Toyota may produce Prius in California with GM

Reports are emerging today that Toyota is considering producing its hybrid Prius in California at the joint-venture production facility it shares with General Motors. Called New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. or NUMMI for short, the facility currently produces the Toyota Corolla, Tacoma, Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. If Toyota decided to add the Prius to its list of production vehicles, it would mark the first time that the world's most popular hybrid has been assembled outside of Asia (it's currently built at facilities in both Japan and China).
Toyota has responded to the report saying that no decision has been made. If it were to happen, we imagine that GM's approval would also be required somehow. Nearly all of the Prius' major components would have to be shipped to Fremont, CA where NUMMI is located, but the surging demand for fuel efficient vehicles in the U.S., particularly the Prius, could make the whole idea worthwhile despite its costs. Also bear in mind that Toyota wants to sell 1 million hybrids per year by 2010. Both the Prius and its largest market, the U.S., are integral to reaching that goal. Regardless of whether its built at NUMMI or somewhere else, we expect the Prius to eventually be assembled on our shores sometime in the future.

[ Via: The Detroit News ]
[ Tag: gm nummi prius, gm prius, GmNummiPrius, GmPrius, prius California, prius NUMMI, prius U.S., prius US, PriusCalifornia, PriusNummi, PriusU.s., PriusUs, toyota gm nummi, toyota prius, toyota prius nummi, ToyotaGmNummi, ToyotaPrius, ToyotaPriusNummi ]

Toyota Crown hybrid gets Night View, spots pedestrians

We've questioned why some automakers in the past have gone to the trouble of replicating the look of traditional gauges when normal ones would do the trick. In the case of the new Toyota Crown Hybrid, though, there is a good reason for the 1280 x 480 pixel LCD panel mounted directly above the steering wheel in the dash, and Toyota calls it "Night View." Though other companies have used some sort of night vision technology before, and many have begun offering headlights that turn with the steering wheel to improve the safety of driving at night, Toyota has gone a step further by adding human recognition to its system. The technology currently only works when the vehicle is being driven between 15-60km/h, or about 10-40 miles per hour. Certain conditions, like rain, can also sometimes force the system to shut down. A high cost is also being cited as a potential obstacle to bring the technology to market. Toyota, however, is forging ahead and currently working on lowering the cost of Night View and programming it to recognize bicycles and animals.

[ Via: Nikkei ]
[ Tag: night view, night vision, night-view, night-vision, NightView, NightVision, toyota, toyota night view, toyota-night-view, ToyotaNightView ]

CEO says Hyundai "green line more advanced than Prius"

Toyota pretty much has the hybrid market cornered right now with its Prius sedan, and the automaker is reaping the benefits of the model's fuel efficiency in the form of record sales. This fact also makes Toyota the envy of various other automakers, considering that their hybrid sales make up a sliver of the overall market. This being the case, nearly every competitor is currently developing advanced hybrid models of their own, including Hyundai, which plans on offering hybrid models for sale in the year 2010. According to Hyundai CEO Dr. Kim Dong-Jin, its new hybrid technology is "more advanced than the Prius." Don-Jin goes even further, calling the best-selling hybrid model "now quite old-tech." The first Prius was designed back in the late '90s while the current model has been on sale since 2002, and we all know how quickly technology advances. Still, calling out the Prius, which is pretty much the preeminent green car in the world, before your answer to it is even on the market, isn't likely to win the Korean company any friends. Plus, a next-generation Prius with a new version of the company's Hybrid Synergy Drive in on its way and will likely reach showrooms by the time Hyundai begins offering its own hybrid. Yes Hyundai, your first hybrid may be better than today's Prius, but can it beat tomorrow's?

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: hybrid, hyundai, hyundai hybrid, hyundai-hybrid, HyundaiHybrid, prius, toyota, toyota prus, ToyotaPrus ]

Toyota developing clean-diesel V8 for Tundra/Sequoia

Toyota has earned its reputation for producing fuel efficient vehicles, but one dent in the Japanese automaker's armor has been the gas-guzzling Tundra and Sequoia. To help rectify the situation, Toyota Engineers have been working hard on a 4.5L clean-diesel powerplant that will substantially improve fuel economy for the body-on-frame trucks. The 4.5L engine is reportedly scheduled to arrive Stateside by 2010, and it's a no-brainer in light of the fact that both Ford and GM are offering similarly sized oil-burners for their trucks and SUVs.
You may remember the Dually Tundra fantasy truck that was shown last year at SEMA. Well, this news means the mega-sized diesel may not be far from reality. Inside Line is also reporting that Toyota may be delivering a monstrous 7.0L diesel for a commercial-grade Tundra, with a possible production date around 2011-2012. Toyota still hasn't given the go-ahead for a heavy duty Tundra, so the king-sized diesel powerplant likely will arrive only if the larger Tundra does, too.

[ Via: Inside Line ]
[ Tag: Clean Diesel V8, CleanDieselV8, green, Toyota, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tundra, ToyotaSequoia, ToyotaTundra ]

