Toyota – Gripshiftslide

Performance Tyres that Actually Perform – Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005

Grant — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:24:57 +0000

There’s a big difference between reading about a tyre and actually trying to behave like a responsible adult while it’s actively encouraging you not to. So when Bridgestone dropped us into Norwell Motorplex to sample the new Potenza Adrenalin RE005, the plan was simple: test the product.

That plan lasted about five minutes. I was on double duty camera in one hand, camera in the other, basically running a one-man documentary operation while our special guest Kumar was handed the far more dangerous assignment of driving the cars properly.

A job he accepted with the kind of enthusiasm that should probably be monitored. From there, the day moved into a more structured rhythm, but the underlying theme stayed the same: the more you pushed the RE005, the more it seemed to settle into its work. One of the first things you notice is how quickly it comes online.

There’s no real sense of waiting for it to wake up. You roll out, turn in, and the grip is already there. It doesn’t build confidence gradually it just gives you enough immediately that you start trusting it almost straight away. The steering response is particularly direct. Not nervous, not twitchy just immediate.

You make an input and the car reacts without delay, which makes everything feel more precise than you expect from a road-focused tyre. What’s more interesting is what happens after a few laps. Instead of dropping off or feeling like it’s reached its limit, the RE005 actually feels more consistent as it warms up.

The behaviour becomes more settled, especially through longer corners where stability starts to matter more than initial bite. There’s a calmness to it under load. You’re not constantly managing the tyre or waiting for it to break away it just holds a line and does its job, even when the pace builds.

The wet skid pan in a single shared BMW M240i was basically controlled chaos big circles, low grip, and that familiar moment where everyone pretends they’re testing stability systems while actually just seeing how sideways they can get before lunch. This is where tyres usually reveal their true personality.

Some panic. Some give up entirely. Some just seem to make things up as they go along. The RE005 just hangs in there. Calm, progressive, and surprisingly composed. You can lean on it, slide it, catch it mid-correction, and it stays with you without ever feeling like it s about to step out of line.

It’s predictable in a way that actually encourages you to explore the limit a bit more each lap. Next up was a half-track slalom in the Toyota 86. Hard braking at the end. Quick direction changes. The kind of exercise that doesn’t really leave much room for excuses.

And then because someone clearly enjoys adding pressure we ran the exact same setup back-to-back against a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 5. Same cars. Same cones. Same slightly questionable decision-making process. The RE005 felt tight through the slalom, almost eager like it was anticipating your next input and cleaning things up before they ever became a problem.

Under braking it stayed composed, with none of that vague I hope this works out feeling. Just firm, straight-down stopping and no real drama. After lunch, which mostly involved sitting quietly and reflecting on the fact we’d already done enough to void several warranties, we went back out.

Full track. Proper laps. Real pace. This is where tyres usually start telling the truth about themselves. The first lap is a handshake. The fifth lap is a confession. And the RE005 didn’t really flinch. No sudden drop-off, no greasy slide into disappointment.

Just consistent, repeatable grip lap after lap. It didn’t feel like it was hanging on it felt like it was in it’s working window and perfectly happy to stay there. Then came the point where everyone stops pretending this is testing and admits it’s just racing. A full grid of Toyota 86s lined up for a mock race at Norwell Motorplex.

It was less controlled experiment and more lightly supervised chaos with tyres attached. And while I was back on the sidelines trying to capture something coherent out of the madness, Kumar managed to secure the ultimate position: passenger seat in the middle of a rolling battle royale.

Honestly, the man didn’t deserve it—but there he was, grinning like he’d hacked the system.
Also worth pointing out, the RE005 isn’t some niche fitment experiment either. It runs from 195/55R15 all the way through to 275/30R20, so it covers everything from hot hatch territory to proper performance machinery—and yes, it even fits those damn EVs too.

Across its 50 available sizes (15-inch to 20-inch fitments), the intent is clearly broad application without losing its performance focus. By the end of it all, the RE005 had made its point. It doesn’t ease you in.

It doesn’t politely ask for commitment. It just delivers grip from the first metre, builds more as things heat up, and then sits there in this slightly composed state while you try your best to unsettle it. Which, at Norwell Motorplex, is really saying something.

