Toyota

This one sure went under the radar...this is a pretty significant announcement and hints that things may be much worse at Toyota than we have been aware. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toyota-Offlo...ml?x=0&.v=1

xB Release Series 4.0 October 13, 2006 – Torrance, CA - Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the fourth and last limited production Scion for 2006, the xB Release Series 4.0 (xB R.S. 4.0), will hit dealer showrooms next month. The 2006 xB Release Series 4.0 will come in Maziora Torched Penny exterior paint. Maziora, by Nippon Paint Co. Ltd., is a polarized paint line that changes color depending on the viewing angle or light reflection. Maziora was also recently featured on a Japanese domestic special edition bB and has been used on project and show cars. The xB R.S. 4.0 features color-keyed taillights, rear spoiler and Modellista speed g…

Negative article on Toyota. Media bias, my but.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20393673/site/newsweek/ .it's true.....everything about the United States is for sale........ I don't know about you guys, but this makes my AMERICAN blood boil Let toyota spend the billion and suffer the backlash, i say...if there is one. this could end up being their billion dollar mistake in this country......the moment where their own arrogance may push them too far. by the way, does ANYONE give a rip about the olympics anymore?

Haven't heard anything about the lexus self-park feature that was getting bragged up a while back. They still have it and no one's talking about it anymore, or did it have issues and they quietly dropped it?

Has anyone else taken a look at the pres release fro tne Lexus LF-NX crossover concept. Here's a link if you haven't seen it yet: http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/lexus+2013+tokyo+motor+show+lf-nx+advanced+crossover+concept.htm Overall it is one of the must visually interesting concepts I've seen inn some time and the headlight styling is superb. Aggressive lines and an athletic stance make it a real stunner. But...the front grille needs to go. It appears overly large and cartoonish. According to Toyota "it is a strong interpretation of the Lexus spindle grille" but in this case there must have been a problem in translation. Anyway, thoughts? Do you guys think we'l…

http://www.challengernky.com/articles/2005...d2827742811.txt & Toyota Spreads Holiday Cheer in the USA Japanese Automaker Creates 386,300 American Jobs http://www.info-toyota.com/us_jobs.htm

I found this on Youtube earlier tonight. Can you say RipOff? Link:

AS a GM fan, I wonder what is the best worst line-up the Toyota can do right now. I was thinking that we gotta guess what the worst they can do. Here's what I think. Toyota Echo? 1.4L 104hp I-4 1.8L 134hp I-4 Corolla 1.8L 134hp I-4 2.4L 179hp I-4 Camry 2.4L 179hp I-4 3.5L 268hp V-6 Avalon 3.5L 268hp V-6 4.6L 357hp V-8? Well, thats it,whatcha think?

Toyota Says Cup Holders Still Working Great Rest Your Beverages With Confidence, Says Carmaker TOKYO (The Borowitz Report) – Embattled automaker Toyota today said that despite problems with accelerators and brakes, the cup holders on its most popular car models were “perfectly safe to use.” “Feel free to enjoy the beverage of your choice and know that you can rest it in one of our cup holders with confidence,” said Tokyo spokesman Hiroshi Kyosuke. “Our cup holders are world-class.” But Mr. Kyosuke’s upbeat comments about Toyota’s cup holders were undercut somewhat later in the day by congressional testimony from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “You should only …

SAN DIEGO — Just when you thought luxury SUVs couldn't get any bigger, Lexus has increased the length of the redesigned LX 570 by 4 inches and widened it by more than an inch. Evidently, when you buy a luxury SUV that tops $80,000 fully optioned, added size and weight don't matter. It helps that the LX 570, despite the 405 pounds of added bulk and 115 more horsepower under the hood, gets the same claimed fuel economy as the LX 470 it replaces: 12 mpg in city driving and 18 mpg on the highway. The SUV goes on sale this month. The basics: It's big — 196.5 inches long — though still 6 inches shorter than a Cadillac Escalade. The LX 570 shares many of its underpinning…

I found this article in today's AZ Republic amusing...it's supposedly one of the largest flags and flags in the metro area. The dealer is at a new location, which used to be a Ford dealer---that dealer was torn down last year when it merged w/ the LM dealer down the street... this is about 1/2 mile from my house. Toyota, a great American car company.. AZ Republic article A crowd gathered Friday on a construction site at Camelback Road and 16th Street in Phoenix to watch as a 240-ton crane lifted a white, 165-foot flagpole and placed it in a 15-foot-deep base. The carbon-steel pole arrived at the Camelback Toyota Scion dealership in seven pieces and was welded tog…

