The arrival of the new Toyota Camry is nigh, with the XV50 set to make its debut here early next month. The order books were opened last month, we’ve already seen the specs of the car in our leaked brochure post, and the car was seen on a transporter last week, so all that’s left is for the seventh-generation model to premiere.

Still, nothing like adding some final bits of colour to the canvas before the car makes its debut proper. Reader HK Chong sent in some snaps of the XV50, taken when he visited the Toyota Megaweb in Tokyo last November; the Camry had just made its domestic debut around then.

The photos are primarily of the Hybrid, which of course won’t be coming here, though the car is available in the Thai market. It’s powered by a 2.5 litre 2 AR-FXE Atkinson cycle unit, with 160 PS and 213 Nm, coupled with an electric motor producing 143 PS and 270 Nm, with combined output via the torque split device being 205 PS.

We already know what we can expect to see in the Malaysian Camry, based on the photos of the Thai-market model, so here’s a contrasting view of textures and materials with the shots of the Hybrid.

As previously mentioned, we’ll be getting three petrol variants, namely two 1AZ-FE 2.0 models, the E and G, as well as a 2AR-FE 2.5 litre version, the V. To recap, the 2.0 VVT-i mill offers 148 PS and 190 Nm, and it’ll be mated to a four-speed Super ECT slushbox. Meanwhile, the 2.5 litre Dual VVT-i with ACIS has 181 PS and 231 Nm for output figures, and it gets a six-speed Super ECT auto, replete with sequential shifter.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota’s global cumulative sales of hybrid vehicles have topped the four million mark as of April 30 2012. TMC calculates that since 1997, its hybrid vehicles have led to approximately 26 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions being emitted, compared to if those cars were normal cars of similar size and performance.

It all started in 1997, when Toyota launched the Coaster Hybrid EV in August and the first ever Prius. The latter was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid passenger vehicle and sales began in North America and Europe in 2000.

The second-gen Prius came in 2003. By now Toyota’s hybrid system was used on minivans, SUVs, RWD sedans and compact hatchbacks. The third-gen Prius launched in May 2009 was well received around the world, leading to cumulative sales of Toyota’s hybrids topping three million by the end of February 2011.

Fast forward and Toyota currently sells 18 hybrid passenger vehicle models in around 80 countries worldwide. This year, hybrid cars have accounted for 15% of TMC’s global sales. With the Yaris Hybrid scheduled for launch in Europe and the Lexus ES 300h for the USA, figures are bound to grow.

Toyota sells the Prius and Prius c in Malaysia. Click here to read all about the duo.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota has unveiled the new Toyota Corolla Axio in Japan, which is a sign that it won’t be long now until the Toyota Corolla Altis receives a full model change as well, since the 5 year lifecycle that it typically runs on is about due now.

The Toyota Corolla Axio is one of the two Corolla models for the Japanese domestic market – it is sold alongside a wagon variant called the Corolla Fielder. You may wonder, what’s with all the different Corollas?

Two generations ago, the name Corolla Altis made its debut, because Toyota wanted to make its C-segment sedan contender appear larger and more luxurious for the world market, but a larger Corolla would not be suitable for sale in Japan as they have certain tax segment based limits for the exterior dimensions of a car, which made sense considering how limited space is in Japan.

So they sold a Corolla in Japan (and in some other countries like Singapore), while the rest of the world markets such as Malaysia got a Corolla Altis. When the time came for a full model change, the Japanese market Corolla got the Axio name tagged on when it was unveiled in October 2006 , and soon after, a corresponding Corolla Altis was launched and hit Malaysia in March 2008. These 2 models had different outlooks but they did share a very similar interior.

So while this latest generation Corolla Axio is not the Corolla that will replace our Malaysian Corolla Altis, we could assume that the next generation Corolla Altis could share an interior design derived from the new Corolla Axio.

The new interior design is quite a departure from the previous generation Corollas – the sleek vertical Volvo-like “waterfall” centre dash area that felt like very clearly split the passenger and driver areas has been replaced by a more horizontal oriented design that positions all controls higher up.

The area ahead of the gear shifter which used to have a sloping trim has been replaced by what looks like a storage area – variants that have wood trim in the interior now have it rather gaudily encasing the audio and air cond controls.

The instrumentation panel has been changed to a triple-gauge layout like the Camry’s, replacing the current twin gauge layout. Lower end models only have a single speedometer. Some variants have a bare steering wheel while others have a joy-pad like control on the left steering wheel spoke.

Two engines are available – the larger one is a 1NZ-FE 1.5 litre which should be very familiar to Malaysians as it’s the same engine in the Vios, but with some changes – the version with a CVT transmission has a higher compression ratio of 11.0:1. The smaller engine is a 1.3 litre Dual VVT-i 1NR-FE that makes 95 PS and 121Nm. The wagon Corolla Fields has larger engine options – instead of a 1.3 and 1.5, it’s offered as a 1.5 and a 1.8.

The Axio rides on a 2,600mm wheelbase, which is the same length as the previous two generations of Corolla. Wheelbase is not the ultimate indicator of interior space, but it’s worth noting that it’s one of the shortest in the segment – some C-segment cars have grown to have wheelbases of over 2,700mm. The Preve has a 2,650mm wheelbase. But despite sharing the same wheelbase length with its predecessor, Toyota claims the new Corolla Axio offers 40 mm roomier knee space in the backseat.

