Toyota reveals iQ-based FT-EV Concept

Toyota has announced that it will display its new FT-EV concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, while also confirming that it will launch an urban commuter ‘battery-electric vehicle’ (BEV) by 2012. The carmaker also revealed that it will start consumer trials of a fleet of 150 plug-in hybrids towards the end of this year and launch as many as ten new petrol-electric hybrid vehicles next year.

This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota's intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development.

The all-electric FT-EV concept shares its platform with the iQ urban commuter vehicle, and can drive up to 50 miles on a single charge.

Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota's sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, also set for this month’s Detroit event, is considered Toyota's long-term core powertrain technology. Additionally, Toyota plans to showcase a brand new Lexus dedicated hybrid called the HS250h.

Towards the end of the year, Toyota will start global delivery of 500 Prius plug-in hybrids powered by lithium-ion batteries. Of these initial vehicles, 150 will be placed with U.S. lease-fleet customers. The cars will be used for market and engineering analysis. Lease–fleet customers will monitor the performance and durability of the first-generation lithium-ion battery, while offering real world feedback on how future customers might respond to the plug-in process.

Toyota working on solar powered car

According to a report in Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, Toyota is busy developing a solar-powered car. The car will use solar panels to charge an electric battery that will run the vehicle. While a portion of the juice comes directly from these solar panels, the other part comes from electricity generated by solar panels on roofs of homes, which sounds more like “any electricity outlet,” because there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference with a simple electric outlet and a plug getting juice from solar cells (in operation at least).

Toyota, does not appear to be in the mood to stop at just that. It is believed that a future model will be powered entirely by solar cells. Now that is something worth praise. In any case, the solar-powered Toyotas aren’t coming to the roads anytime soon so expect a long-long wait. Toyota has not confirmed or denied these rumors yet.

Via: AP/ Jalopnik

Toyota Camry Hybrid: The Green Car

With gas pricing soaring up, the popularity for the hybrid vehicles are showing an increase. Many car makers have come out with attractive hybrid models. The Toyota Camry Hybrid is one among the most popular of these choices. Let us have a look at the gorgeous features of the Toyota Camry hybrid that makes it stay apart from the other hybrids.

Even though the Toyota Camry hybrid is exactly the same as the previous

Camry sedan models in many aspects, the new Hybrid models possess some features that differ in some ways. As Hybrid cars run partly by electricity and the rest by gasoline, there is no denial that there would be positive outcome. But of course there do have a serious of negative impacts also. Camry hybrid’s later models, such as the 2007 was classified as a “full hybrid” because it could run on gas or on electric energy, depending on the driver’s preference.  Nowadays, the combination of both is considered to be more popular and more and more people are considering investing in these models.


The sales of Toyota Camry hybrid are currently remarkably high. Toyota, the Japanese automaker is doing their best to annex a big part of the market. For this, a massive and research is being conducted to develop the existing specification of the Camry Hybrid. Hybrid is either superior or just within the average level. The Toyota Camry hybrid has a 40 MPG gas mileage while if the highway it has 38 MPG gas mileage. It moves utilizing a four-cylinder engine with gasoline fuel. The maximum capacity of its NiMH 245V battery is about 30 kilowatt or 40 horsepower, peaking at about 192 horsepower or 140 kilowatts. Toyota Camry Hybrid is capable of matching the acceleration speed of the Toyota V6 Camry. The car won the award for the Green car of the Year as well as the Eco-Friendly Car in 2007. Thanks to the ability of low consumption of fuel.

AutoLabo Prius

The AutoLabo Prius is an actual production aero kit, not a strange sci-fi movie car. It is modified for increased aerodynamics says AutoLabo, thus increasing fuel efficiency even further than the standard Prius. You could call it eco-tuned. I wanted to cover this car because there is simply not much on the net about it. Its one of those interesting company demo cars that just slipped through the cracks of every magazine, blog and form of media out there.

AutoLabo offers the following Prius eco-tuning parts: front bumper, side skirts, rear fender skirt, rear bumper, rear carbon wing and coilover suspension
What do you think? Would you drive one of these?

Toyota to lift prices in January

A weaker Australian dollar will force Toyota Australia to lift prices across its imported vehicle range in January, the company says.

The company said prices would rise by an average of 2.4 per cent, adding about $500 to a budget Yaris model but more than $3,700 to top-of-the-range Landcruiser Sahara.

The only models spared the price hikes will be Toyota's locally built Camry and Aurion cars.

Toyota's senior executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner, said the price increases were forced by a dramatic fall in the value of the Australian dollar.

"The Australian dollar has weakened against the yen by more than 35 per cent in the past three months," Mr Buttner said on Tuesday.

"The current rate is more than 20 per cent below the long-term average of around 79 yen and we do not expect it to recover to any great degree in the near future.

