Toyota buys another chunk of FHI, Subaru

Back in April, Toyota announced that it would be gobbling up a larger percentage of Fuji Heavy Industries, makers of the Subaru brand of vehicles. Today, that deal has been made official as Fuji announced the sale that increases Toyota's voting rights in the automaker to 16.16 percent from 9.50 percent. This deal had been made possible by a newly revised Japanese law that went into effect last year. Toyota had initially purchased about nine-percent share of the company from General Motors, which no longer owns any part of Fuji Heavy.
According to reports, Toyota paid about a ten-percent premium for the increased share, as well. Its total outlay of cash for the new shares is 31.11 billion yen ($291.1 million), for which it receives 61 million additional treasury stocks. Here's hoping that this new deal ushers in the upcoming new AE86 all the more quickly.

[ Via: Straightline ]
[ Tag: fuji heavy, fuji heavy industrie..., fuji heavy industries, FujiHeavy, FujiHeavyIndustrie..., FujiHeavyIndustries, subaru, toyota ]

Toyota considering price hikes in the future

While high gas prices have had less of an effect on Japanese automakers than their American counterparts, the soaring price of commodities like steel have stung just as badly. Toyota is considering raising the prices of its vehicles in response to those higher commodity prices, at least in its home market. The Toyota elite will make a decision after pouring over April-June sales data and 2nd quarter production costs. The news comes only days after Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn suggested that Nissan would raise its prices in Japan if a market leader decided to do the same. Toyota executives did not mention raising the price of its own cars and trucks here in the States, but add rising inflation and a weak dollar to high steel prices and the move seems very likely.

[ Via: Reuters ]
[ Tag: Japan, Price Hikes, PriceHikes, Toyota ]

Fuel economy not luxurious enough according to Orlando

Corporate clients have long grown accustomed to being shuttled around in the back seats of Panther-platform Fords. The throwback Town Car that most car services run doesn't exactly sip fuel, so T.J. Donaghy of Orlando, Florida decided a Toyota Camry Hybrid would be a good addition to his fleet at Aristocrat Transportation. City officials have denied Donaghy's attempt at greening his livery fleet, reasoning that the Camry doesn't fit any of the five classes of vehicles for hire that the City of Orlando regulates. The city contends that the type of service offered by Donaghy can only use luxury cars. Adding to the confusion, the city has no exact language defining exactly what comprises a luxury vehicle, but like Potter Stewart, they know it when they see it, and it's not the Camry.
There is a real concern that opening things up for the Camry could have Kia Rios running around as "limousines" if some line in the sand is not drawn, but the high price of fuel along with ongoing greening efforts may make the path easier for the Camry. Other communities in Florida already allow Camry hybrids, also setting some precedent. It seems that the crux of the dustup is the idea of what exactly a "luxury" working car is, and how to fit the Camry Hybrid in somewhere without stretching the definition so much that King Midgets could get a free pass. All of this could have been avoided if Donaghy had just coughed up the loot for an LS600hL, though the Hybrid Synergy Drive system in that vehicle is used to bolster performance instead of fuel economy. Thanks for the tip, Bill!


[ Via: Orlando Sentinel ]
[ Tag: aristocrat transportation,AristocratTransportation,camry hybrid,CamryHybrid,car service,CarService,livery,orlando,orlando camry,OrlandoCamry,professional car,ProfessionalCar,toyota camry hybrid,ToyotaCamryHybrid ]

Toyota may miss sales goal this year

Toyota's bet that it could sell more vehicles in 2008 than in 2007 may not have been a wise one. Though Toyota's hybrid models and small cars are selling very well in the U.S., sales of pickups and SUVs have truly tanked, and Toyota had been counting on those sales just as much as its competitors. Of course, the giant automaker from Japan couldn't have known that far in advance just how high gasoline prices would go or the impact that it would have on auto sales and the economy in the United States in general. Booming markets like China have apparently not been able to make up for the shrinking pot in the States.
Even with the acknowledgment that meeting its target of selling more than the 2.62 million vehicles the company sold last year in the U.S. would be "difficult," Toyota's place in the automotive landscape is surely envied by the Detroit 3. After all, even with its sales revised downward, Toyota remains profitable, something which cannot be said of the U.S. automakers.