Ford ties Toyota in Strategic Vision 2008 Total Quality Awards

Strategic Vision has announced the results of its annual Total Quality Awards and is touting the performance of Ford this year versus perennial powerhouse Toyota. Both brands have three vehicles each that lead their segments, which include the Edge, Mustang Convertible and F-250/350 for Ford and Toyota's Yaris, 4Runner and Sequoia. The Volvo C30 also led the Small Specialty under $25,000 segment and the Mercury Sable the Large Car category, while the Scion xB was tops in the Small Multi-Function segment and the Lexus RX350 tied with the Land Rover LR2 in the Near Luxury SUV segment. Though all of those brands are technically owned by either Ford Motor Company or Toyota North America, none were counted by Strategic Vision in the battle of the Blue Oval versus the Japanese Juggernaut, though the automakers still would've tied if they were (if Land Rover were not counted as owned by Ford). Meanwhile, the Medium Car segment was lead by the Volkswagen Jetta, though the new Chevy Malibu jumped to second place (how are the Jetta and Malibu in the same segment?), and Honda had only one car make the list, with the Odyssey being named the best Minivan. Follow the jump to view the leaders of all 19 segments.
While most surveys like this count objective stats like the number of problems encountered during initial ownership, Strategic Vision introduces additional criteria by which to judge vehicle quality like the buying experience, what it's like to own a particular car, its performance and driving and even exterior and interior styling. There's a lot of subjectivity in those additional criteria, which tends to skew the results as a whole regardless of the 20,655 buyer-strong sample pool that was surveyed on the 2008 vehicles it bought during September, October and November of last year. Also, as we were reminded by this post, keep in mind that most automakers are actually clients of Strategic Vision, Ford and Toyota included, so there's also money passing hands between these companies. The appearance of conflicts of interest notwithstanding, new car buyers love lists and automakers work hard to land on them, so you decide for yourself how much weight to give to Strategic Vision's 2008 Total Quality Awards.


PRESS RELEASE

The 2008 Total Quality Awards™
Ford vs. Toyota: The Battle for Total Quality Intensifies, Reports Strategic Vision

For immediate release - Wednesday, May 28, 2008

San Diego – Toyota and Ford tied for leading in the most segments on Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index™ (TQI), leading with three vehicles each. Toyota lead with its Yaris, 4Runner and Sequoia while Ford lead with the Edge, Mustang Convertible and F-250/350. The San Diego based research firm today announced the 2008 results that are based on the ratings by new vehicle owners in 19 product segments.

Toyota Motor Sales had two additional leaders with the Scion xB and the Lexus RX 350 (which tied with Land Rover's LR2); while Ford Motor Company added two additional wins with the Mercury Sable and Volvo C30. "Ford is back, establishing its vehicle quality in the hearts and minds of its customers," says Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision's automotive division. "The Ford Edge is one of the vehicles Ford can be proud of. By careful attention to key areas such as exterior styling, workmanship and performance, (which are the cues that signal quality for crossover customers), Ford is building vehicles that also build brand equity and perceived customer quality."

The Total Quality Index™ is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. It asks buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to performance and driving. It is much more than simply counting problems. "Innovation and thoughtfulness in functionality and design, keeping in mind how the customer will interact and use the vehicle, is essential," reports Dr. Darrel Edwards, Founder and CEO of Strategic Vision. "Vehicles like the Volvo C30 and Toyota Sequoia are both terrific examples of providing customers with this 'functional luxury' in a very stylish design suggesting quality both on the inside and out."

Mercedes, Honda and Chevrolet brands each had two leaders: Mercedes leading with the S-Class and SL, Honda with the Odyssey and Ridgeline, and Chevrolet with the Corvette Convertible and a tie with itself in full size trucks between the Avalanche and Silverado. From three leads last year, Hyundai took the lead in only one segment this year with its Santa Fe in one of the most competitive automotive segments, the Smaller SUVs. The Volkswagen Jetta, Chrysler 300C and BMW X5 were each TQI leaders. Also worthy of mention is the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu, now second in the highly competitive Medium Car segment.

"Over the past quarter century in the US, customer perceptions of quality of domestic and Asian manufacturers underwent large swings. Today, it doesn't matter if you are a Toyota or a Ford, BMW or Hyundai, each manufacturer has the opportunity and mandate to produce a product with the right Cues of Quality - those product attributes that signal quality and create customer Trust - and present vehicles that have a greater impact on the purchase decision," says Alexander Edwards.

Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments:

Segment Winner(s) TQI Score
Small Car Toyota Yaris 860
Small Multi-Function Scion xB 876
Medium Car Volkswagen Jetta 911
Large Car Mercury Sable 877
Small Specialty Under $25,000 Volvo C30 T5 Hatchback 908
Near Luxury Car Chrysler 300C 927
Luxury Car Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan* 950
Convertibles Under $30,000 Ford Mustang Convertible 896
Convertibles Over $30,000 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible*, Mercedes-Benz SL 940/939
Minivan Honda Odyssey 864
Small SUV Hyundai Santa Fe* 866
Medium Crossover Ford Edge 877
Medium SUV Toyota 4Runner 891
Large SUV Toyota Sequoia 897
Near Luxury SUV Lexus RX 350*, Land Rover LR2 913/912
Luxury SUV BMW X5 907
Standard Pick-Up Honda Ridgeline* 878
Large Pickup Chevrolet Avalanche 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 880/880
Heavy Duty Pickup Ford F-250/350 863

*2007 Total Quality Award™ winner

The Total Quality Index™ was calculated from the responses of 20,655 buyers who bought 2008 models in September, October and November of 2007. Strategic Vision has presented Total Quality annually since 1995.

Since its incorporation in 1989, Strategic Vision has studied consumer and constituent decision-making for the widest variety of clients, including most auto manufacturers, Coca-Cola, American Airlines, Procter and Gamble, as well as for most advertising agencies. Its unique expertise is identifying consumers' motivational hierarchies, including the values that shape perceptions and capture the customers' emotional responses and drive behavior. The firm's in-depth Discovery Interviews and ValueCentered Surveys provide comprehensive, integrated and actionable outcomes.

