Toyota Camry Turned Muscle Car In Aurion TRD

This time however, Toyota's performance brand doesn't come out of Japan, but Australia. The Aussies, recognizing that Toyota's current model line up is less then thrilling, have seen it fit to design and engineer for themselves one heck of a power upgrade for their domestic model Aurion (equivalent to our Camry).

With the sole addition of an Eaton supercharger to Toyota's corporate V-6 power plant, the Aurion TRD has managed to squeeze out 323 horsepower and 295 ft lb of torque, a sizeable 55 horsepower and 47 ft lb more than the standard 3.5 liter would produce. Better yet, knowing that any engine issues would reflect badly upon Toyota through out the world, the power plant was tested extensively, and reliably met all the criteria that a Toyota motor should. Rounding out the package is an aggressive body kit, new grill, rear wing, and re-cut seats.

Since this a corporate motor used throughout the model range, it took little effort to make it ready for placement into other vehicles like the Hilux (our Tacoma) or even the RAV-4. More importantly, it adds much needed desirability and halo effect to the overall range. In a land where twin-turbo Ford Falcons and Corvette-powered Commodores reign, Toyota Australia desperately needed to show that it was still a performance-oriented company, the father of the Supra, MR-2, and the Celica; and not just a company that participated in performance ventures, like rally and F-1.

Our take? With the Holden Commodore coming here as the Pontiac G8, and rumblings of rear-wheel drive Ford as well, Toyota would do well to at least offer this here, much in the same way it used to offer supercharger kits for the Solara Camry. After all, its corporate image here is really no different.

via The Australian