Reviewed :: 2018 Camry SL Hybrid

Grant — Thu, 17 May 2018 11:19:23 +0000

Last month we returned to our favourite place on Earth, Japan. With a tight schedule planned we had just one week free to head out and explore the countryside and thought we might ask our friends from Toyota for a car. When asked “What do you want to drive?” Immediately we thought let’s get an 86!… However after driving the new V6 Camry back in Australia we were quite curious about taking the hybrid version out and comparing the two. Luckily there was a hybrid SL free while we were in town, so we headed to Toyota’s office in Tokyo to grab the keys and hit the road. If you haven’t seen much of the new Camry yet it is quite a departure from previous designs and has a dramatic new look, especially in this colour! Offered in 4 variants, Ascent, Ascent sport, SX and the range topping SL seen here. With choices of ether the petrol 2.5l 4 Cylinder, 2.5l hybrid and 3.5l V6. Why did we go for the hybrid? Well we’ve heard plenty of good things about it and wanted to see how it faired in a larger sedan. With the future of the car quickly changing to suit both the environment and the economy, petrol engines and even hybrids like this might soon be the next floppy disc or Walkman of our lifetime. When push comes to shove the 2.5l hybrid is surprisingly brisk off the line thanks to the added torque from the electric motor. The novelty of the almost silent electric motor at low speeds was strange at first. Once you press the accelerator the volume increases and it sounds remarkably like a Japanese train racing away from the station. When the speedo reads around 20kph the 4 cylinder petrol engine seamlessly kicks in and it starts to sound like a regular car again. You may notice that compared to our local model the exterior is a little different thanks to the larger grill taking up most of the front bumper. I was a little on the fence about the bumper design until I saw it in person and I found it really complements the new design rather well. The new Camry is built on Toyota’s new ‘TNGA’ platform which is highly adaptable to suit different sized cars and drivetrains, like RWD and AWD. We’ve driven both the C-HR and Prius built on the same platform and it feels a lot more dynamic across all the models when compared to their predecessors. The ride quality was quite surprising in comparison to the sport suspension offered in the SX model. It was softer over bumps without feeling floaty and didn’t fall off the road around tight corners. Overall it is quite balanced and provides a fair amount of feedback for a stock standard car. A testament to the new TNGA platform. Back to the cosmetics the 18” alloy wheels are our pick of the bunch from the new line up, they also feel a lot more suited as opposed to the monstrous 19” wheels offered on the SX model. We have not been a fan of many of the latest OEM wheel designs offered in recent years… *Looks at the Toyota 86*. If run of the mill mid-size sedans are considered plain or “vanilla” than this new model shines amongst the competition. This is the organic vanilla bean car right here! The exterior is not the only thing that’s changed. The interior has been given the same bold makeover. Gone are the plain cloth seats of the previous generations. The design of the dash alone draws your eyes into the centre as the asymmetrical lines intersect underneath the 7” screen. All in all It’s a rather nice place to be. Clever additions like the heads-up display and wireless charging pad for smart phones are the cherry on top! Driving the Camry around for the week, I started to appreciate the hybrid a little more than I had first anticipated. The fuel consumption was fantastic even with spirited driving on some of Japan’s famous mountain roads. I can’t tell if it’s just that I’m getting older but if I was in the market for a sedan I think I’d be hard pressed to go past the new Camry. You might even catch me looking back over my shoulder after parking it. Sitting inside it feels more akin to the upper-class brother, the Lexus IS300. Sharing the same powerplant options as the Lexus, the Camry might be closing the gap between the two cars just a little too much for some buyers. At an extra $24,000 It might be hard for some to shell out for the “L” badge. As for our time on the road it was incredible catching the tail end of the cherry blossom season out in Nikko. The panoramic glass roof helped to take in all the beauty while the trees were in bloom. During the week we only spotted two more Camrys in the wild, we also had a couple of admires keen to have a closer look at the new car. I’m actually quite excited to see if any receive the aftermarket VIP treatment in Japan. After seeing a few examples of the CH-R getting some love from Japanese workshops it seems more than likely. Simple is best so we think a subtle lip kit, dual exhausts, de-badged nose grill, Japanese front bumper and a set of SSR Professor SP4 wheels in silver would complete the car. The big question, would we still choose the V6?… Nope! As great as the V6 is to drive it just doesn’t seem suit the front wheel drive/automatic platform. If the option of a manual transmission and rear wheel drive were thrown into the mix with this body shape, we’d be lining up around the block with the rest of the world with cash in hand. Until then we think the Hybrid is the star here, all the comfort and it still moves when you put your foot down. I think most people would agree when it finally came time to filling up at the petrol station. Thanks to the team from Toyota and as always, thanks for reading. – Gwyn.

Toyota 86 Racing Series :: On Track Until 2020

Grant — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 11:13:54 +0000

Way back in 2016 Toyota hatched a plan to bring the world a fun one-make series with their legendary 86 model.
The aim is to foster the talent of young up and coming drivers who do not have the dollars to race the open-wheelers circuit.

So why was I on a plane headed to Sydney? Well Toyota had arranged a special day at Sydney Motorsport Park. Everyone who attended the event was secretly hoping that Toyota would surprise us with the new Supra!
Unfortunately our dreams were not realised…

The event centered around the announcement that the Toyota 86 Racing Series was being extended until 2020!
This was great news and all thanks to a gang-buster two year program that has exceeded Toyota’s expectations.

Toyota’s 86 Racing Series started with a bang! Quickly they established the series as one of the most exciting one-make racing series Australia has ever seen!

Since 2016 the Toyota 86 Racing Series has been developing bit by bit with incremental improvements to make this series the best it can possibly be.

The affordable, grassroots motorsport series will be extended to 18 scheduled races at six tracks in four states! That’s up from the 15 races scheduled in previous years.

Neal Bates was on hand to instruct on the day and help us motorsport journalists get around the track safely. Neal has been instrumental in the setup of the 86’s suspension, handling; and full package that the drivers receive when they purchase and enter the 86 Racing Series.

So where is the new 2019 Toyota 86 hiding? No Supra? No new 86 shape? I was still hoping that Toyota would have a surprise up their sleeve.

For those who have already been racing for the last two years there is going to be no car update going forward until 2020. Toyota has confirmed that they will be staying with the 2016 shape and platform to lower the cost for entrants while keeping the playing field even.

Minor changes have been made for the 2018 season. These include a change to a Dunlop tyre that will give the cars more grip over longer races. The previous tyre they were using tended to fade quiet fast.

The other minor change is adjustable rear camber. This change was made to stop competitors complaining that some drivers seemed to have more rear camber than others.

This changes should help even up the racing and make the action even more intense! As with last year there are a host of guest drivers to keep the young ones on their toes.

These include drivers like Jonathan Webb, Leanne Tander, Warren Luff, Steve Owen and rising star Harry Bates.

This racing action will make your palms sweaty and may even give you flashbacks of the original v8 Brutes Series. One thing is for sure the racing is aggressive and fast paced.

The 2018 action starts on April 20-22 at Phillip Island and then they are off to Townsville in July. Yet the most exciting event, apart from Mount Panorama, is the awesome new race track in South Australia. This will be held at the Bend Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend in August.

