TRD supercharger program discontinued indefinitely

[paddlenbike]

End of an era. Love the supercharger.

June 6, 2015
One of the outstanding questions for Toyota Racing Development fans has been answered with Toyota announcing it will discontinue its TRD supercharger assembly and component parts, effective immediately.

In an emailed statement, Toyota Midwest spokesman Rick Bourgoise said the supercharger was discontinued for a variety of factors.

"Increasing legacy costs associated with the recalibration of an expanding pool of past model year vehicles, along with rising development/engineering expenses and evolving emissions requirements have negatively impacted the program's return on investment to the point where it is no longer financially viable to offer these products for sale," Bourgoise said in the email.

He also said Toyota plans to sell all existing supercharger stock; once the supply is exhausted Toyota will no longer offer a supercharger kit.

This news isn't a big surprise since the writing has been on the wall for a while. The TRD supercharger was noticeably absent on the TRD Pro lineup and when the 2014 Toyota Tundra was unveiled.

Also, Toyota buyers have had an ongoing issue with flex-fuel capable trucks. Due to the way these truck engines are built, the TRD supercharger isn't compatible.

[Seanz0rz]

Sad day.

[Kryptoroxx]

It is a sad day. The supercharger was a great piece that TRD developed.

I couldn't have gotten one anyway. There is an alpine supercharger available but the juice isn't worth the squeeze on the 3rz. That thing is made for turbo.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

[paddlenbike]

I bought my charger new in 2011 when I got word from a friend at Toyota that there were less than thirty 3.4L superchargers in stock worldwide. I think TRD did another run of them after that time, but that may have been the last.

If you've ever looked under the plastic cover of a new Tacoma or 4Runner, the motors look really complex (and not very aesthetically pleasing, lol) compared to the old 3.4. I haven't seen the new 3.5L V6 yet, but it's even more complicated so I can understand why Toyota decided not to invest the time and money into supercharger R&D.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/attachments/sparkplugchange007-jpg.92162/

vs

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V5IwOIbkMLw/UJsQNai2VNI/AAAAAAAAHh0/dyk07l4fnag/s800/SC34.jpg

[YotaFun]

Well I guess the hunt is on for some money to buy one before they all disappear....

I am curious what TRD is going to do now for performance, The FR-S well at least the Subaru version BRZ is looking like it may get a turbo charger....

[paddlenbike]

I wonder if the remaining stock will be sold at a discount or a premium.

[4x4mike]

I'm thinking a premium.

I wouldn't be surprised if they refocus their resources towards turbo charging.

[paddlenbike]

Toyota just seems to be going the opposite direction from what interests me. All of their fun little cars are gone, their sedans lack any character or driving experience, and their trucks and SUVs have just gotten huge and uninspiring. Everything has the ugly shark mouth. They refuse to make electric vehicles, instead they focus on awful-to-drive hybrids with CVT transmissions and hydrogen-fool cell vehicles. Technology-wise, they are way behind companies like Ford, using aluminum bodies, ecoboost turbocharging, etc. Now the last remaining exciting thing, the TRD superchargers, are going away.

Toyota has built some of the best engines in the world. They were using port injection, double overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder back in mid-80s when American cars were still carbureted. And they built some beautiful engines.

1968 M Engine:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6056784403_08a66bb88a.jpg

MR2 supercharged, mid-80s
http://assets.hemmings.com/story_image/379111-1000-0.jpg?rev=2

1983 Supra:
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u164/AJ9o4/CallawayTrbo.jpg

Even the 3.4 is a good looking engine:
http://toyotanews.pressroom.toyota.com/images/toyota/photo//1998001_1996_4Runner_3.4L_V6_engine-prv.jpg

And from the same era, here's what a 1998 Ford Explorer engine looked like: ugliness
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a204/claytondean/IMG_1231.jpg

Now in 2014, here's the ugliness that is the 4.0 1GR V6 (under the plastic engine cover):
https://www.tacomaworld.com/attachments/sparkplugchange007-jpg.92162/

While Ford is making beautys like this:
http://image.automotive.com/f/news/2015-ford-mustang-engine-bay-revealed-118163/56993120+w968/engine-bay-2012-ford-mustang.jpg

I will miss the TRD supercharger program. I miss Toyota's previous over-engineering too, those days are over.

