Multiple engineering teams collaborated to come up with the Toyota concept car with focus on passenger interaction and connectivity. Another goal is to have it along the production pipeline by 2015. The second part sounds like a good news since it might be destined to hit the roads.

The result of the team up of different teams is the 2012 NS4 Concept which can be a future Camry come 2016 or maybe it can give rise to a new range of plug-in hybrids that will be delivered by a sub-brand of Toyota.

The drivetrain of the concept vehicle gets its DNA from the current Hybrid Synergy Drive although the engineers made use of lighter and smaller components to make it more efficient, give it a better fuel economy, better electric range, and quicker acceleration.

The exterior design lines of the Toyota NS4 aims to create an emotional link with the consumers. And looking back at the sedans of present and of past, the NS4 concept might be the boldest in terms of design.

The interior of the car spotlights safety of its occupants and connectivity. The touch screen interface has the control for audio, ventilation, and other essential systems. The car also has an adaptive technology which learns usual command inputs.

The NS4 also has a pre-collision system that makes use of wave radar and cameras for detection of daylight and also as near infrared system to be utilized during night time. This tools are combined with a collision warning system and a prevention technology that triggers the brakes and provides steering inputs.

The Toyota NS4 will also have lane departure technology, monitoring blind spot, and adaptive headlights which varies in intensity and shape depending on the driving conditions.

The sticker price on the new Prius Plug-in is pretty competitive compared to the other electric vehicle units in the market today. The Prius too offers some flexibility in terms of performance as it combines a petrol engine with the lithium ion battery depended electric motor. The setup allows owners to go 14 miles in full EV mode. After covering the max of the distance as an EV, the Prius automatically turns on the whole hybrid system to run the car which includes the VVT-i 1.8L petrol powerplant. The range anxiety of drivers is therefore well addressed.

Recharging the Prius Plug-in Hybrid is also very convenient for end users. A full recharge of the lithium ion battery pack can be be achieved after plugging it in into an eletric supply at work, home, or public charging point for 1.5 hours.

The hybrid Toyota car is expected to only spew out 49 g/km of carbon dioxide and have an excellent combined fuel mileage of 134.5 miles per gallon. These number further enhances the position of the Toyota Prius Plug-in as a perfect choice for company fleets.

Contrary to an earlier report, it seems that the new supermini Prius C hybrid will be reaching UK showrooms. The Prius C with specs for Japan will be unveiled during the Tokyo auto show this coming November. This car will be the smallest among the lineup of Toyota Prius havgina dimension of 3995mm x 1695mm x 1445mm.

The new Prius C hybrid will have a petrol electric setup making use of 1.4L petrol engine working with an electric motor which will combine to have an output of 99 bhp. A CVT gearbox is used to transfer the power of the engines to the wheels. This super mini green vehicle will have its European unveiling at the motor show in Geneva in March next year.

The new Toyota Yaris will come in two body styles– the 3-door and 5-door. Consu2 mers in the UK and the rest of Europe will have the T Spirit, SR, TR, and T2 as grades to choose from with engines including the turbodiesel 1.4L D-4D, 1.0L and another 1.33L petrol powerplants. Sticker price for the Yaris starts at £11,700.

The 1.0L VVT-i that runs on petrol is the entry level powerplant for the Yaris. This one gives out 68bhp when it hits 6,000 rpm with 93 for its maximum torque. Initial numbers according to Toyota gives the Yaris a good fuel mileage of 4.7L per 100 kilometers while the carbon dioxide emission hits 118 g/km.

The only diesel option will be the D-4D 1.4L engine paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. This option gives the consumer 89 bhp for the Yaris. Fuel mileage for the diesel dependent Yaris comes at 3.9L per 100 kilometers.

Zipcar is famous for being one of the world’s biggest car club service that has helped several car companies obtain real-life stats when it comes to car sharing. Zipcar has also been known to be a great alternative to car rental and the answer to the hefty price one pays for car ownership and maintenance.

