View Full Version : Alert Alert---trd Backing Out Of Performance Products---read Article!!!
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:25 PM
EVERYBODY! GET AUTOMOTIVE NEWs MAGAZINE! MASSIVE 5 PAGE ARTICLE WITH A BIG PICTURE OF A CELICA on it , TRD IS DROPPING OUT OF AFTERMARKET!!! NO LIE! I SWEAR TO GOD! I AM SCANNING THE ARTICLE TOMMORROW, SOMEONE WILL POST IT FOR ME.......i can take a pic of it wiht me digi cam to show u the main heading, sayint his, the article is SO ****IN long about how toyota doesnt want performance, wantsmore luxery, NOT one mention on the new supra either. very interesting. my dad works for toyota, manager of lexus he is scared that tthis will kill sells. lesux was in the article stating, a bunch of bull**** bout superchagers, also TRD says there will be a supercharger out for the MATRIX XRS --bull****, they allso mention THE KAZUMA LINE! let me tell u this is an amamzin articel! it has everything in it that will BLOW UR FREAKIN MIND. i cant believe it, i cant, wait till u read this , it will be up tommrorow nite late, talk to u all lata. peace Jon
ArchangelX
12-03-2002, 07:26 PM
....
:rofl:
I'm not saying it!!!!!
Camry2000
12-03-2002, 07:28 PM
Say it! LOL!
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:30 PM
HERES HE ARTICLE!!!!!!!!!!
LOS ANGELES -- Toyota has scaled back ambitions for its performance parts business.
Only two years ago, Toyota Racing Development's annual revenues were projected to soar to about $50 million by now. Instead, sales have risen to just over $20 million. Growth forecasts have been lowered to a still healthy but less ambitious 15 percent annually.
But Toyota is far from panicking. It said the slowdown was deliberate. Its big move was to cease carrying aerodynamic body part kits that are a big piece of the aftermarket, instead concentrating on street-legal performance parts for a more consistent image.
The company also abandoned its Kazuma line of racing products. And while its sizable display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas in November had plenty of vehicles, traffic appeared slow compared with that of other exhibitors.
It also appears that Toyota Racing Development has put Lexus L-Tuned underhood parts on the back burner. Eighteen months ago, executives predicted that supercharged versions of the Lexus IS 300 and GS 300 would be in showrooms within months. It never happened.
A Toyota product-planning source said L-Tuned vehicles were "basically dead."
Narrowed focus
"Our aftermarket business was expanding rapidly a couple years ago, and while it continues to grow, we have deliberately narrowed our focus," said David Wilson, Toyota Racing Development's vice president of sales and administration. He claims the unit's business is "healthier than ever."
Wilson said Toyota Racing Development felt its supercharger research and sales should be aimed at a broader consumer market, such as the Tundra pickup and outgoing 4Runner sport-utility. A supercharger for the Matrix also is on the way.
But outsiders feel that Toyota Racing Development's slow pace may have more to do with the dowdy image of its parent company. It's hard to sell high-performance parts when your demographic doesn't buy into that sort of thing.
"Toyota got into performance a little late, when its image had already been solidified in a conservative envelope," said Todd Turner, analyst with Car Concepts in Thousand Oaks, Calif. "The base architecture and fundamentals of the cars are sound, but the excitement of the brand is lacking.
"Getting people to see Toyota as something other than a safe choice, they'll have to invest more and get the word out better. It doesn't help that they killed the Supra," Turner said.
Toyota also may be confronting some generational resistance, in that younger buyers traditionally are the ones who modify their vehicles and Toyota customers have aged beyond that demographic boundary, said Joe Ivers, partner with J.D. Power and Associates' office in Troy, Mich.
Carrying costs
So why did Toyota stop selling aerodynamic kits when they did such strong business? The cost of designing and holding in inventory all the various rocker panels and valences was too expensive for an operation of Toyota Racing Development's size. Instead, the unit is focusing on performance shocks, brakes, springs and superchargers, said Jim Aust, Toyota Racing Development president.
