TRD Aurion In the Wild
August 19, 2007 by George Skentzos
Recently I was fortunate enough to spot a TRD Aurion in the wild and catch some snapshots on my phone – again I apologise, I promise I will buy a new phone.
Now as if this wasn’t enough on the same day I spied what appeared to be a luxury TRD Aurion, although no photos as I was driving in the opposite direction at the time.
All common sense points to the fact that these cars were being driven around to get attention – and that they did. Everyone who passed by it in my short paparazzi stint took a long appreciative glance at the supercharged beast parked casually outside the supermarket. While in motion, the TRD Aurion is surprisingly quiet with not so much as a whisper of a supercharger whine.
The presumably luxury TRD Aurion I spotted was identical to a car we have reported on previously and although it was only a fleeting glance as I passed by, it looked every bit as menacing and powerful as you would expect.
George Skentzos
Print it: 
yawn
Double Yawn
How can this car be taken seriously against HSV and FPV when you can’t even buy a manual version of it?
And it’s FWD
Really? How?
I do agree… better to start somewhere I guess… than do the reverse backflip to some extent at HSV>>> READ ON!
Did you know the VRX has no emblems inside to state HSV and no changes to inside as Holden thinks “OH SHE’LL DO”. A few badges stuck on car before it goes to car dealers for sale to the public. Oh and the obligatory sticker on the back window to cover up the slackness an HSV symbol above the words “I just want one”. As for the steering wheel, no they do not change that either as still have Opel thunderbolt symbol. The noise associated with HSV is a deep knarly exhaust resonance… not in this baby as fair bit reserved! As for problems with it its steering is only good and not exceptional and fancy NOT having a rear wheel drive… 177kw to front wheels equals torque steer issues. Holden should be more concerned about the detail. You think they would offer a sporty dialset in instrument cluster like found in Clubsport, etc… no detail again and even have sticker viewable in cluster that states “OPEL PERFORMANCE CENTRE”. Holden shaming its past by putting a HSV logo to this is a recipe for disaster as whilst a nice vehicle has sort of been not changed as Holden / HSV not concerned to change detail to continue the theme of how it does HSV cars! Derryn Hinch would say “SHAME, SHAME, SHAME” This happens regularly in industry and most do it! For HSV to do it makes it worse as backflip of past vehicles sold!!!
SHANE – VXR is front wheel drive!!! Did you forget????
It’s a nice looking car… kinda. And it does have a fair bit of power, but i still fail to see how it can possibly go up against FPV and HSV. Maybe it should be pitted up against the XR6T… even though a TRD would struggle against an XR6T it would still fit in a better category then FPV and HSV.
what are the power figures on this i heard something like 240kw or something i just dont see how they think this will sell the vxr the hsv that torque steers to the shit and they think theirs wont. if you watch top gear you would have seen the vauxhaul vextra that think couldn’t turn at speed the thing would just go straight
It was designed to compete for the money of buyers who buy cars like the Liberty GT and Mazda 6 MPS.
Even in a video by TRD showing the development of the vehicle, before the car took off for a test lap, you could see a Liberty GT parked behind it.
I have a high performance magna sports, 5 speed manual.
I wouldn’t say it’s completely stock. But the one thing that stands out to me is, with front wheel drive it’s very hard to transfer the power to the ground. I can smoke the wheels without trying. Standing quarters in 6.5 seconds. I’m sure the TRD will be able to match my times but when you have a front wheel drive with this amount of power it becomes undriverable. Overtaking on the other hand is just magic.
Maybe TRD should look at making it a 4 wheel drive with 6 speed manual, then maybe we have something to talk about (in your dreams).
Standing quarters in 6.5 seconds?
Tony, what are you smoking?
Oh – you mean standing quarter inch…..
Reckless1 said: Maybe the car I have is what you might call a police pursuit vehicle designed to catch speeding motorists.
Just for the record as 2002 TJ Magna Sports does a standing quarter in 7 seconds. That’s as tested by Drive.
Are you guys confusing standing quarter with 0-100km/h?
My apologies, 0-100km/h. I knew I should of had breakfast.
The TRD Aurion certainly won’t match the HSV/FPV’s but regardless should be a very competant car within it’s own rights. It is my understanding that Toyota has invested quite some time, money & refinement into this product in-conjuntion with reputable engineering firms like Pro-drive, The obital Company and Harrop engineering. I would confidant to suggest that TRD has been mindfall in regards to it’s FWD layout and i have absloute confidance that it will establish it’s own niche market just the same as HSV/FPV has.
In regards to HSV/FPV – some may recall that Lexus Australia recently confirmed that the IS-F will be available in Australia as of mid next and i’m sure it will smoke any HSV/FPV any day of the week. The IS-F will be powered by a 300kw 5.0 ltr V8 mated to a 8 speed (that’s right… 8 speed) paddle shift tranny with LSD and a lockup torque converter for maximum take of speed. Apart from that, the IS-F will exhibit all of the valuable and repected traits of a Lexus – unquestionable quality, refinement and dependability.
I acknowledge Toyota has not been involved with sports/performance cars for quite awhile but they are starting to invest into this arena again and the TRD Aurion and IS-F is sure to be a good start.
I would have liked to see a TRD Corrolla before the Aurion.