[ Via: AP ]
[ Tag: toyota, toyota sales, toyota u.s., ToyotaSales, ToyotaU.s., u.s. auto sales, U.s.AutoSales ]

Toyota to offer Ironman packages for Tundra, Tacoma and FJ Cruiser

Back in April we brought you an initial report of the upcoming "Ironman" edition Toyota Tundra, and full details have now made their way into cyberspace. The package will be comprised of a number of dealer-installed accessories and components aimed at pumping up the testosterone levels in Toyota trucks. The special-edition is named for Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, who has raced Toyota trucks to an unparalleled 10 championships and 84 career victories. Not only will there be an Ironman Tundra, but also Ironman editions of the smaller Tacoma truck and the retro FJ Cruiser beachcomber. Whereas the previous reports suggested that engine output would remain unchanged, the Ironman Tundra will actually offer a supercharger that boosts output from 381 hp to a whopping 504, and torque from 401 lb-ft to a stump-pulling 550. The Tacoma and FJ Cruiser likewise have their power increased from 239 hp to 304 and from 278 lb-ft of torque up to 334. Other components on offer for the Ironman Tundra are a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, Bilstein shocks, Hella lamps, a Hurst pistol-grip shifter and 20-inch Alcoa aluminum-alloy rims with General tires. Similar accessories will reportedly be available for the Tacoma and FJ Cruiser as well.With Toyota truck sales slumping, the company's performance division TRD hopes that the new Ironman packages will help boost sales. However, most buyers are not expected to pony up the $20k for the full monty, with most anticipated to spend between eight and ten grand on Ironman accessories from the pick-and-choose menu. The components are supplied directly by California-based Halo Special Edition Vehicles, which hopes to sell 500 Ironman packages this year before increasing targets to 5,000-10,000 packages in 2009.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: ironman, ironman edition, IronmanEdition, ivan ironman stewart, IvanIronmanStewart, toyota fj cruiser, toyota ironman, toyota tacoma, toyota trucks, toyota tundra, ToyotaFjCruiser, ToyotaIronman, ToyotaTacoma, ToyotaTrucks, ToyotaTundra ]

Toyota gets attacked for worker rights abuses

The top is a tough place to be. Just ask Toyota, which is now facing charges of worker right abuses, including the use of sweat shops and human trafficking. As we've reported before, Japan even has a word for being overworked to death: karoshi. Toyota plants are not immune to this stress-related disease, as workers at its plants have indeed suffered death due to working too hard. These facts have caught the attention of The National Labor Committee, which has an entire report worked up that alleges Toyota over-works and under-pays its Japanese employees and has ties to various unsavory Dictators. It's also been well established that Toyota does not want its American workforce unionized.
The report is being directly targeted at Prius-driving celebrities who see Toyota as the shining green beacon in a world of pollution-spewing car companies. Whether or not this report has all its facts straight, if famous Toyota supporters in Hollywood react to these allegations, Toyota could indeed have a public relations disaster on its hands.

[ Via: World Car Fans ]
[ Tag: sweat shop, sweat shops, sweatshop, sweatshops, toyota, worker rights, WorkerRights, workers rights, workers unions, WorkersRights, WorkersUnions ]

Toyota lays off 200 temp workers at Tundra plant

The full-size pickup truck woes continue to worsen, leaving even mighty Toyota little choice but to slow production of its Tundra model. In fact, Toyota's brand new plant in San Antonio that was built just for the Tundra will be shutting down a total of 14 days between now and October. Full-time workers at the plant will be able to use vacation days, take the time off unpaid or find something else at the plant to do while the assembly line is halted.
Unfortunately, temp-to-hire workers aren't so lucky. Two-hundred employees who were hoping to land full-time positions at the plant will be laid off this summer. Toyota spokesman Mike Goss says, "We have a very long-term view of that factory in Texas. We're trying not to overreact. We're trying not to shut it down." Whoa... back up. Shut it down? We hadn't heard any such thing until it was spoken by Goss. Sounds like things are just as bad for Toyotas with beds as they are for pickups from Detroit. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: lay offs, LayOffs, pickup, pickup sales, PickupSales, san antonio, san antonio plant, SanAntonio, SanAntonioPlant, toyota tundra, ToyotaTundra, tundra ]

Scion sales have hit the wall, proving bigger is not better

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Scion xB from our own review
Apparently, bigger is not necessarily better for Toyota's youth division Scion. The two original Scion models that launched with the brand were replaced by new models last year – the xD and xB – that are larger, heavier and less efficient. The buyers who made Scion a success in its first few years of existence have not been impressed, as sales have taken a dump over the last year and a half. A long gap between the end of production of the previous models and availability of new models certainly didn't help, but the new models have gotten decidedly mixed reviews including our own drive of the new xB. Even with the new models having been available now for six months or more, sales compared to the previous year have dropped for 16 months in a row. More Toyota dealers are selling Scions now, but sales per dealer have dropped from 11.9 in January 2006 to 8.1 in 2007. The Scions now have a bunch of new competitors in the subcompact class that they didn't have in 2003 when the brand launched, including the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. Worse news still for Toyota is that more new competition is coming, like the Ford Fiesta transplant from Europe. Perhaps Scion's initial success was less a factor of offering attractive products than the fact it was the only game in town for small, efficient and hip econocars.

