Woodyscarsite Find: 2012 Toyota Camry Illustration?

Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/06/2012-toyota-camry.html

Report: The two 'most American' cars are Japanese

The two most American cars aren't, well, American, according to a new ranking by our friends at Cars.com. For the third straight year, Toyota Camry, a product of Japan's largest automaker, is the "most American car," as determined by Cars.com formula. Honda Accord, the flagship of Japan's second largest automaker, is second.

The highest car on Cars.com annual ranking from a Detroit Big 3 maker is General Motors' Chevrolet Malibu.

Cars.com's annual American-Made Index ranks the most-American vehicles based on percentage of their parts that are made domestically, where they are assembled and how many are sold to U.S. buyers.

Both Camry and Accord are made with 80% of their parts coming from the USA. And most are assembled in the U.S. Camrys are made in Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind.

The Ford Explorer comes to the list, reborn as a crossover, with a higher percentage of domestic parts, 85%, than a Camry or Accord and is made in a Chicago factory. But it doesn't sell in as great a numbers as they, meaning also that it probably results in fewer American factory jobs.

"In today's global economy, there's not an easy way to determine just how American a car is," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief. "Most cars built in the U.S., for example, are assembled using at least some parts that come from somewhere else. Additionally, many U.S. automakers assemble vehicles in Canada and Mexico, while foreign automakers have opened plants on U.S. soil. Our index is another resource that car buyers can use to help guide their purchase decision."

Besides Camry, Toyota also has the Tundra (No. 9) and the Sienna (No. 6) on the list. GM also has three vehicles on the list -- the first time since 2009. In addition to Malibu, they are Chevy Traverse (No. 8) and the GMC Acadia (No. 10). Honda held two spots in the top 10, while Ford and Chrysler each held one.

"Despite the disaster in Japan, and General Motors usurping Toyota as the world's largest automaker, we're not surprised to see the Camry in the No. 1 position again," said Olsen. "The Camry remains an incredibly popular vehicle, and higher total sales require a higher number of U.S. factory workers and a larger number of U.S. suppliers – all of which contribute to Toyota's ranking."

Here's the list of the top 2011 model-year vehicles on Cars.com's list, and their percentage of domestic parts:

Toyota Camry: 80%.
Honda Accord: 80%.
Chevrolet Malibu: 75%.
Ford Explorer: 85%.
Honda Odyssey: 75%.
Toyota Sienna: 75%.
Jeep Wrangler: 78% for 2-door, 79% for 4-door.
Chevrolet Traverse: 75%.
Toyota Tundra: 80%.
GMC Acadia: 75%.

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/06/ranking-the-two-most-american-cars-are-from-japanese-makers/1

Toyota to reveal GRMN Hybrid concept at Nürburgring 24

TOYOTA TO UNVEIL NEW GRMN HYBRID CONCEPT AT NÜRBURGRING
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will show the "GRMN (GAZOO Racing1 tuned by MN2) SPORTS HYBRID Concept II", a convertible mid-engined petrol-electric hybrid concept, at the 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race taking place this weekend.

The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is an updated version of a petrol-electric sports concept shown at Tokyo Auto Salon in 2010. The vehicle features advanced styling and an improved sports-hybrid AWD system with the main power unit (petrol engine, rear-wheel drive motors and transmission) mid-mounted in conjunction with a front-wheel drive motor. Positioned this way it improves manoeuvrability, increases driving enjoyment and provides enhanced stability.Toyota launched the world's first mass-produced petrol-electric vehicle, the Prius, in 1997, and has long conducted active research on applying hybrid technologies to racing and sports cars. The GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II is the next step in the evolution of these efforts.

GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II
EngineType
Petrol
V6

Displacement (cc)
3,456

Maximum output (bhp)
245

System Maximum output
(bhp)295

Body Length (mm)4,350
Width (mm)1,890
Height (mm)1,200
Wheelbase (mm)2,575
Weight (kg)1,500 or less

Vehicle layout
Mid-engined with front electric motor

Tyres
Front225/40R19
Rear255/35R1924

Hours Nürburgring Race Outline
Name39th ADAC Zurich 24h-Race 2011

Dates
June 23-26, 2011 (main competition runs from June 25 and 26)VenueNürburgring (Nürburg, Ahrweiler, State of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)

1 A vehicle-development and motor-sports support program created by GAZOO, which also operates the GAZOO.com customer-participation portal site launched in 1998, "GAZOO mura" driving events and the "Drive Kingdom" large-scale test-drive events for the general public.

2 Stands for "Meister of Nürburgring", referring to Hiromu Naruse (1944-2010), a TMC test driver and chief of the GAZOO Racing team.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/22/toyota-to-reveal-grmn-hybrid-concept-at-nurburgring-24/#continued

MotorTrend: Toyota Prius Sports Coupe in Pipeline

June 02, 2011
By Peter Lyon

Toyota has been hinting for years that it would be expanding its Prius model lineup, and the new Prius v we just took for a test drive is likely just the start of a bigger Prius family. Over the past two years, rumors of a minivan, a convertible, and even an SUV variant have been tossed about.

