The GT 86 will spawn a new legion of fanboys for the Toyota brand – a result it was purpose-built to achieve. And if there’s one thing die-hard automotive enthusiasts love more than spouting off engine and chassis codes, it’s factory performance parts. In this case: Toyota Racing Development… or TRD for short.

With Toyota unveiling its new GT 86 sports car at the Tokyo Motor Show in early December, the automaker has now rolled out the TRD version at the Tokyo Auto Salon – Japan’s largest aftermarket event. Available TRD accessories for the GT 86 (sold in North America as the Scion FR-S – read our review here), include a new front lip and rear trunk-lid spoiler.

Also available are larger 18-inch TRD wheels, which can fit wider 225 tires, plus a TRD brake upgrade. Adding a slight dose of extra power is a TRD exhaust system, while a suite of suspension components will also be offered.

Toyota has yet to confirm as much, but it will offer a long list of TRD goodies for the Scion FR-S in North America.

GALLERY: Toyota GT 86 TRD

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage here and discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

Back when we still called it the FT-86, a leaked brochure claimed to show what TRD had in store for the Toyota sports car. The boxer-powered machine has since been revealed (called the Scion FR-S in North America) and this lone photo of a TRD-equipped model has now emerged.

What is obvious from the photo is a set of upgraded brakes, a lowered suspension, plus some aerodynamic upgrades – including a rear spoiler that the stock car seems to desperately need. According to one report, Toyota is also prepping a TRD supercharger for the 2.0-liter engine.

The TRD-tuned Toyota 86/Toyota GT 86/Scion FR-S is expected to be revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January.

GALLERY: Toyota 86 TRD

[Source: 7Tune]

Discuss this story at FR-SForum and read AutoGuide’s Scion FR-S review here

Another day, another Toyota FT-86 leak. A concept development that has received more facelifts and nose jobs than most production cars get in a whole life cycle, today we reveal one more.

FT86Club.com has leaked a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brochure showing pictures of an accessorized FT-86 with a unique aero package as well as a list of parts from TRD that will be available as upgrades.

Notable add-ons include TRD aero kit, “high response” quad exhaust, a selection of 18 inch wheels, 6-piston front and 4-piston rear Brembo brakes, full length adjustable suspension, and strut tower brace.

Let’s hope this Toyota has power adders in its future as well!

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 TRD

[Source: ft86club]

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

Prepping your IS-F for the track just got a lot easier thanks to a new line of performance parts released by Toyota‘s TRD performance division.

The parts, first unveiled on the Lexus IS-F Circuit Club Sport concept car at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, include a new carbon fiber front bumper, carbon trunk lid, rear spoiler and diffuser. Also available are light weight wheels and a suspension kit.

Currently offered on TRD Japan’s website, it’s not clear if these goodies will be available in North America. Overnight parts from Japan anyone?

GALLERY: Lexus IS-F Circuit Club Sport

It’s been about 20 years or so since you could get a carburetor on a mainstream passenger car, but that hasn’t stopped NASCAR from being the final holdout. For the last 47 years, stock cars have relied on carburetors to supply fuel to their pushrod V-8s.

Now that’s finally set to change. Beginning next year, the Sprint Cup will officially embrace fuel injection, with plans to have EFI motors installed and ready in time for the 2012 season opener at Daytona. In order to make it all happen, NASCAR is partnering with McLaren Electronic Systems (yes, part of the UK based McLaren Group of F1 fame).

McLaren will supply the ECUs for Sprint Cup engines, with a company called Freescale providing the actual processors. The electronic fuel injection system, software and calibrations all have to be approved by NASCAR before use and the organization has invested in special tools for testing the systems to ensure legality at all races during the course of the season.

Given political pressure placed on motorsports organizations to improve efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint, it was only a matter of time before NASCAR made some concessions – replacing carburetors with EFI systems is seen by many as a logical move.

In recent statements, both Ford Motorsports and Toyota Racing Development said they welcomed the change –  Ford’s Jamie Allison saying “we think it’s important that both the cars and technology in NASCAR are more closely related to production cars.”

TRD’s Lee White, echoed similar opinions also stating that from Toyota’s standpoint the benefits of adopting fuel injection “far outweigh the potential costs.”

Eight companies were originally asked to submit bids for NASCAR EFI systems, with McLaren selected as a winner from three finalists, the others were Bosch and Marelli.

Given NASCAR’s huge fan base, especially in the US, it will be interesting to see how the 2012 season pans out, though efficiency benefits or not, chairman Brian France perhaps summed it best when referring to the new move.

“We’re on a steady march to more technology in the cars, which is historically unlike us in some respects, provided that it doesn’t burden the teams with additional costs that don’t translate to our fan base,” he said. However, more importantly  an even bigger reason for adopting technology such as EFI, “is to make sure that it makes racing better.”