[ Via: AutoWeek ]
[ Tag: scion-sales-slump ]

Chicago Preview: Scion tC Series 4.0

Toyota won't be having much in the way of new models at next week's Chicago Auto Show, but its hip urban sibling will be showing off a new version of the tC. The Scion tC Release Series 4.0 RS (whew) ups the style quotient of the base model with a DAMD body kit, new upper grille and rear spoiler, all coated in Galactic Gray Mica. The interior benefits from a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black leather and dark wood RAZO shift knob and gray and black seats swathed in Alcantara with "tC RS 4.0" embroidered into the front and rear seats.
All that extra kit comes at a $2,700 premium (an extra $285 if you want the spoiler too), with the automatic model coming it at $20,500 and the manual-equipped version for $800 less. Both prices don't include the $620 destination charge. Only 2,300 examples will be available when sales begin this March.
Toyota's press release is available after the jump.
PRESS RELEASE

Scion Announces Pricing for tC Release Series 4.0 - to be Displayed at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the second limited-production Scion for 2008, the tC Release Series 4.0 (tC RS 4.0), will be available at dealer showrooms beginning in March. A tC RS 4.0 will be on display in the Scion booth at the Chicago Auto Show.

The 2008 tC RS 4.0 will feature Galactic Gray Mica exterior paint and will come with VIP-themed enhancements. A DAMD body kit and upper grille will make this tC standout. A color-keyed rear spoiler will also be available. Inside, the tC RS 4.0 will have gray and black Alcantara(R) seats, "tC RS 4.0" embroidered on the front and rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a black leather and dark wood RAZO shift knob. Like all Release Series vehicles, an individually numbered badge will complete the uniqueness of this vehicle.

Only 2,300 units of the tC RS 4.0 will be built. The tC Release Series 4.0 model will carry a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,770 over the base price of the tC. The manual transmission tC has a base MSRP of $17,000, while the MSRP for the automatic transmission model is $17,800. The available color-keyed spoiler has an MSRP of $285, not including installation.

The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $620 and is not included in the MSRP. DPH fees for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

[ Via: Autoblog Scion ]
[ Tag: chicago, chicago auto show, ChicagoAutoShow, scion, scion tc, scion tC Release Series 4.0, ScionTc, ScionTcReleaseSeries4.0, tc ]

VIDEO: 2007 Scion xB - In the Autoblog Garage

click the picture to view the video
Here's a little something we've been cooking up for a while. We've seen your cries for more video reviews, and it's on our minds, too. We've been trying to bring you more video in a lot of ways lately; Chris Shunk recently walked us through the new Grand Caravan, and Damon and Sam shot some video when they went to visit Tesla to drive the Roadster. You can visit our YouTube Channel to see just how many videos we've been producing lately.
We decided to try our hand at producing an In the Autoblog Garage new car review on video, and you'll find our results after the jump. Let us know what you think of our first video review, which stars the 2007 Scion xB, as we hope to make it a regular feature. Also check out Sam Abuelsamid's review of the 2007 Scion xB in written form.

[ Via: Autoblog Scion ]
[ Tag: 2007 scion xB, 2007ScionXb, autoblog garage, AutoblogGarage, featured, garage, in the autoblog garage, InTheAutoblogGarage, review, road, road test, RoadTest, scion, scion xB, ScionXb, test, video, xb ]

List of "stars" for 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race announced

It's not that we've ever made a point to sit down and watch the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. It's just that every few years we flip on the television and there it is, and then we have to watch as celebrities, pro athletes and some professional drivers make mince meat of whatever Toyota model is that year's race car. It's the Scion tC once again this year, and the list of celebs who will be crashing into one another has been released (check out the full list after the jump). We use the term "celeb" very loosely here, as the list is populated with names that usually appear a few spots down when the credits roll. Drew Lachey and Wilmer Valderrama are probably the most popular current celebs on the drivers list, as well as Eric Dickerson and John Salley. But Brad Lewis, the executive producer of Ratatouille?
The Pro/Celeb race used to attract big names from pop culture, and we've got the gallery of archival pics to prove it. We're talking top talent like Matt Leblanc, Ricky Schroder, Camaron Diaz, Patrick Stewart, Cybill Shepherd, George Lucas, Gene Hackman, Kelsey Grammar, Joe Montana, Cuba Gooding Jr., Woody Harrelson, Jay Leno, Tony Danza (TONY DANZA!), and yes, even David Hasselhoff. Oh, and Alfonso Ribeiro, who friggin' rules. Thanks for the tip, Eric!

