TRD Aurion races for perfection

The TRD Aurion is out of hot water over an engine failure and heading for a new job.

Sales of the Toyota performance spearhead stalled when an early production car; a supercharged V6; exploded. Investigation focused on driver error and full-scale deliveries are now under way.

Toyota is also planning a major motorsport program for the TRD Aurion, showing a competition-prepared car at the Australian International Motor Show in readiness for a start in the 2008 Targa Tasmania.

More importantly, TRD is planning to enter the Bathurst 12-Hour race next year in a new class for automatic-transmission cars.

Toyota says the TRD engine disaster is in the past and there is no reason to expect a repeat. But, as a precaution, it has reduced the setting on the engine rev limiter.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing head Dave Buttner says TRD engineers were unable to recreate the conditions that led to the blow-up.

“We hypothesised a couple of theories,” Buttner says. “One was there may have been foreign matter in the engine, which could have been put in either at the production phase or when the supercharger was being made. We were able to discount both of those tests.

“We then looked at the potential for the vehicle to over-rev, so therefore we've decided to reduce that rev range.”

The result is a car that has the same power and torque, but cannot be pushed into the 7000-plus danger zone for the motor.

“The fuel cut-off point on the TRD was set higher than that on the normally aspirated Aurions. And we've now taken the counter-measure of reflashing the ECUs back from 6800 to 6500. All the testing has been done and we're confident it's fine.”

And Buttner says owners will feel no difference.

“It has no effect on peak power, performance or driver feel.”

Neal Bates at TRD Motorsport is already working on an Aurion upgrade for Targa Tasmania, Australia's leading road rally, and a potential entry in the Bathurst 12-Hour.

The Targa program is confirmed with Bates and Coral Taylor, previous winners in a Toyota Celica, to crew.

They will aim for a solid Top-10 finish and a class win. That will also be the objective if TRD and Toyota give the go-ahead for the 12-Hour race.