The Axio is also light – the heaviest 2WD model is 1,090kg – adding 4WD brings the heaviest version up to 1,200kg. As a comparison, the current generation Corolla Altis in Malaysia weighs from 1,250kg for the 1.6E up to 1,315kg for the 2.0V.

Although the Corolla is a very popular car, given that the market for a C-segment sedan continuously shrinks in Japan (non-hybrid Civic Sedan has been discontinued for Japan, for example). Toyota’s big seller in Japan is now the Prius – and 10,000 of these are targeted to shipped domestically every month, while combined monthly targets for the new Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder wagon only come up to 7,000, with more of these being Fielders (4,000 units) than Axios (3,000 units).

I think you can see some cost cutting efforts with the latest Corolla Axio, especially on the interior. Most of us will probably prefer the outgoing interior design to this latest one. But who knows, perhaps the new Corolla Altis will be an even further departure from the Corolla Axio and have a bespoke interior that is more upmarket. Look after the jump for a small photo gallery of the new Corolla Axio.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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UMW Toyota doesn’t bother hiding these days, preferring to let out the news early for upcoming cars, release the estimated price and collect bookings. That’s what they’ve done for the Lexus GS, and now the Toyota 86 and new Camry. The ad blitz for the latter is in full swing, saying that the D-segment exec will be launching in June.

That’s next month, so it’s no surprise that units in transit have been caught on camera. Here, reader YF How who works in Klang saw a white coloured XV50 on the upper tier of a transporter.

Approaching the truck from the back, we can see the seventh-gen Camry rear design, which is region specific. The Thai-assembled Camry differs from the US market one, for instance. Can’t see the variant badge, though.

Speaking of that, three variants will be offered here – two 1AZ-FE-equipped 2.0 litre models (2.0G and 2.0E) and a 2AR-FE 2.5 litre V-spec version. Four colours are available, and they are Silver Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, White Pearl CS and Attitude Black. White Pearl CS, which we see here, is an RM800 option. Leaked brochure here.

The 2.0E’s indicative pricing is RM152,000, while the 2.0G should be going in the region of RM160,000. Meanwhile, the estimated price for the 2.5V is RM183,000. Click here for pics of the Thai-market Camry, which should give us a good idea of what we’re getting.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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The Estima is not the only Toyota MPV to be given a minor facelift this year – the popular Toyota Wish also gets updated for 2012, bringing subtle improvements such as better interior textures, trim and materials, better fuel efficiency, and of course the most obvious which is the new front look you see above.

The engine options continue to be the same choice of a 1.8 litre or a 2.0 litre unit as per when this generation of Wish was first launched in 2009. The 2.0 litre model is offered as a 6 seater only, while the 1.8 litre is a 7 seater, and includes the option for 4WD.

The 2.0 litre engine is the Valvematic 3ZR-FAE, producing 152 PS and 193Nm of torque, peaking at a relatively low 3,800rpm. These are slightly different numbers from the 2009 pre-facelift model – the 3ZR-FAE made 158 PS and 196Nm then, which are higher numbers, but the 196Nm peak also came in at a higher 4,400rpm. The engine must have been tuned to be more fuel efficient and output less emissions, while having a smoother torque curve kicking in earlier in the rev band.

The 1.8 litre 2ZR-FAE makes 143 PS and 173Nm at 4,00rpm for the 2WD model, and for the 4WD this is reduced to 130 PS and 161Nm at 4,000rpm. Like the 2.0 litre, these are also lower numbers compared to the outgoing pre-facelift car which made 144 PS/176Nm for the 2WD and 133 PS/164Nm for the 4WD.

The 2.0 litre engine is mated to a Super CVT 7-speed transmission, which has a Dynamic Sport Mode not found in the 1.8 litre model’s CVT transmission, except for the 1.8S 4WD model. Another difference between the 2.0 litre model and the 1.8 litre model is the usage of a double wishbone rear suspension on the 2.0 litre, while the 1.8 litre only has that on the 4WD model – for the 2WD it uses a torsion beam.

UMW Toyota imported the previous generation Toyota Wish into Malaysia for a relatively short period of time, but it chose not to import this latest generation in. We think it’s most likely because of grey importers easily undercutting their pricing as grey importers have no service and warranty commitments.

Look after the jump for a photo gallery of the facelifted 2012 Wish.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Located within Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia’s (TMMIN) Karawang Plant, the 3,700 m2 facility will offer various types of courses and practical training to improve employees’ technical vehicle-manufacturing skills.

Beginning next year, the centre – established at a cost of 23 billion rupiah, and with an annual enrollment capacity of 5,300 – will provide opportunities for suppliers and students in the region to also participate in courses.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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The Toyota Estima has been given a facelift for 2012, about three years after the last update which saw Toyota giving it a minor revision to the shape of the headlamps.

For the 2012 facelift, the Estima’s front end has been given a new aggressive look, with a lot of angular detailing on the front bumper, and a front grille design that now follows the bottom edge of the headlamp.

There are not many changes at the rear of the car – the Estima continues to have a sleek silhouette, giving it a sportier look as opposed to the huge boxy “VIP style” look that its bigger brother the Alphard carries. There are new alloy wheel designs, a revised set of exterior colours (total of 6), and Toyota also says they’ve improved the interior tirm and textures.

