Rav4 EV

Looks like Toyota has unveiled the new electric Rav4 crossover in LA. HOWEVER, it will only be available in 4 California cities for now..

Toyota plans to only sell 2,600 of them over the next 3 years. Each is almost $50k, but will of course be equipped with features such as heated seats, 8 inch touch sensitive computer screen. The FWD Rav4 EV will have 2 different drive modes. In its normal mode, the SUV will go from 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, with a top speed of 85 mph. This price also doesn’t include the $7,500 federal tax credit you get for purchasing a plug-in vehicle…along with a $2,500 state tax credit.

The Rav4 EV will have the driving range of around 100 miles, with an expected 6 hour charge time on a 240 volt charger. Toyota’s very own Bob Carter, group vice president and GM of Toyota Motors Sales, said, “It’s designed for consumers who prioritize the environment and appreciate performance. We look forward to seeing how the market responds.”

Currently, the most expensive gasoline-powered Toyota Rav4 has a base price of under $29k. Toyota sold over 15,000 gas-powered Rav4 SUV’s in April 2012, almost 6 times the number of Rav4 EV’s that it plans on selling over the next 3 years.

Toyota recently began selling a new Prius plug-in car but that vehicle can travel only about 11 miles before it begins burning gasoline. Toyota also plans to market a purely electric car called the Scion iQ EV which will have a range of less than 50 miles. That car won’t be sold directly to the public, however, but will be used in car-sharing programs in big cities.

Toyota joins a growing list of automakers selling at least some plug-in vehicles.

Today, the largest-selling plug-in cars are the Nissan (NSANY) Leaf and General Motors’ (GM, Fortune 500) Chevrolet Volt, a so-called extended range plug-in car. Even those vehicles, however, sell in small numbers. GM sold just under 2,300 Volts in March, which was that vehicle’s best sales month ever. 

New Fuel Efficient Models Help Strengthen Toyota’s Industry Leading Fuel Efficiency

As drivers endure the steady ascent of fuel prices nationally, Toyota, the most fuel-efficient full-line auto manufacturer in the United States, has strengthened its portfolio of efficient cars with five recently introduced vehicles that offer an average combined fuel economy of 44 mpg.

The Scion iQ (EPA rated 37 mpg combined), Camry Hybrid (EPA rated 40.5 mpg combined average for LE and XLE trim levels), and Prius v (EPA rated 42 mpg combined) all arrived to market in late 2011. The Prius Plug-in (EPA rated 50 mpg combined and 95 MPGe), featuring extended electric range, is making its way to first customers in the 15 launch states, and the Prius c (EPA rated 50 mpg combined) will be on sale nationally March 12.

These new vehicles represent a broad range of leading-edge drivetrain and engineering technologies that help them achieve a high level of efficiency. Hybrid Synergy Drive, extended electric vehicle range, generous use of lightweight high-strength steel, a focus on aerodynamics, and the use of efficient Continuously Variable Transmissions are among the features that help these new vehicles attain a high level of fuel efficiency.

These five new models arrive to market with Toyota already enjoying a 12-percent improvement in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and a 10-percent improvement in U.S. truck CAFE over the past five years. Toyota remains committed to a long-term plan to bring a portfolio of advanced technologies to market, including hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

According to the EPA class summary found on U.S. Department of Energy’s www.fueleconomy.gov website, Toyota offers several models that achieve 2012 Best-in Class fuel economy EPA ratings (excluding Plug-in Hybrid and pure EV vehicles).  The Prius c leads the EPA’s compact classification with 50 mpg combined. The Prius Liftback’s combined 50 mpg leads the EPA’s midsize category, and the midsize station wagon class is led by the 42 mpg combined offered by the Prius v.  These segment classifications are determined by the EPA’s measurement of a vehicle’s interior volume.