The series prize pool has been increased to $150,000 with competitors finishing the year from fourth to eighth places also now sharing in the cash.

The top three will continue to receive $50,000, $30,000, and $15,000 respectively.

There are rumors on the grape vine that Toyota are running the 86 Racing Series until 2020 because that is when they may be introducing the new Toyota 86 to the world; but we will have to wait and see if this is true.

Along with the experience of driving the Racing 86 around Sydney Motorsport Park we were also given the opportunity to have some fun on the skid pan with the new 2018 86 GTS.

The Toyota 86 is truly the do anything car! Great as a daily and great on the track! It is the best choice for this one of a kind one-make series.

If you want to see more 86 Racing action make sure you keep an eye on Toyota Racing Australia for updates.
We can’t thank Toyota enough for giving us the opportunity to experience the 86 Racing Series first hand on the official 2018 press and media day for the 2018 86 Racing Series.
2018 Toyota 86 Racing Series race dates:
April 20-22 – Phillip Island
July 6-8 – Townsville
August 24-26 — Bend Motorsport Park
September 14-16 – Sandown
October 4-7 – Mount Panorama
November 23-25 – Newcastle
Thanks for reading,
Grant

Reviewed :: 2018 All New Camry SX

Grant — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 12:09:02 +0000

You cannot go anywhere within Australia without seeing a Toyota Camry on the road. The humble Toyota Camry is a car that for generations has embodied sensibility, stability, and reliability.

This is the first fully imported Camry in 30 years! Built in Japan the Mk8 Camry is longer, sportier and packed with heaps of extra goodies. Based off Toyota’s new global vehicle platform, this new Camry will be seen all over the world.

Toyota gave us the chance to experience the all new Camry SX V6 3.5L with the panoramic full glass roof! In go fast red with big 19 inch alloys; these are the biggest wheels ever fitted to a Camry.

The Camry has been one of the most popular fleet vehicles for Australian’s over many decades. The closure of the Altona plant does not mean you will not be seeing thousands of white Camrys on the road.

With the imported model being slightly more expensive than the Australian built Camrys the new safety features well outweigh the price increase and I’m certain you will see plenty of the all new Camry on the road in the future.

Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform is at the very heart of the all new 2018 Camry. This platform has also been used in the new C-HR which also handles well and is a joy to drive.

So what has changed since the previous model? Nearly everything! It’s 30 per cent stiffer, it’s 25mm lower, and with completely new suspension all round which helps deliver a fun car to drive.

The Camry is treading on the luxury saloon market with this very capable sporty revamp of the Camry! The 2GR-FKS engine is a 3.5L V6 that has been used in other luxury cars like the Lexus GS350 and shares lots of similarities to the engine seen in previous models of the Crown Athlete and the Mark X.

For the last three generations of the Toyota Camry you can see that Toyota has been making a concerted effort to improve and develop the Camry into what we see today. Safety features, looks, and interior have all been upgraded.

What caught my eye initially was the new aggressive front face of the Camry with styling cues taken from the Japanese Toyota Mark X GRMN.

With the longer body, the double moon roof, and the crazy new dash I was hooked! I’m normally not a fan of the Camry but this has opened my mind.

Gone is the boring Camry of yesteryear! Today Toyota has brought new life to a car that has been seen for many years as the quintessential accountants car.

The Camry SX is no slouch as its factory claimed 0-100 figure is 6.5 seconds and several car magazines have street tested this and have got the very close figure of 6.79 seconds.

I’m not saying this is a street weapon but it will definitely give a Commodore a run for its money! That said if Toyota did some weight stripping off this car it could be much quicker. Or if they wanted to take the market all they would need to do is make this car rear wheel drive and strap a turbo on the engine. Then they would own the gap in the market left by the exit of the SS Commodore.

The eight-speed automatic does a good job of getting off the line quickly although it does get a little lost if you accelerate hard, then lift your foot, and apply it again. However this can be overcome by the paddleshifters on the steering wheel.

It’s almost embarrassing to say but for the first time I actually enjoyed driving a Camry! I’m all for the changes! Their entertainment system is 90% there, its exterior looks phenomenal, and its performance level has been raised. If they added Apple Car Play and Android Auto plus some better UI design in the GPS area they would have the best package available on the market.

Take for instance Ford; the exterior design of their entertainment system is terrible but the features and ability of their units are class leading. People will buy a car just for its abilities to better interact with their phone.

The car market is changing rapidly and before we know it driverless cars will rule the world! Although we are not there yet the future is coming whether we like it or not. Car manufactures are scrambling to get cars to market quickly and the rapid amount of new in between models are starting to flood the market. I’m glad that the classic Camry remains in a form that is not too different from its original inception in the 1980’s.

The Camry now feels a lot larger with plenty of leg room in the back and more space up front. The SX Camry comes standard with high-grade LED front and rear lights, auto emergency braking (AEB), and lane departure warning.

The boot is massive and it could easily fit a pram or golf clubs if needed. Plus as a bonus you can fold down the back seats and fit extra long items in the boot.

The automatic high beam is another great feature that is the best when your on a long drive. As soon as you reach for the stick to turn your lights back to normal the system beats you and is ready to switch the high beams on as soon as the cars pass.

Toyota has done a great job tuning the suspension for Australian conditions. The car corners nice and flat with little to no body roll. It does not feel floaty or disconnected but rather it feels tight and tuned. The suspension can uncharacteristically feel rough over any deep pothole and this may be one of very few flaws that the Camry exhibits.

Have Toyota reinvented the Camry; or just merged the Aurion and Camry together, thereby dropping a badge and increasing the performance whilst improving the image of the well known Camry.

