by Entry into the Australian Market
In the mid-2000s, the market for large sedans in Australia was heating up, and Toyota decided to take part. In 2007, Toyota Australia targeted the powerful Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore models that dominated the local scene.
Instead of creating something entirely new, the company handed the keys to the sedate Aurion sedan, which was a derivative of the Camry with minor front and rear updates, as well as interior updates, to the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) division. The result was a supercharged car with serious intentions, named the TRD Aurion.
Toyota internally positioned this car as “Toyota plus,” and Senior Executive Director of Sales and Marketing David Buttner stated at the time that TRD’s involvement “enhanced the Aurion’s dynamic capabilities while preserving the brand’s reputation for quality, durability, and reliability.”
Camry with More Power
The Aurion never made it to North America, but it was largely a standard Camry with distinctive front and rear lighting, giving it a slightly sportier look. In its base configuration, it was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. But to compete with local rivals and sports sedans imported from abroad, TRD added an Eaton supercharger to the V6 engine, increasing power to an impressive 323 hp (241 kW) and torque of 295 lb-ft (400 Nm).
Notably, the TRD Aurion became the world’s first production car to use an Eaton Twin Vortices Series supercharger. Toyota claimed that this new unit provided smoother and quieter operation, with better throttle response and improved efficiency compared to previous designs.
Power was delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with a sequential manual mode. Toyota tuned this system to provide reliable braking, responsive handling, and an improved driving feel, aiming to offer a compromise between daily comfort and driving enjoyment.
The Fastest Toyota in Australia
At the time of its launch, the car was the first official product from TRD and the most powerful model Toyota had ever sold in Australia. It could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h. It covered the quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds.
By modern standards, these figures may not seem so impressive. However, it is worth noting that the TRD Aurion delivered all its power to the front wheels, and its acceleration figures largely match those of modern front-wheel-drive hot hatches like the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai i30 N.
Additional Enhancements
TRD didn’t stop at just adding a supercharger to the V6 engine. The mid-size sedan in standard configuration received a revised suspension that lowered the ride height by 12 mm.
Toyota also changed the wheel alignment, adding negative camber to improve steering response, and installed a new set of 19-inch wheels. The braking system was also updated: larger discs and two-piston calipers were installed at the front, and single-piston ones at the rear.
Visually, it differed from the standard model. The front and rear bumpers were unique to the TRD version, complemented by a small trunk spoiler and a rear diffuser with a pair of prominent exhaust tips. The result was sporty but not overly flashy.
Two Versions, Two Approaches
Toyota offered the TRD Aurion in two trim levels. The 3500S model was positioned as a sport-oriented entry point, while the 3500SL added luxury-oriented features such as leather upholstery, a Smart Entry and Start system, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, and additional power seat adjustments.
The pricing reflected the car’s positioning. The recommended retail price for the 3500S was 56,990 Australian dollars, intentionally set below Australia’s luxury car tax threshold, while the better-equipped 3500SL cost 61,500 Australian dollars.
Inside, both versions received TRD-specific details, including sport seats, alloy pedals, scuff plates, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel to distinguish them from the standard Aurion.
Why Didn’t the Model Become Popular?
Despite its performance and quality, the TRD Aurion struggled to attract buyers. Its front-wheel-drive layout and high price made it a hard sell alongside traditional V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competitors from Ford and Holden, and Toyota’s conservative image didn’t help much in convincing performance-oriented buyers. Production quietly ceased in 2009, less than two years after its launch.
John Halas contributed to this article
The story of the TRD Aurion is a vivid example of how a technically interesting product can fail to find its market due to deeply rooted cultural and image barriers. The Australian market for large sedans at the time was unquestionably conquered by rear-wheel-drive cars with large naturally aspirated engines, and Toyota’s attempt to offer a front-wheel-drive alternative, even with impressive supercharging technology for its time, proved to be a step ahead of its time. This car was essentially a technological bridge between the era of large naturally aspirated engines and the future, where efficiency and front-wheel drive became more common even in powerful models. Its short life left behind a legacy as an interesting experiment and a demonstration of TRD’s engineering capabilities, which later found application in other, more successful Toyota projects worldwide.