[ Via: Scionnews.net ]
[ Tag: toyota celebrity race, toyota grand prix of long beach, toyota pro/celebrity race, ToyotaCelebrityRace, ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach, ToyotaPro/celebrityRace ]

Scion xB spontaneously combusts during dealer service

Click above for more pics of the Scion xB post-fire damage
An auto dealer service center is a lot like a doctor's office for your car. When something is wrong or your ride needs a check-up, a technician can set things right. Of course sometimes doctors make mistakes like taking off your left foot when they're supposed to amputate the right one, and things don't always go as planned in the hands of a trained tech. One Scion xB owner took his modified baby to the dealer for a Technical Service Bulletin, and it ended up engulfed in flames. The fire completely destroyed the little xB, but the good news is that the dealer has taken full responsibility for the problem and is giving the owner a new ride for his troubles.
We had auto shop in high school, but we can't seem to remember any reason a car should blow up when being worked on. We don't know what Scion xB TSB was being done, but if trying to fix it could blow up your car, that's probably not good. Check out the gruesome pics in the gallery below

[ Via: Scion Life ]
[ Tag: dealer visit, DealerVisit, fire, Scion xB, ScionXb, technical service bulletin, TechnicalServiceBulletin, Toyota, TSB ]

RWD Scion tC coming to Formula Drift

We've enjoyed our fair share of front-wheel-drive hijinks in empty parking lots with our right hand firmly grasping the e-brake, but in the end, tail-out antics are always more enjoyable behind the wheel of something with the proper wheels driven. "Proper," however, isn't the way we'd describe how Scion decided to go about campaigning a tC in this year's Formula Drift series.
With backing from Toyota, the aftermarket firm RS*R converted a run-of-the-mill tC into a rear-wheel-drive monster utilizing a BEAMS-built 3S-GE engine and taking advantage of the Toyota Avensis/Caldina all-wheel-drive chassis on which the tC is built. RS*R ripped out the abysmal 2AZ-FE 2.4-liter four-pot from the stock car, fabbed up a series of new mounts to facilitate the transverse to longitudinal conversion and dropped in the 3S-GE after fitting the four-cylinder with an HKS GT3037 turbo, intercooler, Blitz dual SBC boost controller and an AEM EMS engine management system. Approximately 400 hp is now routed to the rear wheels through a Tilton triple carbon clutch and a G-Force, five-speed sequential gearbox. RS-R coilovers keep things suspended on all four corners, and are hidden by the custom wide-body kit and Enkei RPF1 wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes R1R rubber.
The RS*R tC will be piloted by Ken Gushi, the youngest driver ever to compete in the D1 series, beginning at the season opener on the Streets of Long Beach on April 12th. Hit the jump to read the full press release and check out Formula D's website to see when the competition will be heating up in your area.

[ Via: Autoblog Scion ]
[ Tag: ken gushi, KenGushi, rear wheel drive, rear wheel drive scion tc, RearWheelDrive, RearWheelDriveScionTc, rwd, rwd scion tc, rwd tc, RwdScionTc, RwdTc, scion, tc ]

Scion picks a partner for HD Radio

Scion has selected iBiquity Digital to provide HD Radio technology in some of its audio systems. Scion hasn't said how it plans to integrate iBiquity into Scions, or which cars will get the systems first, but the partnership marks another incursion of HD Radio into the mass market -- BMW, Ford and Jaguar already offer it, with Volvo opening the HD spigot next year. HD Radio offers stations the ability to transmit multiple programs over a single FM frequency with crystal clear reception -- and there are more than 1,600 stations across the nation, available to 83-percent of the country. In the future, HD plans to introduce features that will match or better those offered by satellite radio. But unlike satellite radio, HD is free.


[ Via: Toyota ]
[ Tag: audio, car audio, CarAudio, hd radio, HdRadio, ibiquity, scion ]

Fiat may enter the microcar ring with a four-seater sub-Panda

This time next week, those of us fortunate enough to go to Frankfurt will likely be passed out after a long day of press conferences, caffeine crashes and schnitzel binges. Two of the more compelling concepts we expect to see in Germany include the Volkswagen City Expert and Toyota's Endo microcar, both of which will likely see production in an effort to provide diminutive, low-cost transport across the globe. Fiat apparently wants in on the action too.

According to Automotive News, Fiat may be developing its own sub-compact runabout, based off the Panda and 500 platform, only with 300mm lopped off. Able to seat four, the concept will be powered by a 65 HP, 900cc two-cylinder engine, but it won't make its debut until sometime next year.

The article also sheds light on both the VW and Toyota vehicles, with the former coming in at about 3,400 mm and the latter stretching a full 3,150 mm. Skoda and Seat, affiliates of Volkswagen, are likely to get their own versions later, both powered by either a two- or three-cylinder engine that lies flat underneath the rear seats. Expect to see variants of the City Expert in both Tokyo and Los Angeles later this year.

Whether or not either of automaker can make a profit on these vehicles is a question that has sparked debate among analysts, but regardless, expect Toyota's Endo to make it to production in 2009 and VW's City Expert around the same time.