Just recently, Zipcar has teamed up with Toyota and had added about eight units of the hybrid / plug-in versions of the well publicized and warmly embraced Toyota Prius, one of the biggest names in the Japanese carmaker’s roster of vehicles. These eight Pruis units are now part of Zipcar’s car-sharing options to choose from. These plug-in Prius models are aimed for test drives alone and won’t be sold anywhere until year 2012. However, Zipcar members that are stationed in San Francisco, Boston, Cambridge, and Portland can enjoy the benefits and get the feel of these new Prius plug-in versions.

This is part of Toyota’s joint pilot program with Zipcar. The Prius units will be able to give then real-time data that would be beneficial in their preparation for the plug-in’s launch by the year 2012. On the other hand, Zipcar aims to use these eight Prius plug-in models to assess the possibility of having a wider range of options when it comes to their fleet.

Of course, like all of Zipcar’s fleet options, the plug-in Toyota Prius is available by an hourly reservation with a $7 rate charged per sixty minutes of use. So go on and enjoy these new models through Zipcar.

Despite the fact that the final front-rear look is yet to be finalized, Didier Leroy, the head of Toyota Europe announced that the new Toyotas will “more consistent and recognizable” compared to the old and current line-up of the Japanese brand.   Of course, despite the new consistent look of the brand new Toyota models, each product group will be given distinct variations in design to separate them into grows.  Sports models and SUVs will be given their own special look.

The Toyota FT-86 concept car that was revealed recently at the Geneva motor show, gave us a glimpse of Toyota’s new design concept.  FT stands for Future Toyota.  The FT-86 concept car is a joint venture of Subaru and Toyota with the latter focusing on fuel economy.  The concept car carries Subaru’s 4-cylinder 2.0 liter Boxer petroleum engine that has 160 horsepower (some say it comes close to 200hp even), a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox and of course, the ADVICS brake system.

FT-86’s new look tells us that Toyota’s new design focuses on being aggressive without the over-the-top garish look.  Instead it borders on the classic sports look.

The amount of damage that you can do with a motorcycle is far less than you can do with a car, this is the main reason that bikes are cheaper to insure than cars. For the insurance company the liability coverage is what costs them the most money, say respected Carole Nash Insurance Consultants. The amount they have to pay for damage you did to other people will always be more than the amount they pay for damage you did to yourself. Since a car can do far more damage than a bike the amount that has to be paid out of a car accident is much higher, and that means that drivers pay more for liability coverage than motorcycle riders do.

It also tends to cost less to repair any damage to a bike than it does to repair damage to a car. Bikes are cheaper and easier to fix so the cost of an accident is also less when it comes to repairing a bike. On the other hand bikes tend to be involved in accidents more frequently than cars which offsets a lot of the savings from the cheaper repair bill. Even so it does normally cost less to insure a bike against damage than it does to insure a car.

One area where it will cost more to insure a motorcycle is personal injury cover for the rider. A driver of a car is normally covered for personal injury as part of his regular insurance plan, bike riders are not. This helps to keep the cost of basic insurance down, since the insurance company doesn’t have to pay for any injuries to the rider. However most motorcycle riders purchase personal injury insurance to cover them in the event that they get hurt in an accident. Quite frankly it would be stupid to ride a bike without this insurance, the chances of being injured in an accident are pretty high. The cost of personal injury coverage is pretty high. You can save money by not having it but that is a really stupid idea.

One of the best ways to save money on the cost of commuting is to get a motorcycle. Not only are they cheaper to buy and to operate they are also cheaper to insure. The reason is that they pose little danger to other people. However there is danger to the rider of the bike and you need to make sure that you are protected in the event you get hurt in an accident.

AN cites Japanese newspaper Nikkei in claiming that Toyota will announce a total profit of as much as $532 million. This is despite the sagging sales which caused the company to recall a lot of its cars, and the inevitable weakness of the US auto industry this year. Before AN’s report, Toyota had already anticipated losing at least 20 billion yen (with $213 million in US funds) by the end of this year.

However, Nikkei claims that the cost cutting implemented by Toyota coupled with the weak value of the Japanese Yen might just help the company work beat the estimated loss. The Japanese daily further forecasted that the global revenues from Toyota’s car and truck sales will only be down by five percent. The company should still be able to sell around 7.2 million vehicles.