But the one derivative of the bunch that has enthusiasts interested is the American-inspired Prius Sports Coupe project. Our source tells us that without the strong push for this car from Toyota's U.S. arm, this project wouldn't have made it past first base. What you see here is one artist's impression of how the Sports Coupe will look when it debuts in late 2014, the same year the next-generation Prius is expected to surface.

Our insider explains that with development of the Lexus LFA supercar scaling down, and R&D funds and personnel being re-routed, we can expect to see a proliferation of more fun-to-drive hybrid cars over the next three to five years. It seems part-time race car driver and full-time Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda is having some influence on the automaker's car development program.

One of the highlights of this coupe will be the option of a manual transmission that Toyota is developing for hybrids at the Higashi-Fuji proving ground near Mt. Fuji. That manual gearbox will be bolted to the company's next-generation hybrid system with plug-in capability, a system that will be completely new and not inherited from the Prius. Our spies tell us that the sports coupe will employ a rear-drive platform and will incorporate the plug-in hybrid unit with lightweight Li-ion batteries that generate significantly more power than the current Prius, but maintain class-leading mileage and CO2 emissions.

This is just the beginning. Come 2015, our source tells us the company will officially roll out its long-rumored "Prius brand," from which we can expect all future Toyota hybrid models, as well as a hydrogen-powered sedan that reportedly is in development. And the flagship for the new brand will be the Sports Coupe.

Source;
http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1105_toyota_prius_sports_coupe_in_pipeline/index.html

Next Generation Toyota Camry Expected this Fall

America’s best-selling passenger car will be getting a makeover this fall, a new report finds. Sources say Toyota will launch an all-new, seventh-generation of its Camry sedan by the end of 2011.

The Camry was once again America’s best-selling passenger car last year – tallying 327,804 sales – but newer rivals are starting to nip at the five year old sedan’s heels. Those 327,804 sales were the Camry’s lowest since 1994.

However, help is on the way in the form of the all-new, seventh-generation Camry, due out later this year.

“We haven’t announced the next-gen Camry, (but) I will tell you (the current) Camry is very close to the end of its lifecycle, and a fall introduction is a pretty good educated guess,” Bob Carter, Toyota group vice president and general manager, told Ward’s.

Carter didn’t comment on what to expect from the next-generation Camry, but it’s possible we could see the new version of the sales leader at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Source;
http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-toyota-camry-to-bow-this-fall.html

Toyota confirms FT-86 details

Japanese automaker confirms a 2.0 liter Boxer engine from Subaru will power the FT-86

According to our colleagues over at Motorward.com, Toyota has confirmed certain details on the upcoming FT-86.

The report states that the FT-86 production version will feature a 2.0 liter Boxer engine from Subaru and a D-4S injection system from Toyota.

Transmission options will be a six-speed manual or six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

The car will be a rear-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential.

The FT-86 has been a long time in development and we expect more details soon as the model is gearing up for its official introduction.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/111050233033/toyota-confirms-ft-86-details---report#ixzz1LIe1jCyQ

Jalopnik: How Toyota tried to bar a blog from mentioning them ever again

Interesting read....
Toyota has sparked a controversy in Brazil for attempting to legally bar a media outlet that dared publish spy shots of a new Corolla from ever mentioning the Toyota brand name again. Jalopnik Brazil editor Leo Nishihata explains. — Ed.

About a month ago, spy shots of an upcoming Corolla published by the Brazilian blog Notícias Automotivas triggered something unheard of: an auto manufacturer attempting to permanently bar a media outlet from mentioning its brand. Now other outlets are starting to push back. Is it worth it, Toyota?

At first sight, the letter written by lawyer Rosana Bermejo is so superficial it could be phony. It wastes several lines extolling the history and image of Toyota in Brazil until it gets to March 23rd, when a post on Noticias Automotivas presented pictures and details of the Toyota Corolla S, a version to be launched in Brazil in 2012.

According to Eber do Carmo, editor-in-chief of Noticias Automotivas, the post has been written after spy shots were sent by a reader, and accurate info obtained from sources in the plant. (The article has been removed, but it is still available in Google cache.)

In its notification (PDF), Toyota claims that this release constitues "unfair business practice" and that "such release is unfit and unauthorized, causing Toyota a huge damage, once the release of those images spoils the customer's expectation towards news about the product."

For the rest of the article, follow the link;
http://ca.jalopnik.com/5797750/how-toyota-tried-to-bar-a-blog-from-mentioning-them-ever-again

2012 Toyota Corolla?

Hmmm. Below is the older rendition of the proposed 2012 Toyota Corolla, which I think looks alot better. I think the pic above has a lot of Civic in that front end.....
Source;
http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-next-gen-toyota-corolla-should-not.html

Woody's Car Site: Toyota FT-86 Speculation

Not sure where he dug this up, but Woody's thinking that this could be the Hybrid version.... Interesting, good find!
Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/04/toyota-ft-86-hybrid-speculation.html

Auto Makers Pull, Rethink New Car Launches

After the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, Japan’s auto makers aren’t just facing a struggle to scramble for parts from troubled suppliers to try to get their factories working again. They’re also having to retool their whole marketing strategies.