Engine options also continue to be the same – either a 2.4 litre four cylinder 2AZ-FE making 170 PS and 224Nm mated to a CVT gearbox, or a top of the line 280 PS 344Nm 3.5 litre V6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Various gadgets that were already on the pre-facelift Estima continue with the new model, such as the Lane-Keep Assist (LKA) system which detects the lane markers on the road and takes control of the electric power steering to keep the car on course, and the Adaptive Front-Lighting System low beam headlamps wihichswivels according to steering position to help light up the upcoming road around a bend.

The Estima is also equipped with a S-VSC system, an enhancement from the regular VSC system, which can use the electric power steering to apply appropriate steering torque to help stabilize the car.

Look after the jump or click any of the images above for a small gallery.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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We already know that the Toyota 86 is coming to Malaysia, and the estimated prices. UMW Toyota has now revealed more via a teaser section on its website, showing the specs and features of the impending arrival. They have some videos, too.

Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered; both have six speeds and the latter comes with paddles. They will be matched to a 2.0L four-cylinder boxer engine, a trademark of development partner Subaru. The 16-valve DOHC unit with D-4S direct injection and dual VVT makes 200 PS at 7,000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 6,400 to 6,600 rpm.

The automatic does 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h, while the manual achieves both tests in 7.6 seconds and 226 km/h, respectively. So no, you won’t be as fast as those turbo hot hatches, but you’ll get to enjoy a high-revving NA engine in a rear-wheel drive car (Torsen LSD equipped), something carmakers don’t really make anymore.

The 86′s suspension consists of front MacPherson struts and double wishbones for the rear. All round ventilated brake discs – 294 mm rings for the front and 290 mm for the rear. The standard wheels are 17-inch, with 215/45 rubber.

A car required to pass today’s safety requirements won’t be as light as an AE86, but the 86 isn’t a fatty – the manual weighs in at 1,275 kg, the auto is 23 kilos heavier.

This is no stripped out sports car, so the equipment list is very decent. auto on HIDs with washers, smart entry and start, aluminium pedals, cruise control, dual-zone air con, auto up/down windows, 2-DIN head unit with USB and AUX-in, solar tint and seven airbags are standard. The VSC system, unlike that in Toyota saloons, has a VSC Sport Mode, which gives you more freedom.

Also, ISOFIX mounts for the tiny rear seats are available, so it’s impractical rather than impossible for guys planning to start a family, for the first few years at least! Small adults for short journeys are possible in this 2+2.

Price wise, the estimated price for the manual (OTR with insurance) is RM243,000, while the auto is expected to set you back RM249,000. Six colours will be available at launch, but one of them (Satin White Pearl) is a RM800 option.

Click here for a live gallery of the 86, and here for a first impressions story on the 86′s twin, the Subaru BRZ.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota recently announced that worldwide cumulative sales of its Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) project series reached five million units at the end of March.

Development of the IMV series started with three models – Hilux, Innova and Fortuner – for introduction in 2004 to over 140 countries. Based on the concept of producing vehicles where they are sold, Toyota established a worldwide production and supply system to offer vehicles quickly, and at an affordable price.

Currently, IMV vehicles are manufactured in 11 locations across the globe, including four countries designated as global IMV supply bases: Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina and South Africa. From here, vehicles are shipped to Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Central and South America, and the Middle East.

In addition, major components such as diesel engines produced in Thailand, petrol engines produced in Indonesia and transmissions produced in the Philippines and India are distributed to IMV-producing countries.

The IMV series has proved popular in the developing world, reaching the one million vehicle milestone in 2006, two million in 2008, three million in 2009, four million in 2010, and five million this year.

So it comes as no surprise that TMC will continue to put emerging markets as top priority, as stated in the Toyota Global Vision. TMC aims to increase its sales in such markets from the present ratio of 40% of worldwide sales to 50% by 2015.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota has unveiled its new RAV4 EV, with the all-electric SUV making its debut at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. Built in collaboration with Tesla Motors, the vehicle has come about from announcement to completion in just 22 months.

The front-wheel drive vehicle features a Tesla designed and produced battery and electric powertrain, good for 154 hp at 2,800 rpm. Other numbers include a driving range of approximately 160 km and a charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger.

The SUV has two distinctly different drive modes, Sport and Normal. In Sport mode, the vehicle reaches 0-100 km/h in just 7.0 seconds, with maximum speed being 160 km/h. Normal mode achieves 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, and maximum speed of 137 km/h.

Exterior variations to distinguish the EV from the regular RAV4 include new exterior emblems on the front, rear and the front door panel, utilising the signature Toyota “environmental blue.”

There’s also LED low beam /halogen high beam projector headlights, with vertical LED daytime running lights that dim to parking lights. The rear combination lights are LEDs, accented by a unique light smoke outer lens.

Other changes include reworked exterior elements to help improve aerodynamics. Compared with the gas-powered version, the front bumper, upper and lower grill, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and under body design have all been redesigned to maximise air flow around the vehicle.

Meanwhile, interior elements include a unique “Neutron” fabric, woven with a subtle sheen and blue accent on the seat inserts and door trim, as well as an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen featuring navigation, telematics and EV drive information/settings designed specifically for the RAV4 EV.

And so you’re always aware of what mode you’re running, the dash display color illuminates red when the vehicle is operating in sport mode, and blue in normal driving mode.