Prius Family Growing Larger? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 30, 2011 Toyota hasn't hidden the face they are looking to expand the Prius family. Back at the North American International Auto Show in January, the company showed off three models; a Prius plug-in, a five seat Prius minivan , and a compact Prius concept. But it looks like more models will be coming as well. One of the models Toyota is looking at is building a Prius sports coupe, which will compete with Honda's CR-Z hybrid. The coupe will use the RWD platform from the upcoming Lexus GS. The coupe will also get a new plug-in setup which featuring lithium-ion batterie…

Chevy pulling Toyotas's race trailer I believe the picture speaks for itself!

Toyota has announced that it will be recalling 1.03 million vehicles worldwide to fix an issue that could start a fire. According to Reuters, the problem deals with a wiring harness that connects to the hybrid system's power control unit. Vibrations and accumulating dirt can wear down the wire insulation at the connection point. This will expose the bare wires and possibly cause an electric short - increasing the chances of a fire. Toyota has told the news service they have one report of a vehicle in Japan that went up in smoke. The majority of vehicles involved in the recall are located in Japan. In the U.S., around 192,000 examples of the 2016-2018 Toyota Priu…

2007 Lexus ES350 Relax, it’s an ES350. by Conor Twomey (2006-04-21) Sometimes I have to remind myself that not everyone sees cars the same way I do. Many people value comfort and refinement above all else and could care less for steering feel and throttle response. Indeed, it's more than just "some people." There are a LOT of you comfort-loving folk out there and Lexus knows you better than any other carmaker. While ze Germans continue to assume that everyone in the market for an entry-level prestige model want a cramped sports sedan, Lexus has successfully peddled five generations of ES models as entry-level luxury cars for buyers who want Lexus' legendary quality,…

business week article. HERE some of the politics, "media backlash" possibilities, history of the toy' invasion, and what their PR is trying to do about it

Around these parts Toyota is the great satan and yet GM has this joint venture with them with the Matrix and Vibe. I have never understood it. Toyota is major competition and yet GM manufactures cars with them. Has GM ever explained that?

Editor’s Note: Due to the severity of the Toyota crisis and the overwhelming and pervasive coverage of it, Peter has written his new column early this week. See last week’s column by clicking on “Next Entry” at the bottom of the page. - WG The Toyota implosion…what it really means. By Peter M. De Lorenzo (Posted 1/30/10, 6:30PM) Detroit. A corporate image for a company directly involved with consumers is a very fragile thing. A savvy company can carefully cultivate and nurture an image over a period of years. It can forge an identity by exploiting its nuances and crafting its effectiveness, and it can even create an aura for itself that may or may not be completely tru…

We know that Scion will be heading to the great parking lot into the sky later this year. But we didn't know how Toyota is planning to rename Scion's models when the changeover happens. Autoblog spoke with Scion spokeswoman Nancy Hubbell who said the iA would be renamed 'Yaris iA' and the iM to 'Corolla iM'. We know, not the most imaginative names. But there are reasons for this. Hubbel explained the iA is sold as the Yaris sedan in Canada and Mexico, so "that connection was already there." As for the Corolla iM, it is basically the Corolla wrapped in a hatchback. As we reported last week, the FR-S will become the Toyota 86. One model that won't be making the …

I went to a Houston Rockets game last night and they had a 2007 Tundra all under wraps set to be unveiled at halftime. Kinda bugged me how much they were promoting it as a "Truck built in Texas, by Texans, for Texans.". It looked smaller in real life than it does in the pic, and the slight angle on the rear pillars make the extended cab look really short. On another note, I read in Motor Trend that Toyota delayed the Tundra when it heard that the Silverado was debuting with two interiors. They felt they needed to make their interior more upscale with nicer materials. lol.

