End Of TRD Era On Crossover, Toyota Returns Original Identity Of Performance Division

Toyota ensures that the legendary TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance label will no longer be used on crossover cars or monobok-structured models. The Japanese automaker insists that the TRD badge will remain exclusive to body-on-frame-based vehicles such as trucks and true SUVs.

According to Toyota's official statement quoted from CarBuzz, Friday, October 17, this decision is based on differences in technical characters between monobok vehicles and body-on-frames. Monobok models, such as modern crossovers, are designed more for efficiency and comfort, while TRDs are developed to support extreme performance and resilience in heavy terrain.

"If the vehicle does not use a body-on-frame structure, then you will not see the TRD emblem in it," said a Toyota representative.

This statement confirms that TRD is not just a performance package, but a performance identity attached to a tough vehicle. With this step, Toyota strives to maintain the exclusivity of TRD so that it remains a symbol of true performance, not just a sports style accessory.

Even so, crossovers such as Toyota Corolla Cross, C-HR, or similar models are likely to still get a variant with a dynamic look, but without the name TRD. This policy is also a new signal of Toyota's product strategy in the global market.

Instead of attaching a TRD emblem to each model, Toyota now seems to want to focus the image of TRD only on vehicles with DNA toughness, such as Tacoma, Hilux, or 4Runner.

Thus, this decision is not just a cosmetic change, but part of Toyota's great strategy in maintaining the original meaning of TRD, as a symbol of high performance and durability in all terrains.