Well, it would appear that Toyota is having a few issues trying to bring its TRD Aurion up to the lofty power levels of the forthcoming Mitsubishi Ralliart-designed TMR 380 sedan.

Both vehicles are supercharged, with stability control in particular a major issue for the Mitsi, though the production version is expected to put out around 230kW and a well-hung 442Nm of torque. On the flipside, the special-edition Aurion looks set to manage just 200kW and 336Nm from its 3.5L V6, but Toyota Aus says it’s looking into a special twin-screw supercharger design that should lift power substantially.

In Melbourne, passers-by only got a half-ready Aurion Sports concept, which featured next to TRD’s other baby this year (though you’d hardly call it small), the 4L HiLux TRD. Said Toyota Australia sales guru David Buttner, “We brought a surprise as part of the kick-off for the brand in Australia. We wanted to show the concept vehicle so people have an understanding this is not just a one-model brand, that we’ll have more than one model and that over time we can draw on any of the product in the Toyota stable to do performance enhancement work.

"The HiLux TRD will become available. This year we’ll launch both the TRD Aurion and the TRD HiLux, and the TRD HiLux will be available towards the end of the fourth quarter."

Hot4s spied the new Mitsi TMR 380 at the Sydney Motor Show last year, and we must say it was looking like quite the good bit of gear with sport seating, dimpled brakes, twin vents on the bonnet and so on, but what Mitsubishi was thinking when it slapped on those cheap chromies we’ll never know. They just look so out of place with the sporty image of the rest of the car.

Toyota did a little better on the Aurion front in Melbourne, and looking at the pics, with a revised front bumper and dark alloys, it should come up alright.