Honda Motor Co. had been scheduled to hold a press conference on March 17 for what would have been the world’s first hybrid wagon, the Fit Shuttle. Instead, Honda was obliged to cancel the event and delay the domestic launch, originally in the diary for the following day. Meanwhile Toyota Motor Corp. has had to postpone the release of the wagon and minivan versions of the Prius hybrid – now Japan’s biggest-selling car ever: that was on the slate for late April in Japan.

While others like Mazda Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., both with plans to roll out new vehicles later this year, say they’re not considering delaying launches at the moment, the postponement of new Toyota and Honda hybrid models come as demand for fuel-efficient vehicles is likely growing. The average gasoline price in the disaster-troubled country hit Y151.2 per liter on March 22, the highest level since October 2008, and remains around that level, according to the country’s Oil Information Center. As well as price, availability is a concern for people in quake-hit northern Japan, with fewer public transport options than big cities like Tokyo: many gasoline stations in the area remain shut after the disaster.

Spokeswomen at Honda and Toyota said that they have yet to decide on new launch schedules. Even if customers’ appetite for fuel-efficient vehicles is on the rise, they won’t be able to meet higher demand with vehicle production ability dented by the parts shortage, they said. Crimped by the continued vehicle output stoppage, the country’s auto sales sank 37% in March, the biggest drop in 37 years.

Perhaps no surprise, then, that Toyota, Honda, Nissan Motor Co. and other local auto makers are holding off on the aggressive sales promotions in TV, magazine, newspaper ads, or special sales campaigns at dealerships, that typically surround new launches.

Still, auto makers are responding to demand for gas-sipping cars. Toyota restarted production of three hybrid models from March 28 in Japan, including the Prius, and Honda has said that it will run all its domestic factories from April 11, possibly resuming production of all kinds of its vehicles including the Insight and Fit hybrid cars.

Source;

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/04/07/auto-makers-pull-rethink-new-car-launches/

Japan’s carmakers halt domestic operations

By John Reed, Motor Industry Correspondent
Published: March 14 2011 13:00 Last updated: March 14 2011 13:00
Japan’s four biggest carmakers have said they are suspending production at their domestic plants through to at least Wednesday to cope with the after-effects of Friday’s earthquake and tsunami.

Honda, Japan’s second-largest carmaker, said on Monday that it was halting domestic production for a week and that damage to its suppliers’ plants might disrupt its UK production.

The announcement was an early sign of the disaster’s potential knock-on effect on the global supply chain in one of the world’s largest industries. Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors also extended shutdowns of their plants in order to assess and deal with damage from the quake.

Honda on Monday said that it had shut down its plants to check safety, power supply and infrastructure issues, along with the state of its local suppliers.

Honda said that it had 113 suppliers around the area in north-east Japan where the main tremors from the earthquake were felt. The carmaker said that it had been in touch with 44 of them, but was still trying to contact the remaining 69.

A UK spokesman for Honda said there were “potential supply issues” at its car plant in Swindon, England, where it makes its CR-V sport utility vehicle, its Jazz small car, and its Civic mid-size model.

“There will be a knock-on effect for car production in the UK, but we don’t yet know what it is,” he said.

Honda said that it had established emergency co-ordination centres in Swindon and at its plant in Tochigi in Japan in order to liaise on business issues concerning its supply of components and the well-being of its employees.

Toyota, Japan’s and the global car industry’s biggest producer, on Monday said that a shutdown already planned for Monday at all of its Japanese plants – including those of its Hino and Daihatsu subsidiaries – would be extended through to Wednesday.

The company makes some of its most popular models – including the bulk of its Prius hybrid model and Lexus luxury marque’s cars – in Japan.

Toyota said that the current three-day halt to production would not immediately affect its overseas operations. “The current production stop is for three days”, said a Toyota spokesman based in Brussels. “As such this doesn’t have an impact outside Japan, but we need to assess further.”

Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker, said that it would halt operations at its Oppama, Kyushu, Shatai, and Yokahama plants south of Tokyo until Wednesday and at its Tochigi and Iwaki plants north of Tokyo until Friday.

The company also said that it would do its utmost to support “restoration activities” in Japan, including by conserving electricity usage in all of its activities.

Mitsubishi said that it was suspending plant operations on Monday and Tuesday to check safety at its suppliers. The producer’s main production hubs are located in Japan’s Aichi, Gifu, and Okayama prefectures, and were not affected by the earthquake.

However, it said that some of its suppliers had reported damage.

Japan’s car industry is one of the world’s largest. North-eastern Japan has become a major car-production centre in recent years, with Toyota, Honda, Nissan and operating plants there.

Most global carmakers, including Japan’s, produce and source parts for most of their cars in the regions where they build them.

However, Japan’s producers in particular are known for producing some of their models destined for export locally in order to preserve jobs and expertise at home in the face of declining domestic demand for cars.

