Tag Archives: TRD

86RC Comes To New Zealand

May 14, 2013 in 86 / FR-S News by

https://youtu.be/AC3P4FGBFjQ

Isn’t Australia supposed to be the ‘lucky country‘? So why is it we have been bypassed on the ‘build your own’ version of the ZN6 86, the ‘RC’? Japan has embraced the ‘bare-bones’  model with open arms as almost every tuning house in the land of the rising sun grabbed one and put every combination of aftermarket parts into it.

So now that New Zealand is doing the same AND offering a slew of customisable Gran-Turismo style custom upgrades, I’m left wondering what the hell Toyota Australia is doing snoozing on getting the RC to Australian shores?

If you’re one of our Kiwi readers, check out what you can all walk down to the dealership and get at the official website here. For everyone else here in Australia and over in the US, well just visit it and cry a little I suppose.

[86RC – Toyota New Zealand]

New Zealand Style: Auckland GT86 Launch

October 22, 2012 in Events by

Keisuke from 86 Fighters got some excellent shots in Auckland for the North Shore Toyota NZ GT86 Launch. Some really nice AE86s live under the long white cloud, and the guys who drive them look like champs. Hit the jump for the gallery.

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New Zealand TRD Special Edition!

July 23, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

Those lucky Kiwi’s over the ditch always get the best stuff and now they have the best local ‘special edition’ of the 86 too!

Only 20 New Zealand TRD Special Editions will be built as part of the initial production run and each car will be numbered and supplied with certificate of authenticity. The car is a NZ ’86’ Spec (similar to our base model ‘GT’) with the TRD 18″ Black Forged aluminium wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 3 225/40 tyres.

To go with the extra grip the Michelin’s provide, Toyota NZ are also fitting the TRD Special Edition with the now-infamous TRD Mono-block Brake Calliper Kit. The contents of which are: Front Mono-block Calliper (6-pot), Rear Mono-block Calliper (4 pot), 2-piece Front Brake Rotor (355mm), 2-piece Rear Brake Rotor (345mm), Stainless Steel Braided Brake Hose (Front / Rear) and Brake Pads (Front / Rear).

Obviously, the styling isn’t exactly standard either. This special 86 is fitted with the TRD Aero package containing a Front Bumper and Side Spoilers, Rear Spoilers,  Under Bumper (Diffuser) and Boot Spoilers.  The car also sounds the goods with the fitment of the TRD ‘quad-tip’ rear muffler too!

At NZ$63,486 (Roughly AUD$48,795 at time of writing) it’s not exactly cheap – an 86 (GT) spec car can be had for NZ$41,986 (AUD$32,269) – but you do get a hell of a lot for your money. A similarly priced TRD-Spec in Australia would cost roughly $46,000 – Would you pay the extra $16,000 for the TRD treatment? Hit the comments and let us know!

Check out the full details here and hit our flickr here for more wallpaper-sized images of the NZ TRD Special Edition.

Leaves me wondering though, why hasn’t Toyota Australia offered a similar limited-edition TRD version here in Australia? Surely at even 50 limited edition cars, they would be snapped up super-quick!

Ten AE86s That Influenced a Generation

April 26, 2012 in HR Originals by

Back in 2009, Jeroen Willemsen from SPEEDHUNTERS asked us to write a guest blog for their massive site about the AE86. Jeroen writes:

“Rod asked me to make a top ten list of the best and most influential AE86’s. I’m no expert on everything Hachi, so I decided to ask some of my friends from Australia who run HR – the best hachiroku blog on the web – if they could help me out and they happily obliged. So here you have it, the top ten most influential AE86’s through the eyes of Adam Hocker and Garth Ivers.”

We tried to make the article as international as possible so there might be certain cars you guys think should be in there. So don’t hate us for leaving out your favorite car :) As for Akira Iida’s ’86, Hasselgren, etc they were up there with the others but when there’s only 10 to choose from… well you know!