[ Via: Strategic Vision ]
[ Tag: ford quality, FordQuality, strategic vision, strategic vision tot..., StrategicVision, StrategicVisionTot..., toyota quality, ToyotaQuality ]

Subaru RWD coupe will be sold worldwide, Toyota version only in Japan

Inside Line is reporting that the new, RWD coupe being developed by Subaru and Toyota will only be sold as a Subaru in markets outside of Japan, while the Toyota version will remain exclusive to the Land of the Rising Sun. The report goes on to say that the coupe will be based off the Subaru Impreza (despite Toyota/Subaru's own press release saying that it's an "all-new" platform) and that power will be provided by a naturally aspirated, 2.0-liter boxer engine producing 220 hp at 6,500 rpm.
Toyota and Subaru are using the Integra Type-R as the performance benchmark for the new coupe, with a 103-inch wheelbase, a 2+2 seating layout and a curb weight of 2,866 pounds. As reported before, the coupe will debut in 2011 and pricing is expected to begin just south of $20,000.

[ Via: Inside Line ]
[ Tag: boxer, coupe, japan, subaru, toyota ]

Lexus LF-A snapped post-crash, more details revealed

Toyota's campaign of the Lexus LF-A racing prototype at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring wasn't lacking for drama, with a serious crash that took place during the night-time qualifying session followed by some technical issues on race day. Details haven't been released as to what caused the crash, but the damage to the driver's side rear quarter panel was enough to cause the vehicle to limp back to the pits, where KGP spies snapped off 15 shots of the LF-A before it headed back to Toyota's 'Ring workshop.
The V10 nestled deep into the engine bay proves that Lexus is going for a front-midship layout for its first supercar, and judging by the extensive use of carbon fiber in the cracked body panels and underbody diffuser, keeping the LF-A as light as possible is a top priority. Despite the race-ready interior, KGP's shots show an office very similar to that found in the LF-A concepts we've seen at shows, with a massive central tunnel to house both the transmission and a substantial amount of the engine.
The following day, the LF-A got out to the starting grid, but after an hour of racing, smoke began pouring from the rear of the racer, diagnosed later as an oil leak. The pit crew worked feverishly over the ensuing two hours to get the LF-A back out onto the track to finish a total of 106 laps, with a fastest lap of 9:19.757 on lap 85, and placing 120th overall.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: 24 hours of nurburgring, 24HoursOfNurburgring, breaking, lexus, lexus lf-a, lexus lf-a spy pics, lexus lf-a spy shots, LexusLf-a, LexusLf-aSpyPics, LexusLf-aSpyShots, lf-a, nurburgring, spy shots, SpyShots ]

Toyota and Matsushita building new battery plants in Japan

If Toyota has any chance of meeting its stated goal of selling a million hybrids per year within the next decade, it's going to need lots and lots of batteries. Along with its partner, Matsushita, Toyota already has plants in operation to build the necessary nickel metal hydride battery packs, and one of those plants will be enlarged in order to meet capacity requirements. Two additional plants will also be built in Japan, one of which will begin production of the newer lithium ion batteries which are likely to be installed in future Lexus hybrids and Prius sedans. Toyota's full investment in these three battery plants is said to be roughly 20 billion yen, which is equal to 192 million dollars.
Toyota's dominance in the hybrid vehicle market is going to be challenged as fuel prices continue to rise. Recently, along with its partner NEC, Nissan announced that it was building a new plant to build advanced lithium ion packs for electric vehicles and hybrids. Additionally, General Motors is getting closer to releasing its new Volt, which many believe is superior in design over Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

[ Via: AFP ]
[ Tag: ]

Toyota boosts volunteer overtime pay

Toyota is the most successful automaker on the planet, with monstrous profits and vehicle sales. A big reason for that success is the Japanese automaker's sterling quality image, and Toyota is boosting volunteer overtime pay at home to keep workers happy. The move to increase OT came in part because of mounting pressure over the Japanese culture of "service overtime", a practice which courts say led to the death of a 30 year old worker due to overwork. Toyota had been paying for only two hours of Quality Control Circle meeting hours per month, even though meetings are more frequent than that.
Toyota has proven to be tough opponent for other automakers, and workers that are willing to sacrifice time free of charge certainly helped. At least now hard-working employees can still be just as dedicated as before, but with a little more money in the paycheck as a reward.

[ Via: Google ]
[ Tag: Japan, Kaisen, Overtime, Toyota ]

The end is nigh? Camry outsold Silverado in April, gunning for F-Series

Could the reign of Ford's F-Series atop the sales charts in the U.S. come to an end? Some believe that it could indeed happen, and it's not even another pickup truck that is threatening the Blue Oval's bread-and-butter full-size pickup, it's the Toyota Camry. Let that sink in for a moment... alright, let's continue. The Camry already posted better sales numbers than the Chevy Silverado, the perennial second-best seller to the F-Series, for the month of April. In fact, the Silverado suffered a sales drop of 24.7 percent to 37,231 units while the Camry grabbed 40,016 sales in the same month. Still, even after the Camry's great sales month, the Silverado holds the edge when the entire year-to-date sales numbers are compiled, and the F Series still sits atop the list for now. Consider too that the Ford truck will get a major redesign for the upcoming model year. So, while high gas prices will likely continue to put pressure on full-size pickups, let's not jump to hasty conclusions just yet.
[Sources: Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, the Auto Channel]

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: best selling, best-selling, BestSelling, camry sales, camry-sales, CamrySales, chevrolet, chevy, f series, f series sales, f-series, f-series-sales, ford, FSeries, FSeriesSales, pickup sales, pickup-sales, PickupSales, toyota, truck sales, truck-sales, TruckSales ]