Source;
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8d5f631e-4e2a-11e0-a9fa-00144feab49a.html#axzz1Ga6cJOuQ

The future's hybrid say Honda and Toyota

4 March 2011
-Five Toyota hybrids by 2012
-Honda CR-V and FR-V replacements could be hybrids
-More powerful, sporty Honda hybrid considered

Honda and Toyota continue to vie for supremacy in the world of hybrids, and have big plans to expand the number of models they sell in Europe, based on the architectures and concept models on show at the title="Geneva motor show report"Geneva motor show.

Toyota showed off the Prius+, a seven-seat version of the Prius V it revealed at the Detroit motor in January, plus a hybrid version of the next Yaris supermini, badged Yaris HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) Concept. Both will become production reality in 2012 aongside a plug-in version of the current Prius which we have already title="Toyota Plug-in Prius driven"driven.

Honda had its new twin-motor hybrid platform, also first seen at Detroit, which it'll use to underpin a range of mid-range vehicles.

Although Honda isn't saying what these will be, research and develoment chief Tomohiko Kawanabe would not deny that the CR-V crossover and a replacement for the FR-V compact MPV were the sort of cars that might benefit from it.

However, he also said that the company is looking at other ways of expanding its hybrid range, and a more powerful version of the sporty petrol-electric CR-Z coupe could not be ruled out.

Hybrid demand is growing
By the end of 2012 Toyota will have five hybrids on sale in Europe - Auris, Prius, Prius plug-in, Prius+ and Yaris. Some will retain today's nickel-metal hydride battery system, while others will have the more efficient, smaller but more expensive lithium-ion set-up being trialled in the Prius plug-in .

'Lithium-ion has merits in terms of compactness and energy storage, and it is needed to give a longer range on battery power alone,' said Guillaume Gerondeau, the vice-president in charge of product for Toyota Motor Europe.

While today's Prius has a maximum range of only two miles on pure battery power, future plug-in models will be able to manage six times that.'The Yaris hybrid will have lithium-ion batteries and its use of space (packaging) has been optimised around this', said Gerondeau. 'Until now, cost and packaging were the two big negatives of small hybrids,' he said, 'but now we have appropriate solutions.' He is unperturbed about electrifying a car that is already economical with petrol or diesel power, claiming that CO2 will be even lower (less than the 89g/km of today's Prius) while other emissions will also be reduced.

'Demand for hybrids is growing,' he said. 'More and more customers are putting powertrain technology as their first priority. According to our research, in 2006 it was 4%; in 2008 it grew to 8% and in 2010 it was 16%.' Toyota will add even more hybrids when new-generation models start to appear after 2013, and has pledged to have a hybrid version of every car it sells by 2020.

Kawanabe says the new Honda twin-motor hybrid system is designed to overcome the limits of the company's current IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) fitted to the CR-Z, Insight and Jazz. 'It is designed to achieve better fuel efficiency with a smaller battery than IMA. We will have a range of 10 miles in EV [electric vehicle] mode and start extending this as the battery becomes bigger.'

Kawanabe says the twin-motor set-up will give the performance of a 2.5-litre conventional engine with lower fuel consumption and emissions. It is likely to be too big for use in an uprated CR-Z, but he believes it would be 'a good idea' to increase the power of the hybrid sports car and admitted that Honda is 'seriously thinking about' how it could be done.

Source;
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/the-future-s-hybrid-say-honda-and-toyota/255718#

2011 Consumer Reports Reliability Chart

This is just to piggyback an earlier post....
According to Consumer Reports Annual Automakers Report Card for 2011, Honda and Subaru still make the best vehicles overall, however, Ford posted the largest gain.

Consumer Reports said that Ford outpaced its Detroit rivals in reliability in recent years and that this year its average test score for all tested models increased from 60 to 70. The publication currently recommends 71 percent of the Ford vehicles it has tested.

Honda, Subaru and Toyota are at the top three for the third consecutive year with vehicles doing very well in Consumer Reports tests, remaining relatively trouble-free. Honda, including its luxury Acura brand, has had the best reliability record of any car maker and has made mostly good to outstanding vehicles. In fact, no Honda vehicle scored less than average in reliability.

Subaru, which has the highest average road-test score of 81, makes only half-a-dozen models but all do well in Consumer Reports road tests. Toyota, Lexus and Scion remain solid choices as well with reliability remaining better than average with an average test score of 74 for all tested models. Consumer Reports currently recommends 74 percent of the Toyota vehicles it has tested.

GM also improved its average road-test and reliability scores. Chrysler had the lowest average test score by far of 50.

Volvo is the only European make with an above-average reliability score. Volkswagen’s reliability has improved of late, but Audi’s reliability brings the combined automaker’s score down.

Luxury automakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW are near the bottom of Consumer Reports Automakers Report Card Ranking with both getting below-average reliability.

