Archive for Toyota

Toyota F1’s race at the Abu Dhabi GP is apparently their last, as strong and intense rumours point to a Toyota board meeting to be held on the 15th of November to come to a conclusion that the company should leave the sport. We could actually know the outcome as early as 8th November 2009.

If Toyota really leaves the sport, this would open a grid position for then new Qadbak Sauber team, the team that used to be the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Toyota was supplying F1 engines to Williams this year but Williams will go with Cosworth engines next year.

Another Japanese company also announced it would be leaving F1 recently. Tyre supplier Bridgestone has announced it will leave at the end of next year’s season to focus its resources on other development. Bridgestone has been the sole supplier of F1 tyres for the past 2 years, and have been a supplier since 1997.

As for Kobayashi who was standing in for Timo Glock who has a back injury, the promising driver says he would most probably have to go back to Japan to work for his father’s sushi restaurant. Maybe he can build the business and then recruit all the chop shop owners here that will be out of a job soon.

The new Toyota Mark X’s Mazda-like wheel arches are even more obvious in real life than in photos. Toyota has basically taken the existing Mark X design and literally did a facelift on it, seemingly stretching the front design outwards and upwards.

As for the rear end, the car’s bangle butt design has been toned down a little and the tail lamp design now stretches onto the car’s bootlid. Kinda reminds me of the Sylphy really. Look after the jump for more live photos of the Mark X at Tokyo 2009.

Click here to read the rest of Tokyo 2009: New Toyota Mark X

Apart from unveiling the highly anticipated FT-86 concept, Toyota also revealed the FT-EV II concept at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. The all-electric concept features a lithium-ion battery that enables the concept to deliver over 90 kilometers with a full charge. It also has a top speed of 100 km/h. The zero emissions vehicle has no steering wheel or foot pedals, instead it has only two control levers which are used to control the car.

There is also an enhanced communications system that enables the linking of the driver’s information to a network, that can allow the vehicle to connect with services beyond car navigation such as recommending information tailored to the driver’s preferences and downloading music and movie content.

The concept can also connect to home networks to help store energy and save large volumes of data. According to the auto maker, “The FT-EV II is not simply an electric vehicle designed for a post-fossil fuel era, but is a sustainable concept car that focuses on the relationship between cars, people and society of the future.” Look for more live images of the FT-EV II after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota FT-EV II concept: Live images from Tokyo

Perhaps considered as one of the most anticipated reveals at Tokyo 2009, the FT-86 Concept (”86″ pronounced “hachi roku”) is one vehicle many of us are eager to see on our roads. The good news is that the production version is already being developed as it was recently seen lapping around the Nurburgring circuit.

The rear wheel drive FT-86 Concept is powered by a 2.0 liter D-4S boxer engine that is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately the automaker has yet to release official output figures so your guess is as good as mine. Speculators are looking at a horsepower figure between 160hp and 200hp.

The concept that measures 4,160mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,260mm high with a wheelbase of 2,570mm also features ADVICS brakes. Inside, the 2+2 concept features an instrument panel with a gray and white base, gauges with red neon lights and digital displays as well as a navigation system.

Subaru will also produce its own version of the FT-86 and there is also word that an STI version may join the line up as well. The STI variant could produce about 250hp.

Continue reading to more live images.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota FT-86: live from the Tokyo Motor Show

Just hours after showing you a leaked brochure of the Lexus HS250h-based Toyota SAI Hybrid, we now have official information about new hybrid sedan as Toyota has just officially unveiled it. Compared its Lexus counterpart, the SAI has a slightly different front end with restyled headlights, hood, front bumper as well as a reworked grille.

At the rear, the only difference is the reworked tailights. On the side profile, the side windows on the rear doors have been reshaped. Inside, the Sai looks a little different thanks to a new instrument panel, revised air vents on the dashboard as well as a different steering wheel.

