you know] motto is “in the Pursuit of perfection”…. and that’s where they will remain in terms of design performance handling and technology…. always in pursuit of; trying to surpass BMW – who swept the pool in the international engine of the year awards
BMW not only designed and built the worlds first modern hybrid car in 1991 but they also built a 1.4 engine which produced over 1200hp I’d like to see Toyota/Lexus do that
hahahaha………….your up late !You on holidays ?
Its cold here BM hun. summers gone for us, leaves fallen from the trees just looking forward to skiing again hopefully, France or Italy this year. Guess it warming up there now.
Don’t you just love Andrews Ute. Me want one.
Well they tried and basically it was a big flop.
Suck on it Toybota fans
No more Toyleta TuRD Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, they cant compete with RWD muscle, Toybota only attracts ageing masses and girls who don’t mind torque/over steer.
OH WHAT A TeRD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did buy one what a waste of money should have bought a FPV or HSV,I know now.
I own 1, and I have owned the holdens and fords, i say for the amount of typhoons/xr6T’s, HSV’s and anything else that wants to have a crack the only one to beat it yet is a VN SS, and for comfort and the feel of driving a real race car at the same time, i dont thing a little bit of tourque steer out weighs how many have seen the ass end of the TRD and thought “F%$k is that a TOYOTA?”. Toyota reliability and finnished of realy nicely, well my black SL is anyway. Its a shame there isnt a follow on model but i think they got it pretty good first time around not like its competitors.
Given how poorly TRD Aurion resales are holding up, I’d say the general public says no, they won’t buy a TRD, even at $38k for a year old ex-demonstrator.
One thing’s for sure…
The whole world is saying “no thanks” to General motors with Ford not far behind.
Teaser- i bought one of the TMR380’s and like you the XRT fan boys say WTF was that?
Supercharged off the mark kills the turbos at the lights.
19 inch Yokohamas make the torque steer nonsense just that…nonsense.
I laugh when i see the Commodores smoking the rears as I take of with just a slight squeal from the front.
Sure are a bunch of burger flipping bottle shop attendant losers in this lot….