Toyota AU euthanizes TRD
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota Aurion TRD 3500S
Toyota of Australia's TRD performance arm was launched two years ago to give the brand a little flavor and add a third factory tuner option to the long-standing battle waged between Holden's HSV and Ford's FPV. Bowing with the Aurion TRD and HiLux TRD, the brand haven't exactly set the Outback on fire. Two years and just 888 sales later -- about one-fifth of HSV's depressed sales this year alone -- TRD Australia is closing up shop. Neither car ever really took off with industry pundits, being called out for a number of perceive failings. All of that -- including an economic downturn -- made it even easier to wrap the whole thing up and punt it out the window. The Australian TRD rally team is also under review. Toyota hasn't ruled out returning when conditions improve, but hopefully it will be with a better performing group of vehicles.
Gallery: 2007 TRD Aurion 3500S (AU)
Gallery: TRD HiLux (AU)
[Source: Drive.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
moyoi 6:13PM (12/19/2008)
Trying to best Ford and Holden in the high hp/fun game, next contender please?
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ablogreader 6:16PM (12/19/2008)
HOORAY !
These cars have been utter crap.
TRD = TuRD
Toyota should have stuck with what they do best... building cars for those who don't care about driving.
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Sea Urchin 6:15PM (12/19/2008)
Wow, why not make American look this good
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Jrejre 6:22PM (12/19/2008)
Where's the incentive? We keep buying them as is.
catgirlshyla 4:45AM (12/20/2008)
Seriously, the Toyota community in the USA is THAT strong. I was amazed (and scratching my head) over why people would modify a Third Gen V30 Camry; I was even more amazed they brought a Coupe model for that chassis. And look at Scion: people are lapping up TRD parts for their Scions.
What Toyota needs to do is bring the operations over to the USA, and maybe the Aurion.
Banan 6:20PM (12/19/2008)
Why N.A. always gets crappy corollas, huh? That thing looks so good!
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Torrent 9:48PM (12/19/2008)
I agree. This is probably the first (and last) time I will say this: That Toyota looks great.
Atomicbri 7:33AM (12/20/2008)
Banan, the Aurion is a Camry with different front clip and grill and different rear lights, this is not the Corolla, just thought I would let you know! : )
distantbody 6:38PM (12/19/2008)
Very few people want to drive a turd.
It truly is that simple.
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Kaveh 7:00PM (12/19/2008)
Not bad, to bad they haven't brought anything sporty to america since the Supra went away.
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Brent Worrell 7:31PM (12/19/2008)
Then what category does the IS-F fall under?
Talisman 9:52AM (12/20/2008)
There was also the MR-S(yes it was slow but definitely sporty) and most people forget about the X-Runner which is still available. I didnt think this pick-up truck was legitimately sporty either until I spent a week with one.
Reftheking 7:27PM (12/19/2008)
I'm not hating that "Aurion"
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David 7:37PM (12/19/2008)
Nice
hashiryu 7:39PM (12/19/2008)
Maybe if it was based on something RWD with 2 doors it might have had a better response? or at least just RWD?
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Matthew 8:07PM (12/19/2008)
Toyota need to partcipate in touring car racing in Australia if they want to compete against HSV and FPV.
Yeah the name didn't help.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/turd
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Guy Barwood 10:42PM (12/19/2008)
What on earth gave Toyota the idea that a front wheel drive car could ever challenge the RWD Holden and Fords? It never stood a chance. This market here is only interested in RWD.
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VictorRaikkonen 1:32PM (2/27/2009)
Probably because it does. I see these thing on the road everyday. Not as much as Commodore SS's, but muct more than Falcon V8's/FPV's.
RockStoneSteel 11:01PM (12/19/2008)
I have to agree with the previous post. From a distance, the TRD designation could easily be mistaken as a pun for excrement. Definitely not the type of trim level an automaker should want to advertise.
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carcomptoy 11:07PM (12/19/2008)
Regardless of driving dynamics (which I know is the point of that car), the Aurion looks absolutely amazing, and I wish that were here in the U.S.!!
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