374,000 mile Toyota, original owner, and it has not been rebuilt (except replaced timing chain) even has the original alternator still working as planned

One new starter, one new timing chain because of the plastic guides that got brittle and broke (stupid idea that a lot of companies have used... morons. No plastic in the engine! Heat kills it!) one change of the spark plugs at 250,000... and that is about it. Remarkable.

I remember posting a true story about some woman who kept a car for decades, and kept track of all the replaced parts, number of batteries, number of mufflers, etc etc.. but this Toyota hasn't needed that long list of replacements.

Impressive commercial, Toryota Camry (the reinvented theme)

2011 New Toyota Yaris HSD Concept Review

2011 New Toyota Yaris HSD Concept Review

New Toyota yaris HSD that the concept of hybrid technology with full, especially on the European model. Hybrid technology has reached parity Yaris HSD powertrain is enough in the public perception that it is now a clear alternative to diesel or gasoline engines

Hybrid Synergy Drive ® technology at Toyota’s demanding targets urban customers who expect the new driving and ownership experience of their car. Combining low fuel consumption, emissions and cost of ownership with unique relaxed and calm driving, HSD proved that driving pleasure does not need to be reconciled with environmental responsibility and operational costs low.

the majority quote relaxation, an engaging driving experience and the learning of new driving habits as the three most rewarding characteristics of their new cars.

Several hybrid-specific styling cues indentify the Toyota Yaris Toyota HSD concept as a full hybrid derivative models.

Toyota Yaris HSD concept inherits all intelligent DNA Yaris, offers the B-segment customers intelligent combination of small, compact packaging and interior, spacious practical, while introducing, a new style that is more advanced and sophisticated exterior design.

Flanked by lights that are very contoured, upper grille opening is shallow, to help air flow smoothly over the upper body. And the Toyota logo is fully integrated into the front lip of the hood, add style articulation to the leading edge.

Toyota Yaris HSD this concept, emphasized by the line shape monoform roof, long and sweeping lines, crisp single character that runs smoothly through the length of the vehicle. Short front and rear overhangs and long wheelbase maximize the accommodation of passengers and loadspace.

Performance Of Yaris HSD Concept :
Introducing full hybrid technology into the B?segment has presented Toyota with several unique engineering challenges. The new powertrain design must be optimised for installation within the vehicle’s compact, extremely efficient packaging design, without detriment to either system quality and performance, or passenger accommodation and loadspace.

Fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions are already key to the success of models. And further improvements to the efficiency of Hybrid Synergy Drive® will continue to deliver highly competitive fuel consumption and emissions.

With its unique capacity to offer fully electric driving, HSD is particularly effective in the urban environment. In all-electric mode, the system not only generates zero CO2 emissions, but also zero NOX and particulate (PM) emissions. Every Toyota full hybrid offers customers the lowest possible cost of ownership. Superior fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions bring tax incentives in some countries, inner city congestion charge exemption and exceptionally low running costs.

2012 sport car toyota Lexus LFA

2012 sport car toyota Lexus LFA

LFA Lexus sports car type of Toyota Motor Corporation. this car in the luxury sport design with emphasis on comfort and solid performance. Lexus LFA many marketed in the U.S.

The price of Lexus LFA will be cc 375000$, and the future owners can’t just simply buy one from local dealer. You must send an application to Lexus if you want to buy LFA, and Lexus will decide if you can buy the car. We saw the same concept with Ferrari, but I never thought that Lexus will use the same concept in car selling business.

Toyota - Corolla

Novo Toyota Corolla 2012, fotos e especificações.

Corolla 2012.

 Painel Corolla 2012

Hybrids Outpace Conventional Vehicle Sales

For years, Americans have ignored hybrid vehicles in favor of trucks, SUVs, minivans and sports cars. Even the occasional bump in gasoline prices wasn’t enough to make buyers warm up to hybrids, with the possible exception of Toyota’s Prius (which just exceeded 1,000,000 sold in the United States alone).

That behavior may be changing, at least according to Edmunds: the website is reporting that sales of electric vehicles and hybrids increased by 37% in the first quarter of 2011. That compares against sales of conventional vehicles, which increased by 20% in the same time period; in other words, hybrid and EV sales are growing at nearly double the rate of conventional vehicle sales.

As you’d expect, Toyota is still the market leader with their Prius hybrid, which increased in sales by some 50% last quarter. Of the 78,523 “green” vehicles sold during Q1 2011, 54,609 (nearly 70%) were Toyotas. Honda was another big winner in the green vehicle sales wars, as their hybrid sales rose 84% (to 11,354 units) in the first quarter. Ford, who offers a variety of hybrids and will soon bring the Focus EV to market, moved 7,704 hybrids in Q1 to take third spot.