Last month, we reported that Lexus was dropping 2.5L V6 for the turbocharged 2.0L four in the IS sedan for Europe. We heard the engine would be coming to the states, but no timeframe was given. Today, Lexus announced details on the 2016 IS for North America. The big news is the turbo 2.0L is part of the changes, along with another engine. First up is the IS 200t, which takes the place of the IS 250. This packs a 2.0L turbo-four with 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Now if you want all-wheel drive, you oddly can't get it with the turbo-four. You'll have to opt the IS 300 AWD which packs a 3.5L V6 with 255…

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/toyo...mp;siteid=yhoof SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Toyota Motor Corp., in what many analysts believe will soon mark a long-term shift in the automotive hierarchy, wrestled the global sales crown away from General Motors Corp. through the first three months of the year. Toyota (TM:toyota motor corp sp adr rep2com News, chart, profile, more Last: 100.10-0.08-0.08% 4:00pm 04/24/2008 GM 22.11, +1.17, +5.6%) , however, said sales fell less than 1% from the year-ago period to 2.25 million vehicles. Toyota led GM after the first quarter in 2007, as well, only to miss out on unseating the reigning 77-year global sales leade…

http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases/View?...YT2006022382754

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090303/as_japan_toyota.html?.v=8

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/1049...ected-loss.html Pardon me while I search for a tiny violin....

So we might actually be getting a hatch here http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/toyota/spy-ph...olla-193579.php

With the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal hanging a dark cloud over the fuel, many automakers are considering whether or not they want to continue with diesel. Karl Schlicht, executive vice-president of Toyota Europe tells Autocar the company is wondering whether or not they should stop offering diesels. He uses the example of the Yaris Diesel. At the moment, the option makes "up less than 10%” of total sales for Europe. Dropping this model is a real possibility. “I think that anyone looking at investing in a new diesel plant, which might have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, will have to look long and hard at whether they would get payback,” said Schlicht. Thi…

pretty nasty

Toyota Motor Corporation announced their Toyota bZ line-up of BEVs at the Shanghai Auto Show. The first to be unvealed is the Toyota bZ4X, an AWD in the bZ series. This CUV plays off the success of the Toyota Rav 4 hybrid series in style. Toyota had 4 key points that they made with tonight's product reveal: Toyota intends to contribute to SDGs based on the perspective of "home planet" that responds to environmental issues of global scale above and beyond the concepts of "hometown" and "home country" that the automotive industry has long continued its business in. Toyota intends to full…

ttp://e.ccialerts.com/a/hBFacz$AG-rD9AbQXcDAHyjC5Vl/and25 Toyota hybrid exec David Hermance dies in plane crash Mark Rechtin LOS ANGELES -- David Hermance, Toyota's executive engineer for advanced technology vehicles, died Saturday, Nov. 25, when the airplane he was piloting crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Hermance, 59, was Toyota's top American executive for alternative-fuel vehicles and emissions technologies in North America. He was also an avid pilot who enjoyed aerobatics competition. According to eyewitness and police reports, Hermance's plane was performing a series of loops in airspace over the ocean near San Pedro, Calif., reserved for aerobatic stunt…

My friend was looking at a used tacoma and the sales person was telling him that. Ive heard all kinds of crazyiness from dealers of all brands so whatever. But they have been talking about it over at japan car forums for quite a while so who knows. Ridgeline isnt doing good, do we need another one?

Motley Fool Detroit's Growth Engine: Toyota Friday October 13, 11:43 am ET By Rich Smith Detroit has a new growth engine, America. Not Detroit, per se, mind you. For decades, the American auto industry has been synonymous with the word "Detroit." No more. In a situation akin to what we've seen with digital video recorders, the name synonymous with the concept has become the also-ran. To record a television show might be to "TiVo" it. But the device that does the TiVo-ing is more likely made by Motorola (NYSE: MOT - News) or Cisco's (Nasdaq: CSCO - News) Scientific Atlanta than by TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO - News). Similarly, growth in the U.S. auto industry today relies …

I can't contain myself...rush to your Canadian Toyota dealer to pick up the special 20th Anniversary Edition Corolla! Toyota really went all-out on this one! http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WW...s100002e%2ehtml

Okay, I'm normally not the one impressed by Lexus, but I just found out about the GS350 through an US Open ad, and I'm definitely impressed. You have to give kudos to Lexus for their relentless pursuit of leading the segment, even if their attempts fail in the eyes of experts. They're almost like the desperate fat kid in school who will try anything to become respected, like offer more horsepower, more room, or more technology than anyone else. Lexus is an overacheiver and you have to respect them for that... Anyway, the point I was making is that they'll do anything, even if it means cannabalizing some of their older products. The $44K GS350 has 303 horses, or 13 more t…

Interesting video, and some tough questions in there. http://digg.com/dialogg/Jim_Lentz_1

