Toyota is dead serious about spreading its hybrid message across the world, even in Europe where diesels reign supreme. Their tool is this, a hybrid version of its latest Yaris. Brought to Geneva as the Yaris HSD concept, this will be the first full hybrid in the B-segment, the largest segment in Europe. Some of you may recall the Honda Jazz Hybrid from Paris 2010, but that’s a mild hybrid, as are Honda’s other IMA powered models.

Introducing Hybrid Synergy Drive to a supermini has presented Toyota with some unique engineering challenges, the company says. All hybrid components and batteries have to fit within the Yaris’ compact body without compromising its quality and performance, or detracting from cabin and cargo space.

Toyota doesn’t offer much info or specs, so we don’t know if it’s the same HSD unit as in Prius and Auris HSD. If it is, expect a 1.8-litre 98 hp petrol engine combined with an 80 hp electric motor. The Yaris HSD’s roof is fully covered with solar panels to provide independent powering of the car’s air con, thus reducing fuel consumption.

Body wise, vertical ‘aero’ slats at the edge of the bumpers minimise air turbulence. Airflow is also managed by a large, integral rear spoiler, underbody covers and 18-inch aero wheels with enlarged gaps to promote cooling. The showcar also has aero-efficient shaped door handles and rear side view cameras. The latter is a current concept car trend and isn’t likely to make production.

Speaking of that, the production model will be launched throughout Europe in the second half of 2012. Cars will roll out of Toyota’s Valenciennes plant in France.

Personally, I think this looks much better than the planned sporty variant of the Yaris we showed you yesterday. What do you think? Gallery after the jump.
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This is the latest design update for the Toyota FT-86 Concept called the Toyota FT-86 II Concept, and it must be quite ready for production as Toyota have announced that the production car will be launched in 2012.

The FT-86 II Concept measures 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and 1,270mm tall with a 2,570mm wheelbase. It’s got a shorter wheelbase and length than the Mazda RX-8 but it’s a wee bit wider and lower.

Power comes from a boxer engine mated to a lightweight 6-speed manual gearbox, and that’s about all that Toyota reveals on what’s in the engine bay at the moment – no power figures or specs for now. It does power the rear wheels though, so with the right kind of power to weight ratio this could be one fun car to drive.

Look after the jump for a small photo gallery.
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The third-generation Toyota Yaris (or Vitz in Japan) was revealed at the end of last year, and there’s a hybrid version of the supermini that will be shown at Geneva, but now we’re looking at the European patent filings of a sporty variant that could be on the way.

The new Yaris, which is now longer and lower, already looks more tough and sporty next to the old car, but this one takes it a step further. There’s a full bodykit with a more aggressive front bumper that has its whole width blackened. The standard V-shaped grille is gone, replaced by a slim letterbox hole, and the headlights get extensions for a sharper look. In addition to foglamps, there are LED strips as well.

At the rear, the taillamps get round insides and there’s a huge diffuser style rear bumper with a central foglamp. After all these, it’s surprising that the hatch spoiler is so subtle.

The shape and front end really does remind me of the current (non RS) Renault Clio, so we’ve stuck both together to see if you agree. More pics after the jump!
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It’s sweet vindication for Toyota after the U.S. Department of Transportation said that electric systems and electromagnetic interference played no role in unintended acceleration cases. Reports of runaway cars and the subsequent persecution led the Japanese giant to recall 11 million vehicles worldwide, including nearly 8 million in the US since 2009.

“The jury is back. The verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Our conclusion is Toyota’s problems were mechanical, not electrical,” he added, which means that the only proven causes are sticky pedals and floor mats and that all other allegations and testimonies have no basis. Toyota has insisted all along that electronics isn’t the cause of sudden acceleration cases.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a study on the matter 10 months ago as requested by Congress, which sought evidence to back its believe that electronics or software was the problem. “Just about every member of Congress that questioned me said ‘It’s got to be electronics’,” LaHood was quoted as saying.

With the help of NASA engineers, the study sought to determine if cases of unintended acceleration in Toyota/Lexus vehicles were caused by something other than sticky pedals and trapped floor mats. The folks at NASA examined nine vehicles with alleged braking problems and subjected them to electromagnetic interference testing. They also looked at 280,000 lines of software codes to detect any flaws that could disrupt the electronic throttle control.

“Everything is data-based. It’s not made up. It’s not based on emotion. It’s not based on some story somebody told us,” LaHood said. Interestingly, his own daughter recently bought a 2011 Toyota Sienna. “She wanted an ironclad guarantee from me that her vehicle was going to be safe. I told me daughter that she should buy the Toyota, which she did,” the Transportation Secretary revealed.

South East Asia is Toyota territory. The world’s largest carmaker is almost like a “national carmaker” in Thailand and Indonesia, and is the top selling foreign brand in Malaysia, behind national carmakers Perodua and Proton. Toyota leads vehicle sales in our neighbouring markets by far, and actually captured a commanding 37% of an Indonesian total industry volume (TIV) of 762,000 cars sold in 2010.

Toyota Astra-Motor (TAM) revealed both this and their target for 2011, which is 36% of an estimated 800,000 TIV. TAM boss Johny Darmawan said that the lowered target is due to factors like the increase in vehicle tax, the vehicle ownership transfer fee, the issuance of progressive motorised vehicle tax and the rise of (non-subsidised) fuel prices.

Avanza sales in Malaysia may be declining, but it’s still the best performing model for TAM. 141,174 units found new homes in 2010, making it half a million Avanzas sold over seven years. It was also a 39% jump over 2009 sales although the MPV isn’t getting younger.

The feat is made more impressive when one considers that Daihatsu also sells the Avanza in Indonesia badged as the Xenia, which is cheaper than the Toyota badged car (Daihatsu is majority owned by Toyota and is the second best selling brand in Indonesia).

Trailing the Avanza in TAM’s range is the Kijang Innova at 53,549 units and Rush at 18,836 units. The biggest jumps were from the Yaris and Camry, which sales rose 95% and 78% respectively from 2009 figures. This represents a trend. Malaysia has long held the title as the “largest passenger car market in ASEAN”, but that could come under threat from Indonesia – 541,475 units were sold there in 2010, only just behind Malaysia’s 543,594.

We think the Toyota FT-86 Concept was pretty much very near to production car status already, but Toyota has further refined it and will unveil a new revision called the Toyota FT-86 II at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show this year, which will give a clearer indication of the final design of Toyota’s new sports car.

This shot of the FT-86 II hiding behind a garage door is the only image that Toyota has revealed at the moment. Those are some nice headlamps there – they’ll give the FT-86 some more ‘move aside please’ cred when you look at it come up from behind through the rear view mirror.

Can’t wait for Geneva!