[Source: Fox Sports]

While Lexus does already offer a selection of F-Sport branded TRD bits for the IS-F, the automaker now seems poised to deliver a selection of track-focused goodies for those who want to take their 5.0-liter V8 sedan around the track.

Looking nearly identical to the IS-F Club Circuit Sport concept from last yea’s Tokyo Auto Salon, the new TRD model sports some subtle front lip add-ons as well as a rear diffuser. A vented carbon fiber hood is also part of the package, as is a simply massive rear spoiler. And let’s not forget the light weight forged wheels.

Here’s hoping that Lexus does decide to bring these parts to market for customers in North America.

GALLERY: Lexus IS-F Club Performance Accessory by TRD

For the first time ever, Lexus will offer a selection of F-Sport performance accessories for a hybrid model – the CT200h.

While it’s not designed to be a high-performance model, the CT is being billed as a driver’s hybrid; retaining the trademark Lexus ride quality while also offering a dynamic driving experience. And that’s just what a new line of F-Sport accessories for the CT are aimed at further enhancing.

As a part of a list of 17 accessories that include such mundane offerings as car covers and cargo nets, Lexus will offer a lowering spring and sway bar kit made by Toyota Racing Development (TRD). Lexus College National Manager Paul Williamsen did confirm that an upgraded brake system would not be offered, but didn’t comment on if other F-Sport accessories would be available. Items like an exhaust system are, however, unlikely due to the complex exhaust gas recirculation system used on the hybrid powerplant.

Additional accessories will include more stylish 17-inch wheels (17s are standard) as well as illuminated door sills.

Get more Lexus CT200h news and info at CT200hForums.com

Toyota‘s Tacoma pickup is no stranger to being tinkered with by TRD, Toyota’s racing division. With previous special editions like the Prerunner and X-Runner finding success in the marketplace, TRD is introducing two new packages for Toyota’s smallest pickup.

The T|X and T|X Pro will be available on 2 or 4 wheel drive Tacoma Prerunner models with 2 or 4 doors and the TRD Offroad package. 16″ TRD alloy wheels, BF Goodrich tires, tubular side steps, a stainless steel exhaust tip and special graphics comprise the $1,699 T|X Package, a $754 savings compared to ordering each option as a separate component.

The T|X Pro Package costs the same amount but also adds a TRD cat-back exhaust, which makes it the obvious choice in our eyes. The fact that all modifications are covered under a factory warranty makes these packages all the more enticing rather than hitting up the local auto parts store.

[Source: Toyota]

Hit the jump to see the official press release

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Easily the most talked about vehicle at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon was the G Sports FT-86 Concept. With the FT-86 already garnering its fair share of attention, the G-Sports model is a high-performance version of the concept, from a new performance division.

The G Sports or G’s division will essentially take parts from the looks-based Modelista line of products as well as from the TRD performance based line of products to create a full line of parts (and possibly even models). Toyota will also reportedly work with it’s Super GT race team, Gazoo Racing, to develop the cars. According to a report by Inside Line, customers will be able to choose different package “levels” depending on budget and how significant of a performance enhancement they are looking for.

The G-Sports FT-86 model shown in Tokyo featured plenty of light-weight carbon fiber body panels, new wheels and was rumored to even have a turbocharged and intercooled version of the Subaru-sourced boxer 4-cylinder expected in the production car.

Toyota has not said if the new G’s line of high-performance parts will be available outside Japan.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 G Sports

[Source: InsideLine]

It wouldn’t have been our choice, but a panel of judges awarded the team at Mummbles Marketing as the Scion Tuner Car Challenge winner for their Teal Blue Pearl xB. Looking more like something we might have seen at SEMA in 2003, the Mummbles xB features a 9-piece widebody kit from BRS Autodesign with  shaved door handles. Seibon provided plenty of carbon fiber bits outside, while NRG has outfitted the interior with new seats, harnesses, a steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake lever. Under the hood, there’s a powerful Descendant turbocharger system.

Along with the glory and a stylish carbon fiber trophy, the Mummbles team gets a check for $10,000.

The runner up prize goes to the Bowls entry, which is easily the most creative xB f the group.  It takes design cues from the Japanese El Camino – a 1970 Toyota Crown pickup. Along with a custom trunk conversion, roll cage and special ADF 20-inch wheels, under the hood there are Crower cams, a TRD clutch and limited slip differential, as well as TRD brakes, a front strut tower bar and rear stabilizer bar. Also included is an Air Lift Company digital air ride kit.

Placing third out of third is the xB of Eneri Abillar. Much like the winner, it features a BRS widebody kit, along with plenty of custom modifications. Added goodies include a Greddy turbocharger, TRD strut tower bars and illuminated door sills, while the interior features a hard wood floor.

GALLERY: Scion Tuner Challenge Cars