Jumbo Shrimp By John DiPietro Date posted: 11-28-2005 Ten years ago, before the flood of current compact SUVs washed over the market, Toyota's RAV4 offered the Gen X and Gen Y folks an SUV that suited their supposedly active lifestyles. Something that could handle foul-weather driving as well as a trip to the slopes or mountain bike trailhead. Something that had relatively small dimensions for an SUV, making it easy to park in the city. Something that had a frugal four-cylinder engine that promised 20-somethings 20-something miles to the gallon. Something journalists dubbed the "cute ute." Well, this is America, the Land of Supersizing, so it was inevitable …

http://www.lexus.com/models/rx_gateway.html

With the new Tundra out soon, does anybody know anything about the next Sequioa. I'm guessing the 2008 Sequioa is all-new. I guess the LX will get much nicer for 2008.

'07 Lexus IS Gains VDIM-Defeat Button Since it's introduction as an '06 model, the one major downfall of Lexus' second-generation IS has been it's VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management) system, or more specifically, a means by which to turn it off. As Edmunds stated it, "The biggest downer is the inability to disarm the VDIM system, which mutes the sedan's performance long before the limits of its chassis and tires are reached." For '07 (just one year into the second-gen IS' model run), Lexus has adressed this issue with the addition of a VSC/VDIM-defeat button, along with other minor changes. -------------------- The biggest news is the addition of a VS…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 23, 2013 Peeking into the Scion FR-S and Toyota GT86 rumorpile, we have a number of stories talking about more power via two different ways; turbocharging and using a hybrid system. Add a third option onto that list. Chief engineer of the GT86 family, Tetsuya Tada told Drive.com.au that they are exploring of using a larger displacement boxer-four engine. More interesting is that Tada said the company is testing all three. "I hope to make an engine upgrade at least one time with this car. We [have] already tried all possibilities and there are several types of 86 prototypes at the Toyota proving ground now; one is …

Toyota plans Ontario truck plant near Woodstock factory Affiliate Hino Motors has ambitious growth targets Christine Tierney / The Detroit News Hino Motors Ltd., Toyota Motor Corp.'s truck-manufacturing affiliate, is expected to announce plans soon to build a small production facility in southwestern Ontario as part of its strategy to boost sales sharply in North America. Hino will set up the facility near a $600 million auto assembly plant Toyota is building in Woodstock, Ontario, according to people familiar with the situation. The auto plant is scheduled to open in 2008. Hino is the latest in a wave of Asian auto manufacturers that have invested billions of dollar…

Toyota Hybrid Trim Down (in more ways than one) The Japanese automaker said its new target would trim the cost premium for hybrids to about $1,900. The new hybrid technology, which will be used in the next-generation Prius sedan, will be about half the size and weight of the current system. Read "Slim Fast: Toyota Aims To Take Size and Weight out of Its Hybrid System" @ Edmunds

Unsurprisingly, various Chinese automotive news websites have leaked out images of the new 2013 Lexus ES today, ahead of its scheduled reveal at the Beijing Auto Show this April. It’s also unsurprising that the story hasn’t changed with Lexus’s Camry-based front-wheel drive sedan — it’s still the most expensive shade of beige money can buy. The changes from 2012 Camry to 2013 ES mostly include exterior styling that’s pretty much the same as what you get with any other Lexus (IS greenhouse, the recent GS's Predator-like front fascia, and LS taillights) and an interior that looks as if someone broke into BMW’s design studio late one night just to dig sketches out of a comp…

Original story HERE While I am no fan of Toyota, I find it extremely funny that people would somehow expect Toyota to NOT sell full size trucks and SUV's. They are in business to make money and there is a lot of money to be made in the full size truck/SUV arena. To think they would abandon that market because they are a green company is just absurd.

