TRD To Introduce Look Better & Go Faster Bits for Vios
Vios owners will have something to look forward to in the very near future. The world renowned TRD (Toyota Racing Development) parts will soon be available for sale to enthusiasts. Not only can Vios owners make their cars look better, but now they will also be able to buy go-faster parts.
Parts include a body kit for personalization, plus sports wheels and suspension parts. Also available will be exhausts systems, sports seats, sports air filters, radiator caps, brake pads, and TRD gear knobs. The list will be added onto as more parts are developed over time.
TRD, the racing development arm of Toyota, has been in existence for more than 50 years, when Toyota started to take an interest in motor sport activities. Due to the large number of motor racing enthusiasts, TRD started to offer performance parts for sale to the general public, and most of the parts offered were for motor sport use. I remember way back in those old days when I first started racing, how I used to browse through the TRD catalogues and drool over the ‘anoneh’ (slang for Japanese) parts that were available.
In 1982, when I joined the Toyota Rally team (under the auspices of UMW Toyota), the dreams became a reality, when I could order them and get them fitted onto my rally car. With a TRD catalogue in hand, you can literally order parts to build up an entire race car, and that was what I did. However, the list is extensive, because they had a part for almost any application, from building club event cars to full fledged race cars. For example, for my Corolla AE86 rally car, there were at least eight types of shock absorbers, and about ten variations of springs, all of which would fit, but each one had a different effect on the handling. Similarly, there were many sets of camshafts, all of which worked, but you had to know which cam profile worked for which application. However, with a lot of help from the TRD people in their Yokohama office through phone calls and faxes, plus a lot of trial and error, we managed to build up some awesome cars. In the end, we built a rally car that had an engine for a track car, as we needed the additional horses to compete against much larger capacity and more powerful cars. There will always be a place for TRD in my heart, because it was through their parts that I was able to win three Malaysian Rally Championships and races on the track.
As a result of TRD’s successes in the race and rally scene here in Malaysia and elsewhere in the world, the brand is very well known, but availability has always been an issue; there are some independent importers who have brought in some parts, but not in large volumes. With UMW Toyota Motor finally taking an interest in it, we look forward to seeing more of TRD goodies in cars here.
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd has signed an agreement with TRD Asia (who are based in Thailand) for technical collaboration in the development and local manufacture of selected TRD accessories. These parts will become OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) items, which, due to the fact that they are made locally, will help to make them more affordable.
For UMW Toyota Motor, the aim is to draw younger customers to the brand, as these accessories will provide a sporty image to Toyota. The main thrust of the TRD parts would be for the Toyota Vios model, which is a model mostly subscribed to by the young. TRD accessories available from UMW Toyota motor would be from the TRD Sportivo range which has undergone tests in Asian conditions to ensure reliability and durability. These parts are made to the same superlative quality as every Toyota, and Toyota genuine parts; thus a three year warranty is offered.
Currently, UMW Toyota Motor and TRD Asia are working on a TRD Vios Concept; engineers from TRD Asia and UMW Toyota Motor are developing and testing various parts for the Vios before concluding which parts are to be introduced.
At a recent preview of the TRD Vios Concept, we understand that there will be a body kit for the ‘look good’ part; this kit includes a mini spoiler for the rear, side skirts, and a front spoiler. Other ‘look good’ parts include a TRD fuel cover and cap, a leather gear knob, and alloy wheels.
For performance, there are TRD racing seats made by Recaro, one of the world’s most renowned seat makers, a high pressure radiator cap, and high performance brake pads. For improved road handling, a set of Tein shock absorbers and springs are also being tested. We should be seeing a prototype soon, and once it has been given the green light, we have been told that we would be able to do a road test on it.
At the moment, there are no parts offered for the engine, nor are there any piggy back ECU’s or modified ‘chips’ available for the engine, but these parts are always a possibility in the future, although UMW Toyota Motor did not make any commitment on the matter when asked. At the same time, UMW Toyota Motor also stated that the high performance TRD accessories for racing use will not be available through its outlets, as they are sold as after-market items.
With 110 PS on tap, the Toyota Vios is a fine car for tuning up. With variable valve timing, the engine has great potential for increasing performance. It provides an avenue for young motor sports enthusiasts, and now that UMW Toyota motor has introduced the J model which is available with a manual transmission, we may yet see a one-make race or something along those lines in the not so far future!