[Seanz0rz]

The Camry is such a snooze fest that I bought a ford instead.

[Kryptoroxx]

The Camry is such a snooze fest that I bought a ford instead.
While I agree the Camry is kind of a snoozer I dunno whether I'm ready to jump ship yet on Toyota.

Then again I'm still so far from having the ability to buy a new off the lot vehicle it doesn't matter anyway lol.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

[paddlenbike]

I have owned nothing but Toyotas as my last five vehicles (not counting the leased Leaf) and didn't so much as even consider a Toyota when we were looking for a car for my wife.

[paddlenbike]

Sounds like the guys on [another forum] are buying up superchargers left and right. LINK (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/198494-3rd-gen-trd-sc-discontinued-toyota-june-30th-2015-a-3.html)

[4x4mike]

I have owned nothing but Toyotas as my last five vehicles (not counting the leased Leaf)

**Cough Cough**

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2UXG8Z7UcE/VXn98prjJYI/AAAAAAABFPg/9kLuts69rEs/s800/IMAG1256.jpg

Oh look, a squirrel.

[paddlenbike]

Jerk. I had successfully blocked that POS from my mind.

[Seanz0rz]

That's what I was thinking... That Volvo is still more interesting than the Camry

[YotaFun]

Only because it had so many write-ups on all the work he had to do to it lol!!!

[fenrisx]

That's a bummer. I wouldn't buy one for my 4Runner at this stage in its life... but still a bummer to see that program going away.

I share the same sentiment as a few of you on here. I don't think my next vehicle will be Toyota. The only one I'd consider would be the current gen 4Runner. Well, I do like that Corolla* with the hood scoop and big wing.. I think it's called the STi?

[paddlenbike]

Only because it had so many write-ups on all the work he had to do to it lol!!!

That car had a new problem each week. The old 240/740/940 Volvos were very high quality, but anything newer than those old RWD models are just garbage.

[YotaFun]

That car had a new problem each week. The old 240/740/940 Volvos were very high quality, but anything newer than those old RWD models are just garbage.

I agree, that was Volvos I don't care years I feel like, they have really come around recently with some of there models

[CJM]

Well that sucks. Since I got my GMC ive been happy with it but I always have a sweet spot for Toyota. I had been thinking sometime down the road I could find me an older pick up or 84-89 4Runner and swap 3.4L in and supercharge it..oh well.

[garrett]

So is this thing back??

https://trdparts4u.toyotaofdallas.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=-10721

http://www.lceperformance.com:80/Supercharger-Assembly-3-4L-5VZFE-p/7015249-1.htm

[Bob98SR5]

Garrett,

Good find. Yeah interesting question. I wonder if they decided there was still lingering demand or if this is stock they foudn from somewhere.

Bob

[paddlenbike]

Magnuson has always made the housing for TRD while Eaton makes the blower. TRD just no longer sells it in-house and apparently the rights have been transferred to Magnuson.

To answer your text Bob, since you have a 5-speed all you need is the charger and the URD 7th injector kit. Some people get by without the 7th, but my truck needed it.

[mastacox]

I just got my supercharger rebuilt by Magnuson about 2 weeks ago, their customer service seems as good as ever. This go around they replaced everything including the rotors so it ended up being about $1200 but that gave me essentially a brand-new supercharger after the rebuild.

After this rebuild the 4Runner is finally running at reasonable performance again (for a vehicle with 217,000 miles), the MAP-ECU3 has made all the difference. If I could only talk to myself back in 2006 and tell me not to go with the FTC1-E...

[mastacox]

You can buy the "formerly TRD" supercharger straight from Magnuson also: http://www.magnusonproducts.com/p-148-toyota-34l-v6-supercharger-system.aspx