Toyota slashes Prius prices

TOYOTA Australia has taken an axe to the price of its hybrid icon, the Prius, which can now be had for as little at $34,990.

The move follows the Australian release of the first small hatchback from Lexus, the CT200h hybrid, which went on sale last week priced from a lower than expected $39,990, and a 65 per cent slump in Prius sales in March.

The entry-level Prius is now $5000 less expensive than the closely related but more luxurious Lexus and $2000 less than the larger Australian-assembled Camry Hybrid sedan (from $36,990).

While an even bigger $7510 has been sliced from the price of the flagship Prius i-Tech variant, which is now priced at $45,990 (down from $53,500), the Prius’ new sub-$35,000 starting price is $5000 higher than Honda’s similarly sized Insight hatch ($29,990), with which it battles for outright top-selling vehicle honours in Japan.

Honda’s more highly specified Insight VTi-L ($33,490) still costs $1500 less than the base Prius, however, while Australia’s only other mainstream hybrid – Honda’s small Civic Hybrid sedan – remains $500 cheaper at $33,490.

The Prius has undergone a remarkable sales slide since it was launched locally in third-generation guise in July 2009. At the time, Toyota Australia forecast it would sell 4500 examples of the world’s first mass-market hybrid in 2010, equating to a monthly average of 375 sales.

Instead, the Prius averaged 134 monthly sales last year for a total of just 1611 – 47 per cent down on the 3040 examples it sold in 2009 and less than half the number sold in the Prius’ halcyon year of 2008, when a spike in petrol prices helped sales to an annual high of 3413.

In the first quarter of this year Toyota sold just 167 Prius cars for a monthly average of fewer than 56, representing a 63.7 per cent sales slide on 2010 levels.

The Prius, which has narrowly been outsold by the Insight (176 sales) so far this year, now accounts for just 0.3 per cent of the mainstream small-car market segment – down from 0.7 per cent in 2010 and 1.5 per cent in 2008 and 2009.

Meantime, the evergreen Corolla experienced a last-gasp sales surge late last year to reclaim segment leadership from the Mazda3 in 2010, and while Corolla sales remain steady in 2011, a near 10 per cent lift in popularity has seen the Mazda3 surge ahead in the first three months of this year.

Toyota’s third small-car contender, the Corolla-based Rukus hatch, attracted just 114 sales last month – well down on the 150-200 forecast Toyota announced at its launch last May – despite the addition of a ‘Halo’ special-edition in mid-March. With just 314 sales so far this year, the Rukus has averaged fewer than 105 sales per month – down from the 136 it averaged last year.

The Prius’ sales decline is at odds with the petrol-electric model’s stellar sales performance elsewhere in the world, however, and Toyota – which has committed to producing a hybrid version of every model in its range by 2020 – remains committed to expanding the Prius model family.

The MkIII Prius is likely to be joined by a plug-in version next year after global trials of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid last year, while the seven-seat Prius+ people-mover that was revealed at last month’s Geneva motor show is under local consideration and the compact Prius C city-car will make its Australian debut at the Melbourne motor show in July.

Meantime, Lexus will continue its headlong hybrid charge at the expense of diesel power – at least in Australia – by following up the dedicated-hybrid CT200h with a redesigned GS large hybrid sedan. It will make its world debut in concept form at the New York motor show in two weeks and should join hybrid versions of the RX crossover and LS limousine in Australia next year.

Microsoft and Toyota Announce Strategic Partnership on Next-Generation Telematics

Microsoft Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) today announced they have forged a strategic partnership and plan to build a global platform for TMC’s next-generation telematics services using the Windows Azure platform. Telematics is the fusing of telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles; it can encompass GPS systems, energy management and other multimedia technologies.

As part of the partnership, the two companies plan to participate in a 1 billion yen (approximately $12 million) investment in Toyota Media Service Co., a TMC subsidiary that offers digital information services to Toyota automotive customers. The two companies aim to help develop and deploy telematics applications on the Windows Azure platform, which includes Windows Azure and Microsoft SQL Azure, starting with TMC’s electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012. TMC’s goal is to establish a complete global cloud platform by 2015 that will provide affordable and advanced telematics services to Toyota automotive customers around the world.

As part of its smart-grid activities, aimed at achieving a low-carbon society through efficient energy use, TMC is conducting trials in Japan of its Toyota Smart Center pilot program, which plans to link people, automobiles and homes for integrated control of energy consumption. TMC believes that, as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles become more popular, such systems will rely more on telematics services for achieving efficient energy management.