Spoiler Alert: Super GT Rd. 3 Results

After previous incarnations of the Nissan GT-R ran away with successive JGTC titles, Japan's GT Association decided to inflict "success ballast" on race winners in an attempt to level the playing field (i.e give Toyota and Honda a chance).As the current GT-R race car is built to 2009 Super GT specifications, the GT-A handed it a weight penalty of 50kgs added right from the start of the season. After winning Round 1 in Suzuka car number 23 had to carry an additional 50kgs at Round 2 in Sugo, which it promptly won anyway. Then thanks to also setting numerous fastest laps and other speeding offenses it was deemed that Benoit Treluyer and Satoshi Motoyama's ride would have to port an massive 200ks (440lbs) of ballast at this weekend's race at Fuji Speedway. That presents a couple of problems. Firstly, where the heck do you safely stow 200kgs of lead? And would the car meet GT-A regulations even if Nissan found a way to do it? The ruling body's compromise was to give the car a 115kg penalty and fit a stifling restrictor to the GT-R's air intake. That knocked 30kph off the GT-R's maximum velocity at the end of Fuji's 1.5km straight, and in the words of Benoit, "Gives us no chance at all."Follow through the jump to find out if he was right, and to find out how Lightning McQueen faired in GT300 after qualifying on pole yesterday.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: fjui speed way, FjuiSpeedWay, fuji speed way, FujiSpeedWay, gt-r, lightning mcqueen, LightningMcqueen, nsx, sc-430, super gt, SuperGt ]

Toyota gets in on the iPod integration game

When a new car lists "iPod Jack" in its feature list, you never know just how much of a feature that really is. Sometimes it just means your iPod will play and charge while plugged in to the car stereo, but forget about changing artists or choosing a new playlist unless you fish it out of whatever oddly-shaped hole that's been left for it. And retrofitting for a lot of cars means an expensive stay at the electronics store, or wires that cross from here to there.

Toyota has just released an iPod integration retrofit kit that will make your new auxiliary input look like it came straight from the factory. And it will give you full control of all iPod functions from either the head unit or the steering wheel. Click Read to check out the full press release.

Press Release: Toyota iPod Integration Kit

No more earpieces, no more fiddling with the clickwheel as you drive, no more fumbling on the floor to search for your wayward player: Toyota has come up with a perfect integration system that links Apple's iPod directly to your car's audio system. The iPod Integration Kit, available now, provides a simple and discreet connection in the glovebox. Simply plug in the iPod and a direct link is formed between the player and the audio system, letting you select and play tracks using the controls on the audio head unit or (where fitted) the controls on the steering wheel. Functions such as random play, scan, fast-forward, rewind and song or playlist repeat are all made possible.

On systems with CD text read-out, the playlist and selected track titles are shown, while on all units, the play list, track number and elapsed time are displayed. And there's no risk of the music being cut short by a failing battery, as the adapter will charge up the iPod if the level runs low.

The unit is simple to install and has been developed with approval from Apple, earning it the Made for iPod certification of quality. Its location in the glovebox also keeps your iPod out of sight from prying eyes.

The iPod Integration Kit is compatible with all current generation iPod models that have an Apple dock connector. It will also work with many earlier generation versions, although in a few cases some functions may not be accessible. It can be used in any current Toyota or Lexus model, apart from Aygo. It is not currently available for LCVs.

The cost is ?150, including owner's manual and VAT, but not including fitting (approximately one hour).

Source: Toyota

[ Via: Tags: apple ]
[ Tag: apple,audio,ipod,stereo,toyota ]

Subaru worried that RWD coupe could dilute brand

One topic of debate that began raging after Toyota and Subaru officially announced their collaboration on a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe was how the Toyobaru would be marketed, particularly with both brands getting their own models. Apparently, Subaru execs share our concerns.
Subaru has branded itself as the purveyor of competent, multi-purpose vehicles that begin and end with one distinct feature: all-wheel-drive. By adding another vehicle into its lineup lacking that core trait, Subaru risks diluting its hard-earned image, not to mention going toe-to-toe with the Toyota monolith by selling a badge-engineered variant.
Automotive News spoke with Fuji Heavy Industries overseas sales chief, Mat Nagato, who said, "We may lose our longstanding territory, or we may lose the great niche brand image. The potential risk is there. We have to be very smart on marketing strategy." This issue has to be weighed against the short-term gain of a new, inexpensive model for enthusiasts and Subaru's continued growth, but the simple solution would be to nix the Subaru version altogether, allow Toyota to brand the new coupe as its own and rake in the cash provided by the partnership. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen, so the only thing Subaru can do now is make an attempt to differentiate its own version from Toyota's, while praying that consumers won't forget what "Makes a Subaru a Subaru."

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: rear wheel drive coupe, RearWheelDriveCoupe, subaru, subaru rwd coupe, SubaruRwdCoupe, toyota, toyota rwd coupe, ToyotaRwdCoupe ]

If it sounds too good to be true... Toyota issues scam warning

If ever there were modern day candidates for being drawn and quartered, scam artists would qualify. Cowardly and cloaked behind the identities that legitimate brands have toiled to establish, these shysters prey on the unwitting and gullible. Toyota is warning its customers to be vigilant and watch out for fake offers seeking personal financial information and bearing Toyota's branding. There are several fake offers that Toyota is particularly concerned about, all singing from the same hymnal. One scam goes as far as to send along a totally fake check, while another touts a mystery shopper program, and still others go the "you've just won a lottery" route. The goal of all the surreptitious activity is to obtain enough information for identity theft. We're not financial advisors, but it's particularly satisfying to use this crap for its intended purpose: starting the wood stove. Toyota has set the appropriate law enforcement agencies on the case. Four Tundras have been outfitted appropriately for dispatching miscreants in a gruesome fashion.

