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  • UniChip Europe pumps up Toyota Hilux 3.0L’s power

    In Toyota / By / / 6 comments

    If you think that your Toyota Hilux doesn’t have the grunt that you require, you will be pleased to know that Unichip Europe has introduced a new Uni-Q upgrade. The 3.0L Hilux which has been claimed to be previously ‘unmappable’ using traditional OBD based systems will now be able to be tuned up with the new remap.

    The Uni-Q upgrade enables tuners to refine and increase performance of any petrol or diesel engine. There will be a 29 bhp increase in power from 155 bhp to 184 bhp at 3500 rpm from the Hilux’s 3.0-litre engine, while torque figures jump from 344 Nm to 400 Nm from as low as 3,000rpm.

    Unichip Europe has developed an off the shelf ‘U-connect wiring loom’ for customers to install themselves in a matter of minutes. The Uni-Q comes pre-programmed with the specially developed ECU map settings for the fueling and turbo boost settings, making it an almost ‘plug and play’ scenario.

    A decent amount of performance is extracted from this bulky machine, thus this will be a welcome change for Hilux customers and would be even better if that specifications can be used for the 2.5 litre engines available here in Malaysia,

    Look after the jump for a power chart of the upgraded engine.
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  • Tesla partners Toyota in EV production, buys closed plant

    In Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Tesla Motors, Toyota / By / / 8 comments

    Toyota and Tesla have announced that they will partner each other in the production of electric cars. EV specialist Tesla will acquire Toyota’s New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) plant that was recently closed down. NUMMI, located across the San Francisco bay from Tesla’s Palo Alto HQ, was a former joint venture between Toyota and General Motors.

    Tesla will be looking to employ around 1,000 more staff. CEO Elon Musk said that Tesla’s next model, a sleek four-door coupe style called Model S, will account for about 20,000 units a year when it debuts in 2012. The $40,000 Model S will be affordable for the brand’s standards, joining the over $100,000 Roadster.

    Toyota will be investing $50 million in Tesla in exchange for common stock after the latter’s initial public offering is completed. What does the world’s biggest automaker stand to gain here? Tesla’s lean and rapid product development is one, as well as its electric vehicle technology. Toyota is still using nickel-metal-hydride batteries in its hybrids for instance, while Tesla is using lithium-ion. In return, Tesla will gain from Toyota’s scale, engineering resources and access to its massive supplier base.

    “Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that venture business spirit and take on the challenges of the future,” Toyota president Akio Toyoda said about the partnership.

    See and read more of the Tesla Model S here.

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  • Toyota pays record $16.4 million fine over recall issue

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 26 comments

    Toyota has paid a record $16.4 million fine to settle allegations by US regulators the company was too slow to recall vehicles with defective accelerator pedals. It was claimed that Toyota hid the issue from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for at least four months, while the law required safety defects to be reported withing five business days.

    That sum, the maximum allowed under auto safety regulations, was paid to the US Treasury in lieu of the Japanese automaker admitting wrongdoing. Now, I’m not sure how American laws work, but the exchange sounds like quite a good deal. The civil penalty payment was paid two days before Toyota USA sales chief, Jim Lentz, is expected to appear before a congressional committee investigating Toyota recalls in this long saga.

    There’s more to come for the world’s biggest automaker: US safety regulators are also investigating whether Toyota delayed a 2009 recall of all-weather floor mats that could jam the gas pedal. That investigation is expected to run through the summer and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood does not rule out the possibility of another fine.

    Away from the courts, things look rosier for Toyota. Its US sales rose 24% in April as incentives buoyed demand for the Corolla and Prius. Company president Akio Toyoda was quoted as saying: “We are still in the middle of the storm, but I am feeling that we can see clear skies in the distance.”

     

  • Formula 1 too elitist, too little fan interaction for Toyota

    In Formula 1, Motorsports, Toyota / By / / 58 comments

    Toyota will not be returning to Formula 1, saying that the pinnacle of motor racing is out of touch with its customer base. The Japanese automaker pulled out of F1 last year after seven years in the sport. Racing events that allow closer connection with the fans, such as Nascar in the US and the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race in Germany are the new priorities, revealed Toyota’s racing program head and ex F1-team boss Tadashi Yamashina.

