Toyota's confirms go-fast arm

Toyota Australia is gearing up to take on Holden and Ford's performance car divisions with its own hi-po sub-brand. The offshoot, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) is a division of Toyota Technocraft which has been Toyota's motorsport and high-performance motoring arm for more than 50 years.

Toyota says it's the first time in the world that TRD is being established as a separate vehicle franchise from Toyota.

The corporate manager of TRD Australia, Greg Gardner (pictured), said the brand was the logical choice for Toyota's range of locally designed performance vehicles.

"TRD engines currently power Toyotas in the US Craftsman Trucks series and next year they will be the driving force behind the company's foray into NASCAR racing, he said. "The brand is also synonymous with the development of high-performance parts in Japan and the United States."

To kick the brand off, the car maker's Australian Rally Championship contesting Corollas will now race under TRD livery.

Toyota's new local large car due later in 2006, the Aurion, will be the first vehicle to undergo TRD's performance enhancement. The TRD-fettled version of the Aurion is already being touted in television advertisements but is scheduled for launch by mid 2007.

Gardner said TRD Australia would be different to its overseas counterparts, who mainly focused on parts sales.

"TRD Australia will be a complete vehicle range, rather than just an aftermarket parts business," he said.

"The Aurion definitely won't be the only local Toyota to wear the TRD badge. Vehicles like the Corolla and HiLux are also under consideration," he said.

Toyota gave the Australian public a first glimpse of its new TRD-enhanced Aurion at the 2006 Melbourne International Motor Show. The show car was powered by a locally tuned supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine and styled by Toyota Style Australia.