In terms of space, total cargo capacity is equivalent to the conventional RAV4 – the company says that no interior space is lost inside the vehicle despite the EV components. The battery pack – which has an eight-year or 160,000 km warranty – is mounted low and to the centre of the vehicle, contributing to a more sedan-like ride.

The RAV4 EV is set to begin selling in the US in late summer this year, initially in four major California metropolitan markets including Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego. Toyota is planning to shift approximately 2,600 units over the next three years.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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UMW Toyota has opened its new Body and Paint centre in Bukit Raja, Klang. The 5.7-acre facility – which began operation earlier in the week – is currently equipped with 42 work bays and four paint booths, all compliant with the standards set by Toyota Motor Corporation, and has as a repair capacity of 6,150 units per year.

With the opening of this new facility, the Body and Paint repair operations at Sungai Rasah will be relocated to Bukit Raja to provide better service to customers. However, customers are still able to check-in for Body and Paint repairs at the Sungai Rasah service centre, which remains in its current location.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Happy Friday dear readers. And since this is the last day of the workweek, let’s start it off with a bit of fun.

The pictures here and in the gallery are the entries for the little contest we ran a couple of weeks ago, which is now officially closed. We asked you to print out the template, assemble your own Toyota 86 and take a nice picture of it.

What we did not expect are the creative photos you sent in. In total, 34 of you sent in 56 photos and all of them looked great. Our collective minds were blown after looking at your handiwork and how you crafted each scene. There were eyes popped as well. Great job, guys and girls.

So, from Paul and the team, we’d like to say a big thank you for your support. More importantly, thank you for your effort. It shows us that you guys really care.

Now, we did promise you a prize and we intend to keep that promise. So, for the next few weeks, we will be bickering to pick the best. Till then, do take a look at the gallery and tell us which is your favourite.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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As you would already know by now, UMW Toyota’s order books for the new Camry is open. The Thai-made D-segment exec will come in three variants, two 2.0L ones and the top spec 2.5V – click here to view the brochure.

Here are pics of the Australian market Toyota Aurion, which shares looks with Malaysian bound Camrys, although there are sportier versions Down Under that have a unique front end and racier add ons, showing us what’s possible with the XV50.

Billed as an “attainable luxury car”, the Aussie made Aurion comes in five model grades, all with a 2GR-FE 3.5 litre V6 paired to a six-speed automatic. The quad-cam engine has 268 hp and 336 Nm of torque. The AT-X, Prodigy and Presara trims look identical to our sober Camry, while Sportivo SX6 and ZR6 grades have the sporty appearance featured here.

In addition to the entry AT-X’s seven airbags, seatbelt warnings on all seats, VSC dual-zone climate-control, reverse camera, 60/40 split-fold seats, MID, Eco indicator, acoustic windscreen, dual exhaust and Optitron instruments, Sportivo models add on sports suspension, 17-inch alloys, paddle shifters, sports pedals, three-spoke steering wheel, sports front seats, power front passenger’s seat, unique meters and smart entry/start.

The top dog ZR6 adds on automatic high beam, auto wipers, HID headlamps with AFS, front and rear clearance sonar, and exterior mirrors dipping in reverse.

It also sports leather, driver’s seat memory, JBL premium audio with seven-inch display, digital radio, sat nav with live traffic updates, electro-chromatic interior mirror and back-guide monitor.

Click here to view a leaked brochure and here for estimated OTR prices for the new Camry, which will debut here in June.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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The Japanese big guns played a game of ‘who could do more’ in China, and Toyota rang in with three concept debuts, signaling its intent in the world’s largest market. All three supposedly preview production vehicles that will come about.

No timeframe of when the Yundong Shuanqing Hybrid concept, the one here in blue, will become a commercial reality, but when it does it’s going to be a Chinese market-only offering. No details either about the vehicle, save that the 4.65 metre-long vehicle’s hybrid system was developed by Toyota’s R&D center in Changshu, China.

Meanwhile, there was a date being bandied about for the arrival of the market variants derived from the Dear Qin hatchback and sedan that also premiered at the show, and this is 2013. Again, both vehicles are destined to be Chinese market specific, part of the company’s intended programme to develop three front-wheel drive global architecture offerings there.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Now that we’ve got your attention, yes you can get your own Toyota 86 without the six-figure price tag. You see, owning one does require some effort and deft fingers on your part. But it will all be worth it.

Gazoo Racing has so very kindly designed a template that allows you to build your own Toyota 86.All you need to do is to download the template and follow the instructions given. By the way, it is all in Japanese but the steps are clearly laid. We think you can handle it.

And we’d love to see your craftwork. So, take a photo of your completed Toyota 86 and post it on our Facebook page. The most creative picture will get a prize. What prize? Let’s keep it a surprise. Make sure you submit the photos by April 30, 2012 at 11.59pm. Get cracking.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Got RM243,000 for a car? Well, that’s the indicative on-the-road price UMW Toyota Motor has set for the Toyota 86, twin to the Subaru BRZ, which we recently sampled. For an automatic transmission, you have to fork out an extra RM6,000, for a grand total of RM249,000. Yes, from what I can gather in the press release, the ‘GT’ is missing from the name.

Six colours will be available at launch – Satin White Pearl (RM800 premium), Crystal Black Silica, Sterling Silver Black, Lightning Red, Galaxy Blue Silica and Orange Metallic. No other official information on the specs of the car has been announced as yet.