- By: Omar Rana

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/02/28/consumer-reports-report-card-2011-honda-subaru-make-best-vehicles-ford-improves/#more-75591

Official FT-86 II Concept Press Release, Press Photos

All I can say is.... wow.... what a beautiful car.... C'mon Honda, Prelude II!
FT-86 II concept – Embodies Toyota’s Reborn Passion for Sports Car Driving
— Toyota has been creating exciting sports cars for over 50 years
— 2000 GT established Toyota’s global reputation for sports car manufacturing
— Corolla Coupe, Celica, Supra and MR2 consistently popular on the global market
— FT-86 II concept previews the next generation of Toyota sports car
— Entirely driver-focused concept designed to capture the intrinsic joy of driving
— Boxer engine for light weight, low centre of gravity and optimum power-to-weight ratio

Heritage – Half a Century of Passion for Sporting Performance
‘When the Toyota 2000 GT was built, I was eleven years old – and I loved it. I said: “I want to drive something like this when I grow up”. My dream came true when I drove a 2000 GT in a vintage car rally. That was a really great experience.

I want young people to feel those same desires when they see a new Toyota sports car. I want to transfer the thrill of the race track to our vehicles, and make driving fun and exciting for our customers.’

Akio Toyoda – President, Toyota Motor Corporation

Since Toyota began the development of its 2-cylinder boxer engined Sports 800 in 1962, the company has maintained a long history of creating exciting, driver-focused sports cars that have proved as popular with the public as they have been successful in competition.

The beautiful 2000 GT, first displayed at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show, helped establish the company’s global reputation as a sports car manufacturer. This 2.0 litre straight-six-powered coupe finished third in the 1966 Japanese GP and went on to establish three world endurance records, including the fastest average speed continuously over 16,000 kilometres – 207km/h.

A convertible 2000 GT appeared in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Sadly – created as a movie one-off merely because the film’s star, Sean Connery, could not fit comfortably in the standard coupe – it was never made commercially available.

In the US, former Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby entered the 2000 GT in the 1968 Sports Car Club of America’s C-Production category. Despite little development, the lead car notched up four wins against the hitherto dominant Porsche 911.

In response to the focus of the annual Japanese Grand Prix on sports racing cars with larger engines, Toyota launched its first purpose-built racer in 1968, the Toyota 7, which featured a mid-mounted, 3.0 litre V8 subsequently upgraded to 5.0 litres. The 1970 Toyota 7 Turbo was the world’s first turbo-engined racing car.

Before its launch in 1984, Toyota appointed legendary US racing driver Dan Gurney for the testing and development of the MR2. Toyota has always understood the value of motorsport and a racing driver’s analytically skills for improving its road-going models. And the MR2 gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the best handling sports cars of all time.

Seven generations of the Celica were sold throughout the world for 36 years between 1970 and 2006. The first Celicas incorporated rear-wheel drive powertrains, and were praised by sports car enthusiasts for their agility. The Celica GT, introduced in Europe in 1974, featured a five-speed transmission and wider tyres.

Appealing strongly to the European market, the redesigned Celica of 1985 featured front-wheel drive and the powerful, 2.0 litre 3S-GE engine.

The Celica also achieved considerable success in competition. The Celica Twin-Cam Turbo achieved three consecutive Safari Rally wins between 1984 and 1986. Taking its first World Rally Championship win in Australia in 1989, the all-wheel drive Celica GT-Four went on to record back-to-back WRC driver’s and manufacturer’s titles in 1993 and 1994. The GT-Four was the first Japanese car to win both driver’s and manufacturer’s WRC titles.

Toyota’s Supra was launched in 1979. The first two generations of the car were based on the Celica, the Supra only becoming a model in its own right with the third generation car of 1986. Its roots may be traced back to the 2000 GT, all four generations boasting straight-six engines and rear-wheel drive.

Engine cubic capacity rose with each generation from 2.5 litres to 2.7 and then 3.0 litres, culminating in the 1993 model year. VI Supra’s 320 hp engine with sequential turbocharging, which gave the car a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 5.2 seconds, and a governed maximum speed of 250km/h.

With its reputation for delivering pure excitement and embodying the fundamental joy of driving, the Corolla Levin AE86 is the inspiration behind Toyota’s latest sports car concept, the Future Toyota-86 II.

The Corolla Levin AE86’s front engine, rear-wheel drive powertrain, compact dimensions, light weight, impeccable balance and superior power-to-weight ratio made it the must-have choice for rallying and circuit driving throughout its 1983-1987 production life. Even today, the AE86 is still a popular choice with private rallying teams.

Sharing its predecessor’s front engine, rear-wheel drive credentials, the FT-86 II concept introduces a new generation of sports car which perfectly recaptures the exhilarating spirit of the last Corolla Levin AE 86.

Passion is Back: FT-86 II concept Gives Form to the Intrinsic Joy of DrivingWith the proportions of its long, low bonnet, high wings and rear-set cabin paying homage to Toyota’s illustrious sports car history, the dynamic power of the FT-86 II concept gives the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota’s next sports car.