This doesn’t look like the Luxury version as it doesn’t have Climate Control. The basic model sould be the same spec as the SX-6 and the luxury would be at least the same as the ZR-6. This model is probably for testing the leather seats.
As someone has quite rightly pointed out the TRD Aurion was never intended to compete with HSV/FPV, only perhaps at the beginning when this model was going to be available in 4WD.
not a bad looking thing really…
Not a Clubsport or a GT but i dont think A FPV or HSV buyer would even know where to find a toyta dealership let alone buy a camry, but a think it will be a good alternative for the liberty/Mazda 6 buyer and will help raise the profile of the Aurion and get people into showrooms
I agree the I-pf will be 10 times the car that HSV or FPV could dream of producing but it will be 3 or 4 times the price of a GTP/GTS
Dingo…
How much is this lexus, compared to FPV and HSV? you listed the features, but never the price, which i would have thought was quite important as its’ the ‘purchase price’
I’m sick and tired of many comparing RWD lexus models with Ford and Holdens!
They are in completely different classes…
Lol I know what you mean Adam. The IS-F will cost a hell of a lot more than a HSV/FPV. Its not even in the same size class!! Why anyone would even consider comparing these cars is beyond me.
I think Dingo loves saying the word “Lexus” So Dingo what do you think about the current stockmarket?? Answer: They should have brought a Lexus LOL…
Why anyone would even consider comparing these cars is beyond me.
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Because they have more class, quality and refinement than HSV cars. No matter how far HSV goes, they definitely cannot match cars like the M5 on these qualities. If HSV priced their vehicles like an M5, I’d like to see how well they’d sell.
Granted, you’re paying a lot more for a BMW, Mercedes or a Lexus of equivalent performance, and you’re probably not getting as much extra as you pay extra, but I don’t see why someone wouldn’t consider such a car.
If Holden wishes to attempt to elevate it’s own standing and advertise that the new VE range is capable of challenging the world’s very best then that is exactly how they will be judged upon.
HSV and FPV (particularily HSV) has never been shy to compare it’s offerings to much more exclusive offerings and when the IS-F lands on our shores next year then i’ll be waiting the showdown
Like i’ve said on many occassions to date… if that’s the way Holden choses to advertise then that’s the way the public will pass judgement. Don’t get weak on me and come up with excuses.
Be sure to answer this… if Lexus, Mercedez Benz, BMW, Audi etc are in differant classes (as you say – and they are)then WHY DOES HOLDEN PERSIST TO BE COMPARED TO THEM and then people like yourself try to avoid such confrontations when it happens.
Jezz…
Common sense is a rare thing these days it would appear…
I give up.
FAIRDINKUM are you people for real, the same people complain of WRX and we come to this and ????. To vastly ramp up the style and tone off the Camry / Aurion look it needs to go further!!!!!!! FACT
PROBLEM AREAS HAVEN’T ADDRESSED –
1. grille way too traditional and does not look aggressive enough on grille (this looks too bland and change here would lift the style but it has to look correct). Bottom of front bumper is too much detail and curves and it looks like Hyundai or former Daewoo did this area! Back is nice and hopefully the rear tailights are LED and diamond look bright as
2. headlights should be blacked out surrounding silver actual light like in second last model Astra and earlier Mazda 6’s
3. around lower driving lights there should be horizontal grille type vents (from actual light facing inwards
4. sides of car are virtually same as last model and are too predictably slab sided
5. bonnet should have a raised crease down the middle
6. front guards should have aesthetic cooling slots located behind wheel (Tiburon and Kombidore)
7. THIS CAR WHILST NICE IS A PISS POOR EFFORT… flare guards over wheels a bit (these look sporty). Isn’t it funny that the Kombidore has them all the way down to the base model, yet the sporty TRD Aurion does NOT and this would help tone down the slab side like earlier Camry’s (second last model) and hint of Magna some 20yrs ago??? The flares would be done in metal and size could be worked out so not too big on car and to blend in nicely with overall design theme.
ROBERTO, i have no clue what you are on about or even trying to suggest. To me and many and others sitting next to me looking at these pictures, it is a appealing car to the eye. I like it and most certainly would like test drive one with any given oppurtunity. It will not appeal to everyone and tell me what car ever does or has.
This first attempt from TRD here downunder is a respectful one at the least. I assume some of you online chatters really have no life beyond the net and probably don’t even test drive differant cars as suggested.
What is it with Toyota, they seem to bug, annoy and make many Holden, Ford chimps very nervous at the wink of the eye.
Danny ….ucker – so Iam at home cause of heavy rain as Iam a builder. You what you on here for then???? Get a life
I just happen to be an engineer for REX aviation and my nice paypocket isn’t interfered with by the climate in the slightest. A life to me isn’t slapping concrete on bricks or nailing your finger to beams. Gee, i hope you don’t break any tiles either. I suppose the most exciting thing for you is waiting for Josie to arrive in the pie fan with your picture magazine. Yeah, that’s a real… get real, FREAK.
Inspected a Black 3500S closely (sat in it) – very very nice – I thought I would hate the red interior but in fact its very classy terracotta and grey – the dark grey wheels look better than the silver ones on the 3500sl. It looks very hunkered down – and tight (the smaller size is perfect – the Holden looks huge by comparison) -this looks like a sports sedan however good or bad it is. I would have preferred less silver frost (standard Aurion) but it still likes fine – nice first try TRD