Prodrive expertise for hot Toyotas

The company which owns and runs Ford Australia's performance car division will also run Toyota Australia's new 'skunk works.'

Prodrive, the British-based company that owns Ford Performance Vehciles in partnership with Ford Australia, has been named as the company that will operate and staff Toyota's new TRD (Toyota Racing Development) division (read more here).

The news came in a statement confirming that Australia's largest car company would build a new facility for TRD in Victoria. Toyota stated Prodrive would run the TRD operation "totally independent of its other operations in Australia."

TRD chief Greg Gardner said Prodrive’s involvement was an important part of the recipe for TRD success.

“Prodrive’s ability and commitment in the assembly of TRD enhancements is an important step in delivering quality vehicles,” Gardner said. “Toyota will draw on Prodrive’s vast experience and credibility in delivering performance vehicles for a range of manufacturers.

“Unlike other operations involving Prodrive, TRD will design, develop and hold the intellectual property to the TRD enhancements,” Gardner said.

Gardner confirmed the upcoming V6 Aurion large car would be the first vehicle to receive the TRD treatment. Other models will be added progressively.

CarPoint believes the HiLux light commercial will quickly follow the Aurion. It too could potentially sport a supercharger like the Aurion FPC (Future Performance Concept) displayed at this year's Melbourne Motor Show.

Headed by prominent motor racing identity, David Richards (pictured), Prodrive is one of the world’s leading motorsport and automotive groups. Its global operations have a turnover in excess of £110m and the company employs nearly 1000 staff in the UK, North America, Germany, Thailand and Australia.

The company runs the Subaru World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship; Ford Performance Racing in the Australian V8 Supercar series and Aston Martin's factory race team. It recently 'won' the right to compete in the F1 world championship in its own right from 2008.