Automotive News also cited Thompson Reuters who forecasted that Toyota will profit 42.3 billion yen or US$457 million before the first half of this year ends. The company is set to file its official earnings in 2011. Production of new cars, including the anticipated Prius minivan which is said to run on lithium-ion batteries, is still underway.

On that same day, the Toyota plug-in Prius also made its China debut. Toyota also made the Asia debut of the compact hybrid FT-CH, the China debut of electric vehicle FT-EV II, and the China debut of rear-wheel-drive lightweight sports car FT-86.

Toyota has already sold 709,000 vehicles in China which makes up 21% of its total sales. This year, the company is aiming for a 13% growth in sales, which means they need to sell about 800,000 vehicles. The company is positive that they can do this despite their recent recalls. This is because the sales have already increased to 43% during the first two months of this year. Toyota was able to sell 117,000 vehicles during these two months alone.

The car maker had to issue a recall notice in China for 75,552 RAV-4 sports utility vehicles. This was because the units had faulty gas pedals. Despite this setback, Toyota continues to develop more cars and remain positive about its endeavors.

Toyota promises to produce this affordable plug-in by 2012. This car will promote the company’s eco-friendly cause. Earlier, Toyota unveiled the Prius Plug-in at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. The company released three basic stats for the car.

According to reports about the environmentally-friendly car, the Prius will have an extended EV driving mode, reaching up to 12.5 miles as long as the speed is kept only up to 62mph. The CO2 emission of the car is also said to be less than 60g/km. The unit should be fully recharged in an hour and a half when using a 230-volt supply.

The glitch in the software is a different problem from the problem floor mats and stuck accelerator pedals which led to the recall and production freeze of millions of Toyota cars across the globe. About 133,000 units of the 2010 Prius and 14,500 HS 250h were affected and had to be recalled for a software upgrade.

The ABS normally functions when the control system of the car needs to react to slipping wheel on the road so the ABS disengages and engages rapidly. Consumers have reported that they have been encountering problems when they apply brakes on slick or rough roads when the ABS is activated.

The recall covers the 2010 Prius that was produced since May 2009. All Lexus HS 250h are being recalled. Older Prius generations used a different version of the ABS software.

Owners of the vehicles being recalled will be getting a mail from the Japanese carmaker to inform them that they need to bring their car to their local Toyota dealership.

About 7,300 units of the Camry is also being recalled for a possible problem with a power steering hose that is rubbing against a brake fluid hose. In the long run, this may cause a brake fluid leak which will lead to a series of other braking problems. Owners of this Camrys will also be mailed.

Rigorously Tested Reinforced Pedals Will Eliminate the Excess Friction that Caused Sticking

Toyota Will Make Concerted Effort to Repair Recalled Vehicles as Quickly and Conveniently as Possible

TORRANCE, Calif., February 1, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles this week. Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances. In addition, Toyota has developed an effective solution for vehicles in production.

Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped for use by dealers, and dealer training is under way. Many Toyota dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day. The company has also taken the unprecedented action of stopping production of affected vehicles for the week of February 1.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive,” said Jim Lentz, president and Chief Operating Officer, TMS. “We deeply regret the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to make things right. Stopping production is never an easy decision, but we are 100% confident it was the right decision. We know what’s causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what we have to do to fix it. We also know it is most important to fix this problem in the cars on the road.”

Lentz added: “We are focused on making this recall as simple and trouble-free as possible, and will work day and night with our dealers to fix recalled vehicles quickly. We want to demonstrate that our commitment to safety is as high as ever and that our commitment to our customers is unwavering.”

On January 21, Toyota announced its intention to recall approximately 2.3 million select Toyota Division vehicles equipped with a specific pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models involved in the recall on January 26.

Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include:
• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• Certain 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids, all of which remain for sale.

Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with “J” are not affected by the accelerator pedal recall.

In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

How Toyota Will Fix Recalled Vehicles

Toyota has pinpointed the issue that could, on rare occasions, cause accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position. The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper “feel” by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable. The device includes a shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation. Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open.

Toyota’s solution for current owners is both effective and simple. A precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated. The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.

Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles to address rare instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus models (announced November 25, 2009), and is already notifying customers about how it will fix this issue. In the case of vehicles covered by both recalls, it is Toyota’s intention to remedy both at the same time.

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