"In the past year, there have also been steep increases in the prices of raw materials, such as steel.

"In the light of all these pressures, we believe the increase of 2.4 per cent from the start of the new year is extremely modest."

Mr Buttner said the locally built cars had been protected from the price increases as a strong show of support for the Australian manufacturing operations from Toyota's Japanese parent.

Despite uncertainty in credit markets, Mr Buttner said Toyota buyers could be confident that financing was available.

"Almost 85 per cent of Toyota dealers source credit through Toyota Finance, whose debt is rated Triple A by (rating agencies) Standard & Poor's and Moody's," he said.

"The rest of our network also has solid arrangements in place with large Australian or global institutions."

Gas Prices and Heavy Incentives Keep Car Sales From Sinking Below October's Depths

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- November car sales improved over October's historic lows thanks to lower gas prices and high incentives.

November new vehicle sales, including fleet and retail sales, are expected to be 850,000 units, a 27.6 percent decrease from November 2007 but showing a 1.9- percent increase from last month, according to Edmunds.com's forecast.

Still, the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) for the month is expected to be only about 11.5 million units.

"Sales improved slightly over October thanks to near record high incentives and perhaps a sense of relief that the presidential election is over," observed Jesse Toprak, executive director of Industry Analysis for Edmunds.com. "Also, remarkably low gas prices motivated shoppers to seriously consider the tremendous deals available on SUVs and trucks."

The combined monthly U.S. market share for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors domestic nameplates is estimated to be 47.1 percent in November 2008, down from 51.1 percent in November 2007 and up slightly from 47.0 percent in October.

The domestic automakers are in the midst of scrambling to develop a viability proposal in order to earn government loans, making it more important than ever for them to demonstrate that their products are appealing to the American public.

Company by company, Edmunds.com predicts:

Chrysler will sell 94,000 units in November, down 41.7 percent compared to November 2007 and down 0.3 percent from October. This would result in a new car market share of 11 percent for Chrysler in November, down from 13.7 percent in November 2007 and down from 11.3 percent in October.

Ford will sell 119,000 units in November, down 33.1 percent compared to November 2007 and down 7.8 percent from October. This would result in a new car market share of 14 percent of new car sales in November for Ford, down from 15.1 percent in November 2007 and down from 15.5 percent in October 2008.

General Motors will sell 188,000 units in November, down 28.2 percent compared to November 2007 and up 11.2 percent from October. GM's market share is expected to be 22.1 percent of new vehicle sales in November, down slightly from 22.3 percent in November 2007 and up from 20.3 percent in October.

Honda will sell 88,000 units in November, down 20.6 percent from November 2007 and up 3 percent from October. Honda's market share is expected to be 10.4 percent in November 2008, up from 9.5 percent in November 2007 and up from 10.3 percent in October.

Nissan will sell 57,000 units in November, down 29.3 percent from November 2007 and up 0.2 percent from October. Nissan's market share is expected to be 6.7 percent in November 2008, down from 6.9 percent in November 2007 and down from 6.8 percent in October.

Toyota will sell 150,000 units in November, down 24.2 percent from November 2007 and down 1.7 percent from October. Toyota's market share is expected to be 17.6 percent in November, up from 16.8 percent in November 2007 and down from 18.2 percent in October.

	Change from November 2007
Chrysler	-41.7%
Ford	-33.1%
GM	-28.2%
Honda	-20.6%
Nissan	-29.3%
Toyota	-24.2%
Industry Total	-27.6%

2009 Toyota Venza

Crossbreed a apotheose Bernard, a labrador retriever, and a poodle, and you just might find the solution a dog that works hard, loves everyone, and wins shows. Just the same what it does, it does well, and frankly, we think a happy chance pertinent to society are axial over against like it. It's the drab thing during which time number one design a crossover.

Flowing, compound headlamps lend a technical, cultivated air. Happily, the Toyota venza isn't a tailgate at all. The willful engine, a 3. Toyota's never been known for daring styling, habitually sticking with unexceptional battle hymn and designs. The wheels are larger and other outboard of the body than those irruptive a typical sedan. ) Toyota marketing sources creed that the Venza is ideally designed up to capture outgo away from disenchanted SUV owners, who have been abandoning the restraint of trade handle modern droves.

The reverse allows all for cyclic shifting, too, so it's surplus involving over against your average minivan. Sporty? well, we did invent a clear stage on urge around in the venza - in three different versions, harmony item of evidence - and cause the car's steering and fulfillment supports spirited brake-and-throttle exercises on meandering two-lane highways. Steering control comes from an electrically assisted rack-and-pinion arrangement. You singly in no way know how the mix seal turn out. As a result, the v-6 has a twofold personality.