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Watercolour Wonderland

February 6, 2012 in General by

Check out these nostalgic watercolour wallpapers from Masahia Higuchi courtesy of TRD.

TRD 86 Performance Line

February 6, 2012 in General, Parts & Accessories by

Along with Toyota’s official annoucnement of the New 2012 86 Prices and trim specifications, TRD has also followed suit with unveiling what they are calling their ‘TRD Performance Line’.

Offering a full aero kit along with various suspension, chassis and brake parts, TRD has created a very well rounded catalogue for their new flagship sports.

Check it out here.

Flashback: Akira Iida’s $100k AE86 Build

July 18, 2008 in Random by

One car. One man. One hundred grand. This AE86 is the result of one of the most expensive semi-street, semi-race AE86 projects ever undertaken.

JGTC GT500 driver Akira Iida’s “Passion of the Levin” is to build the ultimate AE86 which included a full TRD Group A AE101 with dry-sump, MoTec M4, generating 217PS and complete body restoration. Estimated cost for the project was 10million Yen ($100,000) to complete!

The centrepiece of the build is the TRD 20 Valve 4A-GE. With the VVT on inlet eliminated, the engine runs IN/EX: 288/294 duration (10.2 lift) camshafts. Although the TRD race engines with 304/312 (10.8) were capable of 250hp revving to 11000rpm, Iida’s is limited to 9000 redline @ 210hp for engine preservation and improved street suitability.

But why did a champion GT racing driver choose to start such a project? Doesn’t he get enough from driving 500hp circuit monsters at 300 km/h day in and day out? Love for the AE86! Check out the whole build article over at Club4AG.

The Iida AE86 project was featured in many volumes of Video Option in Japan throughout 1999. The car took nearly one year to complete with many of the processes labored by Iida himself between his busy race schedule.

The VHS series was originally titled ‘Akira’s Work Box’ but is now available on DVD from Video Option under the title of ‘V-Opt the Best #2: Tuned AE86 by WORKBOX’.

An upload of the original VHS are on YouTube in two parts:

(Check out Bee-R’s youthful Imai-san!)

Yates With Podium Finish At Mallala

June 7, 2008 in Events by

In the most recent round of Drift Australia, a fortnight ago at Mallala in South Australia, Beau Yates drove the wheels off his TRD backed BEAMS 3S-GTE-powered AE86s to stand on the podium in second place.

This is a welcome return to the podium that Yates has been fighting for after having some bad luck and poor performances in the first two events of the season. The win at Mallala may be the kick start that Yates needed to return to the form he showed in 2006 which saw him take out the Drift Australia title. With Yates sitting in 3rd spot on the table hes sitting in a strong position to take out this seasons title.

Good luck in Eastern Creek Beau, you have the support of all the AE86 drivers in Aus behind you!

Photos from the event after the jump.

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A True Visonary Passes On

April 14, 2008 in Community by

Sakurai\'s Creation: The TRD N2 Hot Version

On March 16th, Early morning Japan Time, Sakurai-San of TRD Toyota Technocraft passed away.

Most of you will be quite familiar with Sakurai-San as he was a prominent feature in Best Motoring’s “AE86 Club” series as the creator of Keiichi Tsuchiya’s Street AE86 and the infamous N2 Battle TRD AE86.

Previous to fame via DVD’s worldwide, he enjoyed a long career with the TRD family in both racing and street car development. Sakurai-San was the ‘hand of god’ at designing and producing winning N2 AE86 designs throughout the 80’s and having had much to do overall with almost all of Toyota’s race and sports cars, he was indeed one of the greatest assets to Toyota’s motorsports programs.

Also, with rumors and ongoing preparation for AE86’s successor within a few years, it is unfortunate that he did not see or lead the project for the return of the new iteration of his ‘heart and soul’ car to the Toyota product line.

Today we must mourn of a loss of a great hero, who brought the AE86 to glory…

So to you Mr.Sakurai, we honor your dedication to our beloved hachiroku and hope you may forever Rest in Peace.

Source: Club4AG
Image: Hot Version