Queensland highway patrol deputizes the TRD Aurion

[Oracle of Delphi]

Many thanks to Anton, an Autoblog reader from Down Under, who was kind enough to grab a couple of snapshots showing us one of the Queensland Police Department's new highway patrol cars. We've reported on Toyota Australia's TRD Aurion before -- it's basically the Camry we want but can't have. With a much better-looking face and 323 supercharged horses underhood, the Aussie-built sedan is inherently more appealing than the vanillamobile available at our local Toyota stores. And now the fuzz has them, too.

Earlier this month, the Queensland police welcomed some of the "regular" Aurions into its white-liveried standard fleet. Our new friend Anton noticed a TRD Aurion dressed in the red finish used by the highway patrol. Curious, he followed it back to the station and talked up the officers there to get their opinion on their new interceptor. The verdict is that the TRD Aurion has as much punch as the older V8-powered FPV Falcons and Holden Monaros, and it is the clear winner in terms of interior comfort. Its front-wheel-drive configuration took some getting used to, however. The RWD pursuit cars could power through corners, and any oversteer incurred could be easily corrected from the driver's seat. The officers say that the Aurion's tendency to torque steer forced them to adjust their driving technique.According to them, hammering the throttle mid-corner doesn't do much at all, and the the car plows straight ahead. Solution: they don't do that anymore, and they're apparently "overjoyed" with their new toys, which, as Anton puts it, "go like the clappers." Thanks for the TRD pursuit car shots, Anton!

Article: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/19/queensl...the-trd-aurion/

[Intrepidation]

Blue and red together is a big no no.

Otherwise, why aren't the Holdens being used for highway patrol? Makes more sense than a FWD Camry. Way to turn your backs on your homegrown products you pigs.

[Intrepidation]

It really does look so much better than the N/A Camry though.

[deftonesfan867]

I guess NA isn't the only market where Toyota copies other companies styling cues...

[thegriffon]

It really does look so much better than the N/A Camry though.

It's actually the Asian Camry (see toyota Thailand, which got it first, and Guangzhou Toyota) with the American Camry's V6, but sshhh, don't let the Aussie press know that, Toyota wants them to think it's all Aussie.

Edited January 19, 2008 by thegriffon

[ocnblu]

It is a pissant compared to the Commodore.

[monaroCountry]

Otherwise, why aren't the Holdens being used for highway patrol? Makes more sense than a FWD Camry. Way to turn your backs on your homegrown products you pigs.

Holden has increased its fleet prices and are now shying away from the fleet market.

I guess toyota has taken up the slack with the Police department.

The taxi rank has held off buying FWD Camry's, apparently FWD costs much more to maintain than their RWD commodore and falcon counterparts.

V8-powered FPV Falcons and Holden Monaros

Also notice that they compared it to the older version V8 powered FPV and monaro. The monaro is really only used for high visibility purposes and is not that powerful to begin with and is heavier than the V8 SS police sedans, the main police FPV strike weapon is not the V8 model but the I6 turbo model.

Edited January 20, 2008 by monaroCountry