"It is getting increasingly difficult in this business," Aust said. "Technology changes so fast. You have to be spot-on."
He thinks Toyota Racing Development may have been too aggressive in its growth plans in the past.
As for killing Kazuma, Toyota decided that the parts lineup was not deep enough to justify the expense required to sustain the brand, Wilson said. Those Kazuma products already released were shifted to Toyota Racing Development's "Sport Part" line.
Bringing back Kazuma is a possibility once the unit gets better footing, Wilson said.
Contrary to some industry theories, no Toyota Racing Development resources have been put toward the fledgling Scion youth brand, even though Scion bbX show cars were abundant at the SEMA show. Although Toyota Racing Development communicates with Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., it does not take orders from the sales arm.
"We will make go-fast parts for Scion, but we don't respond to Toyota saying, 'Make this.' We look at the business case first," said Gary Boler, Toyota Racing Development senior manager of sales and marketing.
More nimble competitors
Carl Sheffer, vice president of OEM relations for SEMA, said that some customers may want the reassurance of a Toyota badge on their add-on products, but there is no way Toyota Racing Development can match the speed and agility of smaller independent companies in hitting market trends. Given the access their dealer body provides, Toyota can get a piece of the action, but never the lion's share, because most consumers prefer to chart their own course with modifications.
"Exterior and interior treatments are very individualistic," Sheffer said. "The size and complexity of some systems does not lend itself to short (production) runs by a big company. And 99 percent of our member companies can beat the automaker at a price point.".
Counters Wilson: "Our customers have higher expectations. It's forced us to elevate our game."
TaeMachine
12-03-2002, 07:30 PM
sounds like something i read from ebay or something.
Originally posted by celica001
EVERYBODY! GET AUTOMOTIVE NEWs MAGAZINE! MASSIVE 5 PAGE ARTICLE WITH A BIG PICTURE OF A CELICA on it , TRD IS DROPPING OUT OF AFTERMARKET!!! NO LIE! I SWEAR TO GOD! I AM SCANNING THE ARTICLE TOMMORROW, SOMEONE WILL POST IT FOR ME.......i can take a pic of it wiht me digi cam to show u the main heading, sayint his, the article is SO ****IN long about how toyota doesnt want performance, wantsmore luxery, NOT one mention on the new supra either. very interesting. my dad works for toyota, manager of lexus he is scared that tthis will kill sells. lesux was in the article stating, a bunch of bull**** bout superchagers, also TRD says there will be a supercharger out for the MATRIX XRS --bull****, they allso mention THE KAZUMA LINE! let me tell u this is an amamzin articel! it has everything in it that will BLOW UR FREAKIN MIND. i cant believe it, i cant, wait till u read this , it will be up tommrorow nite late, talk to u all lata. peace Jon
Oh come on, they are not changing ****. Get a grip man, this has been posted already...... welcome to last week :) <insert pic>
I don't know where you get the pulling out of performance parts? Whatever
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:35 PM
hehehhe last week!??? i jsut read it! from wat i see its doesnt LOOK TO GOOD for the future! thats wat i meant. so technially i wasnt lieing! but com;n who here thinks toyota is acutally gonnabring back a twin turbo supra? and make a supercahger for our car?
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:37 PM
LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. will not go toe to toe with Honda and Nissan for horsepower bragging rights, a top executive says.
Toyota has been scolded in the enthusiast press because the Camry has fallen behind the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima in horsepower and torque. The redesigned 2003 4Runner's V-8 has fewer horsepower than the base V-6 - 235 vs. 245 - although the V-8's torque is far higher.
The same challenge applies on the luxury side, with the Lexus ES 300 and IS 300 both outgunned by the Infiniti G35 and Acura 3.2TL.
The horsepower war has been escalating for two years, with many automakers trying to attract young buyers by jamming the brawniest engine possible under the hood.
Toyota's decision could be a sign that it is satisfied with its demographics or an assumption that spending too much on horsepower is risky.