Whatever the case I’m glad they have improved the humble Camry. Much less boring than its predecessors and finally the Camry has a little spark in its step.
Thanks again Toyota for letting us get our hands on the all new Camry.
– Grant

Strap In & Buckle Up :: AP4 Spec Turbo Yaris

Grant — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 06:52:55 +0000

“Yaris, Neal Bates Motorsport & the Barossa Valley… Are you interested?” Our buddies from Toyota Australia gave us an unexpected call a couple of weeks ago, inviting us to yet another event. We replied with an over enthusiastic “YES!”, before having the chance to pause and think, why all this fuss over a Toyota Yaris?

Rest assured, once we arrived in South Australia all our questions were quickly answered, just in time for the 2017 Lightforce Rally SA event.
We had been invited to witness the shakedown of the brand new AP4 Spec Toyota Yaris built by Neal Bates Motorsport. The owner and name behind the company is of course former Australian Rally champion Neal Bates. This car is set to replace the highly successful S2000 spec Toyota Corolla which the team had been campaigning over the past decade.

Unfortunately, the current generation of Corollas were not suitable to replace the now retired S2000 spec car for the team; manufacturers have been constantly increasing the sizes of their staple models. This meant the only car fit for the cause was the little Yaris.
Yes, we know the Yaris does not strike as an obvious contender for an Australian Rally Championship (ARC), but Neal Bates Motorsport has spared no expense in transforming the little hatch into a title winning rally car.

Harry Bates (Neal’s son) has been given the task in piloting this far from standard Yaris. He has proved himself by taking to the sport like a duck to water, Harry has shown extraordinary talent behind the wheel. Currently with a 3-point lead in the 2017 ARC, it truly is a make or break with the new car as it makes its debut at the Lightforce Rally round.
Neal and the rest of the Bates family think Harry has what it takes to compete overseas, so while building the Yaris they decided early on that it would be best to use a left-hand drive car for the build.

This posed a glaring problem for Harry and the rest of the Bates family. How do you practice for the switch to a left-hand drive car before it’s even built? Buy an ex Toyota team car of course! This 1994 GT-Four Celica has been the perfect test mule for Harry to get in as much seat time before the maiden race for the new car.

Now it was all eyes on Harry and the new Yaris. Toyota and the team had set up a base camp for the big day and invited various journalists along, because of course testing a brand-new car in private isn’t stressful enough! Harry took us out one by one for some hot laps around the mini rally stage during the day.

Once the track marshal gave the green light, Harry was off for a few quick laps with his co-driver (John) to ensure everything was nice and tight. The car didn’t skip a beat and is a true testament to the work carried out by the Neal Bates Motorsport team.

This car looks like a factory built WRC car, but everything was built in house by the team in Canberra from the roll cage right down to the wiring. Once a 3-door Yaris hatch, it is now a snarling, angry and very wide looking rally car.

The car uses a 1.6l engine just like the WRC spec Toyota Yaris, albeit with less power due to regulations. The team actually used a 2ZZ-GE, found in locally delivered Celica’s and the Corolla Sportivo’s. Originally being a 1.8l power plant the team had to de-stroke the engine to comply with the series rules.
The now turbocharged 1.6l Yaris made all sorts of wonderful noises which echoed through the forest, with each crackle and pop almost sounding like gun fire. A far cry from the standard engine noise the car used to make.

After a handful of laps the team retired the car back to the makeshift garage. The pristine paint was now caked in mud and debris from the short course. Officially christening the car.

With all the dirt there was no way the team was getting away with clean hands while working on the car.

Watching the team work in unison was an amazing sight. With Harry’s first laps done and dusted this was now the first real world practice for the team responsible for keeping the car running. There wasn’t a single hesitation or pause from anyone during the whole day. Just like the car they performed flawlessly.

Lying by the side of the car, the essential tools were sprawled out across the ground. I personally own most if not all the tools you see here at home… I however could not maintain a world class rally car. The knowledge each person brings to the team is key to both Harry and the cars success.

No team can succeed without a leader and Darryl Bush has been absolutely integral to Neal Bates Motorsport. Working alongside Neal for over 30 years his knowledge of all things rally is truly incredible.

Between laps we were thrown the keys to this Toyota Kluger to get around the track. The 4WD actually came in handy with all the unsealed roads and deep water around the track.

I’ve personally been enjoying all the latest designs from Toyota. I can’t remember giving a Kluger a second look before this model but I’m a big fan of the rear window profile, gloss black pillars and the interior is a nice place to be. Especially on cold South Australian day!

Getting close to the end of the day it was time to jump in for my own lap around the circuit. First things first I’ve been in all sorts of track cars, never have I been in a rally car or even a passenger on the right hand side… Wow! Everything about it felt strange but at the same time the car felt smooth and precise.

The amount of grip the car had on the loose surface is out of this world. Braking is much later than I had anticipated, the car is also very dynamic and seems to use it’s weight/aero very well along with some passive rear steering.
Flying into the corner with a solid long press of the brakes, the front end of the car digs itself into road. Then a sharp turn on the steering wheel, the front tyres pull the car around while the rear seems to step out ever so slightly and before you know it Harry is reaching for the sequential gear lever and you’re pushed back into the seat ready for the next turn.

The best way to summarise the experience is “Controlled Chaos”. Between the trees blurring past the windows, the barrage of noises from the engine, gearbox and exhaust to the force from the acceleration. It really is an all out assault on the senses.
Meanwhile I look over at Harry and see the calm focused look on his face and then I look ahead to see a jump in the road and I brace myself for the worst. In the blink of an eye we’re a few hundred meters passed it without any reaction from Harry or the car. The suspension really soaks up anything that gets thrown at it.