[ Via: 419.Bittenus.com ]
[ Tag: fake check,fake toyota check,FakeCheck,FakeToyotaCheck,scam warning,ScamWarning,toyota check,toyota fraud,toyota scam,ToyotaCheck,ToyotaFraud,ToyotaScam ]

Toyota outsells GM globally in Q1

Both General Motors and Toyota have released their global sales figures for the first quarter of 2008, and for those who like to keep tabs on which automaker is the biggest in the world when it comes to sales, we have new news. The last time we convened for this discussion, both GM and Toyota were in a dead heat for the title of World's Best-Selling Automaker in 2007, though GM was eventually found to have sold more by the slimmest of margins. It seems that this time Toyota has firmly taken the lead in Q1 2008, selling 2.41 million vehicles worldwide to GM's 2.25 million. The Detroit News notes that Toyota also outsold GM in Q1 2007 before GM went on to win the year outright, which just goes to show that things can change over the next nine months. GM is actually enjoying record sales outside of the U.S. in the Asia Pacific region, Europe and Latin American, Africa and the Middle East. Its own domestic market is what continues to drag down GM's numbers, with sales off 10% in the U.S. through March. Sales in the U.S. for Toyota through March were also down, but only by 4.4%. We reiterate like we always do when talk of this global sales crown comes up – it means very little in the grand scheme of things who sells more cars globally. But titles like this can be used to good effect in marketing and for bolstering an automaker's internal morale, so don't expect either one to admit they don't want the mantle of World's Best-Selling Automaker.

[ Via: The Detroit News ]
[ Tag: general motors toyota sales,GeneralMotorsToyotaSales,gm,gm q1 results,gm toyota global sales,GmQ1Results,GmToyotaGlobalSales,toyota,toyota q1 results,ToyotaQ1Results ]

It's happened: Boy hit by hybrid, mom blames quiet running

When an eight-year-old boy on a bicycle gets hit by a car while riding in the middle of the street, the blame often points directly at the youth. However, if the car in question just happens to be a quiet hybrid-electric... there just may be reason to accuse the vehicle. Last weekend, a youthful Owen Erickson was riding his two-wheeler with a friend when he was struck by a Toyota Prius and tossed onto the hood of the popular hybrid. Thankfully, he was unhurt. His mother, however, was quick to place some of the blame on the "totally silent" Prius, claiming her son never heard it coming. As a scapegoat, the hybrid-electric vehicle is taking more than its fair share of heat. Two years ago, we blogged about the silent danger of hybrids. Earlier this year, Maryland launched a study, and passed legislation aimed at vehicle noise levels (more specifically, the "lack of" audible decibels), citing a legitimate concern for the blind. Just last month, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to study whether or not a "minimum sound level" needs to be established for these highly-efficient silent runners.We obviously haven't "heard" the end of this hybrid-electric argument as it begins to gain momentum around the country. Whether future Prius models are equipped with blaring sirens or not, we do know that Moms will still need to teach their children to not play in the middle of the street. Thanks for the tip, Tyler!

[ Via: KARE 11 ]
[ Tag: dangerous,deaf,electric-only,hybrid,hybrid-electric,noise,Prius,quiet,silent,Toyota ]

Next-gen Prius coming in January with more power, efficiency

The current Prius is baked from a refined recipe that results in a roomy, practical and efficient vehicle lurking under an eco-statement exterior, or at least we thought so. Five years on, it's still the most popular way to conspicuously consume under the guise of saving the planet. Toyota hasn't been resting on the success of its green badge of targeted consumerism, so we're going to see a new Prius at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January, according to Toyota President Watanabe. The 3rd-generation Prius will grow in size, and engine displacement will be bumped to 1.8 liters to increase performance. Despite the increase in size and sprightliness, weight will reportedly hold steady. Further changes are in store after the launch, with plug-in and Li-Ion updates to come.
The nameplate will also move beyond a single model and become a sub-brand during the reign of Prius the III. More body styles are coming, and if you think the Prius is a roachy-looking thing, the concept hints Toyota has given us are possibly even weirder. The sub-1,000 pound 1/X might offer a glimpse at another type of Prius, though more realistically, the sad-eyed Hybrid X vannish concept suggests the way things are headed without the ridiculous pronunciation of its featherweight companion. If things go according to Toyota's plan for world domination, the Prius will become one of the pillars upon which the marque is built, next to the Corolla and Camry institutions.

[ Via: Auto Observer ]
[ Tag: 2009 detroit,2009 toyota prius,2009Detroit,2009ToyotaPrius,breaking,detroit auto show,DetroitAutoShow,li-ion,li-ion hybrids,li-ion prius,li-ionbattery,Li-ionHybrids,Li-ionPrius,lithium ion,lithium ion battery,lithium ion prius,LithiumIon,LithiumIonBattery,LithiumIonPrius,new prius,new toyota prius,NewPrius,NewToyotaPrius,north american inter...,NorthAmericanInter...,plug in,plug in prius,plug-in,plug-in hybrid,plug-inhybrid,PlugIn,PlugInPrius,plugins,toyota prius,ToyotaPrius ]

Owner takes Prius topless, makes hybrid convertible

Some modifications improve the breed; others are just plain stupid. We'll let you decide on this one. A forum member at PriusChat by the name of Exproducer spent six months and over $17,000 modifying his Waveline Blue Prius to get the open-air experience that was obviously lacking from his life. The amount of mods necessary to remove the roof and install the electrically operated soft top are staggering. The side airbags had to be nixed and the rear seats no longer fold down. The antenna had to be removed and relocated to the dashboard, and the trunk has lost half of its usable space with the top folded down. However, what's even more disturbing is Exproducer's claim that while fuel economy has dropped by two MPG with the top up, it's actually improved by four MPG when he's cruising with the wind in his hair. Since Toyota spent millions of dollars on wind tunnel testing the Prius to make it slippery as snot, we somehow doubt the validity of those figures. Regardless, head on over to PriusChat if you want to read up on all the details of the build.
Thanks for the tip, Danny!

