Toyota Patents Designs of Sport Version of New Yaris in Europe

Toyota introduced a new generation of the Yaris supermini in Japan (named Vitz for the local market) in December, 2010, and is also planning to showcase a thinly disguised concept of an upcoming hybrid version of the supermini at the Geneva Motor Show, which will be held for the public from March 3 to 13. But as these trademark fillings from Europe prove, the company is also working on a sport variant, most likely as a replacement to the Yaris TS.

The model seen in these patent designs features a full body kit with a new front bumper that replaces the standard Yaris' front grille with openings next to the headlamps while also boasting daytime LED strips, side skirts and profile graphics, a redesigned rear bumper housing a prominent diffuser, and bespoke tail lamps. The new roof spoiler and the multispoke alloy wheels sum up the differences over the regular Yaris.

It only makes sense that if this is the new Yaris TS, it will get a more powerful engine, hopefully something with a bit more oomph than the current model's lackluster 133HP 1.8-liter gasoline engine. Toyota will also upgrade the car's suspension and brake systems to improve handling.

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Trapped Accelerator Pedals Come to Haunt Toyota and Lexus Again, 2.12 Million Vehicles Recalled in the USA

The Toyota Group may be off the hook over suspicions of unwanted sudden acceleration caused by software-driven throttles after the findings of the NHTSA-NASA study, but the Japanese automaker is once again making headlines over trapped accelerator pedals. Today, Toyota announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 2.12 million vehicles in the United States to address accelerator pedals that could become entrapped in floor mats or jammed in carpeting.

More specifically, Toyota is recalling approximately 20,000 Lexus GS 300 and GS 350 All-Wheel Drive vehicles from the 2006-2007 model years to modify the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side floor carpet. According to the company, if the floor carpet is not properly replaced in the correct position after a service operation, it is possible that the plastic pad embedded into the floor carpet may jam against the accelerator pedal and keep it from returning to the idle position.

Lexus said owners of the involved GS 300 and GS 350 AWD vehicles will receive a notification by mail in early March 2011.

The Japanese automaker is also recalling approximately 372,000 Lexus RX 330, RX 350, and RX 400h vehicles from the 2004 through 2006 and early 2007, plus another 397,000 Toyota Highlander and Highlander HV SUVs from the 2004-2006MY to replace the driver’s side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips. Toyota said if the cover is not installed correctly, it may lean toward the accelerator pedal and jam it in a partially depressed position.

The company stated that owners of the involved RX and Highlander vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, explaining how to inspect for this condition or that they may contact their local dealer to perform the inspection. "Owners will receive a second notification once the replacement covers are available," the company said.

In a separate action, Toyota added another 1.38 million vehicles to the company's November 2009 recall to fix floor mats that could shift out of position. The models added include:

• Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runner
• Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570; and
• Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4

"Owners of the involved 4Runner, LX 570, and RAV4 vehicles will receive an interim notification by first class mail beginning in the near future, informing them of the condition. Owners will receive a second notification once the recall preparations are complete," said Toyota in a statement.

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What a Charade...Daihatsu Takes Toyota Yaris Leftovers to Create a New Model

Daihatsu may be getting ready to pull out of the European market, but as a last call, the Japanese firm will introduce one more model to its range, the new Charade. And as you've probably guessed by now, the “new” Charade is in fact a Daihatsu-badged version of the outgoing Toyota Yaris, the successor of which, has already been introduced in Japan and will be showcased through a hybrid study in Geneva.

The Charade will be available exclusively with a 1.33-liter gasoline engine delivering 99 ponies, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the option of an automatic gearbox. Daihatsu's rebadged Yaris will be offered with two equipment levels and the starting price is expected to be below that of its Toyota twin.

Toyota's small car subsidiary announced its decision to abandon the European market from January 31 2013, last December. The move was attributed to the increasing development costs to comply with emissions regulations in Europe, as well as the “appreciation of the yen against the Euro''. In short, Daihatsu decided it was no longer profitable to sell Japanese-made cars in Europe.