All in all I am certain this will be the most extreme Toyota Yaris I will ever sit in. With 224kw of power and weighing only 1230kgs it is an extremely agile little car.

One thing that surprised me is that the car has equal sized brakes on the front and the rear! On all four corners are 300mm slotted discs with four-piston AP Racing calipers. The steering and handbrake are all hydraulic units which means every input from Harry is almost instant.

Comparing the built Yaris side by side to the standard road car highlights just how much the team at Neal Bates Motorsport have done to achieve the end result.
Sporting an engine swap, turbocharger, 6 speed sequential gearbox, all wheel drive-train and a plethora of performance parts from the likes of Sadev, Garrett and MCA.

It is a completely different car now, all while utilizing factory items. It still shares so many original panels and lights with the road car that it’s easily recognizable and most importantly that it’s still relevant to the public. With so many fiberglassed chassis’ in motorsport with fake headlight stickers and models not even offered for sale it’s great to see something that resembles the road car so closely.
I look forward to watching the future of this little Yarris unfold along with Harry’s career.

A massive thank you to the team at Toyota for inviting us along and a very big thank you the Bates family for being so welcoming. I feel that the rally bug is starting to bite!
Thanks for reading,
Gwyn.

Reviewed :: TRD Equipped SR5 Hilux

Grant — Sun, 21 May 2017 10:56:43 +0000

The last time we saw Toyota apply a TRD badge was in 2008; yet it is now 2017. So what has changed since then? A whole lot has changed! The Hilux is all grown up and ready to challenge its new rivals.

Although everyone is calling this the TRD Hilux, Toyota likes to refer to it as the TRD equipped Hilux, or the Toyota HiLux with TRD accessories. Unfortunately this means you will not be setting any 0-100 records any time soon but at least it looks like it would go fast!

There is a massive gap in the market for a fast ute as Holden and Ford are no longer able to produce cars in Australia; and they were the one stop shop for go fast utes. So is the market completely changing to prefer styling over performance? Or is it really too expensive to produce a true performance version of the Hilux.

I’m not sure but it is great to see the TRD brand back again in whatever form it takes. When Toyota decided to create a modified version of the Hilux they looked towards their best selling model of the Hilux. Based on the Toyota Hilux SR5 dual-cab diesel 2.8 4×4 the TRD equipped Hilux features all the best bits of the SR5 and a little bit more.

Toyota has made sure that the TRD equipped Hilux looks the part with its bright red bash plate, black wheels, and fancy front grill. The subtle yet aggressive styling makes the TRD equipped Hilux stand out whilst not screaming look at me. But lets face it you do not buy a brand new TRD Hilux to not be noticed and I think the bright red bash plate is just the right amount of kit to make onlookers realize this is not your standard Hilux.

Toyota has dominated the 4×4 ute sector for the last ten years or more. Now with threatening competition from the Ford Ranger, Holden Colorado, VW Amorok and the Nissan Nirvara it’s time for Toyota to step up their game.

The Hilux is an Australian icon and you will see one in nearly every major town across Australia. It really is one of the most capable 4×4 utes ever made.

You can’t stay on top of the market forever though and Toyota recognises this. In retaliation to models like the Ford Wildtrak and Holden Colorado Z71 they have released the all new TRD equipped Hilux SR5. In a bold move Toyota is only offering the TRD equipped Hilux in black or white making the decision much easier for punters.

Passenger-friendly, mid-sized utes, are starting to explode as a category. Just like we saw with the introduction of the SUV, at first there are a few in the market and now its starting to hit the saturation point. Yet the mid sized 4×4 ute is in the early to mid stages of the epic boom that is predicted for the next ten years.

When brands like Mercedes are just about to jump in the ring you know there is money to be made in the segment. So why are family style 4×4 utes growing so much as a category? My opinion is that cashed up millennials and centennials are looking for adventure.

Realizing that playing the game, as an adult, in a world that worships capitalism isn’t the most rewarding pursuit when even billionaires are seen as unhappy. Evidence shows that the likelihood of being addicted to a whole swag of pharmaceuticals is the case for the majority of the super successful capitalists.

So what do millennials desire? Apart from social media fame! “Experience” is the new currency for millennials. Adventure and life experience are what millennials really value! So the best way to achieve this is with a go anywhere vehicle that can carry the family and tow all your adventure gear.

The Hilux is the ultimate vehicle for adventure as it’s tough, sturdy and full of Toyota’s famous reliability. The Hilux is one of the markets top selling vehicles and currently it is dominating the light commercial sector closely followed by the Ford Ranger.

According to statistics 4×4 utes are one of the fastest growing segments in the world so it seems Toyota picked the right time to release the TRD sports pack.

The only things I would like Toyota to add to the TRD Hilux is some extra detailing inside the cabin apart from just floor mats. It would be great if they could have some small hints of red inside the cabin or some TRD stitched seats just to make it feel a bit more special.

The TRD gear knob is a bit dainty for the size of the Hilux. It really needs a big, chunky, manly TRD gear knob! One you can comfortably rest your hand on whilst driving.

After cruising around in the Hilux as a daily I eventually stumbled across the 3 power modes; when initially I thought it only had eco and power mode. Yet strangely there is a mode in between eco / power. This mode I would suppose would be called the normal mode? So why did I let the Hilux default to eco for so long… because I wanted to feel like Captain Planet!

Yes that’s right. I wanted to see if it was possible to save the environment while navigating Melbourne’s traffic and not getting into an accident. I’m sad to say I had to gather the Planeteers and “let our powers combine” and by pushing the power button I was able to get across roundabouts while chanting “go planet”! Power is not a dirty word. I’m glad the Hilux has a good amount of up and go when you need it!