The FT-86 II is an entirely driver-oriented concept, designed to give form to the intrinsic joy of driving through precise, instantaneous responses to even the smallest throttle or steering input, for those who regard driving as a passion rather than a necessity.

Under a design concept that Toyota’s European Design Development centre, ED2, has dubbed ‘Functional Beauty’, its bold, sweeping form has been generated entirely through the constraints of function, and aerodynamics developed from F1 technology.

Its low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell stretched tight over the engineering hard points, the FT-86 II concept’s muscular body work has been made as compact as possible. Featuring a long, 2,570mm wheelbase, the concept is 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and just 1,270mm high.

Rather than relying on a heavy, large displacement powertrain for its performance, the FT-86 II returns to Toyota’s sporting roots by combining a free-revving boxer petrol engine and a 6-speed manual transmission with compact dimensions, light weight and a low centre of gravity for the best possible power-to-weight ratio.

Both powertrain and driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimise balance for maximum poise, high speed stability and dynamic agility. Allied to a front engine, rear-wheel drive format, this awards the FT-86 II lively, accessible performance, highly engaging, readily-exploitable dynamic abilities and maximum driving pleasure.

The FT-86 II concept is the result of an August 2009 announcement that Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries will launch a jointly developed compact rear-wheel drive sports car. European sales of Toyota’s new sports car will begin in 2012.

Source;

Toyota

Ford rises, but Honda still tops the Consumer Reports report card

I've been selling Honda's now for 9yrs, and other brands have come up and gone back down again, but one thing remains is Honda (and Toyota) are mainstays.
Consumer Reports said Monday that Ford made the biggest gains in its annual Automaker Report Card but that Honda and Subaru still make the best vehicles overall.

The magazine said Ford's average test score for all models rose from 66 to 70 and praised the Dearborn automaker for performing better overall than its crosstown rivals. Ford finished fifth on the report card, with an overall score of 67.

"In recent years, we have seen that Ford has really improved in reliability," said Rik Paul, automotive editor for the magazine.

The company's Mustang was the top pick for sporty cars, placing a U.S. manufacturer at the top of that segment for the first time in six years.

Top picks in other categories include Honda's Fit for the new category of budget cars, Hyundai's Elantra for small cars and Nissan's Altima for family sedans. The overall score for each automaker combines the magazine's own road tests and reliability surveys.

Consumer Reports conducts more than 50 tests on every vehicle to compile its scores and calculates predicted reliability based on subscriber surveys for 1.3 million vehicles.

The influential magazine's report card is part of its annual automotive issue, which hits newsstands next Tuesday.

But even though Ford improved, Honda, Subaru and Toyota were the top three automakers for the third year in a row. Honda finished first, with an overall score of 74, followed by Subaru at 73 and Toyota at 71.

General Motors' overall score improved to 67 from 65 last year, Consumer Reports said. Newer models such as the Buick Enclave and LaCrosse, and the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse performed well.

However, three of its cars -- the Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Impala and Buick Lucerne -- were listed as the worst values in their segments.

"GM needs to achieve more consistent reliability in order to see a significant improvement," Paul said.

Chrysler came in last place, the magazine said, and needs to make improvements to be competitive. Newer models, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram, have shown improvement, Consumer Reports said.

"Customers will see 16 all-new or significantly updated vehicles at Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Fiat dealers this year," Doug Betts, Chrysler's senior vice president of quality said in a statement. "These vehicles represent a new level of interior refinement, world-class fit and finish."

Source;
http://www.freep.com/article/20110301/BUSINESS01/103010343/0/BUSINESS06/Ford-rises-Honda-still-tops-Consumer-Reports-report-card?odyssey=navhead

Feds: No electronic link to runaway Toyotas

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington— Federal safety officials said a comprehensive investigation has found no evidence that electronics were to blame for runaway Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.

Instead, the government blamed sticky accelerator pedals and trapped floor mats — two causes that led Toyota to recall 11 million vehicles worldwide, including nearly 8 million in the United States, since 2009.

"The jury is back. The verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas. Period," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a packed press conference at the department's headquarters. "Our conclusion is Toyota's problems were mechanical, not electrical."

The finding should go a long way in helping the Japanese automaker put the question behind it.

Toyota has long insisted that electronics played no role in sudden acceleration cases Steve St.Angelo, Toyota's chief quality officer for North America, praised the findings. "We believe this rigorous scientific analysis by some of America's foremost engineers should further reinforce confidence in the safety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles," St. Angelo said. Toyota said a "real world, un-commanded acceleration of the vehicle cannot occur."

LaHood said Toyota vehicles were safe — and that his daughter asked him last year if she should buy a 2011 Sienna.

"She wanted an ironclad guarantee from me that her vehicle was going to be safe," LaHood said. "I told me daughter that she should buy the Toyota, which she did."

After a 10-month investigation requested by Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NASA, in two studies, now say they found no proof that electronic glitches or computer problems led to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. LaHood said the findings showed that NHTSA had been "right all along" in discounting electronic issues.

But federal regulators are considering new rules to address mechanical flaws in vehicles.

