Whether it's from the www, the latest motor show or the back doors of a carmaker near you, Carsales Network Confidential features the good oil other sources either won't publish, don't care about or don't know. Heard an automotive rumour or new model tip? Then let us know at editor@carpoint.com.au
>> Polishing a TRD
Has Toyota gone soft on the concept of TRD? The launch of the TRD Aurion is still to occur but there's no doubt Toyota is working hard (above and below the line) to distance the front-wheel drive hotshoe V6 from the 'Aussie V8-killer' tag it initially wore.
Recent news releases from the Big T suggested the car we'll see is more akin to a sports tourer. Toyota itself says the forced induction Aurion will not target the warmed-over FPV/HSV versions of Falcon and Commodore. Instead it will compete with European and Japanese offerings such as the Alfa 159, VW R32 Golf, Subaru Liberty GT Spec B and Mazda6 MPS.
Before history is conveniently rewritten, this is not the sort of product Toyota Australia said TRD would build. Indeed, it begs the question: are these not exactly the cars the Aurion Sportivo's top-level variant is already aimed at?
CNC this week confirmed the TRD Aurion that the public (and Toyota dealers) were 'sold' in the lead up to the launch of the brand's 'large' car is, in fact, not the car we will see when it is debuted later this year.
We can now exclusively reveal the output of the car will be limited to 232kW. This is at least 25kW down from the Ford F6 rivalling 250kW-plus originally rumoured. We can now exclusively reveal the 'nobbling' is due to the 180-degree turnaround on the original decision to equip the car with an all-wheel-drive system.
Remember CNC back in December 2006? (here) At that stage we reported Toyota was surveying prospective car buyers on the potential of a $72,500 TRD Aurion.
Putting two and two together, it's likely 'that' TRD car included all-wheel drive. Alas either the verdict from the masses wasn't good on price or Toyota simply couldn't build the car profitably
The end result is going to be a car that offers substantially less differentiation than expected. That's not good news for car buffs. It's even less positive for Toyota's new TRD dealers.
Toyota has reportedly 'asked' for substantial investment from the dealers that will carry the hot Aurion and TRD brand. Separate showroom presence, elaborate CI, parts and accessories and substantial commitment to TRD-specific stock have all allegedly been required of those who wish to sell TRD products.
Toyota has also committed to "substantial" minimum throughputs with its production partner, Prodrive.
CNC's source said if the TRD Aurion doesn't sell "there will be blood on the floor."
Toyota makes few blunders and with deep pockets it's able to bulldoze through those. That said, if the TRD Aurion is not successful it will likely impact on the plans to widen the TRD range.
The hipo HiLux is unlikely to generate much volume and out in dealer land, the rumoured and at least 18 months away V6-engined TRD Corolla will be hard-pressed to carry the investment required on its own.
>> Skoda no excuse for VW price rises
Does the arrival of Skoda in the Australian market mean Volkswagen prices will rise? That's the question some informed pundits are pondering ahead of the VW-owned Czech brand's re-launch Down Under at October's Australian International Motor Show.
VW Oz is known to have pretty tight margins on its products. Indeed, senior VW officials admit its dealers "won't get rich selling Golfs". However, it has firmly denied it will use the arrival of Skoda as a trigger to fatten up the profitability of its VW-badged models.
"It's not in our plans to move VW pricing," the senior VW staffer told CNC. "It's a misconception that we have [artificially] low margins."
"We won't be making room for Skoda. It is its own brand and it needs to stand on its own two feet," the exec said.
Meantime, media reports that VW would add the Sirocco sports coupe to its local line-up soon do not necessarily gel with the news CNC has received.
"There's some doubts as to when right-hand drive stocks will become available," our VW source said. "The UK will be the main market for such a car -- we could be waiting a while."
>> Not Imprezza-ed
The new MY08 Subaru Impreza hasn't exactly won the hearts and minds of the public nor automotive media. But just how sensitive is Subaru to criticism of the car's ho-hum styling. Enough to postpone a press launch?
The industry was abuzz last week with rumours that Subaru had cancelled a long-lead drive of Japanese-spec Imprezas (naturally aspirated, not the WRX) because it was concerned that the car could be tainted with negative comment this far out from its expected Down Under launch in August.
Not so, says Subaru.
According to PR boss, David Rowley the cancellation took place after consultation with Fuji Heavy Industries due to "the specification of the Japanese market vehicles being considerably different to Australian cars."
"The variations between the Japanese and Australian market cars are many, including aspects of suspension, engines and overall specification.
"These differences would prove misleading for you and your audience," Rowley wrote in the email announcing the cancellation of the event.
To comment on this article click here