No official launch date has been fixed yet either. But if you want to be the first to own one, Toyota has started taking orders.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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The car above is an example of what happens when Americans take over styling duties. This is the new Toyota Avalon, recently revealed at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, and it is redesigned for the premium mid-size sedan segment.

The design of the Avalon was the brainchild of a youthful team at the Calty Design Research Inc. in Southern California and Michigan. The engineering duties were taken care by the Toyota Technical Centre in Ann Arbor, Michigan. To keep it American, assembly responsibilities will be shouldered by Toyota’s facility in Georgetown, Kentucky when the Avalon goes into production.

The brief from Akio Toyoda for the new Avalon was to have a car that is more stylish, bold, sporty exterior design and luxurious interior styling in an enhanced dynamic package.

The Avalon will be numerous structural and chassis improvements to enhance ride quality, straight-line stability and handling. Strategically placed welds, improved body bracing and high-strength steel in key areas will imbue the car with better torsional rigidity, a stiffer chassis and an optimised suspension performance.

Shoring up suspension duties are MacPherson struts with advanced valving and rebound springs for a balanced handling and agility with ride comfort. The coil spring rate as well as the front and rear sway bar stiffness was increased to rein in body roll and help body control. Even the EPS has been retuned to deliver more control and agility and stability.

There will be three drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport. Eco changes the throttle response and A/C power usage to improve fuel economy. In Sport mode, throttle response is enhanced and steering is weighted a bit more from centre. Paddle shifters offers a sportier drive while in D or S mode, the latter mode revised the throttle and helps improve shift response to maximise engine power and performance. Toyota has not revealed the engine choices for the Avalon as yet.

Toyota admits that the new Avalon is more compact than its predecessor but has better proportions and retains the same wheelbase, all the while being the lighter car. The exterior styling defines a sleek profile that helps communicate a sense of motion even at standstill. Other design highlights is the longer, sloping roofline, flared front fenders and reduced front and rear overhangs, lower vehicle height and reduced body-to-tyre gap. The Avalon will have the option of either the 17” or 18” alloy wheels.

Key exterior elements are the square Double-eyes PES (Projector Ellipsoid System) headlamps with HID and DRL, the wider front grille, LED combination tail lamps and dual rear tailpipes.

Inside, the Avalon is well endowed with rear legroom. The front seat’s hip point has been lowered by 10 mm to create better headroom. A concave dash panel design help create the impression of more space. Supple leather trims, hand crafted decorative stitching and soft touch materials add to the rich-feel of the interior. White ambient light illuminates key places in the interior for a loftier sense of luxury.

To improve NVH, sound absorbing materials are strategically placed around the cabin and body structure so it does not increase weight. The windshield and front side-glass panels uses acoustic glass to control sound intrusion into the cabin. Wind noises are reduced through the exterior cowl and louver sealing, out mirror shape and position, and wiper-blade position.

The Avalon will offer the Entune multimedia system, advanced capacitive touch switches, three-colour display screens for the multi-info display, audio/navigation interface, climate control, Display Audio system with 6.1” touchscreen are available as standard. The JBL Synthesis Premium Audio system, HDD Navigation with 7” screen, dynamic radar cruise control, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, three-zone air conditioning are available as options.

In terms of safety, the Avalon will feature Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist and Smart Stop technology brake-override system. It also gets 10 airbags, a pre-collision system that sense impending frontal collision and help prevent major damage. The brake pedals have adopted a variable ratio that varies the initial and final pedal effort ratios for better brake pedal feel.

A Blind Spot Monitoring system, in addition to the rearview mirror, helps eliminates blind spots. A new Rear Cross Traffic Alert system (RCTA) alerts drivers of cross traffic when backing up.

The Avalon will be the new flagship of Toyota in the USA and will go on sale later in the year.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota’s seventh-generation Camry is set to make its way into the market here sometime in June, as the official UMW Toyota brochure on the car clearly indicates. We already know the variants that’ll be introduced from our earlier story, and these are the two 1AZ-FE-equipped 2.0 litre models, the 2.0G and 2.0E, as well as a 2AR-FE 2.5 litre V-spec version.

UMW has announced that the order books have been opened for the XV50, and has also released an estimated on-the-road pricing for the car. The 2.0E’s indicative pricing is RM152,000, while the 2.0G should be going in the region of RM160,000. Meanwhile, the estimated price for the 2.5V is RM183,000.

Four colours have also been announced for the car, these being Silver Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, White Pearl CS and a new shade called Attitude Black. All four shades are available across the model range, though going for the White Pearl CS means forking out an additional premium of RM800.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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The venerable Toyota Hilux has added to its list of achievements by completing an Antartic journey of more than 9,500 km, further than any vehicle of its type has managed before – the truck can now list reaching both Magnetic North and South Poles in its resume.

The feat was achieved as part of the longest expedition in polar history, the double trans-continental crossing organised by Extreme World Races.

Three Hilux, including two 6 x 6 models, completed the expedition, running on standard 3.0 litre D-4D engines and transmissions. Of course, to meet the demands of temperatures as low as -50°C and harsh terrain rising to above 3,400 metres, the vehicles were specially engineered by Icelandic conversion specialists Arctic Trucks.