The firm's sale results didn't help either, with the company moving a mere 19.300 units in 2010 in ten European markets, which accounted for just 5.3 percent of the brand's global sales.

First Official Photos of Subaru's Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe Concept

Subaru has released the first-ever teaser picture of its eagerly anticipated rear-wheel drive sports car concept ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show on March 1. Even though Subaru's original ghost sketch of the car shows only a darkened outline of the front end, we managed to significantly brighten up the photo through some photoshop trickery and reveal the coupe's shape in full detail. At least from this picture, the Subaru study appears to differ in styling from its Toyota FT-86 sibling sporting a more curvy and less angular design.

The Subaru variant will keep the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout as the FT-86, which will also be revealed in a more production ready form at the Geneva Salon. Power of course will be provided by Subaru's horizontally opposed boxer engine, but we'll have to wait until the Geneva Salon for more specific details.

On a side note, a couple of weeks ago the car was initially referred to as “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept”, but now, the Japanese automaker says it has changed the name to "BOXER Sports Car Architecture”.

The coupe concept will be joined in Geneva by the Impreza study that was first shown in LA last November and the Trezio, which is a re-badged version of the Toyota Verso-S mini MPV and will be offered in Europe with a 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbo diesel engine.

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Brain...Jammed Vandals Destroy Seven New Toyota Models at 2011 Chicago Auto Show

Auto shows seem to have become risky business for car manufacturers. After the BMW 750i that was stolen at the Detroit motor show earlier this year, now more disturbing news comes from the Chicago Auto Show, where the Toyota booth attracted unwanted attention.

According to local newspapers, seven new Toyota models had their interiors vandalized by three young men, aged 20, 21 and 28. We don't know what really caused this deviant behavior, but one report attributes it to the fact that the three vandals were allegedly angry "about American jobs going overseas".

And it seems they wanted the Japanese cars to suffer badly, judging from the tools they used - screwdrivers and razor knives. The three young men were arrested on Wednesday evening before the show's closing time when guards noticed them acting suspiciously around a Toyota Camry. The mess they made inside the seven cars is substantial: dashboards were left smashed and ripped, seat upholstery sliced, windshields scratched, speakers cut open and turn indicators broken.

According to the police, the damage to the cars is estimated at $30,000. Interestingly, they had no preference for a particular model, vandalizing a Camry, a RAV4, a Land Cruiser, a Prius, two Tundras and one Lexus ES350. Funny thing, no accelerator pedal or floor mat were damaged...

Brain...Jammed Vandals Destroy Seven New Toyota Models at 2011 Chicago Auto Show

Auto shows seem to have become risky business for car manufacturers. After the BMW 750i that was stolen at the Detroit motor show earlier this year, now more disturbing news comes from the Chicago Auto Show, where the Toyota booth attracted unwanted attention.

According to local newspapers, seven new Toyota models had their interiors vandalized by three young men, aged 20, 21 and 28. We don't know what really caused this deviant behavior, but one report attributes it to the fact that the three vandals were allegedly angry "about American jobs going overseas".

And it seems they wanted the Japanese cars to suffer badly, judging from the tools they used - screwdrivers and razor knives. The three young men were arrested on Wednesday evening before the show's closing time when guards noticed them acting suspiciously around a Toyota Camry. The mess they made inside the seven cars is substantial: dashboards were left smashed and ripped, seat upholstery sliced, windshields scratched, speakers cut open and turn indicators broken.

According to the police, the damage to the cars is estimated at $30,000. Interestingly, they had no preference for a particular model, vandalizing a Camry, a RAV4, a Land Cruiser, a Prius, two Tundras and one Lexus ES350. Funny thing, no accelerator pedal or floor mat were damaged...

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Chicago Sun Times

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Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept

Toyota Motor together with tuning studio Gazoo Racing transformed a midget car Toyota iQ into the real race car.

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept not only threateningly looks thanks to the developed aerodynamic body-kit, 17-inch wheels and an aggressive 3-coloured colouring, but also is really ready to extreme driving. The 4-cylinder motor develops 116HP!

