Hot Aurion not a V8 threat

[Cosmo]

picture--> http://tcimages.net/DisplayImage.aspx?PD=15465121&S=ISS

Words - Joe Kenwright

Toyota is watering down buyer expectations about the TRD Aurion's ability to take on Holden and Ford's hotties... But why?

Toyota is not gunning for HSV and FPV. That's the news that emerged last week as Toyota moved to dilute performance expectations of its yet-to-be released TRD Aurion.

The supercharged Aurion is due for release mid-year. To date it has been touted as a threat to the performance crowns of the local hotshoes. Now Toyota says it has imports in its sights -- it will now chase European and Japanese sports offerings such as the Alfa 159, VW R32 Golf, Subaru Liberty GT Spec B and Mazda6 MPS in the $50-60,000 range.

A Toyota spokesman told the Carsales Network that as TRD Aurion "evolved" into the final production version, it became apparent that it was more of a "sophisticated luxury high performance model" than a V8-beater.

It was also revealed that the Aurion flagship will be released in two levels (as predicted by CN), the 3500S (Supercharged) and 3500SL (Supercharged Luxury).

The strong European overtones in the nomenclature are no coincidence when Toyota believes this is the area of the performance market that has the potential for strong growth. Toyota's latest shots of the new model highlight its striking looks which are more consistent with sophisticated European performance than brute Aussie muscle.

Visible high quality is also part of the brief.

Toyota also confirmed that last week's announcement was to generate more realistic expectations ahead of the new model's release when the raw power figures and local go-faster team behind the new model could suggest the new TRD Aurion was chasing the big local rear-drive V8 models. This was an impression that various Toyota staff encouraged.

So what's changed? Toyota officials have admitted now that the original TRD Aurion concept was to feature all-wheel drive but there wasn't the time nor resources to develop it specifically for such a low volume application when it is not available on other local Camry-based models.

The addition of the local supercharger installation has not only bumped up the standard Aurion's already healthy 200kW by a projected 35-40kW but supercharged engines have a tendency to generate bags of torque almost from tickover. The Aurion's stock 200kW V6 is already retarded under hard acceleration off the line so it can't overwhelm the Camry front-drive platform. A torquier supercharged engine needs even more careful management to avoid excessive wheelspin and torque-steer.

Toyota has confirmed that it has required considerable development in the engine electronics and the electronic stability and traction controls to manage the extra grunt off the line in the absence of the all-wheel drive that was part of the original brief.

Despite this, those who have driven the TRD Aurion Supercharged report that the awesome power delivery is quite addictive when the starting point is already smooth and powerful.

Although the TRD Aurion outguns all of its projected European and Japanese rivals by a significant margin and matches it with an edge in attitude and looks, it won't match the AWD that is specified in all of them at their top levels. The proof will be in the driving and there can be no doubt that Toyota will mask any traction difficulties with the same level of expertise as the rest of the Aurion range.

However, there is no getting around the fact that over about 170-180kW, most front-drive performance models start to get untidy under full acceleration from rest unless the electronics temporarily shut things down. Without AWD, it is hard to imagine how the TRD Aurion can deliver the full sensation of its extra grunt until it is well and truly on the move.

Rightly or wrongly, most Australian performance cars are judged by the way they perform between zero and 100km/h. If the non-supercharged Aurion is any indicator, our bet is that the new TRD Aurion will be just getting into its stride at that speed hence Toyota's revised European reference.

As for a true FPV or HSV beater, Toyota continues to demonstrate that it doesn't rest on its laurels. If the original brief was to feature all-wheel drive, then sooner or later it will happen when there are overseas Camry models that feature all-wheel drive.

must say it looks quite nice :D

Edited April 16, 2007 by Cosmo

[melvinlau]

Toyota Australia have been approached by the V8 Supercars, to enter a vehicle to rival the Holden's and Fords. But Toyota have turned around and have said "Keep your V8 Supercars, we're going for F1 Racing, thanks anyway".

So i can't see the new TRD Aurion won't be launching an attack on the HSV and FPV vehicles. But it'll be exciting to see how they're going to control 240 - 250kw with a FF setup.

[saintly]

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[SuperDave]

Toyota Australia have been approached by the V8 Supercars, to enter a vehicle to rival the Holden's and Fords. But Toyota have turned around and have said "Keep your V8 Supercars, we're going for F1 Racing, thanks anyway".

As far as I know Toyota don't meet the rules anyway. They aren't making a large rwd car in Australia with a V8.

[rthy]

sophisticated luxury high performance model

since when was TRD luxury??????

[Cosmo]

sophisticated luxury high performance model

since when was TRD luxury??????

Since now apparently!

[Trufflepig]

So i can't see the new TRD Aurion won't be launching an attack on the HSV and FPV vehicles. But it'll be exciting to see how they're going to control 240 - 250kw with a FF setup.

Its not - apparently its going to be 235Kw "only" - maybe 250 Kw was too much of a handful in reality. They really need to think about part time AWD as in other platforms IMHO

[Dead]

sophisticated luxury high performance model

since when was TRD luxury??????

TRD now stands for:

Toyota Recline Department

Slogan:

"At Toyota, we say 'Screw those guys...put your feet up.'"