NHTSA may propose mandatory brake override systems on all vehicles. That software upgrade allows a drive to stop a vehicle by pressing on the brake, even if the throttle is stuck.

Toyota and many other automakers already are making the systems standard on all new vehicles.

NHTSA also is considering proposing mandatory event data recorders — so-called black boxes — in all vehicles by the end of the year. The recorders would help investigators determine the cause of crash.

The government said it will begin a study to see if new rules should address the placement of gas and brake pedals to help drivers avoid hitting the wrong pedal or getting one stuck. NHTSA is also considering new rules to standardize keyless ignition systems.

Many safety advocates, as well as some members of Congress, have insisted that electronics were to blame for some runaway Toyotas. They cited harrowing testimony of people who recounted that their vehicles suddenly accelerated.

The two mechanical causes of unintended acceleration — sticking accelerator pedals and pedals trapped under floor mats — "remain the only known causes for these kind of unsafe unintended acceleration incidents," the agency said.

NHTSA also said human error -- or pedal misapplication -- was to blame for many incidents.

After looking at more than 280,000 lines of software code in Toyota vehicles, NASA engineers found no electronic flaws capable of producing the large throttle openings required to create dangerous, high-speed unintended acceleration incidents, the Transportation Department said in a statement releasing its findings.

NASA said its review showed complaints of unintended acceleration are extremely rare — just one in 100,000 vehicles — or one for every 1.4 billion miles driven. NASA said it was "theoretically possible" that two electronic faults could cause unintended acceleration under specific circumstances, but said there would be warranty data to support it.

Despite a half dozen NHTSA investigations into sudden acceleration claims in Toyota vehicles, the automaker did little until the high profile deaths of four motorists — including an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer near San Diego in August 2009, who were killed when the vehicle sped out of control.

Investigators said the cause was a trapped floor mat in the loaner Lexus.

The company's once sterling reputation for quality took an enormous hit from the issue; it has paid nearly $49 million to settle three separate allegations by the government that it delayed recalls.

Since 2000, NHTSA has received more than 3,000 complaints alleging at least 93 deaths from Toyota sudden acceleration incidents, but has confirmed a link in just five deaths.

In January 2010, Toyota was forced to stop selling more than 60 percent of vehicles in the United States, as it searched for a fix for its sticky pedal problem. Its top executive, Akio Toyoda, was called to testify before Congress, and the issue got worldwide attention.

"Just about every member of Congress that questioned me said 'It's got to be electronics,'." LaHood said.

NHTSA focused on the facts, he said. "Everything is data-based. It's not made up. It's not based on emotion. It's not based on some story somebody told us."

Many in Congress criticized a July 2009 internal Toyota memo that bragged that the company saved more than $100 million by avoiding a more extensive mechanical fix to address sudden acceleration claims.

NHTSA and NASA's review of electronics or electromagnetic interference was extensive.

At the Goddard Space Flight Center, they examined and tested components of Toyota vehicles.

At a special facility at Chrysler Group LLC headquarters in Auburn Hills, NHTSA and NASA engineers bombarded vehicles with electromagnetic radiation to study whether it could be the cause of unintended acceleration claims.

Toyota has taken other steps to give U.S. employees more power to move on safety issues and been much quicker to recall vehicles. It led the industry with 7 million vehicels recalled in 2010 in the U.S.

LaHood praised Toyota for deciding to spent $50 million on a safety center in Michigan. "That's extraordinary. That shows they really care about safety," LaHood said.

The National Academy of Sciences is conducting a separate investigation into unintended acceleration in cars and trucks from all automakers. The findings of that probe are due by year's end.

Toyota still faces hundreds of lawsuits, and a federal grand jury in New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission have pending investigations into Toyota's handling of recalls.

Toyota's stock jumped in New York trading to $89.08 — up 4.6 percent — or nearly $4 a share on the news.

Source;
http://www.detnews.com/article/20110208/AUTO01/102080381/Feds-clear-Toyota-of-electronic-causes

Honda still Japan's No. 2 -- in market capitalization

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co. jumped ahead of domestic rival Honda Motor Co. in global sales last year to become Japan's second-biggest automaker.

But Honda is still No. 2 among Japan's carmakers in market capitalization. And last week, Honda improved on its standing with the second-largest market cap of any Japanese company, period.

Even as Honda slid behind Nissan in sales, investors were voting with their pocketbooks on Honda's solid earnings and its forecast for some of the fattest profits in the auto industry.

As Honda shares closed 2 percent higher on Feb. 1, local media were quick to report that its market capitalization eclipsed the previous No. 2, Japanese mobile phone provider DoCoMo. It was Honda's first time ranked second since the 1980s, Japan's Nikkei business daily said.

Not surprisingly, Toyota Motor Corp. -- the world's largest automaker in terms of global sales volume -- also is Japan's largest company in terms of market capitalization.

Toyota, with nearly twice as many outstanding shares as Honda, had a market capitalization of 12.03 trillion yen ($146.4 billion) at the Tuesday close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Honda, whose shares have risen 26 percent since August, stood at 6.45 trillion yen ($78.5 billion). Nissan was No. 3 among automakers, capitalized at 3.94 trillion yen ($47.9 billion).