[ Via: SEAT Autoblog ]
[ Tag: 500, city expert, CityExpert, endo, fiat, panda, seat, skoda, toyota, volkswagen, vw ]

Subaru to stop making Kei Cars

Last week's announcement that Toyota wants to raise its stake in Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries looked to have no down side. Subaru gets $300 million with which to build a new factory, Toyota gets greater access to FHI's high tech batteries for hybrids, and both get to build the affordable RWD/AWD coupe that we're all waiting for.But the bean counters in Toyota City have noticed that Subaru's kei car division spends a fortune on developing quirky micro cars such as the supercharged Vivio that Colin McRae campaigned in his first rally (above), the worlds smallest four-seat convertible (below) and the fabulous R2D2. The trouble is, profit margins on such marvels of engineering are wafer thin, and that is not the Toyota way. So, come the next decade, Subaru will only sell OEM kei cars made by another member of the Toyota family, Daihatsu.Most analysts think this this is a good idea, but this one ain't so sure. Eighteen years ago I bought a rear-engined rear-wheel-drive Subaru Sambar. It was such a hoot to drive that I traded up to a Rex, then an RX-R, then a WRX and I now drive a Forester STI. In all likelyhood, my next car will be an Impreza STI. Will rebadged Daihatsus garner such brand loyalty from young buyers in 2010?

[ Via: Autoblog (Subaru) ]
[ Tag: daihatsu, k cars, KCars, kei cars, KeiCars, subaru, toyota ]

Subaru Exiga heading to production, teaser leaks out

We received word from a little birdie last week that Subaru was gearing up to release its brand-new Exiga into journalist's hands in Japan. Coincidentally (or not), a teaser shot of Subaru's new pseudo-CUV popped up on the NASIOC forum over the weekend and it's clear from the darkened profile that many of the elements from the show car have migrated over to the production model.
The Exiga, which appeared at last year's Tokyo Motor Show as a lightly veiled concept, will likely form the basis for the new Outback, slotting in between the Legacy and the Tribeca CUV. However, it's doubtful that when the Exiga (or Outback) makes the trek across the Pacific it will be sporting seven full seats. Its closest competitor here in the States is the forthcoming Toyota Venza, which aims to define a new segment between wagon and crossover, but in reality, both vehicles own their inspiration to the AMC Eagle, the original wagon on stilts.

[ Via: Straightline ]
[ Tag: breaking, crossover, cuv, exiga, subaru, subaru exiga, SubaruExiga, suv, toyota, toyota venza, ToyotaVenza, venza ]

VIDEO: New Subaru ad does sexy Japan-style

Subaru of Canada has shown its twisted sense of humor with this new commercial for the Subaru Forester that plays off the whole "sexy babes washing a car" motif. Instead of busty blondes, however, the Japanese automaker supplants sumo wrestlers who thrown sponges at each other, squirt each other with the hose and get caught in slow-motion replays while flipping their hair back. If you're eating lunch right now, put the fork down and make sure you've swallowed your food before watching the commercial after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Shari!

[ Via: YouTube ]
[ Tag: forester sumo, forester sumo ad, forester sumo commercial, ForesterSumo, ForesterSumoAd, ForesterSumoCommercial, subaru sumo, subaru sumo commercial, SubaruSumo, SubaruSumoCommercial ]

Australia gets market-specific Subaru Liberty GT tuned by STI

Subaru's Australian outpost is set to deliver a localized special edition Liberty GT (Liberty = Legacy) that's been upgraded with a laundry list of components from the STI catalog. The Liberty GT tuned by STI makes 260 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and will be made available with either a 6-speed stick or a 5-speed sportshift automatic. Brembos, Bilstein shocks, STI springs, a new muffler, lightweight Enkeis, and leather-and-Alcantara sport seats are but a few the features included in the 250-car limited edition, which is now on sale in Australia. Hey Subaru of America, where's the love like this for U.S. customers?

[ Via: Autoblog (Subaru) ]
[ Tag: gt, liberty, liberty gt, LibertyGt, sti, subari, subaru australia, SubaruAustralia, tuned by sti, TunedBySti ]

Subaru Impreza coupe coming in 2010

Subaru and Toyota's rear-wheel-drive lovechild is on its way, and AutoExpress has tapped Larson to render the new coupe to give us an idea of what we'll be saving up for come 2010.
As previously reported, both versions will be sporting separate sheet metal to differentiate the two coupes from one another. We'd suspect that the Toyota version will be fitted with a traditional trunk, while the Subaru version will get a hatch similar to that found on the WRX/STI. The image above takes all the right cues from the current Impreza, particularly the aggressive roofline and hunkered stance, and ratchets it up a notch with a new front bumper, swept back headlamps and bulging fender flares.
As we're already aware, both the Toyota version (which supposedly won't make it to U.S. shores) and the Subaru variant will be powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer, sending around 180 hp to the rear wheels. AutoExpress claims that a 300-hp version equipped with the turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four is also destined for production, along with an all-wheel-drive version further down the road. For those of us that have been dreaming of an STI-powered GC8 coupe, this could spare us the considerable headache and expense when it goes on sale in 2012.