I’m normally not a fan of electric seat controls but the one in the Hilux is amazing and you will find yourself adjusting your setting as you drive just because you can. If the seat came with an extra lumbar support button and a captains chair armrest it would be the perfect seat!

If you want the best 4×4 in its class than the TRD equipped SR5 Hilux is the only choice. Also the Hilux special models tend to hold their value quite well. Although it may look like Toyota has just slapped some accessories on the Hilux it feels like a lot more than that! No wonder the Hilux is respected and loved around the world.
Thanks to Toyota Australia for giving us the opportunity to test and review the new Hilux SR5 equiped with the TRD sports pack.
Thanks for reading,
Grant

Reviewed :: Toyota C-HR Koba

Grant — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:23:34 +0000

The C-HR is Toyota’s newest compact SUV boasting bold looks, class leading technology, big space and reliability. This is a completely new car built on Toyota’s TNGA platform and from concept to reality this is one creation that Toyota did not skimp on! They really pushed the design envelope making a small four door SUV look like a two door sporty hatchback on steroids.

The proportions of this car are visually mind bending, sometimes it looks small and other times it looks like a large soft rider. Sharing Toyota’s new headlight design that is a theme running through all of its current models and most notably the new Rav4. You may of noticed that the humble Rav4 has grown bigger in its current form making way for the C-HR to fit right into the stables at Toyota.

The model I was testing was the All Wheel Drive C-HR Koba. The first thing I noticed about this car was its interior space! It’s deceptive to say the least! It has a high viewing angle for the driver with a large windscreen and big side windows giving the driver a super panoramic view of the road. It almost feels as large inside up front as an XF Falcon!

The interior is very distinctive with its silver highlights and high gloss glitter surrounds. The C-HR not only has LED tail lamps but also LED headlamps which are super bright! So bright that you will constantly think you have your high beams on.

Yet when you venture to the back seat things change drastically! The lack of light caused by the small rear side windows creates a very dark and claustrophobic feeling. Although they are great if you want to stop young kids sticking their heads out the window!

For adults in the back there is adequate room despite the need to lean forward to see out the window.
Gone are the days of an ashtray in every arm rest. Todays ashtray is the cup holder! Toyota has made sure that there is one within reach everywhere inside the C-HR.

You can see Toyota has focused on the driver with a premium seat, complete with height adjustment and electronic lumbar support, which really helps on a long trip. The C-HR feels fun, light and agile to drive.

The 1.2 litre 4 cylinder turbo engine has been the main talking point around this car across the internet…
So I decided to take it up some big hills.

Having owned a Honda Beat with only 3 cylinders at a whopping 660CC I know a thing or two about low powered cars and the internet whinging was clearly coming from people who drive Holden Commodores. The fact that the C-HR is only pushing out 85kw and pulling 1510kgs sounds like it could be a struggle, yet I’m here to tell you that this little eco engine goes well for what it has to accomplish.

Driving around Mansfield and all the way up Mt Buller was a big test for the little engine. I drove up to Mt Buller in the pouring rain with no problems! Yeah the CVT gearbox is a bit slow at times but all CVT autos have that delay. Once you put the car into sport mode you can alleviate at least 70% of that delay and pull out a bunch more response from the little engine.

As any boy racer would do I looked for the intercooler and turbo straight away! Were both hidden ? Was I going blind?…Yes the car has hidden the turbo behind the engine against the firewall! So no quick turbo upgrades! The intercooler well… Toyota decided to save space and go for a fancy water-cooled exhaust manifold instead of a traditional intercooler.

So if you intend to modify the C-HR the only quick fix would be a tune/remap, more boost, and a bigger exhaust system. Although for this type of car people will more likely go for aesthetic over power. We can only hope that Toyota brings over some of the proposed TRD kits for the C-HR into Australia.

A recent speedhunters article featured a C-HR with a set of airbags and some great wheels this really shows just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with the C-HR.

The car itself has some spectacular line. It looks fast, sleek and sophisticated. Those sneaky rear doors help to make the car look smaller than it really is and they give it a coupe style appearance with attitude.

The Koba has many awesome features just like a new mobile phone! You have lots of things at your disposal yet it’s only when you need that specific function that you discover the feature that can help you.

Basically this car does heaps of things I never knew it did! Auto high beam, Lane Departure Alert, PreCollision Safety system, Active Cruise Control and the main feature that was the most helpful; the blind spot indicators!

So what is the C-HR? Is it a mini-SUV? A small soft rider or a high-riding coupe? It’s all of those things and more.
With a sprinkle of Lexus and a dash of inspiration from Honda the C-HR is made to turn heads.

Will cashed up hipsters trade in their old VW Golfs for a funky family fun mini-SUV? Lets hope so because Toyota has thrown everything at the C-HR! They have packed a lot of technology into this car yet most of the technology seems to be focused on safety.

However I think millennials would rather Apple Carplay and Android Auto over extra parking sensors or emergency braking systems. As the mobile phone continues to move towards human symbiosis complete and seamless connectivity is at the forefront of all young peoples minds.

For that reason I find its strange that Toyota has skimped on the entertainment system in the C-HR. Overseas C-HR models have been pictured with a sleek flat panel media system yet the Australian version gets a clunky Chinese unit that is not very user friendly.

The audio/media system in the car is really the only thing that Toyota needs to work on; otherwise the C-HR is a great little car. Fun to drive, easy over speed humps and rough roads and it genuinely handles well for a car of this type.

The cabin has great noise cancelling and the drivers seat can be raised or lowered which is amazing for child sized adults like myself.