    New president Akio Toyoda, who assumed the role in June 2009, is the main influence behind this change of thinking. Throw in the company’s worst financial showing in 70 years and the F1 pull out was inevitable. But it wasn’t the sole reason, as many believe. “It might not have been so abrupt, but it would have happened,” Yamashina said of the pull out. “President Toyoda’s stance on motor sports is geared more toward the customer. There is a big gap between Formula 1 and Toyota’s actual car users.” Calling F1 too “elitist”, Yamashina pointed out that the Nurburgring race, for instance, allowed fans to get into the pit lane, mingle with the teams and even touch the cars. In F1, you’ve got to be either rich, famous, well connected (or a combination of the above) to stroll the paddock!

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  • Toyota is back in the black, streamlining effort continues

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 7 comments

    Toyota will further streamline and become more efficient by moving production to emerging markets and away from mature markets such as North America and Japan. Exchange rates are one of the problems faced by Toyota as it exports a bigger portion of the cars it produces in Japan compared to rivals Honda and Nissan. After its first loss in 70 years, Toyota rebounded to make a profit in the fiscal year ending March 2010, but it took a ¥320 billion kick from the yen’s rise against the dollar and euro.

    Targets for production in North America will be higher “self-reliance from development to manufacturing” said Atsushi Niimi, Toyota’s global manufacturing boss. Toyota’s North American capacity is now lower by some 400,000 units from the closure of New United Motor Manufacturing Inc, the company’s joint assembly operation with GM in California. Production in Japan will be streamlined by combining lines and putting production of similar vehicles in the same plants. Also planned are lines that are able to produce both body-on-frame and unibody vehicles.

    Toyota seems to have got back on its feet financially. With aggressive cost cutting and streamlining, the Japanese giant now needs to make an estimated 7 million units to turn a profit, from the previous 8 million. For instance, in the fiscal year ending March 2009, Toyota built 7.56 million units and made a lost, whereas this year they made 7.28 million and made a profit. Toyota’s aim to be a leaner outfit was evident in Thailand, with the suspension and migration of Hilux/Fortuner production.

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  • Thailand vehicle sales on the up despite political crisis

    In Cars, General Motors, Isuzu, Toyota / By / / 10 comments

    Political strife within the Thai government hasn’t slowed down vehicle sales in the Kingdom. In April, General Motors reported a 62% jump in sales to 1,879 vehicles compared to 1,162 units in the same month last year. With this rise in demand, GM is toying with the idea of increasing output at its Rayong factory to 76,000 vehicles per annum and to invest US$467 million to upgrade facilities and build a new diesel engine plant.

    The gains are not just for GM, as even Toyota, who recently suspended production at one of its plants, increased deliveries by 43% to 92,000 units. Isuzu, another big pick-up truck player, has reported a 44% jump to 46,071 units sold. These figures are year-to-date, as of end April. According to the Automotive Industry Club, general vehicle output has increased by 129% from a year earlier to 150,119 vehicles.

    Ray Young, GM’s vice president of international operations, is concerned about the current political crisis but reiterated his company’s confidence in our northern neighbour. “We are monitoring the situation in Thailand, but we remain optimistic. Our business and expansion plans will continue in Thailand without delays. The nation will remain the leading automotive market in the ASEAN region,” he said.

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  • Toyota to suspend production in Thai factory

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 30 comments

    Toyota will suspend production at one of its four vehicle plants in Thailand as part of restructuring efforts to boost efficiency and profitability. Vehicle production will stop by the end of this month at Thai Auto Works, located in Samrong on the outskirts of Bangkok. The plant opened in 1988 and is responsible for churning out the Vigo (Hilux to us) and Fortuner to the tune of around 60,000 units per year.

    The 960 workers at TAW and production of the two models will be transferred to two other Thai plants that build them. This development has nothing to do with the current political situation in Thailand, as the decision was made in November last year.

    Toyota made 435,000 vehicles in Thailand last year, which is a quarter lower than 2008 figures. It’s not the only manufacturer faced with the problem of excess capacity due to lower demand from the global economic crisis.

    However, Toyota may have to readjust a bit more than others after its aggressive expansion plan to build more plants and cars when times were good.

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  • Toyota Corolla gets updated – Altis facelift coming soon?