Microsoft has a long history of delivering platforms and services to the automotive market, including in-car infotainment systems built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, in-car mapping services with Bing and the Microsoft Tellme voice application, and many other consumer solutions.

“Today’s announcement of our partnership with TMC is a great example of how we continue to invest in the automotive industry and of our commitment to power the services that are important to consumers,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “It further validates the power of the cloud, as the Windows Azure platform will provide the enterprise-grade, scalable platform that TMC needs to deliver telematics in its automobiles worldwide.”

“This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world. Creating these more efficient, more environmentally advanced products will be our contribution to society,” said Akio Toyoda, president of TMC. “To achieve this, it is important to develop a new link between vehicles, people and smart center energy-management systems.”

Toyota Sells One-Millionth Prius in the U.S. [video]

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. today announced the one-millionth sale of the Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicle, in the United States. It is the third milestone for Toyota’s hybrid lineup in the last six months that started with the announcement of worldwide Toyota Prius sales topping two million in October 2010 and overall global Toyota hybrid sales passing three million last month.

“Since the Prius went on sale eleven years ago not a year has gone by when it hasn’t been the number one selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “Prius has become synonymous with the word hybrid and as we see fuel prices starting to rise again, it has accounted for more than 60 percent of hybrid passenger car sales so far this year. Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy, I’m proud to say that since its introduction, 13 other auto brands have seen the benefits of hybrid technology and joined the hybrid market.”

The third-generation Prius topped the EPA’s list of the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2011. It has been named the Best Overall Value of the Year for the last nine years in a row by IntelliChoice, and has the highest owner loyalty of any mid-size vehicle for four of the last five years according to R.L. Polk. More than 97 percent of all Toyota Prii sold since 2000 are still on the road.

Since it was introduced in the U.S. in 2000, Prius, when compared to the average car, has saved American consumers more than an estimated 881 million gallons of gas, $2.19 billion in fuel costs, and 12.4 million tons of CO2 emissions.

In January 2011 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota debuted the Prius v, the first vehicle to be debuted as part of the Prius family marketing strategy. Prius v, which goes on sale in third quarter of 2011, is a mid-size vehicle that provides more than 50 percent additional interior cargo space than the current Prius. In early 2012 Prius will launch two more Prius family members – the Prius c compact hybrid vehicle and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

2012 Toyota FT-86 II Concept, a new concept debuted at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the second generation prototype and according to Toyota, 2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II take a step closer to final draft coming sports car. Toyota designers restyled 2012 Toyota FT-86 II Concept coupe profile by removing the lower fold line and add a new line, which starts from the front fenders with air vent and the theater round at the top of the rear window, which itself grew in size. In addition, Toyota is split windshield and took Blackout column surface, while the rear wheel arches are pronounced, and new side rocker panels.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

This concept cars measures the length 4235 mm, width 1795 mm and 1270 mm high, with wheelbase, length 2570 mm.yang same for I-86 FT. The FT-86 will come with a six-speed manual transmission and rear wheel drive in standard form. While Toyota has not stated what power plant will be in the FT-86, Subaru announced this week that their version of the car will feature a 2.0 liter flat-four boxer engine in base models. A turbocharged variant akin to what is available in the WRX models is a logical possibility. An automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are also possible, though not listed as options at this time.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

Production version of Toyota’s FT-86 II, developed in conjunction with Subaru, will using free gasoline boxer engine-revving with a manual transmission compact and lightweight 6 -speed and low center of gravity to achieve the best possible resources for the ratio weight.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

The car says Akio Toyoda is inspired in part from the vintage Toyota 2000 GT and Corolla Levin AE86. ‘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 of Toyota Motor Corporation.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II uses petrol boxer engine which is paired with 6-speed transmission. 2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II will have better strength and will be offered in both FWD and RWD configurations. No official statement about the power output. Toyota FT-86 prototype will undergo phase II testing in various street characters of the world. This is to get the 2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II as a model that is ready production.

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 helped establish the company’s global reputation as a sports car manufacturer.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

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.

With 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 2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II gives the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota’s next sports car. The 2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept 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. Based on the ‘Functional Beauty’ concept, its bold, sweeping form has been generated entirely through the constraints of function, and aerodynamics developed from F1 technology.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

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.

European sales of Toyota’s new sports car will begin in 2012.

2012 Toyota Sport Cars FT-86 Concept II

Toyota Prius V launch delayed in Japan due to earthquake

Toyota Motor Corp. has delayed the Japan launch of its new wagon-style Prius in the wake of the parts shortage triggered by this month's earthquake.