As expected, the front wheels are motivated by the same drivetrain found in the HS250h. The THS II system is primarily made up by a 2AZ-FXE 2.4 liter Atkinson-cycle VVTi 4-cylinder petrol unit that is good for 150 PS at 6,000 rpm and 187Nm of torque 4,400 rpm. The engine is coupled with an electric motor that develops 143 PS and 270Nm of torque. The drivetrain produces 190 PS of combined power. Energy is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and the system also features a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Unfortunately the auto maker did not disclose any information pertaining to fuel consumption and performance. The Toyota SAI is available in four trim levels in Japan and is priced between 3,380,000 yen (about RM 126,000) and 4,260,000 yen (about RM 159,000). As reported earlier, Toyota has also made available TRD and Modellista packages for the SAI for those that want their car to look a little different.

For those of you wondering what’s with the name, the name SAI is based on the Japanese word sai—which means “talent” when written as “” and “coloration” when written as ““. Toyota intends for it to “combine advanced talent and multi-color sophistication”.

Continue reading to view an image gallery.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota SAI Hybrid officially unveiled in Japan

What you see above is the Toyota SAI Hybrid sedan that is based on the Lexus HS250h. The SAI Hybrid is treated to a slightly different exterior styling while the interior features a different dashboard and steering wheel compared to the Lexus variant that was unveiled at this year’s Detroit Motor Show.

The new hybrid sedan is scheduled to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show but before that can happen a leaked brochure found its way into the Internet. Under the hood, it is safe to expect the Japanese auto maker to feature the same drivetrain used in the HS250h.

To be more specific, the drivetrain we are talking about is a 150 PS 2.4 liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine with VVTi that is paired with a 143 PS electric motor. The brochure also reveals TRD and Modellista packages for the SAI.

Look for more images after the jump.

Source

Click here to read the rest of Lexus HS250h-based Toyota Sai Hybrid: Leaked brochure

Toyota Motor Corporation has unveiled the redesigned Mark X luxury sedan. The rear wheel drive Mark X is motivated by a new 314 horsepower 2GR-FSE 3.5 liter V6 powerplant that joins the 200 horsepower 4GR-FSE 2.5 liter V6. For the latter, buyers can also opt for an all wheel drive option. Both engines are offered with a 6-speed Super ECT automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is rated at 13.0km/l (10-15 test cycle) for the 2.5 liter V6 (two wheel drive) and 10.2km/l for the 3.5 liter V6.

The new Mark X is 1,435 mm high and both the width and track figures have been increased by 20 mm to help give the car a lower centre of gravity. It is treated to a three-lamp linear layout for the headlights while the rear also features a three-lamp layout with lights built into the trunk lid.

Inside, there is a leather-covered steering wheel, improved seat comfort, driver’s seat with motorized lumbar support function that shifts the seatback forward or back to improve back comfort during driving, a multi-information display, fully automatic independent temperature controls for the driver and passenger sides as well as a Plasmacluster Ions technology that helps combat bacteria.

Furthermore there is a HDD navigation system, Intelligent Parking Assist system and a terrestrial digital TV tuner and gear-shifting functions that are built into the navigation system (for range topping models). According to Toyota, the gear-shifting functions support the driver “in merging and exiting and at intersections.” Also as standard is an Eco Driving Indicator that lights up to signify fuel-efficient operation and an Eco Zone Indicator that shows throttle use.

The auto maker also revealed that the shoulder portion of the door trim for the front and rear seats has been pushed outward by 25 mm (total for left and right) while the distance between the front seats has been increased by 20 mm. The Mark X also has Sport, Snow and Eco driving modes, Variable Gear Ratio Steering system (with electric power steering) which controls the angle of the front wheels according to vehicle speed, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management and an Adaptive Variable Suspension for models kitted with the sports package.

The Japanese auto maker also improved the safety features of the Mark X. All models come with seven airbags including SRS side airbags, SRS curtain shield airbags and a driver’s seat knee airbag, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), TRC (Traction Control) and Active Headrests up front to reduce stress on the neck in a rear-end collision.

The sedan is also offered with a Pre-Crash Brake Assist system, a Pre-Crash Brake system and Pre-Crash Seatbelts, Intelligent AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System), Radar Cruise Control system equipped with a brake-control function and a Hill-start Assist Control function.

The Sports type Mark X (250G S package, 250G S package Relax Selection, 350S) features tinting for the headlights and combination taillights, spoilers on front and rear bumpers and trunk lid, black-themed interior and steering-mounted paddle shifters.