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 134 comments

    Toyota has quietly facelifted the Toyota Corolla (sold here as the Corolla Altis) around the end of last month. This comes shortly after the hatchback version of car known as the Auris was launched. Obvious changes include a new grille up front and a new design for the tail lamps at the rear.

    The 2.0 litre engine that is already available in Thailand in the pre-facelift model will also be making its way into models all around the world. At least one country – Australia is confirmed to get the 2.0 litre other than Thailand. What Thailand got is the Dual VVT-i 3ZR-FE but some countries could get the Valvematic 3ZR-FAE 2.0 litre that can produce 156 horses.

    The photos of the European spec here is more upmarket compared to the ones we get here in ASEAN – their instrument cluster has a higher end multi-info display integrated into the center of each meter face for example. There is also start/stop functions.

    Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new facelifted Corolla.
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  • Toyota Camry Hybrid production & sales begin in China

    In Cars, China, International News, Toyota / By / / 91 comments

    The production of the Toyota Camry Hybrid (the version with the Aurion-style look) has started in China via Toyota’s partner Guangzhou Toyota Motor. The Camry Hybrid will be sold between 319,800 yuan to 364,800 yuan, which roughly translates to between RM150k to RM172k at current exchange rates.

    The Camry Hybrid is now produced at a few locations around the world – Kentucky, Thailand, Australia, Japan and now China. Not all produce the same version though – there are some that produce the US and Japanese market bodytype while the rest produce the Aurion-based body. The fundamentals under the metal are the same though – a 2.4 litre Atkinson cycle 2AZ-FXE engine producing 147 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 187Nm of torque at 4,400rpm, paired to a 30kW (40 horses) electric motor with 270Nm of torque.

     

  • Toyota Vios Facelift for M’sia launched: RM72K-RM92K!

    In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By / / 449 comments

    UMW Toyota has launched the facelifted Toyota Vios this afternoon. Like most MC (minor change in Toyota speak) cars, the makeover is limited to the front and rear look, wheels and cabin trim while the internals are unchanged. Powered by the tried and tested 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre with 108 bhp and 141Nm mated to a four-speed automatic, the refreshed Vios sees a slight increase in price over the old car, ranging from RM1,100 to over RM2,000 depending on variant. Here are the new prices, which are OTR with insurance:

    • Vios TRD Sportivo RM92,000
    • Vios G RM87,300
    • Vios E RM81,500
    • Vios J (A) RM76,090
    • Vios J (M) RM71,990

    Up front, the main change is the radiator grille, which brings some “Camry style” to the Vios. The grille now has two chrome horizontal bars as opposed to the previous single split, while the fog lamp housings are now in silver. At the launch event, UMWT showed off the range topping TRD Sportivo and the G-spec, and both came with new design 15-inch alloys and door visors. At the back, the MC Vios gets new taillamps that has more detailing compared to the plain old units. The chrome strip above the number plate is also longer and more prominent now. I have a feeling Toyota wanted to give the Vios a “classier” feel with this facelift, and the grille, chrome and multi-spoke alloys are supposed to create that effect.

    Inside, the theme continues with piano black trim on the trademark “waterfall” centre console and chrome on the gear shifter base, hand brake knob and door handles (chrome package only for G). There’s also a new steering wheel with its base flattened off slightly and redesigned audio controls on the left spoke. In the G, the wheel is covered in dimpled leather while the TRD Sportivo gets red stitching to match the rest of its red/black cabin. The G gets combination leather seats and a light grey/beige theme, which further enhances the Vios’ airy, spacious feel. Variants lower down the range get dark grey fabric. We don’t get the Thai market’s HUD, start/stop button and AUX jack.

    Equipment wise, all variants come with ABS with EBD and Brake Assist. J-spec cars get a driver’s airbag while the rest comes with two. Most of the goodies such as rear disc brakes, 15-inch rims and integrated stereo are only for the TRD Sportivo and G-spec. As before, the TRD Sportivo can be ordered with optional sports suspension. Scanning through the spec sheet, I saw that both manual and auto J-spec cars now come with power adjustable and retractable wing mirrors, which wasn’t the case previously, if memory serves right.

    UMWT started taking orders for this car in February, and has over 2,500 bookings in hand as of now. The company plans to sell 32,400 units of the Vios this year and is confident of retaining the model’s No.1 position in the B-segment.

    Pictures from the launch after the jump.
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