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20110209/BLOG06/110209718/-1

Keyless Ingnition Leads to CO2 Poisoning, Deaths

As I've mentioned before, I really hope Honda stays away from this push button ignition, and if we do go to it, do it with the key like how they did it on the S2000....
Car keys are becoming obsolete as more and more carmakers offer keyless ignition fobs, but the item that's supposed to make life easier for drivers is now accused of taking life in three separate incidents, and causing accidents and headaches for drivers across the country.

Three deaths -- one in New York, and two in Florida -- are raising the spotlight on keyless ignition, after drivers who left engines running in attached garages died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their sleep.

Mary Rivera of New York survived the carbon monoxide poisoning that killed her longtime partner, Ernie Codelia.

The former school superintendent and college professor says the permanent brain damage she now suffers was caused by the keyless ignition feature on her 2008 Lexus.

Rivera's lawyer, Noah Kushlefsky, says the feature lacks adequate warning and didn't stop Rivera from inadvertently leaving her car running, even though the fob was separated from the car by both distance and time.

"The engine should shut off after a specific period of time of inactivity," Kushlefsky said. "It's a problem that's only going to be magnified as more cars end up on the road with keyless start."

Toyota said it sympathizes with the families of anyone injured as a result of exposure to carbon monoxide.

The company didn't comment on the lawsuits filed in the Rivera incident, but did offer a statement on its keyless technology:

"Toyota's electronic key system fully complies with applicable federal motor vehicle standards and provides multiple layers of visual and auditory warnings to alert occupants that the vehicle is running when the driver exits with the key fob. Electronic key systems such as Toyota's are neither new nor unique within the automobile industry."

According to Edmunds.com, electronic key systems are featured on more than 150 2010 model year vehicles.

Automakers offer various iterations of keyless ignition.

As of last year the feature was offered in nearly 150 models, ranging from high-end to bargain models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now considering tighter restrictions which would standardize keyless ignition technology due to concerns of carbon monoxide poisoning, vehicle roll-away thefts and shutting off moving vehicles in an emergency.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.41nbc.com/news/health-news/997-keyless-ingnition-leads-to-co2-poisoning-deaths#

Toyota Prius cedes Japan car market leadership to Honda Fit in Jan.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid surrendered its leadership in Japan's passenger car market in January for the first time in 20 months, with Honda Motor Co.'s subcompact Fit likely to capture the top slot, industry sources said Tuesday.

Overall vehicle sales in January, excluding minivehicles with engines of up to 660 cc, tumbled 21.5 percent from a year earlier to 187,154 units, falling for the fifth consecutive month, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said the same day.

While sales of the Prius began falling year on year after the government subsidy program to promote eco-friendly car purchases ended in September, Fit sales have been robust due to the launch in October of a hybrid model with a starting price of 1.59 million yen, the most inexpensive in Japan among vehicles powered by electric motors and gasoline.

The sales rankings do not include minicars, but the Fit is likely to have become the front-runner in January for the first time since December 2007 even if minivehicle data are included, the sources said.

In January, Fit sales totaled about 15,000 units, up around 10 percent from a year earlier, with Prius sales at some 14,000 units, down an estimated 40 percent, according to the sources.
The Prius apparently lost some of its potential buyers to Toyota's all-new, fuel-efficient Vitz subcompact, which hit the market in December.

Among best-selling minivehicles, Daihatsu Motor Co.'s Move and Tanto sold some 9,000 units each between Jan. 1 and 28, and Suzuki Motor Corp.'s WagonR about 8,000 units, according to the sources.

The official sales rankings data are due to be released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association on Friday.

In January, passenger car sales excluding minicars dived 23.8 percent from a year earlier to 167,574 units. Cargo vehicle sales climbed 7.5 percent to 18,863 units, while bus sales tumbled 25.5 percent to 717 vehicles.

Source;
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/business/news/20110201p2g00m0bu085000c.html

Toyota FT-86 Teaser for Geneva Auto Show

Toyota allows us a glimpse of new FT-86 II - an evolution of its rear-drive coupe concept

Toyota is set to unveil a second evolution of the FT-86 rear-drive coupe concept at the Geneva show in March.

The FT-86 was first unveiled as a concept back in 2009 and, although rumours last summer suggested that the eagerly anticipated coupe could make production by the end of 2011, the new concept will be the first 'official' step closer to revealing the final design for the new Toyota coupe.

Unfortunately we'll all have to wait a bit longer to see properly what the 'FT-86 II' is, as Toyota is following the distinctly irritating fashion of enigmatic teaser photos.

So, aside from the frustrating photo, all Toyota will say for now is that the FT-86 II "builds on the original concept and will give the clearest indication yet of the final design for Toyota's next sports car".

Oh, and that "this new concept embodies the company's reborn passion for sports car driving".
Very nice, but can we see the car now please, Toyota?

Source;
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=23083