The Camry and Avalon TRD sedans that appeared this month won’t be the last new Toyota variants worked over by the automaker’s racing arm. Toyota has a product offensive on the way and, while the effort will mainly be to update existing models, many of those vehicles stand to gain new sporting iterations — and drive wheels.
Toyota would prefer to TRD and AWD all the things.
Speaking to AutoGuide at the LA Auto Show, Jack Hollis, Group Vice President and General Manager of Toyota Division at Toyota Motor North America, said, “In the next 36 months, we will have 19 all-new, minor change or major change vehicles, not including special editions. That’s a pretty strong commitment to the overall marketplace, both SUVs and cars.”
Hollis reiterated past claims that cars still have a home in the Toyota stable, adding that “we still strongly believe in the car market.”
Toyota’s stable is vast, though, and numerous SUVs are in need of a revamp. They include the Sequoia, 4Runner, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Tacoma, and Tundra, which make up the majority of Toyota’s sales volume, not to mention its profits.
“Just like we’ve redone Camry, then Avalon, then Corolla and Prius, the same kind of thoughts will be coming as you look at all of our SUVs,” Hollis said. It’s expected that the brand will debut new additions to the light truck line, including a model bridging the compact-midsize gap. Rival Honda just premiered its gap-filled this week.
Going by Hollis’ figures, light trucks can’t account for all of the variants coming down the pipe. It’s clear that, as domestic automakers begin pulling up stakes in the small car space, there’s an opportunity to reverse (or at least slow) the decline of Toyota’s car models. That’s why it’s trying to broaden appeal across the range. The Camry and Avalon TRD are proof of that, as is the Corolla Hybrid, and one can’t forget the all-wheel drive Prius that debuted on Wednesday.
TRD and AWD. Hollis feels that’s the key to keeping Toyota cars alive. As such, the brand plans to add a TRD variant to every Toyota light truck and car still in production in the near future (there’s talk of a small cull looming). Wherever possible, AWD will also appear as an option.
“We’re taking each model and we’re giving more choices for the consumer,” Hollis said.
[Image: Toyota]
Next in line for a Special Edition upgrade: the Yaris AWD TRD, with supercharger and a 6 speed manual transmission. Now we’re talking!
The problem is the TRD offerings are just appearance packages, not actual performance upgrades.
Yea, an AWD Camry V6 with torque vectoring and sharper transmission response would actually be kind of cool.
OK AWD torque vectoring Camry/Avalon I can get behind.
Especially since the Lacrosse (which is available with torque vectoring AWD) will no longer exist.
You can always get Fusion AWD.
On the trucks, they are functional. How much so, varies and is debatable, but they’re definitely functional.
While GM cuts its product line other car manufacturers are expanding their lineup. GM is like a wounded bleeding giant in the water surrounded by more agile sharks like Honda and Toyota. It is only a matter of time until Toyota surpassed GM in US sales. It will probably happen in a few years. The redesigned Tacoma and Sequoia will be the final nail in the coffin for GM.
Instead of a GM dead watch why not have a countdown to the day Toyota becomes the top automaker in the US. Toyota is now the world leader and it will only be a matter of time until they takeover the American market.
Hopefully they make a TRD version of the new RAV4. That looks good.
Beware! … Product offensive this way comes.
:)
Seriously, though, this initiative is slightly interesting. The current crop of Toyotas seem to be far removed from the doldrums of the 2009 Corolla.
I still have a hard time accepting the “R” in “TRD”, which stands for “Racing”, when it’s applied to appearance packages. Still, it could be turned into something substantial. I guess we have to remember that Toyota still has partnerships with Mazda, Subaru, and BMW. There has to be something they can get out of those.
The TRDs do get different suspension and brakes. I would call that a decent upgrade. 301 HP out of a naturally aspirated V6 isn’t exactly something out of character on a performance sedan. Would you have preferred a turbo 4? I do wish they offered a manual, but that ship looks like it has sailed in this era.
I don’t ‘need to know ‘ any of this. If it’s a crappy toyota I’ll see it for about a half a second before I blow past it and it shrinks in my rear view. Of course it will be in the left lane doing 20mph under the limit because whoever is behind the wheel is an inattentive moron.
herp derp must make fun of toyota drivers or else i’m not one of the cool kidz
“whoever is behind the wheel is an inattentive moron.”
Have you ever considered that you might be a different kind of moron?
For someone so dismissive of Toyotas he sure seems to click and comment on anything remotely to do with them. Deep down there’s gotta be a reason for that.
I love Toyota’s TPS and their contributions to lean manufacturing and their willingness to teach others.
But he’s right about Toyota drivers.
“I don’t ‘need to know ‘ any of this. If it’s a crappy toyota I’ll see it for about a half a second before I blow past it and it shrinks in my rear view. Of course it will be in the left lane doing 20mph under the limit because whoever is behind the wheel is an inattentive moron.”
Yeah, you show us Toyota drivers! You’re so admirable and kewl!
How’d that story go again with the tortoise and the hare? See ya at the gas pump! :-)
“Have you ever considered that you might be a different kind of moron?”
No. Next question.
“For someone so dismissive of Toyotas he sure seems to click and comment on anything remotely to do with them. Deep down there’s gotta be a reason for that.”
Yeah…this is a car forum. People talk about stuff, usually opinions. Some people have strong ones and/or just enjoy stirring the pot. People will get butthurt. That’s how the internet has worked since the existence of the internet.
Mopar buyers are mouth breathers with poor credit who have a high propensity to get into wrecks and use/deal hard drugs. That’s just my observation from living near a rough part of town.
And if you expect me to believe that you cant tell the difference between a ‘96 Stratus that came from a BHPH vs a $40K Challenger, $50K Ram Rebel, a $45K 300S etc and the accompanying tweekers vs the demographic that can afford these vehicles…I got a bridge to sell you.
It’s mostly Avengers/200s/Journeys/Compass/LX-cars in the hood, lots of them used BHPH buys although local FCA dealers will extend a line of credit to anyone that can fog a mirror it seems. I got to see a Journey hit a tinted and previously damaged Avenger at a light this summer, it was poetry.
My point stands: you say “hur durr Toyota drivers all go slow”
I say extending that logic, all FCA customers are credit criminals/actual criminals with substance abuse problems
Can you really not see the point I’m making?
Maybe..MAYBE..if Toyota would include some of the stuff on the Camry which is currently unavailable, but is standard on the Accord Touring, like seat memory and built-in remote-start, I’d be interested, if TRD suspension bits could clean up the handling. Start with an XLE V6 as the base, with a normal sunroof.
Unfortunately, I’d still have to live with that dog’s breakfast of a center stack, and no CarPlay.
Pass.
…manual.
Turd everything!
But at this point, now that I’ve discovered Android Auto, Toyotas are off my list. It’s stupid, but that has become a must-have.
Android Auto – Inviting Google into your driving habits and recording your discussions every time you drive your car. It is cool, but thanks, Ill pass on that.
Only if they’re already listening in via your phone…. The car screen just makes the snooping prettier.
I’m warming to Toyota. Shave off the growths on the headlights and have a clean line across the bottom of the assembly and it would look almost handsome, especially given the taillights.