[ Via: PriusChat ]
[ Tag: convertible, prius, toyota, toyota prius convertible, ToyotaPriusConvertible ]

Toyota announces mid-model year price increases

Toyota announced a raft of mid-model year price increases today for cars and trucks across its lineup and including the Lexus brand, as well. You can check out all the increases below and after the jump, though note that the only 2009 model to receive an increase is the Camry, which goes up by $200 to $18,920 for the gas model and $300 to $25,650 for the Camry Hybrid. Also note that the little Yaris and popular Prius received price increases. The 2008 Yaris sedan is up $200 to $12,425, the Yaris liftback up $200 to $11,550 and the Prius is up $400 to $21,500. This comes after an amazing month of sales in April for both gas sippers in which 45.9% more Yaris and 53.8% more Priuses were sold on average per day.
Toyota (not including $660-685 for delivery charges)
2008 Yaris – (sedan) up $200 to $12,425 and (liftback) up $200 to $11,550
2008 Prius - up $400 to $21,500
2009 Camry – up $200 to $18,920 (Hybrid up $300 to $25,650)
2008 Solara Coupe and Convertible – up $250 to $20,180 and $27,440, respectively
2008 RAV4 – up $250 to $21,500
2008 Highlander – up $200 to $27,500 (Hybrid up $500 to $34,200)
2008 FJ Cruiser – up $500 to $23,045
2008 Tundra – up $100 to $24,440
Follow the jump for a list of Lexus price increases, as well as the official word from Toyota with more details on the price increases.
Lexus (not including $660-685 for delivery charges)
IS – up $300 for all models
ES 350 – up $300 to $34,120
GS – up $400 for all models
LS – up $900 for all models
SC 430 – up $900 to $66,355
RX 350 – up $200 to $37,70
RX 400h – up up $300 to $41,580
GX 470 – up $500 to $47,315
LX 570 – up $900 to $74,700
PRESS RELEASE

Toyota Announces Mid-Year Pricing on Certain Toyota and Lexus Vehicles

May 2, 2008 - Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, effective mid- to late May 2008.

Toyota Division
At this time, pricing for the all-new 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2008 Tacoma pickup truck, the all-new 2009 Corolla compact car and all-new 2009 Matrix crossover utility vehicle pricing remains unchanged.

The base MSRP for 2008 Yaris sedan will receive a new price of $12,425, an increase of $200, or 1.6 percent. The 2008 Yaris liftback will list a new base MSRP of $11,550, an increase of $200, or 1.7 percent. The MSRP for the 2008 Prius will carry a new base price of $21,500, an increase of $400, or 1.8 percent.

The 2008 Camry Solara coupe and Solara convertible increase by $250 or 0.9 percent and gain new base MSRPs of $20,180 and $27,440, respectively. The 2008 Avalon will post a new base MSRP of $27,325, an increase of $250, or 0.8 percent.

The only 2009 model year Toyota vehicle to receive a price adjustment is the Toyota Camry. The gas model increases $200 or 0.9 percent and carries a new base MSRP of $18,920. The hybrid model, which was introduced as a 2007 model in late 2006, increases by $300 or 1.1 percent and carries a new base MSRP of $25,650.

The 2008 RAV4 compact SUV price increases by $250, or 1.1 percent, and will receive a new base MSRP of $21,500. The Highlander midsize SUV gas model posts a price increase of $200, or 0.7 percent, and will carry a new base MSRP of $27,500; and the hybrid model posts an increase of $500, or 1.3 percent, and will have a new base MSRP of $34,200.

The 2008 FJ Cruiser MSRP increases by $500, or 2.1 percent, with a new base MSRP of $23,045. The 2008 4Runner carries a new starting MSRP of $28,415, which represents an increase of 1.3 percent, or $400. MSRP increases by $900, or 1.4 percent, for the all-new 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser, with a new base price of $64,100.

In the full-size truck category, the 2008 Tundra increases by $100 and will carry a new base price of $22,390, an increase of 0.3 percent. Pricing for 2008 Sienna increases by $100, or 0.4 percent, and will have a new base MSRP of $24,440.

Toyota MSRPs do not include a delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $660 for passenger cars and $685 for light trucks. DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

Lexus Division
Lexus also announced new MSRPs for select 2008 model year luxury vehicles and the 2009 RX 350 luxury utility vehicle. Currently, pricing for 2008 Lexus IS F high-performance luxury sports sedan remains unchanged.

The IS entry luxury sport sedans will increase 0.9 percent overall, or $300. The IS 250 rear-wheel drive model with a manual transmission will carry an MSRP of $30,855, while the IS 250 rear-wheel drive automatic will have an MSRP of $32,025. The IS 250 all-wheel drive and the IS 350 models will have MSRPs of $34,485 and $36,305, respectively.

The ES 350 entry luxury sedan MSRP will increase 0.9 percent, or $300, to $34,120.

The GS 350 and GS 460 luxury sport sedans will increase 0.9 percent overall, or $400.The GS 350 rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models will carry MSRPs of $44,550 and $46,500, respectively. The GS 460 will carry a base price of $53,020. The GS 450h hybrid model will increase 1.6 percent, or $900, to $55,800.

The MSRP for the LS 460 flagship luxury sedan will increase 1.4 percent, or $900, to $62,900 for the LS 460 and $72,900 for the LS 460 L. The MSRP for the LS 600h L hybrid will increase 0.9 percent, or $900, to $104,900.
The SC 430 luxury hardtop convertible will increase 1.4 percent, or $900, to $66,355.

