Toyota Aurion V6

[harvyk]

From what I have seen it looks very Expensive Daewoo like...

I personally believe they should have gone with RWD, but as a large car it's got the right look, and if rumors are right and if they build a 250KW supercharged version, they are more than in the running against the T...

In regards to Aurion vs 380, I don't think the 380 stands a chance at all...

But I'll keep the rest of my thoughts to myself until I have seen one in the flesh...

(And no it doesn't make me think of an avalon at all)

[loopism]

About 6 months ago I did some market research for Toyota. Seems as though they were trying to gauge public support for an entry in to the V8 Supercars series. They have an engine that they use in the US Craftsman truck series (NASCAR) that could be adapted to work here, and after seeing this car, I'd reckon that this would be the chassis they would use.

[harvyk]

About 6 months ago I did some market research for Toyota.  Seems as though they were trying to gauge public support for an entry in to the V8 Supercars series.  They have an engine that they use in the US Craftsman truck series (NASCAR) that could be adapted to work here, and after seeing this car, I'd reckon that this would be the chassis they would use.

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If they want to be serious in the large car market (and especially in the preformance large car market) then I'd say they need to get themselves at least a couple of entries in the V8's... Even if they don't do so well (as long as all Toyota teams don't come in last in every race) people will like the idea that the car they drive around in is associated with the V8 supercars... (Especially if they also bring out a V8 version to the public...)

IMO it's what mitsu should have also been looking at... (From what I heard a couple of years ago they where trying to get something ready for the V8 supercars themselves, and then the company crisis happened...)

[cdm]

I'm pretty sure Mitsu & TMCA have been trying to get into the touring cars for a while, but FORD and Expensive Daewoo and the bogan brigade have been kicking up a fuss. I say, bring it on, it's surely got to be good for everyone...

[harvyk]

I'm pretty sure Mitsu & TMCA have been trying to get into the touring cars for a while, but FORD and Expensive Daewoo and the bogan brigade have been kicking up a fuss. I say, bring it on, it's surely got to be good for everyone...

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They haven't yet really produced anything worthy of note to the public first... They'll need to get their act together and do that first...

[cobrav8]

Looks ok - a bit like a Corona from a few years back.

The problem Toyota tends to have is that it has no pzazz- no style or oomph. Perfectly good cars - more reliable than anyone else - but boring.

There are a few Toyota Camry Sportivos running around in NZ - similar colour to Blueprint / Shockwave, have a body kit, go ok apparently (I think they are 3 litre sixes) - but man they look like old man cars with skirts on. They are not low enough - and just look stupid.

They will undoubtedly make a 4wd version - and maybe a v8 - and be great fast reliable cars - but look what happened to the Australian Touring Car series - was awesome with Godzilla Skylines, V8 Falcons and Commodores, BMWs, Sierras etc etc - and it all died a death to have cars that look like V8 Commodores and Falcons - that bare very little actual mechanical resemblence to a production car.

I would like to see Australian Touring back as the main Australian class (as most of NZ motorsport has died out) - may not have been as close as the V8s, but it was more variety and excitement.

[drcook]

first of all, these pics are of the 'performance kitted' version, not the basic 'aurion' (why a company spends millions of dollars in 'consumer research' to choose a name that reminds everyone of 'avalon') which looks pretty bloody boring.

its front wheel drive -

the guy who designed the 'performance body kit' is the same guy who designed the 'xr' series of ba fords. the body design is from the US.

its front wheel drive -

the aurion (avalon) and new camry are identical from the a pillar to the c pillar (apart from redesigned interiors, I take it). the two cars then have different front and rear panneling. somehow that's enough to destinguish the aurion ('large size' car) to the camry ('medium size' car).

its still front wheel drive -

Edited 15/02/06 03:17 AM by drcook

[Antisocial]

I'm with drcook.

Having driven a new Nissan Maxima whilst my F6 was at the *cough* panel beaters *cough*, for the first week I wondered where the Maximas 180kw had gone. Because they weren’t under the accelerator pedal.

So I looked in the owner’s manual and then discovered the DSC (including traction control function) button close to the steering column, and hidden from view.

I found out why it was hidden when I pushed it….whoooooohhhaaa here were the 180kw. But when I tried to drive the car with any enthusiasm it just disappeared in a cloud of smoke when stationary. Then if you tried to use what was previously referred to as the accelerator pedal with DSC on, you discover its function changed to 'Lane Change Pedal' when on the move.

The car was shocking and with DSC on was probably limited to about 130kw most of the time…let alone when it rains.

I read that Toymota intends to release a performance version of it to rival the XR6T can you imagine what a pig the 245kw front wheel drive Camry on steroids would be.

Also would driving an Aurion be known as Aurigation

Definition: \Au`ri*ga"tion\, n. [L. aurigatio, fr. aurigare to bea charioteer, fr. auriga.]The act of driving a chariot or a carriage. [R.] --DeQuincey.

If so then the car may indeed prove popular with new Australians..

[drcook]

Also would driving an Aurion be known as Aurigation

Definition:  \Au`ri*ga"tion\, n. [L. aurigatio, fr. aurigare to bea charioteer, fr. auriga.]The act of driving a chariot or a carriage. [R.] --DeQuincey.

If so then the car may indeed prove popular with new Australians..

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gold !

[harvyk]

first of all, these pics are of the 'performance kitted' version, not the basic 'aurion' (why a company spends millions of dollars in 'consumer research' to choose a name that reminds everyone of 'avalon') which looks pretty bloody boring.

its front wheel drive - 

the guy who designed the 'performance body kit' is the same guy who designed the 'xr' series of ba fords. the body design is from the US.

its front wheel drive - 

the aurion (avalon) and new camry are identical from the a pillar to the c pillar (apart from redesigned interiors, I take it). the two cars then have different front and rear panneling. somehow that's enough to destinguish the aurion ('large size' car) to the camry ('medium size' car).

its still front wheel drive - 

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I defiantly agree, the FWD has got to go if they want to be taken seriously, and it’s for the reasons stated by Antisocial (eg the tendancy to wheel spin \ change lanes at will \ happiness to understeer \ oversteer depending on how much your accelerating etc)

I defiantly think the sportivo is for the aspiring cardigan brigade who don’t quite want to give up on life yet…

The companies who want to challenge Ford \ Expensive Daewoo in the large car market really need to sit back and “clone” either a Ford \ Expensive Daewoo as their entry into the market, and then make the changes (if they feel they are needed) after they are established because by then they’d have a fan base in the market who will probably accept it.

It’s kinda like me going up to a bunch of pro footballers and saying “hey I know you’ve been playing for years and I’ve never played before but I think your doing everything wrong and my untested ways are so much better”

I ain’t going to simply get respect because I’ve said my ways are better (I’d probably be taken out the back if I keep saying it)

Also I did say the following...

They haven't yet really produced anything worthy of note to the public first... They'll need to get their act together and do that first...

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