The company had planned to start selling the car in Japan by the end of April. But that date has been pushed back, spokeswoman Mieko Iwasaki said.

She was unable to say when the new launch date would be. But the setback isn't expected to affect the car's arrival in the United States and Europe later this year, Iwasaki said.

The delay makes the Prius wagon among the first new model launches to be thrown off track by the March 11 earthquake. Toyota cited the company's production shutdown, disarray in Japan's automotive supply chain and damage to its local dealer networks as reasons for the move.

Toyota is planning two versions of the Prius wagon: A two-row five seater for the United States and a three-row seven seater for Europe. Japan is expected to get both variants.

Toyota has shut down all 18 domestic assembly plants through at least March 26. Many parts makers are still struggling to come back online after being damaged in the quake or are having trouble delivering parts due to transportation snarls.

Among the damaged plants is a key factory supplying batteries for Toyota hybrid vehicles, including the Prius. The plant, operated by Primearth EV Energy Co. in quake-stricken Miyagi prefecture, can supply enough nickel-metal hydride battery packs for 300,000 cars a year.

That accounts for about 27 percent of Toyota's battery capacity. Primearth, a joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic, has two plants in central Japan that supply additional batteries.

Those plants, located in Shizuoka prefecture between Tokyo and Nagoya, are operating.

Toyota to restart hybrid vehicle output in Japan

Toyota Motor Corp said it would restart production of three hybrid models after a massive earthquake this month disrupted output across the industry.

Production will resume for the Prius, Lexus HS250h and CT200h at the Tsutsumi factory in central Japan and Toyota Motor Kyushu in the south, spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said.

All 18 factories that assemble Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Japan, including those operated by group units, have been closed by the quake. An additional seven plants directly operated by Toyota that make engines and other parts are also affected. The production halt will result in lost production of at least 140,000 vehicles.

"We will monitor the situation of parts availability carefully in deciding the duration of production," she said.

Problems with power and parts have prevented other Japanese automakers restarting assembly lines.

Honda Motor Co said on Thursday it would suspend car production at its Japanese factories until at least April 3, extending the stoppage by a week.

Japan's No. 3 automaker said it would decide on plans beyond April 3, depending on the availability of parts. Honda will resume motorcycle and power product production at its Kumamoto factory in southern Japan on March 28.

Honda said it would also temporarily transfer some functions such as car development and procurement out of its R&D facilities in Tochigi, which was badly hit by the March 11 earthquake.

Suzuki Motor Corp said its three assembly factories in Japan will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd said on Thursday its manufacturing operations in the Americas would follow a regular production schedule at least until April 1.

It also said output of the all-electric Nissan Leaf resumed at the Oppama plant on Thursday as did battery production at Zama battery plants. Nissan said the ability to sustain this output is dependent on the frequency of rolling blackouts due to electrical shortages.

Nissan also said its Decherd, Tennessee, engine plant could supply V6 engines to Japan to supplant lost production from its Iwaki engine plant, but no decisions have been made yet.

Other manufacturers with dwindling inventories are looking at slowing production of low-selling models. For instance, General Motors Co has temporarily idled its pickup plant in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Toyota said on Wednesday it would slow some North American production because of supply disruptions caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Toyota told employees and dealers it was too early to determine the scope, timing and duration of a slowdown, but facilities in the United States, its single-biggest market, and in Canada and Mexico are all being considered.

A spokesman for the automaker's San Antonio, Texas, plant where it builds the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks said on Thursday the supply disruptions would likely force the idling of the facility.

Most parts for Toyota's North American-built vehicles come from about 500 suppliers in the region. The company said it continues to receive parts from Japan that were already in the pipeline, limiting the immediate impact of the disruption there.

Barclays Capital analyst Brian Johnson said in a research note on Thursday that his best-case expectation for the North American auto sector is sporadic production outages, with US automakers affected less than their Japanese rivals. In particular, Toyota gets many parts used on multiple models from single companies, he said.

In Germany, automakers and suppliers also are looking at cutting production due to bottlenecks. Several companies have asked about a government-backed program for shortened working hours.

Shippers avoiding Tokyo

Some merchant ships may be avoiding Japan's Tokyo port due to concerns of radiation exposure to crew members from the quake-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, an industry official said on Thursday.

Should this be the beginning of a trend in the shipping industry, Japan could face major delays and seaborne congestion at ports, adding to supply chain bottlenecks and hindering recovery efforts in the wake of the March 11 earthquake. "I have heard from local agents that some vessels are not calling in Tokyo due to radiation fears. I'm not sure how many," said Tetsuya Hasegawa, operating manager at Heisei Shipping Agencies in Tokyo.

