As Dateline's Chris Hansen might say, "Have a seat right over there for me..." Except I'm not going to talk to you about mustachioed old men and fourteen-year-old girls — no, that's just wrong. The predators I'm concerned with are undercover performance beasts being pumped out onto the streets by otherwise innocent and practical car manufacturers. Papa Motive doesn't want you getting embarrassed out on our dangerous system of roads and freeways, after all. The following is a list, along with some details and background, of each in-house performance engineering team currently building high-powered products for U.S. consumption...
Cool article but there wasn't a lot going on in Lexus' "F" category. Not that I was suprised or anything. I really enjoyed reading the BMW ///M snippet.
BTW, isn't the Mazdaspeed6 More powerful than the Mazdaspeed3? It might be but only by about ~10bhp, same engine.
No, vw individual only does special trim packages and products like that. nothing performance related. the article does in fact miss volkswagen motorsport, though they dont cater to the standard car buyer and had nothing to do with the .:r line of products
Modified by 2035cc16v at 4:41 AM 4-9-2008
Knowing him it's prolly some VWMS part that doesn't exsist any more. You can't get it. And just feel lucky you even saw it. -Cabe07 Ah VTEC. All the lag, none of the turbo. It's like waiting for bad sex.
Quote, originally posted by NOSPEED411 »
1. First off, you drive a Fit....you opinion on anything car related now does not count.
No, vw individual only does special trim packages and products like that.
Ah. For some reason I recall VWI having something to do with the new R32 (but not the old one), the Touraeg R60, and maybe even the GTI W12-650. I figured it was like GMPD, doing the Caddy Platinum models (aka custom Phaetons and Passats) and the performance stuff too
I thought VW Motorsport died out in the Mk3 era. You learn something new every day!
That's a huge oversight. TRD may be best-known for off-road packages on trucks in the US, but they have a history longer than Nismo's, and a portfolio of interesting cars like the TRD 3000GT (not related to Mitsubishi).
Splinter - Team Post-Killing Ninja My decantering is delicate and courageous.
Cool article but there wasn't a lot going on in Lexus' "F" category. Not that I was suprised or anything. I really enjoyed reading the BMW ///M snippet.
BTW, isn't the Mazdaspeed6 More powerful than the Mazdaspeed3? It might be but only by about ~10bhp, same engine.
I believe you're right about the Mazdaspeeds. I think the 6 has more grunt due to exhaust changes. The 6 has twin pipes out the back and the 3 only has 1.
Since the debuts of those vehicles, the SVT flame has burned a bit colder while Ford's attention has been focused on rejuvenating its mainstream line-up, but we can only hope the coals will be rekindled soon.
I thought SVT was just flat out disbanded and gone. There's actually talk/hope of more SVT models in the future?
These streets will make you feel brand new Big lights will inspire you
According to the article SVT 9or it's remnants) work on the Shelbys. And i swear i saw a post somewhere in here about a possible F-150 SVT revival last night.
I believe you're right about the Mazdaspeeds. I think the 6 has more grunt due to exhaust changes. The 6 has twin pipes out the back and the 3 only has 1.
Mazdaspeed6 = 274hp at launch. Mazdaspeed3 = 263hp at launch.
I believe the difference is that the Speed6 was tuned and rated for 93 Octane premium only. The Speed3 runs happily on 91.
(Note that this is irrelevant to the article as the Mazdaspeed6 went out of production at the end of the 2007 model year.)
Modified by PassSedanGLX at 3:10 PM 4-9-2008
Quote, originally posted by VarianceVQ »
More and more evidence is piling up that Europeans are nothing more than Americans with more colorful money and funny accents.
That's a huge oversight. TRD may be best-known for off-road packages on trucks in the US, but they have a history longer than Nismo's, and a portfolio of interesting cars like the TRD 3000GT (not related to Mitsubishi).