Picking its battles
Jim Press, COO of Toyota's U.S. sales arm, said the company will pick its spots to showcase performance.
"Having the best total finished product makes more sense," Press said in a recent interview. "The average Camry buyer is not hanging on whether we have 160 hp or 180 hp. Our target is a more inclusive group of features and benefits, more about comfort and road feel.
"In product development, you can spend your money in different ways. Nissan gave the Infiniti M45 and Nissan Altima tons of horsepower. But they put so much money into the engine (that) they haven't refined the entire experience."
Toyota would rather sacrifice horsepower for fuel economy, especially given the potential for war in the Middle East, Press said.
"We think a lot about performance trade-offs, but we want to deliver horsepower in a sensible package," he said. "There needs to be a social responsibility among automakers."
John Morel, analyst with The Car Lab in Santa Ana, Calif., said the strategy suggests "Toyota is willing to concede a bunch of the market to keep their 50-year-old buyers. It's an indication that they are content with their current owner base."
He added: "It seems inconsistent with where they say they want to move the brand: to seek younger, more performance-oriented buyers."
Press said Toyota will not follow the pack in segments in which performance is crucial. Certain vehicles, such as the Celica, Matrix and Camry Solara, will have more attention paid to horsepower, he said.
Mainstream vehicles will be more about the total package, Press said. Although Toyota will put a 3.3-liter V-6 in the next-generation Sienna arriving in spring, Press doubts the current Camry will get the larger engine. The Solara most likely will get the 3.3-liter V-6 before the rest of the Camry line.
"At some point we'll commonize the engine (across the Camry lineup)," Press said. "But it won't be because we are lacking in power, but simply for cost efficiencies."
Tundra challenge
The Toyota Tundra will be facing an uphill road with the arrival of the new Nissan full-sized truck and redesigned Ford F series in 2003. Toyota has been knocked for falling short in horsepower and torque on the Tundra, and Nissan has thrown down the gauntlet that its truck will be superior in performance to the Toyota.
On the Lexus side, Toyota will not attempt to match powerful vehicles such as the BMW M3. Lexus will offer performance vehicles such as the GS 430, but luxury will be paramount.
"You have to have an IS 300 that's believable as a performance car before you go about making an M3 type of car," Press said. "The problem in taking on BMW is that they've refined that art. We can't do it, because it's there already. We have to do our own thing."
i dont think u guys have this one yet! this is hot off the presses, dember 2 lol ... i am tryin here guys! i dunno i guess i am behind the TIMES! damn! its must be because i am a youngin. lol
Grooverider
12-03-2002, 07:42 PM
take a breath before you type i cannot understand your cuneform
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:44 PM
ehhh? wat part didnt u understand? i apologize brother, someone delete this post since everyone except me knows about this. thank you. and peace Jon
ArchangelX
12-03-2002, 07:45 PM
bow wow chicky wow wow... *GroooooveeeerideeeRRRR* bow wow chicky wow...a-chicky chicky bow wow..
Hooh...Biatch!!!
Luv da name, man...it's pyschadelic!! :thumbup:
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:47 PM
wats that supposed to mean? are u makin fun of me? because i never did anything to u! i was just tryin to be nice and post this but it seems no one cares, so someone delete this damn thing. thank you
Grooverider
12-03-2002, 07:47 PM
Originally posted by ArchangelX
bow wow chicky wow wow... *GroooooveeeerideeeRRRR* bow wow chicky wow...a-chicky chicky bow wow..
Hooh...Biatch!!!
Luv da name, man...it's pyschadelic!! :thumbup:
lol.. thanks man... wanna be my sidekick we can pimp da hoes :gap:
Originally posted by celica001
hehehhe last week!??? i jsut read it! from wat i see its doesnt LOOK TO GOOD for the future! thats wat i meant. so technially i wasnt lieing! but com;n who here thinks toyota is acutally gonnabring back a twin turbo supra? and make a supercahger for our car?