The real party piece of the C-HR is its unmistakable design! It really stands out among it’s competition especially with the amount of dress-up options available. There are even three different trim styles to choose from; Icon, Excel and Dynamic. Not to mention the wide range of accessories you can add in the mix.

The C-HR is very comfortable and easy to live with and it really is a cut above the rest. Toyota has taken a risk making such a bold, mini SUV but I think they have pulled it off and I cannot wait to see more of these on the road. Thanks to Toyota Australia for giving us the opportunity to test and review the new C-HR.
Thanks for reading,
Grant

Vivid Motorsports :: Formula 1 Show And Shine

Grant — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 10:14:04 +0000

When a group of dedicated car nuts get together only good things can arise! Vivid Motorsports have been on our radar for the last six months and are a group we have been meaning to feature for a while.

When the opportunity to see their car show at the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix was offered, I jumped at the chance!

There were many car groups at the Formula 1 Grand Prix, yet Vivid Motorsports really had the greatest mix of cars compared to the car groups in the area. This classic Toyota Corolla KE30 was one car I did not expect to see! It is one of the most uncommonly modified cars in the scene and also the biggest surprise’s of the show.

Taking influences from the drift world there was a host of Subaru’s sporting blast pipes! Dare I say that the humble Subaru is soon taking the place of the Honda Civic for JDM street dominance.

One of the best things about Vivid Motorsports, it’s not just a group full of hard parking shed pony’s! They actually have full blown track and drift cars within the group.

To me, I believe that cars should be driven not just polished and placed on a pedestal. Vivid Motorsports is what a real car enthusiasts group should be about, track days , social events, car shows and special events.

The fitment scene is really starting to gain popularity in Melbourne despite our crazy strict road laws here in Australia.

Pushing the boundary’s, while avoiding unwanted attention is the great cat an mouse game. Although the game continues to increase in difficulty each and every year.

Their are still some people willing to take a chance for the sake of style! The real question is how fast can you convert your car back to stock?

After setting some quick lap times at Winton Raceway, the Saisoku racing s2000 was looking great sitting among its pals on the lawn just next to Albert Park Lake.

I can even imagine how hard it is to set your car up to sit like this. With its tyre’s tucked and rim’s on the outer edge of the wheel arch. I guess that’s why they call it fitment right?

Tyre stencils are all the rage, yet this looked like it was a new type of stick-on lettering that had a factory style appearance.

Matching the colour with the brake calipers really sets this off and you never know this may spawn a fixie style colour craze in the euro and JDM scene.

The Vivid Motorsports show even had a Maserati on display! The paint job alone was worth more than some of the other cars! Although it was great to see such a complete range of individual and unique cars at the show.

The R32 is one Nissan Skyline that everybody love’s! Such a classic especially when you see a great example like this. Mark my word’s these will start to hit Hako pricing levels in the next twenty years!

Aggressive with a touch of style, this Subaru had plenty of dish!

A wagon you should all be familiar with, Jason Ferron has truly made this R31 wagon stand out by putting it on podium many times in VicDrift and DCA drift competitions. There is a rumor that this very wagon will be for sale in the not to distant future!

One serious package, semi slicks with a spoiler bigger than a Hyundai Excel! Among the daily drivers this R33 really made an impression with the F1 fans.

Vivid Motorsports is really making steps to create a movement and bring back all that is good to the car club community. Putting on social events, track days, kebab runs, movie premieres and more! Vivid Motorsports are really growing in numbers, we cannot wait to attend more of their awesome events in the future.
Thanks for reading,
Grant

Saint Side :: 8th Annual John Street Show and Shine

Grant — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 01:45:34 +0000

Every year the Saint Side John Street Show and Shine never fails to impress! This is the 8th year in a row that Saint side have run this event and closed down the entire street to celebrate the birth of the Saint Side brand.

St Albans basically goes into shut down mode when the annual Saint Side John st celebrations are on! With hundreds of custom bicycles on display and a massive range of cars, whats not to like about the Saint Side Show and shine.

Saint Side fans are dedicated, loyal and fanatical! After eight years the Saint side family has definitely grown and it show’s no signs of slowing down.

A subtle yet appropriate styled R33 Nissan Skyline sat among hundreds of custom bicycles that formed a line from one end of john street to the other.

Dj Rod G kept the tunes going all day with some very cool 90’s classic hiphop, with a mix of new jams squashed in between those hits we all know and love!

This TE27 corolla drew my attention immediately as i walked past, its funky Superlight wheels original paint job and missing front flair gave this corolla some real character.

This annual event always attracts a diverse range of cars from Low Riders to Hot Rods to JDM and everything in between!

Because the show and shine takes up the whole of john st other cars are forced to park a few streets away. I always take the time to walk around the surrounding streets to see the other cars that were not able to fit into the main show. This murdered out FG falcon was so evil it made small children run while dropping and abandoning their beloved comfort toys in the street!

Private Bike shows started to spring up across the road from the main show, Saint Side have reinvented the custom bike by supplying fans with the hottest parts out of america and around the globe.

I’ve spotted this very R32 on the freeway in my daily commute to work, boy does it stand out with that bright teal color and 4 stud conversion complete with Hoshino wheels!

This Chevrolet Pick-up truck was stunning with it period correct signage and wooden side extensions plus it also was carrying a tricked out custom bike in the back!

Next year I think Saint Side should run a dog show alongside the other festivities that take place through out the day. There are so many proud owners and there puppies that come to the Show and Shine. Why not put them on show as well as the cars and bikes.

A good variety of cars showed up to the event with many wildly different cars sitting next to each other. For instance take this track driven 86 and a VIP ride sitting side by side.