The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.7 percent overall, or $300, to $41,580 for the RX 400h front-wheel drive model, and $42,980 for the all-wheel-drive model. The 2009 RX 350 luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.5 percent, or $200. The front-wheel-drive RX 350 will have an MSRP of $37,700, while the RX 350 all-wheel drive will carry a base price of $39,100.

The GX 470 luxury utility vehicle will carry an MSRP of $47,315, an increase of 1.1 percent, or $500.

The LX 570 luxury utility vehicle will increase 1.2 percent, or $900, carrying an MSRP of $74,700.

Lexus MSRPs do not include a delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $765.

Scion
Scion recently announced price adjustments for 2009 model year xB and tC on April 11, 2008. Additional pricing information on 2009 Scion xD will be announced in summer 2008.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: 2008 toyota price increase, 2008ToyotaPriceIncrease, camry price increase, CamryPriceIncrease, prius price increase, PriusPriceIncrease, toyota price increase, ToyotaPriceIncrease, yaris price increase, YarisPriceIncrease ]

Toyota considering Indian plant for small car production

Click above for more high-res images of the Toyota iQ
Toyota has been working on an affordable small car that will be cost-competitive in emerging markets, and Autocar is reporting that India is being considered as a destination for production. India makes sense due to its low-cost labor, and with competitors like the Tata Nano going for as little as $2,500, the world's biggest automaker will need to cut cost everywhere it can. There is no word as to exactly what vehicle would be produced in India, but one option is Toyota's production iQ from Geneva, which is scheduled to begin production later in 2008. Toyota is looking for initial sales of the iQ to crest 100,000 units.

[ Via: Winding Road ]
[ Tag: India,iQ,Microcar,Tata Nano,TataNano,Toyota ]

Toyota halts 2008 Highlander sales as part of recall

Slightly more than 90,000 Toyota Highlanders are being recalled for a seatbelt problem in the third row. The recalled crossovers are all 2008 models built between May of 2007 and March of this year. The stock belts could prevent secure mounting of a rear-facing child seat in the third row, and dealers will install a redesigned part on affected Highlanders. The problem with the third row belts hasn't spawned any complaints or injuries, and owners will be notified starting in June. Still, Toyota has put the brakes on Highlander sales until current stock is retrofitted and assembly lines are resupplied with the new part.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: highlander recall,highlander seatbelt,HighlanderRecall,HighlanderSeatbelt,seatbelt recall,SeatbeltRecall,toyota highlander,toyota highlander hy...,toyota highlander recall,toyota highlanders,toyota recall,toyota seatbelt,toyota seatbelt recall,ToyotaHighlander,ToyotaHighlanderHy...,ToyotaHighlanderRecall,ToyotaHighlanders,ToyotaRecall,ToyotaSeatbelt,ToyotaSeatbeltRecall ]

Toyota expecting profit drop in 2008

The current economic environment in the United States is hurting all auto makers these days, even mighty Toyota, which was once considered immune to so-called market realities. Though its overall performance last year would be considered a stellar achievement for any other automaker, Toyota's 28% profit plunge in the fourth quarter of 2007 points to an expected 27% drop in annual profits in 2008. If Toyota's revised forecast proves accurate, 2008 would break a nine-year stretch of profit growth. In addition to the slowing U.S. market, Toyota also cites high material prices, the worldwide credit crunch and a strong yen as contributing factors in its mild downturn.
Toyota's expected profit drop is certainly newsworthy, but we just have to wonder how the money-losing American car companies will cope in the U.S. market with the same issues. While sales of cars are gaining strength, the SUV and truck markets are sinking with what could be Titanic-like implications for the truck-heavy lines from Ford, Chrysler and GM.

[ Via: Toyota ]
[ Tag: toyota, toyota 2007, toyota 2008, toyota profit, toyota sales, toyota-2007, toyota-2008, toyota-profit, toyota-sales, Toyota2007, Toyota2008, ToyotaProfit, ToyotaSales ]

Toyota iQ could spawn larger variant

The expense of developing an entirely new platform to underpin a single model is hardly cost efficient, so it comes as little surprise that Toyota is considering another model built off its recently released iQ microcar. The new vehicle would be larger than the two-door city car – possibly aimed to compete with the Volkswagen up! -- although there's no word on how the dimensions might grow and what body styles are under consideration.
As for the standard iQ, an unnamed senior executive at Toyota told Autocar that their new city car would be priced "between the Fiat 500 and the MINI," and that a hybrid version isn't feasible since there's no room of the battery pack and the additional weight contradicts the philosophy behind the iQ; specifically designed to be a lightweight means of urban transport. While engine choices have yet to be officially announced, Autocar is reporting that two gasoline-powered engines will be offered, along with one diesel mill, and that a start-stop system will be employed to improve fuel economy.

[ Via: Autocar ]
[ Tag: iq,toyota,toyota iq,toyota iq pricing,ToyotaIq,ToyotaIqPricing ]

Toyota responds to Ford's new initial quality ads

Anybody who has watched more than 30 minutes of television the past couple weeks has likely seen Ford's new ads claiming that the automaker has caught up to Toyota and Honda with regards to initial quality. Toyota certainly has, and it apparently doesn't like the Blue Oval's boastful tone. On Toyota's Open Road blog, Mike Michels seems taken aback at the claim, stating that the initial quality survey Ford cites was commissioned by the automaker and performed by a third-party company not affiliated with the well-known J.D. Power & Associates. He then spends a few paragraphs discrediting initial quality in the first place, citing J.D. Power figures that show the difference between the best and worst vehicles during the first few months of ownership were a mere .8 problems per vehicle. Of those problems, most of them were customer preferences and not actual issues that needed repair.
While we agree that initial quality is far from the complete quality story, it's incredible that Toyota would discredit a stat that has been a pillar of its own high quality image. The Toyota and Lexus brands have been among the leaders in initial quality for ages, which anyone would say is a result of great design, engineering and manufacturing. But now that other automakers are catching up, it seems Toyota wants to label initial quality as insignificant. Either way, we'll just have to wait another 3-5 years to find out if a Ford Fusion built today holds up as well as a Toyota Camry.