Necessary modifications to the vehicles included fitting a crane to lift heavy equipment and a 280 litre fuel tank – 800 litres in the case of the six-wheel models.

The suspension and drivetrain were strengthened, crawler gears were added to the transmission, and the extra large tyres were filled to between 2.0 and 3.0 psi (compared to 29.0 psi for a regular road-going Hilux), giving a “footprint” 17 times larger than standard tyres. The trucks also ran on Jet A-1 fuel, to cope with the extreme cold.

Other Hilux units were also on call, deployed by the expedition team to meet the demands of setting up a fuel depot and weather station and providing essential support to scientists and competitors in a ski race.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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While the Toyota GT86 have yet to reach our shores, let’s see what the people in the UK will be getting. It looks like the English will start to see the GT86 from the July 1 with orders for it is being taken now. It also means that the price as well as the specs are revealed – it starts from £24,995 for a manual up to £26,495 for an automatic.

The GT86 runs with a 2.0 litre boxer engine mounted under the bonnet and move forward from the rear. The 6 speed automatic will come with paddle shifters. Torque-sensing limited slip differential comes standard with the GT86. Exterior features include rear spoiler, 17” alloy wheels, chrome-finished dual exhaust tailpipes and a signature “T”-mesh grille – the motif is repeated in the shape of the rear foglight, which is set between the tailpipes. Other features include bi-xenon HID headlights, LED daytime running lights, front foglights, and electric folding wing mirrors. Seven colours to choose from – black metallic, blue metallic, dark red metallic, orange metallic and pearl pearlescent.

Inside, the GT86 UK version will get sport seats, aluminium pedals, and red stitching around black leather trim are on the steering, gear knob and parking brake. Black cloth upholstery comes standard but customers can opt for the black leather with red Alcantara and additional red leather styling on door grilles, steering wheel, gear knob and parking brake. The option list also includes heaters for the front seats.

In terms of snazzy gadgets, the GT86 will be kitted with Smart Entry system, dual-zone air conditioning, auto-dimming rear view mirror, cruise control, hill-start assist, scuff plates and the Toyota Touch touchscreen control system that is hooked up to the six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth and USB. Or, customers can upgrade the multimedia system to the Toyota Touch and Go with sat-nav, speed and safety camera warnings, on-board connection to Google Local Search and other subscribed services that streams live parking availability, fuel price information and local weather forecasts.

The GT86 will have three driving modes that alter the VSC stability control system. Seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knee, will come with the GT86.

Remember that the standard specs GT86 might be different when it reaches here. At least we now know the GT86s that the Brits will be driving come mid-year.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota needs to fix the plumbing, because the brochure of the all-new Camry just got leaked to us. The brochure means only one thing – the official launch should not be too far off. Actually, it’ll come in June, to be exact.

Coincidentally, the new Camry – which is different than the US-version of the seventh-generation sedan – is on display at the ongoing Bangkok Motor Show, and Anthony managed to snap a few photos of the Thai-market car.

Based on the pix and the brochure, it confirms what Danny speculated last year, that the car first seen as an Ukrainian market version is going to be the Camry we’re getting.

From the brochure, it looks like we’ll be getting three variants – the 2.0 E, 2.0 G and the top shelf 2.5 V. In Toyota’s grand scheme of things, the E will be the base-spec car, the G will get some of V’s kit and V will be the Camry with all the bells and whistles.

The 2.0 E and 2.0 G shares the same engine – a 2.0 litre VVT-i engine that produces 148 PS at 6,000 rpm and 190 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The letdown here is that the 2.0 litre is paired with a four-speed Super ECT automatic transmission with sequential shifter. At a time when everyone else is going six-speed, why is Toyota sticking to the four-speeder? What about its CVT gearbox?

The 2.5 V, like the number in its name, gets the 2.5 litre Dual VVT-i with ACIS that generates 181 PS at 6,000 rpm and 231 Nm at 4,100. This variant gets the six-speed Super ECT automatic transmission with sequential shifter. Already, you can guess that the 2.5 V is the Camry to get.

What the previous post also proved right is the amount of wood that will be found in the interior. All variants will be decked out in wood grain interior; it is only the 2.5 V and the 2.0 G variants that will be getting chrome finishing for the air-conditioning knob, inside door lever and door scuff plate. The V and G will also get a black interior, according to the brochures – that’s interesting.

Other notable differences between the 2.0 litre and the 2.5 litre variants are the 6.1-inch touchscreen display with DVD player and reverse camera, sun shades for the rear and side windows and a push-start feature found in the latter.

You’ll find all the necessary info on the new Camry in the brochure scan below. What do you think about the car?

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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A fleet of BMW ActiveE electric cars – read our test drive story.

This is not the first time BMW and Toyota have collaborated – they also entered into a contract where BMW will supply Toyota its 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to the Japanese company beginning 2014.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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The Prius c has been a hit for Toyota, and the company can’t make enough of them. Toyota is shipping just 6,000 units of the compact hybrid to North America per month, which is not enough to satisfy demand, but that number is set to grow by mid 2012. The Prius c went on sale domestically in December last year, and hits US showrooms this month.

Supply constraints and soaring domestic market demand is keeping supplies low for the rest of the world. In Japan, the small car known as Aqua has racked up a big backlog of 120,000 orders. The rising yen (against USD) is also affecting profit margins for US sales, so it makes sense for Toyota to focus on fulfilling local orders.