Do not mistake the Toyota FJ for an over sized Fiser and Price toy car! From a distance this FJ did not look real! but up close you could see its larger than life personality.

This is the first time I have ever seen a two wheeled General Lee! Love the detail they have gone to with the CB radio on the handlebars and confederate flag on the back!

Denim jackets, gold wheels, red beanie’s you could be forgiven if you thought this was a picture from the nineties!

The Saint Side four legged family was in full force showing that not all Saint Side fans have to be human.

Every detail on these custom bicycles was hand picked and placed on the bike’s for a specific purpose.

Likewise the lowriders had equally as much personality with custom pin striping and chrome to match.

Not to mention there where a few tastefully modified classic Hot Rod’s in attendance. Yet the real focus of the show was the custom bikes.

There where so many bikes it was hard to concentrate on just one! There was a bike to satisfy everybody’s taste!

With a huge mix of styles and influences blended together extending the entire length of john st.

Just like a Harley right? The owner deserves credit for creating such a beast!

When the restoration of low-rider bicycles, streetwear, and collectibles come together you know that the Saint Side crew most likely has something to do with it!

The Japanese influence runs deep with plenty of classic Toyota’s and Nissan’s helping to decorate John st.

The Saint Side event brings together Americana, west coast, custom and vintage lifestyles, for a truly unique experience. Mark and the team have been slaving away behind the scenes to make this years show an absolute hit.
With new clothing being released monthly Australia’s favorite streetwear boutique Saint Side is soon becoming a household name. It is by far one of the most well loved shows of the year and we cannot wait for next years show.
Thanks for stopping by,
Grant

Reviewed :: New-look Toyota 86

Grant — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 06:10:50 +0000

When Toyota invited us to take an extended test drive of the new-look 86 we jumped at the chance! Being a huge fan of the original car and its re-birthed version in 2012 this was a perfect opportunity to see how the car had been improved.

Having driven the previous 86 before we knew what to expect from the car but had things changed? The new-look 86 definitely looks more aggressive. We had 5 days to test and run the car through its paces from taking it to get groceries to spirited driving runs through the hills.

From the outside you can see they have given the front a new treatment; with all round LED lights in the fog lamps, headlights, taillights and an all new indicator position that sits just above the updated front bar.

What you may not notice at first are the small details that have been updated. From the new aluminium spoiler with its flat grey two tone finish to the little logos etched into the side of the headlights. Even the small side vents have been changed in favor of a more sleek look.

The improvements in style and handling are the most evident changes although some interesting features have been added like hill start assist and a built in lap timer.

When you look even closer you will notice the fine detail that has gone into the all new LED taillights that really help the car to stand out. You can see it has taken influences from after market taillights like the very popular Buddy Club LED taillight.

One of the more modern features they have added to the all new look 86 is its new multi information display that is integrated into the existing gauge setup. It’s great to see Toyota putting some effort into bringing more information to the driver. The multi function display lets you see oil and water temp and even battery voltage.

To make things more exciting Toyota has introduced a new button into the cabin. This ‘Track Mode’ button turns half of the stability control system off so you can really enjoy the car in its rawest form as it was intended.

Although everyone is begging for a factory turbo version of the 86 Toyota has instead brought out an even more refined version of the hugely successful 86. It’s widely rumored that Toyota is saving the turbo for a Supra rebirth.

The GTS manual gets a new cast aluminium manifold, polished valve stems, and cam journal plus a slightly revamped air intake which has added a whole lot more low down torque off the line! Enough to throw your shopping around the boot especially if you launch it at the lights.

Unfortunately the automatic version does not get the altered engine and retains the same engine as the previous version of the 86.

Honey I shrunk the kids… I mean steering wheel! Toyota has decided to decrease the size of the steering wheel to an impressive 362mm which make this the smallest production steering wheel in all of Toyota’s vehicles. The only thing that I didn’t like was the entertainment system. Although it was quick to recognize Bluetooth and continue podcasts; it’s cumbersome controls and GPS were old fashioned.

Everything has had a revamp including the wheels! These new-look 17-inch metallic alloys with fancy machine-cut highlights give the car a much needed aggressive look.

The newly added extra welding to the back end of the car helps stiffen the car up and improve response along with the quick steering rack. The car feels super tight and sharp during cornering especially if the car gets a bit tail happy. The quick rack, smaller steering wheel, and stiffer front suspension all combine to give the driver more control when things do go wrong.

Having driven the previous model I’ve noticed that the sound of the all-new 86 is a lot more aggressive and it revs more freely than the previous models! The quick revving nature of engine makes the gear ratios feel shorter which intern makes you feel as though you are going much faster.

So what else have they added? Steering wheel controls have been added on GTS models for that added bit of luxury. Plus a fancy new Grand Luxe’ trim on the instrument panel and door trims that looks and feels like fancy flocking out of a rally car.

After driving this car for a week I really started enjoying the car even more each day. Comfy for the daily commute, yet fun like a gokart, though the suburban sprawl or a thump in the hills.

I really like the newly tuned suspension. It’s soft, yet firm and responsive. It feels almost like coilovers on their soft setting. The new suspension set up really makes the car a joy to drive especially over speed humps.

Overall they have pulled together the best elements of the 86. Toyota further improved the car by making it look more bold but kept an elegant take on balance and performance.
All in all this is one of the best 86s ever produced and the 2017 new-look 86 is a true pleasure to drive. Not only does it put a smile on your face every time you drive it but it makes you realize exactly why the Toyota 86 is such a popular car in Australia. Thanks to Toyota Australia for giving us the opportunity to test and review one of their very special cars.
Thanks for reading,
Grant