Toyota and Scion branded vehicles also represent six of the site’s Top 10 EPA-rated Fuel Sippers for 2012 (excluding PHEV or pure EV products), and occupy four spots in that list’s top five.  Toyota family vehicles found on the U.S Department of Energy’s Fueleconomy.gov Top Ten EPA-rated Fuel Sippers include:

• 2012 Prius c (ranked 1^st, 53 city, 46 hwy)
• 2012 Prius (ranked 2^nd, 51 city, 48 hwy)
• 2012 Prius v (ranked 4^th, 44 city, 40 hwy)
• Toyota Camry Hybrid LE (ranked 7^th, 43 city, 39 hwy)
• Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE (ranked 8^th, 40 city, 38 hwy)
• 2012 Scion iQ (ranked 10^th, 36 city, 37 hwy)

Prius was named the Best Overall Value of the year (Passenger Car category) for 2012 by IntelliChoice. Prius continues to be the world’s best-selling fuel-efficient vehicle, with more than 3.5 million vehicles sold worldwide.  Since its U.S. introduction in 2000, Prius – when compared to the average car – has saved American consumers an estimated $2.93 billion in fuel costs*, 1.1 billion gallons of gas* and 16.1 million tons of CO2 emissions.

Toyota brings concepts to the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

TOYOTA FCV-R CONCEPT: People attending the 2012 Chicago Auto Show are provided with a glimpse of the future, courtesy of the Prius “family,” with the FCV-R fuel cell electric sedan concept. Highlighted on a revolving turntable in Toyota’s 45,070-square-foot exhibit, is the blue FCV-R. The first three letters stand for Fuel Cell Vehicle, while the “R” represents Reality and Revolution. Could this prototype be Toyota’s mass production version of hydrogen-powered vehicles coming within the next decade?

TOYOTA NS4 CONCEPT: One of the many vehicles in the Toyota exhibit at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show that will certainly draw large crowds is the striking NS4 advance hybrid concept. Separate from the Prius family, the.NS4’s advanced powertrain targets a next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system featuring reductions in component size and weight with improved overall fuel economy, better acceleration and longer all-electric range, while maintaining a short charge time. Visually, the NS4 body has a low height and cabin-forward tilt. The distinctive open trapezoid grille is accented by a floating lower spoiler and wing-like daytime running lights wrapping around to a sculpted fender. Rear lights wrap around the sides of the vehicle to quarter sections layered into blistered fenders, while the rear light wings create a sharp edge and the effect of a rear spoiler. The roof line profile, lift back design and powered swan-wing doors create greater accessibility and functionality. Toyota’s next generation Pre-Collision System (PCS) debuts on the NS4 with lane departure, rear-end and pedestrian collision avoidance technologies designed to predict collisions under certain circumstances and help avoid them.

Toyota Updates 2012 Land Cruiser

After the recent presentation of the updated Toyota Land Cruiser in its home market of Japanand then in North America, the full-size 4×4 model has now been introduced in Britain where it goes on sale this March.

Available exclusively with a revised V8 turbo diesel and a single trim level, the 2012 Land Cruiser is priced at £62,285 on-the-road (equal to US$95,900 or €75,000).
On the outside, the large 4×4 sports a new fascia with a different bumper, grille and headlamps with LED daytime running lights, along with restyled taillights and exterior mirrors with LED turn indicators. Furthermore, the UK model gains new black roof rails, side mouldings with chrome details and new 20-inch alloy wheels.
The cabin gets new seats that are air conditioned/heated up front, a central cool box, heated steering wheel and improvements in the quality and appearance of the trims and finishes throughout.
The 2012 model is offered with the new Toyota Touch Pro multimedia and navigation system with a digital tuner, Bluetooth and a rear-view camera as standard, while the Japanese company offers an optional in-car entertainment package with two eight-inch seatback-mounted monitors that are said to be resilient to screen “jitter” when the vehicle is on the move.

Under the hood, the Land Cruiser’s 4.5-liter turbocharged V8 diesel engine has been modified and now features a diesel particulate filter (DPF) along with new fuel injectors in the common rail system to comply with Euro 5 standards.

