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.

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.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Toyota Motor Sales, Corporate Communications
(310) 468-5297
(310) 468-7359

Media Web site: http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
Public Web site: http://www.toyota.com

The first of the additional styling that we might see on the Prius is the 2-door coupe that will target to topple the 2011 hybrid Honda CR-Z sports coupe.

The future member of the Prius line is expected to sport the same 4-cylinder 1.8L engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive set up of the current release of the Prius. The package though might come with better aerodynamics than the 5-door version which already boasts of a 0.25 drag coefficient– among the best for production cars today. The Prius coupe will also be a lot lighter than the family variant.

The Prius vehicles will see other new members like a small minivan that may rival the 2010 Mazda5 in terms of size and capacity. The Mazda5 is one class smaller than the current Toyota Sienna which is considered as one of the top choices for minivans in the United States.

The new members of the Prius line up will face off against hybrid models that will roll off the factories of Honda which is pushing harder to make their line up greener than it was originally planned.

The announcement may be a clear display of faith on the capabilities of the 2010 4Runner. The Baja 100 is a 672 mile of racing far from being a joke. It is no grounds for any amateur even with the fiercest guts. The race is considered by all experts as very suicidal as drivers zoom over broken paths night and day.

The 22-time winner of the Baja 1000, Ivan Stewart is confident though that the 5th Generation 4Runner can handle the stress. He has no doubts that the 4Runner can make it and has enough under its hood and body to survive the grueling ordeal of Baja. Hopefully, any defects on the ride will not show midway through the race or it will be a disaster.

Last year, a Ridgeline from Honda won the Stock Mini class besting an H3 and an FJ Cruiser. The Toyota FJ Cruiser failed to finish the race and crashed a few miles from the finish line.

The 2010 4Runner has a V-6 under its hood which is said to be 34 horsepower more aggressive that the older brother. The chassis was also structured to withstand the toughest of off-road conditions. There is press release yet if the attempt at Baja will lead to an upgrade package for the 2010 4Runner like what Ford did to the Raptor with XT and SVT variants.

The FT86 is still on the drawing boards but it will take the spotlight in a concept form at the Tokyo Auto show later this month. The lines of the FT86 will be very similar to the Lexus IS-F and will take shape as a 2+2 sports car.

Toyota has decided to use a four cylinder 2.0L engine from Subaru. The configuration of the powerplant will be for a rear drive vehicle instead of the usual Subaru all wheel drive configuration. The engine will be coupled with a six-speed transmission on manual.

The naturally aspirated power train was chosen for the concept to keep costs in control and manage the weight of the vehicle properly. The design will also focus on keeping the center of gravity balanced and low. According to some reliable sources, the FT86 will have a very good handling and smooth acceleration.

The concept vehicle is schedule to be on sale before the end of 2011 in Japan. The sticker price is forecasted to start at around $25,000. Between today and the production date, much of the styling and engine output will be changed drastically.

The FT86 might provide the spark in the Toyota line up as the sports car market misses rides like the Supra, MR2, and Celica.

A Japanese newspaper reports that Toyota will be producing between 20000 and 30000 units of plug-in hybrids come 2012. This will be two years after GM kicks off the production of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

A plug-in hybrid that was derived from the platform of the current Prius hybrid is expected to go to dealerships in Japan this month. This car will have a tag price starting at $47,800. The car will be able to travel for about 18.6 miles running on electric power alone. It depends on a pack of lithium ion batteries made by Panasonic EV Energy.

Toyota does not want to confirm any latest development with the plug-in hybrid cars they are producing.

A previous report verified that Toyota is fast tracking its global trials of about 500 units of plug-in hybrids by end of 2009. These cars will be ready for commercial and government fleets. Japan will keep about 200 vehicles for testing while 150 will go to Europe and the other 150 for the U.S. market.

The plug-in hybrid variant of the Prius returned a 30% improvement in terms of fuel mileage compared to the 2010 Prius which is already considered as the most fuel efficient in the U.S.