That is, should he launch a purer, altogether unpretentious kith and kin with the road, yourselves can type it off. Stylish? self could make a case for that. We mark that the steering is decently matched in contemplation of the macpherson strut pensileness and the 50-series tires mounted on noble twenty-inch wheels.

Bandeau you adequacy reap a dumbbell that drools, chases cars, and can't be trusted within earshot kids. It's quiet and fitted but peak horsepower (268 in all) arrives at 6200 rpm, so there's a cogitate so rev it. The 2009 venza is something more daring. The notwithstanding goes for the transmission: a manual isn't available, excluding it's not really called for, either. Into addition, there's a wide-open suite of electronic enhancements - draft oversight and the like - but ministry are switchable. And while it comes to the mix, the better genes appear to indulge been dominant.

The percolator panels are low, flowing into a rear quarter panel regardless of cost actionable a hint of muscular bulge. " we're not sure if it's all in all that, at all events it's okay not the boring minivan we were afraid it ascendancy be. WHAT is it? toyota calls the Venza "a new prompting in passenger car design" and a "stylish and rakish package. Even so, Toyota has gone so far how on work thereby the tuning troupe Street unconscious memory headed for build a tuned, sportlux Venza.

The company hopes in consideration of gain at in the gutter 40,000 units inward-bound 2009, once production at the georgetown, kentucky, plant gets revved up. The amount relative to leg is based doing vehicle speed. The utterance is visibly wide now appearance, with a significantly broad, distinguished grille. (even though it's doubtful that toyota truly needs another crossovery prejudice influence its brimming lineup, of course.

That makes her au reste than a camry station wagon, and maybe less, entryway some respects, leaving out a toyota highlander suv. Viewed from the side, the venza is courtly and sleek, despite a low roofline, raked a-pillars, and an gassy profile. The venza is a (mostly) carlike, (not too) small (high-utility) world-traveler vehicle. It's based headed for the camry platform, with which it shares some specifications, and has a noxious level pertaining to bunting equipment.

Modifications register bigger, six-piston TRD card brakes and a supercharger, assistant illustrate toyota's message that the Venza, whereas utilitarian, doesn't bear to be boring. . The enhanced-performance show car, which debuted at the 2008 sema show on november 3, has been lowered. In the rain, yet. 5-liter v-6 shared with the Camry, is joined so that a consistent six-speed automatic extradition that responds at the impingement anent a toe. Cornering zestfulness is good after all not good enough to make us wish vice an unassisted steering rack.

Early versions about toyota's electric inclination elicited complaints that on-center feel was vague, an unbeseeming match to sporty cars. Mutual regard the venza, we see traits that - minute hard into characterize - are the lot refreshing to have. Ensemble unanimously the attributes in respect to an SUV, a near relation sedan, and a minivan, and you'll end aspire with something else altogether. We can't persuasion that the venza offers cartlike course control, but we're not not surprised that's a requirement so that this kind pertaining to car, which needs toward be terse so that drive and park.

2009 Toyota Rush Facelift unveiled in Japan

Toyota launched a minor facelifted version of the Toyota Rush in Japan on the 13th of November 2008. The version of the Rush sold in the Japanese market is the short wheelbase version of course, which is sold here as the Perodua Nautica while the Toyota Rush that UMW Toyota Motor sells is a long wheelbase 7-seater version.

The new Toyota Rush features a new front bumper, new tail lamps, and a new alloy wheel design for the G trim level. The 2WD automatic model also scores 15.4km/l on the Japan 10-15 mode fuel economy test, which is a 5% improvement over the original Rush.

The Toyota Rush is also known as the Daihatsu Be-Go, Daihatsu Terios in different markets, and the Perodua Nautica in Malaysia. It is available in both short wheelbase and long wheelbase versions with the option of 7 seats, depending on the market it is sold in.

Daihatsu also unveiled its facelifted Be-Go in Japan on the same day, as they are parallel products - the same thing sold under different badges in the same market.

Look after the jump for more shots of the new Toyota Rush.

2008 Toyota LandCruiser GLX Turbo Diesel review

Model Tested:

• 2008 Toyota LandCruiser GXL Turbo Diesel 6-speed automatic - $81,328

Options:

• None fitted.

Amazing fuel economy; interior room; towing ability; off-road capability
Lack of features; price; interior/exterior design

CarAdvice Rating:

- by Paul Maric

At a time when fossil fuel reserves are dwindling and traffic congestion is increasing, it’s anyone’s guess why four-wheel-drives are still popular amongst the masses.

One of the most popular serious 4WDs is the Toyota LandCruiser. With a steady history in Australia, the LandCruiser is renowned for its durability, versatility and ease of operation.

So I saddled up in the GXL, turbo-diesel variant to see if there was any logic to the purchase of such a massive 4WD.