"Huge oversight" is a huge exaggeration. Yes, TRD could have been included in the list, but you'll notice that all the manufacturers we detailed currently have at least one vehicle branded with the in-house tuner's name. TRD's history and current parts sales may be just as impressive, if not better than, NISMO's, but Nissan has both the NISMO Frontier and the NISMO Z on the market right now. Toyota, well, there's a company that doesn't even build an exciting car right now, let alone a more exciting one tuned by TRD. Sorry if you wanted to see it on the list, but at that point we'd have to add Hyundai for offering sway bars and shift kits for the Accent SE.
"Huge oversight" is a huge exaggeration. Yes, TRD could have been included in the list, but you'll notice that all the manufacturers we detailed currently have at least one vehicle branded with the in-house tuner's name. TRD's history and current parts sales may be just as impressive, if not better than, NISMO's, but Nissan has both the NISMO Frontier and the NISMO Z on the market right now. Toyota, well, there's a company that doesn't even build an exciting car right now, let alone a more exciting one tuned by TRD. Sorry if you wanted to see it on the list, but at that point we'd have to add Hyundai for offering sway bars and shift kits for the Accent SE.
which also includes the TRD Camry (with the supercharger), various other superchargers including the tC, Corolla, 3.4L V6, etc... that's just for the US market. There is more for the home Japanese market.
which also includes the TRD Camry (with the supercharger), various other superchargers including the tC, Corolla, 3.4L V6, etc... that's just for the US market. There is more for the home Japanese market.
Isn't that basically a trim package on the Tacoma, and dealer-installed aftermarket parts on the Solara? (What I mean is, isn't the TRD rather similar to, say, GM's Z71 offroad package?)
Isn't that basically a trim package on the Tacoma, and dealer-installed aftermarket parts on the Solara? (What I mean is, isn't the TRD rather similar to, say, GM's Z71 offroad package?
There are suspension kits and short shifters and intakes by TRD that are all dealer installed and no, TRD isn't similar to a Z71 Offroad package... Z71 is a package you add.
"Huge oversight" is a huge exaggeration. Yes, TRD could have been included in the list, but you'll notice that all the manufacturers we detailed currently have at least one vehicle branded with the in-house tuner's name. TRD's history and current parts sales may be just as impressive, if not better than, NISMO's, but Nissan has both the NISMO Frontier and the NISMO Z on the market right now. Toyota, well, there's a company that doesn't even build an exciting car right now, let alone a more exciting one tuned by TRD. Sorry if you wanted to see it on the list, but at that point we'd have to add Hyundai for offering sway bars and shift kits for the Accent SE.
It's a far better candidate than the Lexus F, which is a trim level for one model. Even though I'm sure there are a few engineers at Toyota dedicated to development of the IS-F and LF-A, I guarantee that there is no "Lexus F Co. Ltd." as there is for Nismo or TRD. TRD is an actual corporate division (actually TRD-Toyota Technocraft Co. Ltd. - the "technocraft" part of the company builds truck and van bodies and limited run models). "F" is, at present, still just a trademark, not a separate entity - similar to Lexus itself 15 years ago.
The TRD Tacoma is the only current model in the lineup, but again, you've got cars like the TRD 3000GT, hell even the TRD "action package" Celica.
Hyundai's performance bits are offered through their standard accessory parts channel, alongside cargo nets and plate frames. TRD is far more than a brand for accessory parts, always has been.
Modified by AKADriver at 1:47 PM 4-9-2008
Splinter - Team Post-Killing Ninja My decantering is delicate and courageous.
and no, TRD isn't similar to a Z71 Offroad package... Z71 is a package you add.
I mean on the Tacoma; I get that there are TRD performance parts for other Toyotas. It's just that it looks like an offroad package on the Tacoma, similar to the Z71 package.
I'd say the IS-F is a TRD build 2nd Generation Altezza (now that Japan has the Lexus brand name) Just like the old TRD Altezza RS200
so, including the 'F-division' with ONE car behind the badge and NOT TRD is insane.
