オーストリアで販売されているトヨタの『Aurion TRD』。これまでに発表されているロードカーバージョン、そして
モータースポーツバージョンに引き続き、新しいバージョンが誕生した。なんと、かの地で大人気のドラッグレースまたの名を Dragsterに参戦するという、これこそ究極のバージョンだといえるだろう。
『Aurion TRD』がエントリーしているのは「Pro-Factory」カテゴリー。もちろんレース仕様とのことで、ボディキットはおろかメカニックに至るまで細部にわたり改良が加えられた。搭載するエンジンはこれまでどおりの6気筒ターボだという。最大出力1700psを発生し、0-100km/h加速は1秒足らずでなしえてしまうという、怪物そのもののようなマシンだ！
THE ULTIMATE TRD AURION
Toyota unveiled the TRD Aurion Pro-Factory Xtreme (Pro-FX) drag car at Willowbank Raceway in Queensland today ahead of its debut outing at the biggest event in Australian drag racing, the 2008 Winter nationals. Run by former Australian champion Tony Wedlock and his Ultimate Motorsport team, the TRD Aurion Pro-FX has a top speed of more than 350km/h.
Powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder Toyota engine, the TRD Aurion Pro-FX produces 1300kW and launches from 0-100km/h in less than one second. Wedlock will debut the car at this weekend's Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) Winternationals - the headline event of the 2008 Australian season. Toyota Australia motorsport manager Todd Connolly said the TRD Aurion Pro-FX perfectly complemented Toyota Australia's new range of performance-bred TRD-branded road cars. "Toyota is synonymous with quality, durability and reliability, while TRD has added style, passion and performance to our line-up," Connolly said. "Today's unveiling of the Ultimate Motorsport TRD Aurion Pro-FX takes us to a whole new level - this car has performance and excitement by the bucket-load. We are excited to have Tony Wedlock and the Ultimate Motorsport TRD Aurion Pro-FX spearheading our new drag racing program."
Wedlock, a former Australian Pro Stock Champion, said the car has been designed and built specifically to run in the new Pro-Factory Xtreme (Pro-FX) category, a class aimed at high-performance six-cylinder vehicles. The experienced national champion said he was looking forward to debuting the TRD Aurion Pro-FX at Australian drag racing's biggest event.
"We are eager to show that as well as good looks, our Ultimate Motorsports TRD Aurion Pro-FX has performance to match," Wedlock said. "We are looking to push the performance envelope this weekend."
To celebrate the launch of the TRD Aurion Pro-FX, Willowbank is holding the Toyota Drag Racing Legends Race for Charity that will see four legends of the sport face-off in TRD Aurion road cars. Run over two heats and a final, the event will showcase the credentials of the TRD Aurion over the quarter-mile, while also raising money for the winner's chosen charity.
Posted on 09/06/08 By F.B