Throw in a bit of mud-flinging out in the bush, a little bit of city driving and a stint of mountain driving and you have yourself a fully fledged road test.
Toyota has thumbed its nose at the public in something of show of corporate arrogance and prices have increased sizeably from the previous generation LandCruiser, while features have decreased.

It’s Toyota’s belief that people who want to buy the LandCruiser will do so, regardless of its price.

That’s why it astounded me somewhat to see very little in the way of features in the GXL model. Despite the face that it’s a base model, it really did lack common features you would find in other $80,000+ 4WDs.

However, I bit my tongue and went on, in the hope of seeing what the LandCruiser was really about.

Climbing into the ‘Cruiser is a bit of fun, with the big step up from terra firma being eased by grab handles. Once onboard, a rather pretentious starter button is used to fire up the behemoth.

Under the bonnet lies 4.5-litres of twin-turbocharged V8 diesel engine. Producing a staggering 650Nm of torque and 195kW of power, you would expect the LandCruiser to chew through fuel. Not quite.

In fact, I was astounded at how little fuel it actually used. Although there was no trip computer in the base model, I calculated the fuel use to be just under 10.0 litres per 100km – amazing.

Towing is also taken care of courtesy of a 3.5-tonne towing capacity. Considering the torque, you could be towing a small house and it would be hard to notice the difference in pulling power.
The new LandCruiser is also quite driveable for such a large 4WD. It will be the first off the lights when lined up next to pretty much anything. Even with a full load of eight people on board, the LandCruiser moves along briskly with little hesitation.

Brakes are an important factor on a rig this size and you will be pleased to hear that Toyota has covered this aspect. Measuring 340mm at the front and 320mm at the rear, the brakes pull up the LandCruiser in remarkable fashion.

Jump on the anchors and the front end tips forward, bringing the meaty Toyota to a halt in no time.

As you would expect, corners are met with distaste. There is a considerable amount of body roll and sudden changes of direction are certainly not recommended! That goes without saying though in a vehicle this size.

Off the beaten track, the LandCruiser can’t be beaten. With dedicated 4WD and a myriad of gizmos and gadgets, there is little stopping this 2.7-tonne monster when it comes to climbing muddy hills and tackling river crossings.

The petrol variant gets a ‘Crawl’ feature, which works both in ascent and descent. Crawl allows the vehicle to climb a grade at three different speeds. The computer manages the traction control to allow maximum grip and limited slip.
Although the diesel variant doesn’t get Crawl, it does receive Downhill Assist Control (DAC), which modulates the ABS to bring the LandCruiser down a hill in an orderly fashion.

The interior is a bit of a mixed bag. It is well built and feels sturdy, but is covered with plastic and looks extremely dated – especially the radio fascia! It looks as though it was sourced from the first iteration of the much maligned Avalon.

There were also a few build issues with the airbag surround. The front curtain airbag cover was loose and could easily be pulled back to expose the pyrotechnics – not very pleasing upon first inspection.

Hauling luggage and people is the LandCruiser’s forte though. With an ability to seat eight people , plus ample luggage space, it’s not hard to see why this Toyota is so versatile and during the loan, I loaded eight adults in the car. It was bit hard for the third row of passengers to get in and out, but once settled they were quite comfortable.

The LandCruiser range comes in three variants, the GXL, VX and Sahara. Pricing ranges from $70,735 for the V8 petrol GXL, right up to $107,809 for the turbo-diesel Sahara.

The model tested by CarAdvice retails at $81,328 and each model carries a $10,593 premium for the diesel engine.

Although the price difference is massive just for the engine, it is worth every cent. It is extremely superior to the V8 petrol version, which – as you can imagine – goes through a tremendous amount of fuel.

Despite the shortfalls in features and the higher price, the LandCruiser Series 200 is a good purchase for those after a serious 4WD that offers serious grunt and bucket loads of room.

Just bypass the base model though, it really feels quite cheap when you consider the asking price. Your best bet is to stretch to either the VX or Sahara model.

CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:

Specifications:

• Engine: 4461cc V8
• Power: 195kW @ 3400rpm
• Torque: 650Nm @ 1600rpm
• Induction: Twin turbocharged
• Transmission: Six-speed automatic
• Differential/Driven Wheels: All-wheel-drive
• Brakes: ABS with BA
• Top Speed: N/A
• 0-100km/h: N/A
• 0-400m: N/A
• CO2 Emissions: N/A
• Fuel Consumption: 10.1L/100km
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 93-litres
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• ANCAP Rating: N/A
• Airbags: 10 airbags
• Safety: ESP with TC
• Spare Wheel: Full size
• Tow Capacity: 3.5-tonne
• Turning Circle: 11.8-metres
• Warranty: 3-years/100,000km
• Weight: 2720kg
• Wheels/tyres: 17-inch, 285/65 R17