The V8 is rated at 268bhp (200kW) at 3,600rpm, and has a maximum torque of 650Nm (479.4 lb-ft) delivered between 1,600 and 2,800rpm.
Finally yet importantly, Toyota has introduced a slew of handling and driver-assistance systems. These include:

Turn Assist, that reduces the vehicle’s turning radius when driving through tight off-road bends

Crawl Control, with five speed settings for tackling steep climbs or descents

Multi-terrain Select, with five selectable modes to tailor vehicle performance to different off-road conditions

Multi-terrain Monitor, providing a 360-degree view of the area immediately around the vehicle via four external cameras

Tyre Angle Display, displayed together with the predicted tyre path guidelines on the Multi-terrain Monitor, showing changes in steering angle between zero and 45 degrees

Variable Flow Control power steering, with a unique, dedicated off-road setting

Share your Camry story!

Today’s Camry is assembled in America and uses more than 75% North American parts–more than any other car, foreign or domestic, making it the most American car on the road.  90% of all Camrys sold in the last 15 years are still on the road today.

For the past 30 years, Camry has changed millions of lives. We think the effect of Camry has effected far more than we see, so here’s your chance to tell us how much you love your Camry!

 

You have an effect on the world, and click in to see for yourself!

http://www.toyota.com/camryeffect/

Revamped. Tuned Up.

Voice control? Check.

Applications? Why not. You can check your emails and text messages before hitting the road.

Airbags? Of course. How many would you like? 10? Perfect.

The new 2012 Camry has been reinvented, and is better than ever. With a starting price of $21,955-$23,000 the legendary Camry is still efficient, reliable, and powerful.

It comes with 10 standard airbags, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, USB port with iPod connectivity, and a BLU Logic Hands Free System. Yes…all standard.

With 178 horsepower, 25city/35hwy mpg, this revamped vehicle beat out all but one competitor in the Cars.com family sedan Shootout last year. This 7th generation car has been redesigned from top to bottom. While the length and width and wheelbase remain the same, the headlights have been reshaped, along with the headlights.

Dressed up with stitched faux leather and a chrome-flanked, raised center panel, the dash has definitely gotten an upgrade, making for some nice eye candy.

The trunk is measured at 15.4 cubic feet, which is up .4 from last years, and beats the Accord.

The prior generation Camry was quick: capable with the 178-horsepower four-cylinder, muscular with the 268-hp V-6. That carries over for 2012, along with a 2 mpg improvement for each version in combined city/highway mileage, according to EPA estimates. At 28 mpg with the four-cylinder and 25 mpg with the six, the Camry leads all competitors but the Sonata. Credit Toyota for slimming most versions down more than 100 pounds, tweaking the drivetrain, adding fuel-saving electric power steering and outfitting the Camry with lower-rolling-resistance tires.

2012 Toyota Tacoma

So here are some fun facts for you:

• The updated 2012 Toyota Tacoma compact truck is adding a new TRD T|X Baja Series next spring (2012).
• The TRD T|X Baja Series is going to be offered on Tacoma Access and Double Cab 4×4 models equipped with the TRD Off-Road package.
• The new truck will be built at Toyota’s San Antonio plant in Texas

This truck was introduced Thursay at the Texas State Fair, and will be joining a growing family of offroad-inspired packages on the Tacoma from Toyota Racing Development, including the TRD T|X abd T|X Pro Series.

The T|X Baja Series is fitted with a 4.0 liter V6 and a choice of a sex-speed manual gearbox or five-speed automatic.

The TRD Off-road package bundles electronically controlled locking rear differential,  Active Traction Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, and Downhill Assist Control, while the T|X Baja Series adds BF Goodrich T/A KO tires, bead-lock-style off-road wheels with an exclusive Gun-Metal Gray finish, TRD Cat-back Exhaust, increased front ride height of nearly two inches and unique Baja Series graphics.

And guess what else? The entire 2012 Tacoma line gets an exterior freshening, with redesigned hood, grille, headlamps and front bumper, as well as an updated cabin with new instrument panel, center stack and steering wheel.