[ Via: Toyota ]
[ Tag: Ford, ford quality ads, FordQualityAds, Initial quality, InitialQuality, JD Powers, JdPowers, Toyota, Toyota blog, toyota ford initial quality, ToyotaBlog, ToyotaFordInitialQuality ]

Toyota loses patent appeal for technology in Prius

Toyota lawyers arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court today and were denied an appeal to overturn a ruling originally upheld by a federal appeals court in Washington last year. The case involved a technology patent held by a company named Paice LLC, which contended that Toyota used the same microprocessor developed by the McLean, Virginia-based company on its hybrid vehicles that inputs torque information for both the gasoline-powered engine and the electric motor. The $4.3 million dollar award against Toyota will stand, and Toyota is required to pay royalties to the firm to the tune of $25 for every Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h sold. Ouch. Sometimes the price of success is steep.

[ Via: Detroit News ]
[ Tag: highlander hybrid, HighlanderHybrid, hybrid, hybrid synergy drive, HybridSynergyDrive, lexus, lexus rx400h, LexusRx400h, paice llc, PaiceLlc, prius, toyota, toyota highlander hybrid, toyota prius, ToyotaHighlanderHybrid, ToyotaPrius ]

Prius sales top 1 million worldwide as demand increases

Toyota announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius have passed the 1 million mark. While that milestone is impressive, more astounding is the fact that sales of the gasoline/electric hybrid continue to increase year-after-year -- even without a model change.The Toyota Prius has been sold in Japan since 1997. However, it wasn't introduced into the U.S. market until 2000 (as a 2001 model). The first compact models sold in the States didn't exactly fly out of the showroom (North American sales in 2001 were only 16,000 units), but the innovative vehicles educated customers to the benefits of hybrid technology, and paved the groundwork for the current-generation Prius with its updated Toyota Hybrid System II technology. The current model (pictured above) was first sold in 2005. As owners will boast, it is often recognized as the most fuel efficient vehicle sold in the United States. With fuel prices skyrocketing, the gas-sipping sedan has been hot from day one, regardless of its looks or ergonomics. In 2005, Toyota pushed 109,000 units out the door. Last year, 183,000 found new homes in North America alone and through the first four months of 2008, over 107,000 have been sold. If going green is your thing and the current model doesn't do it for you, Toyota will introduce the 3rd-generation Prius in January at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: 1 million, 1Million, Hybrid System II, HybridSystemIi, Sales, Toyota Prius, ToyotaPrius ]

Toyota Alphard gets facelift, Vellfire sibling

Six years after Toyota's luxury minivan, the Alphard, hit Japanese (and a few SE Asian) showrooms, the company has given its flagship people mover a facelift, and a twin brother. Noting that one in four family cars in Japan are minivans but that the outgoing Alphard appealed more to grandfathers than fathers, the second-gen model remains conservatively styled, while a meaner, more aggressive-looking stablemate, the Vellfire (above), is hoped to grab the attention of Japanese family men in their 30s who have erstwhile bought Nissan Elgrands and Honda Elysions.
The new Alphard (shown at right) is longer, wider and roomier than the outgoing version. Its slightly lower roofline (by 45mm) is offset by a cabin floor that's been lowered 55 mm, so the new van actually boasts more cabin height even though it's not quite as tall as its predecessor. Power comes from either a 170 PS (167 hp) 2.4L four or a 280 PS (276 hp) 3.5L V6 driving the front wheels. In August, a 4WD variant will join the lineup.
While Toyota's press release acknowledges that the new models are a bit spacier and safer than the old one, it neatly ignores the fact that the Alphard Hybrid has been quietly dropped. This could well be the first such occurrence for the company and given the number of eggs Toyota currently has in the hybrid basket, its no surprise that its PR department is doing its best to gloss over the retirement.
So, how long until Modellista cooks up an ultra-snazzy Royal Lounge package for the new vans?
Hit the jump for a video of the Alphard in action. Thanks for the tip, Paul!

[ Via: Toyota ]
[ Tag: alphard, toyota alphard, toyota alphard hybrid, toyota vellfire, ToyotaAlphard, ToyotaAlphardHybrid, ToyotaVellfire, vellfire ]

VIDEO: Lexus LF-A racing at the 'Ring

Toyota is still prepping the LF-A for its assault on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring later this month, but it managed to campaign the Lexus supercar in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance, held on a 15.1-mile course that combines the Nordschliefe with the adjoining grand prix circuit. The LF-A placed 77th overall after completing 23 laps during the four-hour race, with its fastest lap coming in at 9:06. Just to reiterate so there's no confusion: this isn't the same course that the GT-R and ZR1 are lapping. That course is exclusively run on the Nordschliefe, so comparing times is like comparing apples and oranges... racing with traffic. Regardless, we've posted a video after the jump that shows the LF-A racecar up close and personal, along with some text from KGP to go along with the accompanying gallery.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: adac rendstrecken trophy endurance race,AdacRendstreckenTrophyEnduranceRace,lexus,lexus lf-a,LexusLf-a,lf-a,nurburgring ]