The Prius c is exclusively made in Iwate, northern Japan, at a plant run by Toyota affiliate Kanto Auto Works Ltd. Kanto president Tetsuo Hattori revealed that the company is currently working on rolling out more units of the small Prius.

Besides improving efficiency that will increase overall capacity, the plant will gradually shift production of the JDM Toyota Ractis to a sister plant in Higashifuji from May. The freed up capacity will be used to make more Aquas.

Kanto’s Iwate plant makes about 30,000 units of the Prius c units a month. The annual rate of 360k units is already up from the originally planned 240k units, and it accounts for 80% of total plant output. Besides the Prius c and Ractis, the facility also produces the Toyota ist (called Urban Cruiser in UK and Scion xD in USA), Belta (we’re very familiar with this, the Vios) and the Blade hatchback.

The Prius c was launched in Malaysia last month, click here to read our launch report.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Click to enlarge.

These two may very well be the most anticipated car of 2012. Finally, after what seems to be two centuries since the Tokyo Motor Show 2011, which both cars were featured, the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GT 86 start production last Friday, March 16.

It was a special occasion, one that was marked by a special ceremony held at Subaru’s Gunma factory in Ota-city, Japan. Presidents of both car companies attended the event.

The Gunma Main Plant, which has undergone significant re-fitting to cope with the extra capacity, will produce the BRZ and the GT 86. And according to Subaru’s grand scheme of things, the Impreza will be made there by 2013.

Until we get sightings of the car somewhere in Port Klang, or driving around masked or being delivered by a trailer, here are some links to get you reacquainted with both cars.

Click here for Subaru BRZ. Click here for Toyota GT 86.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Teased last month, the Toyota FT-Bh Concept has been revealed at Geneva, and what a creature it is! Expressing the “Under Priority” design language and “Keen Look” styling of Toyota’s next generation vehicles, the FT-Bh is an ultra-light, sub-800 kg, full hybrid B-segment family car.

At 3,985 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,400 mm high, with a long wheelbase of 2,570 mm, the FT-Bh is close to the size of today’s Prius C, although the shape is closer to the full sized Prius. It’s very aerodynamic at just 0.235 Cd.

The concept is upheld by five key pillars targeting optimum fuel efficiency and minimised emissions: Mass Reduction; Driving Resistance in the form of aerodynamics and tyre rolling resistance; Powertrain Efficiency; Thermal Energy Management and Electricity Saving. The FT-Bh is projected to deliver average fuel consumption of just 2.1 litres per 100 km and CO2 emissions of only 49 g/km – the latter is less than half of what the 1.0L Yaris emits.

The best thing is that it will be affordable. Toyota says that the techniques and thought processes demonstrated here do not involve the use of exotic, expensive materials or complex procedures, but only those already commonplace to the automotive industry.

Made from of high-tensile steel, aluminium and magnesium, the FT-Bh concept targets an overall mass reduction of 25% over the 1,030 kg 1.0L Yaris, bringing total weight down to just 786 kg. Because the hybrid powertrain is marginally heavier than a conventional 1.0 litre engine, the overall mass reduction required of the bodyshell, interior trim, chassis and electronics is actually 340 kg, or 33% of the Yaris’ weight, with no detriment to safety.

On show here is a slew of next gen aerodynamic techniques. Air curtain intakes to the frontal extremities, air-stream alloys, airflow-disrupting door mirrors replaced by cameras, handle-less electric latch doors, a pagoda roof with a dropped rear section, and a sharply cut rear end section incorporating an air outlet slit and an underfloor spoiler all contribute to the slippery shape.

Elsewhere, the full hybrid drive system is almost 90 kg lighter than the Prius’ HSD system. The petrol engine is 38 kg lighter than that of the Prius, while the lithium-ion battery pack weighs almost half that of the Prius’ Ni-Mh battery.

The lightweight, two-cylinder, 1.0 litre Atkinson cycle engine has combustion efficiency maximised via a long stroke, high 13:1 compression ratio, next gen D4 injection system with a high fuel-injection pressure, a larger Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system with cooling and a high tumble port design.

Ultra-low friction measures have been applied to the axis receivers, timing belt and electric water pump, while thermal energy management involves the use of a low heat capacity, reduced cold friction and the careful control of heat flow to regulate engine oil/water temperatures.

The detailed info and target figures hint at a serious ongoing study by Toyota, rather than a design concept with no certain future. It will be toned down, for sure, but expect many of the features here to surface in the next generation of Toyota hybrids.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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For its new vehicles, the company is starting to design parts using a new method, which is called the Toyota New Global Architecture program. While body and interior designs will continue to reflect different characteristics for various global markets, the design of components hidden away are set to be standardised.

By doing so, Toyota is looking at universalising about half of a vehicle’s 4,000 to 5,000 various parts. Standardising components will also help streamline processing facilities, enabling a reduction in cost of capital spending and fixed operating expenses. Going that route will also bring down production costs for autoparts makers.

The reports add that the company already has a project in place that pares back parts costs by overhauling manufacturing processes and materials, but the new programme – which spans a range of vehicle models – will speed up cost savings. According to the company’s executive vice president Shinichi Sasaki, the benefits will begin to show up in one year and be full-blown in four.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Thailand’s auto market, so badly hit by last year’s massive floods, is now on the rebound. Most carmakers based there have resumed production at normal levels, Bangkok Post reports, except for Honda, which Ayutthaya plant is scheduled for reopening by the end of March.