[ Via: AutoExpress ]
[ Tag: 2010, 2010 subaru impreza coupe, 2010SubaruImprezaCoupe, coupe, impreza, subaru ]

Autoblog Podcast #87

The Chicago Auto Show wasn't that eventful, but that's what we lead off Autoblog Podcast episode #87 with. The Challenger was the biggest deal, followed by the Denali XT, and then a bunch of inconsequential things. We did find ourselves talking about the Suzuki Equator and the Ford Transit Connect, too. We give you our first up close and personal impressions of the Challenger SRT-8 in this podcast. We also saw the VW Routan, which certainly doesn't conjure warm, fuzzy memories of Type IIs gone by. Chevy's Traverse calls into question the usefulness of Saturn's Outlook in the product lineup. Speaking of GM badge-engineering, we got word this week that Pontiac will not be getting a Trans Am companion to the Camaro, dang. Another disappointment is the rumor that Cerberus is going to let the Viper run down without rewinding the clock for a third generation. We wrap up by touching on the possibility that an Indian pickup could be the first diesel hybrid in the US, even though it's not even being imported yet, and we're sure that when it gets here, it'll generate even more hate than the new Acura RL. 42 minutes, that's it. Sorry it's a little late this week, it's all Alex's fault, I swear.
SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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[ Via: Autoblog (Suzuki) ]
[ Tag: acura, autoblog, autoblog podcast, AutoblogPodcast, challenger, chicago, denali, denali xt, DenaliXt, dodge, equator, firebird, gm, lambda, pickup, podcast, rl, routan, suzuki, trans am, transam, transit, xt, zeta ]

Mid-engine, MR2-powered Aygo Crazy is a real Japanese Shogun

What happens when you take a mundane Toyota Aygo microcar and mate it to the go-fast parts of a Toyota MR2? You get the Aygo Crazy (Get it? I-Go-Crazy). While this one-off concept will never see production, it does offer us car nuts some insight as to what fun manufacturers can have with automotive inbreeding and some serious coin.At best, the stock Toyota Aygo putts around with a 1.0-liter gasoline engine under its front hood that is good for about 67 horsepower, and a 14-second crawl to 60 mph. The engineers at Toyota spent about £100,000 (close to $200,000) ripping the wheezer out and replacing it with a mid-mounted turbocharged 1.8-liter engine. With the new powerplant cranking out 197 horsepower, and a manual transmission sending it to the rear wheels, the 2,200-pound Aygo Crazy sprints to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. If the go-pedal is held to the floor, the genetic experiment will top out at an estimated 127 mph.Not to leave the job half-done, Toyota flared the bodywork and added a wheel/tire package to accommodate the power. The interior has been fitted with a cage, racing seats, harnesses and a Sparco steering wheel. The seats and doors have also been trimmed in suede and leather. According to those who have driven the Aygo Crazy, the balance of the car has been upset with the engine now mounted over the rear wheels. Snap oversteer is the rule -- much like in another econocar-turned-mid-engine-monster from 1990.


[ Via: Autocar ]
[ Tag: Concept, Shogun, toyota aygo, Toyota Aygo Crazy, Toyota MR2, ToyotaAygo, ToyotaAygoCrazy, ToyotaMr2 ]

Whoa, says Toyota. Plug-ins won be good

If you read our post yesterday that talked about a lithium Ion-powered plug-in Prius for 2010, thoughts of 100 mpg cars may have danced in your head. Well, take it easy, because the think tank over at Toyota doesn't want you to get your hopes too high. Toyota Advanced Technology manager Bill Reinert spoke in Washington yesterday at a plug-in conference and said that real-world driving conditions will make 100 mpg unattainable for many drivers. While plugging in more powerful batteries will give drivers a full battery and greater EV range, hard acceleration could limit electric-only driving to well under 40 miles.
While it's nice of Toyota to give a plug-in reality check to an efficiency-hungry public, we don't think this message is going to get through to the masses. Besides, if Toyota's next-gen hybrids can reach anything close to 100 mpg, we think shoppers of fuel-efficient vehicles will be too busy foaming at the mouth to even notice.

[ Via: Automotive News ]
[ Tag: hybrid, lithium, plug-in hybrid, Plug-inHybrid, Toyota Prius, ToyotaPrius ]

Toyota to introduce plug-in hybrid for 2010, hybrid versions of all cars by 2029

Toyota continues to lead the silent race to efficient cars with plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid in 2010 that will use lithium-ion batteries. Meanwhile, Toyota has been working with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co to develop batteries that will outperform lithium-ion batteries for its plans to introduce hybrid versions of every single car in its lineup between 2020 and 2029. If that seems too far away, the next generation Prius, due next year, will use NiMH batteries. Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Tokyo that it's time to move past oil and get serious about electric power. "Our view is that oil production will peak in the near future. We need to develop power train(s) for alternative energy sources."

