[Ryan]

So the GR branding in general interests me.....Will we be saying "Good-bye!" to TRD branding soon. We see GR creeping into North American racing with the NHRA while TRD is still present in NASCAR. We did not see GR on the Xfinity Supra last year, bur we do this year. We now have three GR offerings on our showroom floors. So, whatcha think....Are the days numbered for TRD branding?

 

[Jeonsa]

So the GR branding in general interests me.....Will we be saying "Good-bye!" to TRD branding soon. We see GR creeping into North American racing with the NHRA while TRD is still present in NASCAR. We did not see GR on the Xfinity Supra last year, bur we do this year. We now have three GR offerings on our showroom floors. So, whatcha think....Are the days numbered for TRD branding?

TRD branding so far is just on trucks/SUVs due to their popularity. Who knows.

I think Akio wants to phase out TRD but it all depends.

 

[Ryan]

TRD branding so far is just on trucks/SUVs due to their popularity. Who knows.

I think Akio wants to phase out TRD but it all depends.

Don't forget about the Camry TRD....... Just can't see the two brands co-existing. Bob Carter (North American Toyota exec) said that he felt they could, but I don't know.

 

[Jeonsa]

Don't forget about the Camry TRD....... Just can't see the two brands co-existing. Bob Carter (North American Toyota exec) said that he felt they could, but I don't know.

Well Camry TRD isn’t as popular as the off road offerings. I think it’s on its last leg.

if Toyota came back out with another ice FJ Cruiser and called it the GR Cruiser or something, a lot of trail heads would get on board.

but you also have those soccer moms that think TRD is pinnacle trim for their daily driving needs. They might get confused 😂

 

[Guff]

So, during the keynote for the GRC, Mike Tripp was sure to mention that Gazoo Racing would become the brand for anything that was track racing/sports car adjacent. And TRD would be just for trucks. We've seen this trend over the last few years, and I think they're slowly adjusting branding across their different platforms as time goes on.

 

[Squatting Pigeon]

They did do a GR Hilux 🤔

 

[Ryan]

So, during the keynote for the GRC, Mike Tripp was sure to mention that Gazoo Racing would become the brand for anything that was track racing/sports car adjacent. And TRD would be just for trucks. We've seen this trend over the last few years, and I think they're slowly adjusting branding across their different platforms as time goes on.

Just went through the video, and didn't see/hear that, but that is what I am hearing in talking to enthusiasts at my dealership.

 

[NARFALICIOUS]

I think the TRD name is too important and too recognized in the truck line to be discontinued. As long as the TRD grades provide a tangible difference in features to the other grades in a model's lineup, it'll continue to be successful and it'd be foolish to try to do away with it.

 

[007]

GR branding makes more sense to me.

It’s sort of like AMG or ///M, where you have a regular 3 series, then m340i, and then real M car as just M3 and M3 CS.

I know it’s not exactly the same, but now we have: Yaris, Yaris GR Sport, Yaris GR, and Yaris GRMN.

 

[Wynorrific]

Don't forget about the Camry TRD....... Just can't see the two brands co-existing. Bob Carter (North American Toyota exec) said that he felt they could, but I don't know.

The Camry is on its way to a refresh so they'll probably change it from the TRD to something else

 

[Ryan]

GR branding makes more sense to me.

It’s sort of like AMG or ///M, where you have a regular 3 series, then m340i, and then real M car as just M3 and M3 CS.

I know it’s not exactly the same, but now we have: Yaris, Yaris GR Sport, Yaris GR, and Yaris GRMN.

I started the thread with the same thinking. Why would you not turn everything GR?....I feel like it is inevitable...

 

[luluna]

They made a pretty big deal during the GRC reveal about the GR badge being earned - I get the sense that they don't want to dilute the GR branding too much. Or maybe that's just fancy marketing, lol.

 

[NARFALICIOUS]

The Camry is on its way to a refresh so they'll probably change it from the TRD to something else

I could see the Camry getting rid of TRD but not adding a GR. In my opinion, that'd devalue the GR brand if they didn't actually inject it with some added performance.

 

[Wynorrific]

Like they've said and luluna said, the GR badge is earned here so far. I could see them just putting the "Apex" name on the Camry to match branding they already have

 

[Jeonsa]

Like they've said and luluna said, the GR badge is earned here so far. I could see them just putting the "Apex" name on the Camry to match branding they already have

What they need to do is come out with a Apex Corolla worthy of fighting a Si.

Just keep the NA 4 and add AWD to the car. lol

 

[underscore]

It'll start off strong and then eventually be like TRD where if you buy an exhaust tip for your base model they take the badge off and slap a TRD badge on.

That made buying a used Matrix a nightmare lol.

 

[Veloist]

GR Sport will likely be the replacement for TRD-trim levels/editions.

 

[KanmuriDavid]

I'd like to point out that the TRD and GR branding do coexist together in the Japanese market. However, they have different roles.

GR branding is a factory trim level typically, as Veloist indicated above. The TRD branding, on the other hand, is exclusively for the aftermarket. TRD is more like a factory aftermarket brand in Japan.

A perfect example of this is the TRD aftermarket kit for the GR Yaris, which is obviously a GR branded product:

However, it is important to note that the TRD brand has become more synonymous with off-roading in the US, so I am not sure how the brand will be used in North America going forward.

Another example of a factory aftermarket brand by Toyota is Modellista. I don't imagine a Modellista kit will come out for the GR Corolla because it is more viewed as a luxury, VIP-style kit.

 

[qtb007]

Toyota would be insane to drop the TRD brand on the trucks/SUVs. I have a 2016 4Runner Trail Edition. It made up like 5-10% of the model mix. In 2017 they renamed the Trail Edition as TRD Off Road... bam, it was suddenly 40% of the model mix. Brand equity is a real thing and GR means absolutely nothing to truck and SUV buyers. Plus there is no reason that they couldn't add a TRD handling package to the GR Corolla, GR 86, and GR Supra. I welcome the crazy model names. Give me that Toyota GR Corolla Master Blade TRD EVOII! 🤣

 

[ccrook06]

Toyota would be insane to drop the TRD brand on the trucks/SUVs. I have a 2016 4Runner Trail Edition. It made up like 5-10% of the model mix. In 2017 they renamed the Trail Edition as TRD Off Road... bam, it was suddenly 40% of the model mix. Brand equity is a real thing and GR means absolutely nothing to truck and SUV buyers. Plus there is no reason that they couldn't add a TRD handling package to the GR Corolla, GR 86, and GR Supra. I welcome the crazy model names. Give me that Toyota GR Corolla Master Blade TRD EVOII! 🤣

I remember that, really good move on Toyotas part.

And if TRD were dropped, what kind of wheels would SR5 owners put on their 4runners??