The Premium type Mark X on the other hand comes with special plating on the front grille, rocker moldings and its own front bumper design, steering wheel and shift knob ornamentation with wood-grain finish, heated front seats, Power Easy Access System (slides driver’s seat back and tilts steering wheel upward and forward) as well as velour-moquette seat covers that are treated with mite-suppressing agent that also prevents static electricity – for those of you who tend to get static electricity. In Japan, pricing for the Mark X starts from 2,380,000 yen (just under RM89,000) and tops out at 3,800,000 yen (about RM142,000).

Look for more images after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New Toyota Mark X: official details and photos

The business of selling cars is not so much of just selling cars but also by selling the parts required to maintain or enhance them. The aftermarket business is a lucrative one and more and more car manufacturers are starting to cash in. As more people start to keep their cars longer, the money lost in new car sales will be made up in the aftermarket parts sales. But aftermarket performance parts can only go so far with a product range that’s mostly focused on cars that are designed to go A to B while consuming the least amount of fuel as possible. There’s just not much excitement in it.

Which is what I think the production car based on the Toyota FT-86 Concept is designed to do – make some money off you once when you buy the car, and then continue to make money while you pimp up your car with various performance and aesthetics parts, which Toyota probably hopes you’ll buy from them or one of their associate companies. A normally aspirated 2.0 liter engine – boxer or not – will only go so far when it comes to the amount of power it can put out while remaining refined. There will surely be many that will be looking for turbocharger or supercharger kits for the engine.

In addition, when the FT-86 Concept was first announced, they specifically said it had Advics brakes. It was just announced earlier this month that Toyota-owned Advics was acquiring two brake units from Aisin to expand its brake businesses. I have a feeling Advics may be looking to build upon its brand name as one provider of high-performance brakes like Brembo.

Related Posts:
Toyota FT-86 Concept – AE86 spiritual successor finally previewed!
VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 Concept in Gran Turismo
Toyota FT-86 to feature D-4S Boxer Engine

Nikkei reports that Toyota and Daihatsu are working on a new small car that can be sold for less than US$11,000 (RM37,268) in emerging economies like India and Brazil. I’m really not sure what the big fuss is considering we have the baseline Perodua Viva BX sold here for RM25,300, but perhaps this new car will be something bigger yet cheaper. The cheapest Perodua Myvi here is the 1.0 liter SR at RM38,924.10.

This new car will be designed for developing country export markets. Right now, Toyota’s Daihatsu-sourced compact cars have been mostly export versions of its Japanese market cars with more Westernised names. For example, the Japanese market Daihatsu Coo is called the Materia in some other markets.

Toyota’s new president Akio Toyoda’s vision is for Toyota to start tailor-making products for individual regions rather than just offering the same vehicle line-up across the world market. This goes the other direction compared to the World Car projects that other automakers are embarking on. GM’s American Cobalt and Korean Optra are basically in the same segment and have been replaced by a single model – the Cruze.

But if Toyota can tailor-make different products for cheap, they may do better in terms of sales. I have a feeling making small cars for developing countries and selling them at the same price as their existing Japan market small cars have more to do with boosting profit margins rather than anything else, as customers in those regions do not really expect the kind of refinement that JDM customers do.

Source

The last time there was an update to the Auris and covered on this blog, the 1.4 liter model was replaced with the new Dual VVT-i 1.33 liter engine with auto start-stop capabilities. This happened just late last year.

Now it’s time for a mid-life facelift, with the Auris now featuring new headlamps, taillamps, bumper, grille, alloy wheels and hood design. That’s considered to be quite major considering a typical Toyota mid-life model change these days.

On the inside some materials have changed. The 1.8 liter engine has been upgraded to Dual VVT-i, and is mated to a CVT transmission with paddle shifts. So far the facelifted Auris has only been launched in Japan but expect the updates to roll out in Europe soon. No word yet about a facelift to the Toyota Blade, the Auris’s more premium counterpart in Japan with 2.4 and 3.5 liter engines.

Next up will probably come an update to the sedan variant of the Auris platform – the Corolla and Corolla Altis! But for now, look after the jump for a full gallery.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Auris gets facelifted in Japan