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: fuel economy, FuelEconomy, hybrid, nimh, plug-in hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, plug-in-hybrids, Plug-inHybrid, toyota ]

Toyota pledges plug-in hybrid with Li-ion batteries by 2010

My fiance and my parents are both in the market for a new car, and they both want the Prius. Too bad, I told them, because there's a global shortage of nickel-metal hydride batteries that's crippling the supply of Toyota's feel good go machine. I didn't bother telling them that the Prius is essentially a relatively old vehicle by today's standards and that new green machines like the series hybrid Chevy Volt and plug-in versions of the Saturn Vue Green Line and Ford Escape Hybrid are right around the corner. While the next-gen Prius is also right around corner (should debut in January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but will reportedly still use NiMH batteries), Toyota recently gave its word that it would also have a plug-in hybrid vehicle using lithium-ion batteries on sale in Japan, the U.S. and Europe by 2010. That's a bold claim, as few manufacturers have been so confident that production-viable li-ion batteries will be ready by then (General Motors being the notable exception). Toyota has partnered with electronics giant Matsushita, however, and their joint-venture will begin producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and ramp up to full production in 2010. Other than that, we know very little about Toyota's 2010 plug-in hybrid, other than that it should get great gas mileage. Toyota also announced that it's setting up a battery research department to develop a new type of battery that can even outperform li-ions. The point is, I'm not going to let my friends and family buy a Prius right now, or any other hybrid for that matter. There's too much next-gen green technology that's right on our door step, and when these green 2.0 vehicles arrive, the Prius will appear downright dirty by comparison.


[ Via: The Detroit Free Press ]
[ Tag: toyota, toyota plug-in hybrid, toyota plug-in hybrid li-ion, toyota promise plug-in, ToyotaPlug-inHybrid, ToyotaPlug-inHybridLi-ion, ToyotaPromisePlug-in ]

Toyota beats Holden, Ford: Will build Camry Hybrid in Australia

Back when North American markets shunned RWD cars in the '80s and '90s, Australians couldn't get enough of them. That sentiment has been rapidly changing as the blokes down under are increasingly looking to integrate more efficient transportation into the Outback. The Australian government is in on the hybrid game, too, and has promised that any domestic automaker that produces a hybrid will be greeted with a fist-full of orders. Toyota is listening, and the Japanese automaker has green-lighted the production of 10,000 Camry hybrids per year at its Altona plant in Australia, making it the first automaker to build a production hybrid in the land of Oz. The announcement comes only a few days after an Aussie legislator singled out Ford of Australia and Holden, GM's Australian division, as companies that need to produce hybrids domestically so the government doesn't have to buy imported Toyotas and Honda hybrids. Looks like it's time for the Australian government to make with the checks. Its domestically built hybrid is on its way care of the Japanese.

[ Via: Car Advice ]
[ Tag: ]

Toyota under spotlight for possible Tacoma sudden acceleration

Audi went through it in the '80s. Jeep went through it a couple years ago. Other makers have been accused of it, and now it's Toyota's turn: the NHTSA is considering investigating Tacoma pickup trucks from 2004-2008 due to claims of unintended acceleration. In one instance, a man said he turned off his cruise control to exit the freeway, and the truck surged on him, forcing him to dodge a few vehicles -- even as he had his foot on the brake pedal.
Toyota says there is nothing wrong with the Tacoma's drive-by-wire system. The trucks that have been inspected have not shown the error codes Toyota would expect if the throttle and accelerator pedal were out of whack. The company wrote to the NHTSA and said, "Toyota believes that it is likely that many of the consumer complaints about the general issue of unwanted acceleration ... as well as many of the complaints about this subject that have been received by Toyota, were inspired by publicity."
We can't comment on the claims of unintended acceleration, as we have no idea if they are true or publicity driven. But we can wonder out loud why the brakes suddenly don't work. No matter what a car does -- even at full power -- the brakes should still do their job. After Audi's debacle, the NHTSA conducted a 2-year investigation of the issue and found nothing wrong with those cars, and everyone who sued Audi lost in court. Perhaps the folks in Tokyo should make time for a call to Ingolstadt.