The 1zz is getting a supercharger. It doesn't make sense to make one for the 2zz anyway!!!!!! so no i never expected that. The supra will be n/a does it have to be turbo? Of course not. N/a is sometimes more entertaining ;)
TRD has been this way forever. They never offered a **** load of stuff for the supra either, they left most of the power to other companies.
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:48 PM
Originally posted by Grooverider
lol.. thanks man... wanna be my sidekick we can pimp da hoes :gap:
i really got to start payin attention more. maybe that would help.
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:51 PM
thank you brother, u understand where i am coming from, u are right though, toyota never was meant for performance, where does this leave us for future toyotas? i mean, do u think there will be that abiliity for aftermarket? i mean look AEM dropped the ECU thing, wat else is next? 2hp headers? come on.
ArchangelX
12-03-2002, 07:51 PM
Ya...don't get offended celica001...It's not that big a deal..people repost shiat all the time. Even da vets..
Oh and Grooverider....I'm afraid I'd look kinda silly driving around trying to pimp hoes while going "chicky chicky bow wow".
:gap:
Originally posted by celica001
thank you brother, u understand where i am coming from, u are right though, toyota never was meant for performance, where does this leave us for future toyotas? i mean, do u think there will be that abiliity for aftermarket? i mean look AEM dropped the ECU thing, wat else is next? 2hp headers? come on.
AEM would have never made it anyhow. The power FC is better and already available!!!!!!!
The headers dont' make what you'd expect because our stock header is amazing!!!!!!! Its not as bad as you make it out to be.
Grooverider
12-03-2002, 07:55 PM
i agree with da LaW
celica001
12-03-2002, 07:57 PM
ahhhh yes yes yes i agree. seems so many people always ask me "why dont u get headers, ur car will be so fast" when will people understand theres more to it? ya kno? i am sure u guys have had ur shares oof ass holes come up to and act all like they know ur car, "get a turbo" dude we cant our compression is to high, and they look at u like ur stupid. fuk em. but i was jsut statin. thanks for helpin me out though. ur cool. lol peace Jon
celica2000gtr2
12-03-2002, 08:05 PM
man f*ck them, we don't need them at all. screw them and their RICE, they're all a bunch of snobs if you ask me, always looking at the beauty of a performance part, not just the function.....
IMO no company will invest heavily in performance for celicas because of lack of demand. that's the reality and it's been repeated over and over.
it's up to the individual if you want to make your car fast....
we need people with balls and knowledge to work on our cars and proove the capabilities of the celica's engines.
soon they will be releasing engines with 100hp and less and call it sports........then toyota will fall as a high performance known name....
later
DAVID
celica001
12-03-2002, 08:12 PM
Originally posted by celica2000gtr2
man f*ck them, we don't need them at all. screw them and their RICE, they're all a bunch of snobs if you ask me, always looking at the beauty of a performance part, not just the function.....
IMO no company will invest heavily in performance for celicas because of lack of demand. that's the reality and it's been repeated over and over.
it's up to the individual if you want to make your car fast....
we need people with balls and knowledge to work on our cars and proove the capabilities of the celica's engines.
soon they will be releasing engines with 100hp and less and call it sports........then toyota will fall as a high performance known name....
later
DAVID
dude, u just took the words outta my mouth. it sure makes me feel good that there is someone out there that knows wats really going on. i mean, ur right in all terms.....when i go to school, all the rice boys are like haha celicas are slow, most of the time i say fuk em and smoke anyway, but in no means em a i racer, i love my car, i pay for my car, theses kids and people get **** handed to em, but back to the point,it takes KNOWLEDGE for our cars. ur aweomse peace. jon
Da Kine Guy
12-03-2002, 09:13 PM
Bingo!!! :thumbup: It's all up to individuals to get the car to make some good power.
RiCeY GtS
12-03-2002, 10:53 PM
total ricer development
MeGaXmAn27
12-03-2002, 11:41 PM
since trd is dropping out of everything.. parts are gonna be harder to find and twice as expensive no?
ArchangelX
12-03-2002, 11:51 PM
Actually..that does bring up a valid point.
