Toyota TRD Aurion

Toyota is drawing on its motorsport heritage to unveil a new performance brand at the Melbourne International Motor Show - TRD. TRD will offer vehicles that focus on refined performance and athletic driving dynamics. Its first two vehicles will be launched this year.

A division of Toyota Australia, the company's local engineers and designers draw on Toyota's global resources to develop the TRD vehicles in Australia. The first TRD performance vehicle, on display at the Melbourne show, will be based on the Aurion sedan and is due to be launched in the third quarter of this year. TRD's second model will be derived from the TRD HiLux Concept 4x4 double cab being shown in Melbourne and will be launched by the end of the year. Both new TRD vehicles will feature supercharged engines and a range of engineering and styling enhancements. TRD plans to expand and develop its model line-up, but has not released details. The TRD product range will be sold through a select network of TRD dealers drawn from the Toyota network.

"This is a world first for Toyota - and it is happening in Australia," said David Buttner, Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing. It is the first time TRD has been established as a separate brand under Toyota. It is the first time anywhere in the world Toyota will engineer and market a range of complete vehicles under the TRD banner. We will increase the desirability of the Toyota brand by drawing on Toyota's motorsport heritage. TRD will add a new dimension to the Toyota brand in Australia."

The launch of the first TRD performance vehicles coincides with the 50th anniversary of Toyota's global involvement in motorsport. To mark the establishment of the performance-vehicle division, Toyota's rally team was last year renamed Team TRD.

"Motorsport is the ultimate test-bed for engineers," Mr Buttner said. "The lessons learnt by Team TRD in the forest will be applied to the development of the TRD range of performance vehicles. While Toyota will undertake all design and engineering development for TRD vehicles, final assembly will be carried out by our production supplier, Prodrive."
TRD Aurion at Melbourne Motor Show

Toyota's new performance sedan is one step closer to fruition with the TRD Aurion on display at the Melbourne International Motor Show. Toyota Style Australia finalised the look of the TRD Aurion under the direction of exterior designer Lee Moran and interior designer Anthony Cheung. The exterior aesthetic took inspiration from Toyota's Formula One car. Those influences are most evident in the graphic of the front splitter, the wheel design and the 'diffuser'-style rear. Mr Moran described the TRD Aurion as a vehicle that projects a "powerful and dynamic presence". To continue the F1 theme, Mr Cheung said the team worked on performance-oriented styling with a European flavour.