[ Via: Detroit Free Press ]
[ Tag: accidents, investigations, nhtsa, pickup, pickup truck, pickup trucks, pickups, PickupTruck, PickupTrucks, safety, tacoma, toyota, toyota tacoma, ToyotaTacoma, unintended acceleration, UnintendedAcceleration ]

Spy Shots: Tiny Toyota iQ caught testing

Though Toyota already unveiled the production version of its diminutive iQ city car at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show last March, this is the first time anyone has seen the vehicle testing out in the wild. These spy photos of the iQ also give us a good sense of the car's true scale, which is to say that it's really friggin' small. Not MINI small, smart small. Unlike the smart fortwo, the iQ can reportedly carry three people and a child rather than just two adults thanks to its clever 3+1 seating arrangement. We're not sure if anyone but the driver would be comfortable were the iQ filled to capacity, but at least it's possible in a pinch. As you can see, there's virtually no overhang on the front or rear of the iQ, which allows Toyota designers to maximize the space between. Winding Road also reports that the car will feature a unique flat gas tank to save space, thinner seats and smaller heat and air conditioning units. Toyota expects to sell 100,000 units of the iQ in its first year of production, which should start later this year, and while nothing's been confirmed, the Japanese automaker could be eying North America for some of those sales considering our current lust for small, fuel-efficient vehicles.


[ Via: Winding Road ]
[ Tag: spy pics, spy shots, SpyPics, SpyShots, toyota, toyota iq, toyota iq spy shots, ToyotaIq, ToyotaIqSpyShots ]

Toyota may build more Camrys at truck plant

Automotive times are a-changin, as fuel-efficient cars are now outselling trucks by a wide margin. Toyota's flexible manufacturing capabilities allow it to adjust to these crazy times, and the Japanese automaker is discussing a plan to build still more Camrys at its Indiana truck plant. The Princeton plant is only running two shifts right now, and its trucks and SUVs are suffering just as much as similar offerings coming out of Detroit. That makes the plant a great fit for the Camry, which sold an astonishing 51,291 units last month. Honda has already decided to increase production of the Civic, which was the top-selling vehicle in the US last month with over 53,000 units leaving the showroom floor.

[ Via: Auto News ]
[ Tag: Civic, Corolla, Gas prices, GasPrices, Princeton Indiana, PrincetonIndiana, Toyota Camry, ToyotaCamry ]

In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Toyota Yaris.
Read a few car reviews and it's easy to walk away with the impression that we're a jaded lot; only interested in performance, luxury, and price. Any vehicle that doesn't have stupendous amounts of the first two for the tiniest pile of the latter gets kicked to the curb. It's true, driving cars that don't belong to us facilitates a certain view into how the other half lives that could definitely ruin one on lesser vehicles. On the other hand, there's an entirely different type of enjoyment to be extracted from cars that forego ostentation without ratcheting up the crap factor. Toyota's Yaris will never be mistaken for a Lexus, but it's neither the absolute nadir, nor ultimate zenith of autodom, meaning it has a shot.

[ Via: Autoblog (Toyota) ]
[ Tag: autoblog garage, autoblog review, AutoblogGarage, AutoblogReview, featured, in the autoblog garage, InTheAutoblogGarage, toyota yaris, ToyotaYaris, yaris review, YarisReview ]

Prius sales tank in May, Toyota blames battery supply

This stat might seem confusing given the fact that fuel economy is king at dealerships right now, but Toyota just reported that Prius sales were down almost 40% in May compared to the same period in 2007. While overall 2008 sales of the hybrid postercar are up a little over 2%, this just doesn't seem possible. Just over 15,000 Priuses were sold in May '08 compared to more than 24,000 in 2007. Overall sales in 2008 have slightly surpassed '07 sales through May, with a total of 79,675 units moved this year compared to 76,747 last year, but it seems like something is amiss. Then you read about a battery supply problem that's affected production of the Prius and it all starts to make sense. AutoblogGreen reports that Toyota's VP of Communications, Irv Miller, said batteries are in short supply worldwide and this is what affected Prius production and its sales last month in the U.S. He added that last year's figures were slightly inflated due to, wait for it, incentives being used to move slow-selling hybrids. Ah, the good old days. While there is still an obvious demand for the Prius, our brothers at ABG surmise we'll be on a one-day supply of Priuses until the new one comes out in January. Can you say mark up?

[ Via: AutoblogGreen ]
[ Tag: toyota prius, toyota prius hybrid, toyota prius sales, ToyotaPrius, ToyotaPriusHybrid, ToyotaPriusSales ]

Spy Shots: Toyota/Subaru coupe caught in the wild

AutoExpress may have provided us with a rendering of what the new RWD Subaru coupe might look like, but Winding Road's hired spies have provided the real deal. Shot outside a test center in the UK (amidst white-out conditions), the camo-clad mule is sporting some body panels pilfered from the current Legacy, but with a Toyota emblem in front, a pair of Recaro buckets inside and a shrunken trunk, there's little doubt that this prototype is more than just your standard sedan.
There's still no confirmation about what kind of output the 2.0-liter flat-four will be producing, as estimates have ranged from 180- to 220-hp, but grunt is expected to be shoveled to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and pricing should start a few pennies shy of $20,000.

[ Via: Winding Road ]
[ Tag: coupe, rear wheel drive, RearWheelDrive, spied, spy shots, SpyShots, subaru, toyota ]