If other companies see that TRD is dropping support of the Celica, will it increase or decrease their aftermarket support as well?
There could be several arguments for and against it....some might say "TRD isn't supporting them, so it must not be profitable, therefore, why should we?"
Am I assuming too much of this situation?
Diesel949X
12-04-2002, 12:08 AM
Actually what does TRD have to offer? Besides...
Springs
Air Filters
Oil Filters
Oil Caps
Radiator Caps.........
:rolleyes:
Aren't these already the street legal performance parts they are talking about?
t2000gts
12-04-2002, 09:16 AM
Originally posted by celica001
thank you brother, u understand where i am coming from, u are right though, toyota never was meant for performance, where does this leave us for future toyotas? i mean, do u think there will be that abiliity for aftermarket? i mean look AEM dropped the ECU thing, wat else is next? 2hp headers? come on.
are you on drugs or something? no offense, but you start yelling they're backing out of performance products when the article SAYS THE EXACT OPPOSITE. they're cutting down on body kits and stuff and concentrating on street-legal performance items.
or are body kits your idea of performance products? :wtf:
djm221
12-04-2002, 09:22 AM
Originally posted by Diesel949X
Actually what does TRD have to offer? Besides...
Springs
Air Filters
Oil Filters
Oil Caps
Radiator Caps.........
:rolleyes:
Aren't these already the street legal performance parts they are talking about?
Why does everyone always leave out the TRD exhaust? It provides the best gains of all of the ones available.
ArchangelX
12-04-2002, 09:28 AM
Actually..I believe we discussed that earlier. It does provide peak horsepower and TQ...but only by a VERY slim margin. Peak HP and TQ is nice..but more gain throughout the powerband is preferred.
And for example..phaqgm has manufactured his own exhaust, and actually one-upped the power gains in the TRD.
Of course..dynos may vary...so I'm not gonna get into that rat's nest of a topic.
I think I've gotten in one too many today. :chuckles:
Grooverider
12-04-2002, 10:20 AM
Originally posted by t2000gts
or are body kits your idea of performance products? :wtf:
aren't they???? :confused: :gap:
gts24
12-04-2002, 10:33 AM
Originally posted by ArchangelX
I think I've gotten in one too many today. :chuckles:
go sit in your corner now :chuckles:
BOW WOW CHICKY BOW WOW CHICKY CHICKY BOW ........
Holy Sh*t thats funny.
what about suspension? :) trd has nice things to offer, as well as clutches, flywheels', lsd's, shocks, springs, rear 3pt upper strut bar!!!!! uh yeah whats wrong with that stuff??? exactly
TRD GT-S
12-04-2002, 11:58 AM
:wtc:
man some of you people don't get it..... geez
N'SightGT
12-04-2002, 12:36 PM
IMO...TRD is a good company. However, the LSD/clutch/flywheel you mentioned are only for the 2ZZ. The 1ZZ does not have the benefit of a TRD clutch/flywheel/LSD.
However, their suspension products are also very effective. Don't forget, they also have a big brake kit available, and from what I hear, an S/C in R&D for the 1zz. Why? Well, look at all the cars that use the 1ZZ (celica GT, corolla, mr-s, and the Matrix). reason why I think their products are expensive is b/c of the fact they do extensive testing. You're buying performance parts w/ a warranty. Also, their TRD exhaust is 50-state legal...another reason it's expensive. can you say that about the other exhausts on the market? Maybe, but it didn't come that way when you bought it (to the best of my knowledge). TRD had their exhaust tested and certified.
why did they drop out of the aerodynamics part? Like they already said...COST. Realistically, how many celica owners do you pass by on a daily basis, look like they will upgrade their cars? I don't see many....plus, w/ the knockoffs and other options available as is...would YOU pay A) 1200 for a TRD Mechanical bumper or B) 15-1800 for an authentic Veilside kit?
maybe i stated things already stated, maybe i didn't make key points...if i didn't, someone point them out...
JDRSpeed
12-05-2002, 02:27 PM
:werd: :closed:
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