Quote »
Toyota Racing Development or TRD is the in-house tuning shop for all Toyota, Lexus, and Scion cars. TRD is responsible both for improving street cars for more performance and supporting Toyota's racing interests around the world. TRD produces various tuning products and accessories, including performance suspension components, superchargers, and wheels. TRD parts are available through Toyota dealers, and are also available as accessories on brand-new Toyotas and Scions. TRD is similar to other in-house tuning shops, such as Nismo (Nissan), Mazdaspeed (Mazda), Ralliart (Mitsubishi), STi (Subaru), Audi "RS" models, Mercedes' AMG division, or BMW "M" models.
There are currently two official branches of TRD: TRD Japan (aka Toyota Technocraft) and TRD USA. Toyota Team Europe (TTE) evolved into the Toyota Formula One Team (also known as Panasonic Toyota Racing) and is not under the control of TRD. TTE is a completely separate entity, and is responsible for the Formula One team.
TRD Japan's Race Division concentrates on the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Series (JGTC), All Japan F3 Championship Series, ESSO Formula Toyota Series, and Netz Cup races (Altezza Series and Vitz Series).
TRD USA's Race Division concentrates on Championship Off Road Racing (CORR), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Grand-Am Cup Sports Touring, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Import Drags, and starting in 2007, NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Former concentrations include the Baja 1000, IMSA, and CART's Championship World Series (from 1996–2002) and Toyota Atlantic Series (from 1990–2005), and most recently the Indy Racing League (from 2003–2005).
Toyota Team Europe, now the Toyota Formula One Team, concentrates on Formula One World Championship Racing (F1). Former concentrations include the World Rally Championship (WRC) with the famous Toyota Celica GT-Four and rally versions of the Toyota Corolla, as well as two attempts (in 1998 and 1999) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the GT-One.
Toyota Australia will introduce the TRD division in Australia in either the second or the third quarter of 2007 with the first vehicle being the supercharged Toyota Aurion V6, then followed by a high-performance variant of the 4WD Toyota Hilux According to Toyota Australia, there will not be a high-performance version of the Toyota Corolla being sold under TRD despite its popularity, instead the third model is likely to be a Toyota RAV4. TRD is aimed to compete with local in-house tuning shops Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) and Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV).
TRD Japan offered/offers all kinds of cool race spec upgrades, including a factory widebody version of the SW20 MR2, circuit spec coilovers, and more. They were/are far more than an accessory and decal outfit outside of the U.S.
Also, how about Ralliart for Mitsubishi?
Alpina for BMW? M-Edition is nice, but arguably, the true factory tuning house is Alpina.
Mugen is still not in-house. They're right next door, but Honda has never owned Mugen. They have sold Mugen cars through Honda dealers in the US and Japan, and Mugen has partnered with Honda for many of their motorsports endeavors. They're as close as separate companies can be, and their relationship is like a mini-keiretsu, but they're still separate.
Splinter - Team Post-Killing Ninja My decantering is delicate and courageous.
I'm grasping for real Ralliart stuff though. I'm not a huge Mitsu-phile, but have they done anything more than body kits for cars (not including the upcoming Ralliart Lancer)
RUF is also technically an auto manufacturer, not a tuner (though they do that too), and they're not associated with Porsche beyond the bodies-in-white and other parts they purchase from them. True RUFs have a RUF VIN.
Quote, originally posted by FourthGenHatch »
Any god that would advertise on a Dodge Caravan is not a god I would follow.
Quote, originally posted by Dextrobrick »
Bleh. For the cost of two SLRs one could instead buy a fleet of cheap beaters and a trebuchet to fling them at the peasants.
I'm grasping for real Ralliart stuff though. I'm not a huge Mitsu-phile, but have they done anything more than body kits for cars (not including the upcoming Ralliart Lancer)
They made a Ralliart Colt for the Japanese market, and in the US, a Ralliart version of the previous-gen Lancer with the NA 2.4 (4B12) and upgraded suspension. I think the British "FQ" cars are actually Ralliart products. All of Mitsubishi's works rallying efforts are handled by Ralliart.
Their Japanese parts lineup is extensive, too... basic bolt-ons for most modern Mitsubishi models, and some extensive mods for Evos. They already have stuff like upgraded diffs, bushings, and skid plates for the Evo X.
Splinter - Team Post-Killing Ninja My decantering is delicate and courageous.
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