Leading the rebound is Thailand’s market leader Toyota, which managed to rake in almost half of January 2012 total sales. The market saw a 11.5% year-on-year increase to 76,246 units last month, and of this pie, Toyota carved itself a 47.4% share. The brand’s sales in the month increased 34.8% year-on-year to 36,151 units, three times what they managed in December 2011.

You’ve got to feel for Honda, widely acknowledged as the worst hit among carmakers based in Thailand. The company sold just 332 units in January, a 100% drop from the same period in 2011.

“The total output increase partly helped carmakers clear their pre and post-flood order backlogs. But the passenger car market could not keep up with the overall vehicle market since some carmakers could not resume their production,” said Toyota Motor Thailand’s senior VP Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont.

Vudhigorn predicted that the upward momentum will continue as more carmakers normalise production. Also, the Thai government has introduced stimulus packages that include tax rebates for first time car owners and pay increases for civil servants.

The floods did not directly affect Toyota’s three auto plants in Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao, but like every other carmaker, they had to cut production due to lack of parts. GM was in the same situation, and is also bouncing back strongly. Despite the flood, Chevrolet sold 31,595 units in 2011, up by 58% from 2010. This form has continued into 2012 – Chevy shifted 3,785 vehicles last month, a 95% year-on-year increase.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Last week, UMW Toyota Motor launched Toyota Traffic Tots (TTT), a three-year road safety programme targeted at preschool children. The event, officiated by Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, was attended by over 300 guests comprising government officials, teachers and children of Smart Reader Worldwide centres.

TTT is an extension of the car manufacturer’s Road Safety Programme, which is now in its fifth year. Partnering the Road Safety Department and Smart Reader Worldwide, TTT will begin with ten selected Smart Reader preschools in Klang Valley this year, progressing to 20 the following year and 30 centres nationwide in 2014.

Road Safety Education (RSE), a partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Education to teach road safety in schools, covers primary and secondary school kids. TTT captures a target group not covered by RSE and complements the overall road safety awareness programme, UMWT says.

“The key message is that road safety awareness should begin as soon as possible so that safety values can be ingrained in early childhood. Therefore, the Toyota Traffic Tots programme is proud to be pioneering the drive to fill this void in road safety awareness among younger children,” said Ismet Suki, President of UMWT.

“Our message for the children is as simple as ABC- Always Be Careful. Where safety is concerned, there is simply no room for error,” he added.

Under the programme, children will be provided age-appropriate lessons on road safety encompassing two categories – passenger safety and pedestrian safety. The former will include lessons on wearing safety belts and identifying traffic signs, while the latter will consist of lessons on road and vehicle dangers.

The lessons will be conducted for one hour every month, while teachers selected to conduct the modules will be provided with training and teaching kits.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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It has certainly been a big week for hybrid fans, with Toyota launching two new go-green offerings at a go. The Prius c and New Prius rolled in on Monday as integral elements of the company’s new Hybrid Solution theme, and if you haven’t yet caught them in the metal, this weekend is the perfect time to do so.

Both cars – which were teased online just prior to their launch in a ‘Rethink the way you drive’ campaign – will be on display in the showrooms, as part of the Toyota Showroom Weekender in Peninsular Malaysia running from today to Sunday (Feb 24-26), from 9am-6pm daily. The vehicles will be officially available in East Malaysia from March 2 onwards.

The spotlight of course is on the car of the moment, the Prius c. The new B-segment hybrid’s RM97,000 on the road price certainly makes it a very welcome addition to the Malaysian scene, especially for those looking to go green.

To recap our earlier launch story, the 1.5 litre 1NZ-FXE Atkinson cycle mill 73 PS and 111 Nm, combined with the electric motor’s 61 PS and 169 Nm, is good enough to give it a good boost of power. The company says the little one is very much the fun, trendy compact hybrid, a unique proposition and very much an affordable choice. No doubting the latter claims, for sure.

Meanwhile, the New Prius, or facelifted Prius if you will, also rolled in at the same time, and while the thunder pretty much belonged to its smaller sibling, the revised version of the original pacesetter rolls in looking to continue on the impressive ground its predecessor made.

The pricing was maintained for the standard variant, and with a slew of refinements and added features, the facelift should continue to do well enough, very much positioned as the sophisticated sibling in the equation. We’re hoping to get our hands on both cars for a closer look at how they shape up, and hopefully this will be soon.

If you don’t already know everything there is to know about the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, you can find out more about the tech behind the scenes here.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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Toyota has teased its upcoming FT-Bh concept through two partials ahead of the B-segment hybrid’s debut in Geneva next month.

The company isn’t revealing any details about the car just yet, except to say that it breaks new boundaries in small car efficiency, saying the FT-Bh is as spacious as an average five-door supermini, but produces about 50% less CO2.

It’ll also be light, tipping the scales at under 800 kg, which is part of the design’s focus on low weight, optimum aerodynamic performance, powertrain efficiency, thermal energy management and electricity savings.

Apparently, it’s also realistically viable as a design – the company says that the car hasn’t been built using exotic materials or expensive techniques, but rather from commonplace, economically viable production methods and technologies, including a down-sized full hybrid powertrain. Guess we’ll see what and how when Geneva comes.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:12:30 +0000.

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