The interior of Toyota iQ Racing Concept also looks as race bolide: here there are sports seats with 4-dot belts, a framework of safety and sports accessories, aluminium pedals and so forth.

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept

Toyota Motor together with tuning studio Gazoo Racing transformed a midget car Toyota iQ into the real race car.

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept not only threateningly looks thanks to the developed aerodynamic body-kit, 17-inch wheels and an aggressive 3-coloured colouring, but also is really ready to extreme driving. The 4-cylinder motor develops 116HP!

The interior of Toyota iQ Racing Concept also looks as race bolide: here there are sports seats with 4-dot belts, a framework of safety and sports accessories, aluminium pedals and so forth.

2011 Toyota iQ EV

Toyota company presents on Motor Show in Geneva the electric version of a city hatchback iQ. According to representatives of the Japanese manufacturer, the car prototype already passed tests for the European roads and next year, predictably, becomes accessible to clients. Besides, in the near future electric iQ appears on the US car market as Scion brand.

2011 Toyota iQ EV

Toyota hatchback iQ EV is equipped by the small electromotor which receives energy from the complete set of li-ionic accumulators located under a floor, on that place where usual cars have a fuel tank. Such arrangement of batteries as declare in the Japanese company, does not influence free space neither in car interior, nor on volume of a luggage compartment. A cruising range of Toyota iQ — 105 km. Time of full charge of accumulators is not specified yet.

Toyota Motor entered into with the US firm Tesla the agreement according to which last develops for Japanese engines, batteries and various components for electric versions of cars. Top management of Toyota Motor also confirmed that till the end of 2012 on the car market leave two serial electrocar, including the compact crossover RAV4. Such crossover can overcome without additional charge about 240 km, and its cost makes approximately $40,000US.

Besides an electromobile iQ, on Auto Salon in Geneva also it will be presented hybrid concept Yaris HSD, compact van Prius and a prototype of sport coupe FT-86 Concept.

2011 Toyota iQ EV

Toyota company presents on Motor Show in Geneva the electric version of a city hatchback iQ. According to representatives of the Japanese manufacturer, the car prototype already passed tests for the European roads and next year, predictably, becomes accessible to clients. Besides, in the near future electric iQ appears on the US car market as Scion brand.

2011 Toyota iQ EV

Toyota hatchback iQ EV is equipped by the small electromotor which receives energy from the complete set of li-ionic accumulators located under a floor, on that place where usual cars have a fuel tank. Such arrangement of batteries as declare in the Japanese company, does not influence free space neither in car interior, nor on volume of a luggage compartment. A cruising range of Toyota iQ — 105 km. Time of full charge of accumulators is not specified yet.

Toyota Motor entered into with the US firm Tesla the agreement according to which last develops for Japanese engines, batteries and various components for electric versions of cars. Top management of Toyota Motor also confirmed that till the end of 2012 on the car market leave two serial electrocar, including the compact crossover RAV4. Such crossover can overcome without additional charge about 240 km, and its cost makes approximately $40,000US.

Besides an electromobile iQ, on Auto Salon in Geneva also it will be presented hybrid concept Yaris HSD, compact van Prius and a prototype of sport coupe FT-86 Concept.

Geneva Preshow: Toyota iQ Pure-Electric Prototype

An all-electric prototype of the Toyota iQ will make its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The iQ EV is equipped with an electric motor fed through a newly developed, flat and compact lithium-ion battery that is mounted under the car's floor. According to Toyota, the battery pack doesn't reduce the regular iQ's load area or passenger space. The all-electric version of Toyota's mini car is said to have a potential driving range of up to 65 miles or about 105 kilometers.

The EV prototype is currently being tested on European roads, with a potential market launch through a leasing programme in 2012. The Japanese company will also bring the car in the USA (as a Scion) and is also investigating its viability in other regions.

The iQ EV prototype will join three more new models at the firm's Geneva Salon stand including Yaris HSD hybrid concept, the European market variant of the Prius+ minivan with seven seats, and a closer to production concept of the FT-86 rear-wheel drive coupe.