MIMS: Corolla and Kluger star but TRD grabs the attention

Toyota's top-seller and the country's top-selling small car nameplate, Corolla, was the star of Toyota's stand at today's MIMS opening. But Australia's number one brand's unveiling was far from a one-trick pony.

In addition to the all-new Corolla in both production car and Super2000 rally trim, the big T displayed its first production TRD Aurion, the all-new Kluger SUV and a heavy-metal TRD HiLux Concept.

The launch proper of TRD took much of the enthusiast crowd's attention but in terms of pure sales performance, it was the sedan and hatch variants of the Corolla that were among the highlights of the show.

With Corolla at the very top of the local sales charts, it is a vitally important car for Toyota. No question of any risks then, with the look -- though larger than the car it replaces (45mm longer and 65mm wider) and all-new, Corolla follows in well-worn tracks and features derivative styling and Toyota's normal attention to detail.

Toyota calls the new Corolla hatch "Euro-styled". The sedan variant meantime is somewhat more eastern. Both models will go on sale in the second quarter of 2007… In other words, soon!

Toyota says it is targeting a younger market with the Corolla hatch which is powered by an all-new exclusive-to-Oz 1.8-litre dual VVT-i engine matched to a choice of auto or six-speed manual transmission. Look out for more on the new Corollas in coming weeks.

Unveiled alongside the new Corolla, the new Kluger (more here) is also longer, wider and taller than the current model and will be available in both two and four-wheel drive versions for the first time in Australia.

Offering more interior space with the options of five or seven seats, it is due to go on sale in the third quarter of this year.

Toyota Australia's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner, said 2007 would be one of the busiest years on record for Toyota new-model launches.

"Toyota will launch nine new models into seven vehicle segments this year -- including the vehicles having their world or Australian debuts at the Melbourne show [today]," Buttner said.

"By the end of November, Toyota will have replaced or updated almost its entire model line-up in the space of just three years," he said.

In debuting the TRD brand with the unveiling of the TRD Aurion, Buttner said the go-fast arm would "add a new dimension to Toyota in Australia".

"TRD differs from its key competitors in the local enhanced-performance market because it will develop a range of vehicles, not just variations based on one car.

"TRD will increase the desirability of Toyota vehicles by drawing on the company's 50-year motorsport heritage to design and engineer a range of complete performance vehicles.

"This is the first time in the world TRD had been established as a separate brand under Toyota," Buttner said.

The TRD Aurion is currently slated for sale from August 2007 and will feature a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine pumping out "at least 235kW". Power will be transmitted via a six-speed automatic transmission and through multi-spoke 19-inch wheels.

The car on display featured the 'locked down' styling and interior. Toyota says the car features "performance-oriented styling with a European flavour."

TRD's HiLux Concept is not quite advanced and featured window blackouts to preclude any sneak peeks at the interior. That said, the 4WD Double Cab will also hit the market later this year with a supercharged 4.0-litre V6 engine that will boast "power substantially above the standard engine's 175kW."

Toyota's other world-first debut in Melbourne was its new Super2000 Corolla. Team leader Neal Bates and 2006 Australian Rally Champion Simon Evans will each be driving the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated car competitively for the first time at the Rally of Canberra in June.

To comment on this article click here