BEIJING, Nov 29 Asia Pulse - Japan's top car maker Toyota Motor Corp has predicted its sales in China will grow by more than 50 per cent this year and remain on a fast track next year. The group expects to sell 179,000 vehicles in China this year, up 54 per cent from 2004, said Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota's executive vice-president and board member. "Our sales in China will outpace the growth of China's entire car market significantly next year," Inaba said. He predicted the car market in China would expand by more than 20 per cent in 2006 from this year. According to plans revealed by Toyota's two Chinese ventures, the group's sales in China …

So today me, my brother, and our friend were driving, and cutting through a parking lot. We all saw a sliver FJ Cruiser pulling in, and the following conversation ensued. Him: What the hell is that?! Me: It's a Toyota FJ Cruiser. It's new. Him: It's so ugly!! It looks like it has a tumor growing out the back of it!! Me:

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 27, 2012 Autocar is reporting that Lexus is mulling over a production version of the LF-LC shown at the North American International Auto Show. Karl Schlicht, head of Lexus product planning told the magazine that he gives a 50/50 chance to a production model. “A decision has not been taken. But we’re now up to a 50 per cent chance from a zero per cent one. Every top Toyota Motor Company manager is aware of the great reception it has received and now we’re talking about how we can do it and fit it into the product plan.” Originally, company executives said again and again, the LF-LC was strictly a concept. Howev…

Toyota Gives Camry Buyers Fraichir Fabric By Christie Schweinsberg WardsAuto.com, Jan 31 2006 Fabric treated with a silk byproduct is standard on the high-end trim of Toyota’s new midsize sedan. OJAI, CA – A resource from Toyota Motor Corp.’s homeland is providing a fabric treatment that gives the new ’07 Camry sedan’s plain cloth seats a silkier, softer feel. Already found on some of Toyota’s microvans in Japan, cloth seats treated with the Fraichir process will be standard on 4-cyl. Camry XLE models sold in the U.S. Fraichir (pronounced fray-sheer) is a brand name used in women’s and children’s apparel in Japan for at least a decade. However, the history of its …

Toyota's Tj Cruiser concept is an interesting one. It takes elements of a van and SUV, and mashes them up into a capable and practical vehicle. Toyota in a press release announcing the concept hinted that it could go into production by saying it would be based on their TGNA modular platform, feature a hybrid powertrain, and have the choice of front or all-wheel drive. According to Autocar, Toyota is serious about possibly bringing the Tj Cruiser to production. Design chief Hirokazu Ikuma told the outlet that if the concept gets enough of a positive reaction from those attending the Tokyo Motor Show, it may move on to the next step of taking this vehicle to various co…

This story is gaining more traction in the media. Read the comments below the article...the vast majority relate a similar experience. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyot...tory?id=8980479

Link to full article @ Forbes.com Teflon Toyota Joann Muller and Jonathan Fahey 07.03.06 Consumers don't seem bothered by a rash of recalls. Here's a quiz: a carmaker last month recalled 1 million vehicles worldwide. In 2005 it recalled 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S., 10% of its total number of cars on the road here and twice the number it recalled the year before. Who is this bumbling manufacturer? No, not General Motors (nyse: GM - news - people ), but Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people ), whose vehicles jump off the lot because consumers swear by their quality. Just a few weeks ago Toyota again dominated consumer polls in the annual J.D. Power & Associates ini…

thegarage.com.au: Lexus IS250 Review

Article with photos: http://www.houstoncars.org/2009-toyota-rav4-first-look.php I hope Toyota improves the interior, too. I think the new styling looks much classier than the CR-V.

Toyota, Honda lead declines in Dec. auto sales DETROIT – Toyota and Honda's U.S. sales fell more than their U.S. competitors' in December, with Toyota's 37 percent decline and Honda's 35 percent drop showing the Japanese company's popular fuel-efficient models were little help as consumers steered clear of showrooms due to the dismal economy.

Lexus GS450h: Hybrid Racer Toyota Motor has announced that it has entered a race-prepped version of its Lexus GS450h hybrid sedan in Japan's Tokachi 24-hour endurance race. The car (shown above in preliminary livery) will be raced by Sigma Automotive Racing Division (SARD), a group that races Toyotas in the Japanese Super GT series. Editor's Note: Save the planet one lap at a time. Read "Toyota fields Lexus GS450 hybrid racecar" @ Autoblog

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http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/...0601_836628.htm Some mighty fine reporting there.

TheCarConnection Daily Auto News: Sep. 15, 2006 The first two models from Toyota's Scion division are on their farewell tour. But unlike Cher, Toyota really means it: the Scion xA and xB will end production this year in advance of two new models coming to the division in spring of 2007. "The xA and xB will always be very special models for us and have contributed greatly to Scion's success, but we're ready to move into our next product phase," said Mark Templin, vice president, Scion. The pair, on sale since June 2003, have sold more than 200,000 copies combined through July. The new models replacing the xA and xB will be 2008 models, Toyota said in a release.