Lloyd's List reported on Thursday that Claus-Peter Offen, one of Germany's largest shipowners, had suspended calls for his company's entire fleet of 110 vessels to Tokyo and Yokohama because of radiation fears.

Tokyo is Japan's fourth-largest port, handling 145 million deadweight tonnes last year, mainly containers, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence.

Panic buying raises prices on Toyota Prius Hybrids

Americans have begun snapping up Toyota Prius, Honda Fit and other fuel-efficient models made only in Japan almost the way shoppers denude bread and milk shelves in a supermarket when a storm is predicted.

The intensity first spurred by rising gas prices has been amplified by predicted shortages of many models as the Japanese auto industry remains disrupted by the March 11 earthquake and its aftermath.

"We've gone from 60 (Priuses) in stock to 16" over the last two months, says Buzz Rodland at Rodland Toyota in Everett, Wash. A dozen are coming, "but we are told they are going to dwindle" quickly after that.

Indicating the shortages may not be brief, Honda has told dealers it's not taking orders for any vehicles made in Japan in May. March and April orders already were delayed.

Topsham, Maine, dealer Adam Lee says the only Priuses left that dealers can get their hands on in New England tend to be the fully equipped, costlier models, which could have the effect of pushing up prices even more if buyers get past their usual resistance to the higher-price versions.

In what now seems like a stroke of genius, he says, the family's Toyota store bought 15 used Priuses at a wholesale auction, then went back and got 15 more — at higher prices. Wholesale prices on used Priuses are up about $1,500 just in the last month, he says.

Toyota, Honda and others say they hope to resume production this week, but that could be unrealistic.

"From all the things we're gathering, including memos from Japanese companies … the potential impact of the tragedy is a bigger deal" than they are portraying, says Jesse Toprak, analyst at auto researcher TrueCar.com.

Prices of Prius and Fit, both iconic for fuel-conscious buyers and both made only in Japan, inched up immediately after the disaster, according to daily data tracked by TrueCar.com. The average price paid for a Prius in the U.S. rose $135, or 0.5%, the first four days after the March 11 quake, to $25,629. Fit was up $21, or 0.1%, to an average $17,246.

Other high-mileage cars made for the U.S. market only in Japan include the Toyota Yaris; Honda Insight, CR-Z and Civic hybrids; Mazda3; and Nissan Leaf electric car.

People seeking to quit leases early and get into new cars before there's a shortage could be in luck. Brian Allan, general manager at Galpin dealerships in Los Angeles, says many dealers want off-lease cars for used car lots because the recession cut the number of trade-ins. When the leases were written in the worst of the recession, wary lenders assigned artificially low after-lease values. Now the cars are worth more than forecast, giving the lease holder equity toward a new car and the dealer a potentially profitable used car.

Allan says he's telling lease customers, "'You're in a position to trade out early, skip your last four payments and get into a new car.'"

Fully Charged Lexus CT200h [video]

Robert Llewellyn drives the new Lexus CT200h, the first compact hybrid car from Lexus.

Toyota Plans for 10 Hybrid Line-up

With cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius topping the 3-million mark last month, it’s no surprise that Toyota wants to add another 10 hybrids to its line-up by 2015.

In its “Toyota Global Vision,” released Wednesday, Toyota says it plans to increase its “line of hybrid models, launching about 10 more by 2015, and continue to develop a full range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.”

“The Japanese automaker said it will also ‘continue to develop a full range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles' and expand the Lexus brand into emerging markets,” adds Inside Line.

The text of the Toyota Global Vision reads: “Toyota will lead the way to the future of mobility, enriching lives around the world with the safest and most responsible ways of moving people. Through our commitment to quality, constant innovation and respect for the planet, we aim to exceed expectations and be rewarded with a smile. We will meet challenging goals by engaging the talent and passion of people, who believe there is always a better way.” As part of the vision, interim initiatives for 2015 include:

• Greatly improve the design and feel of Toyota models and make way for the leading role of localization in vehicle production.
• Expand Toyota’s line of hybrid models, launching about 10 more by 2015, and continue to develop a full range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.
• Continue to pursue further gains in fuel economy in conventional gasoline engines.
• Focus in the years to 2015 on models for minimizing environmental impact and on models optimized for needs in emerging markets.
• Introduce environmental-friendly vehicles globally; in emerging markets strengthen local production, including that of IMV (Innovative International Multipurpose Vehicle) and newly developed subcompact models.

Cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota hybrids top 3 Million units

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 3-million mark, with more than 3.03 million units sold worldwide as of 28 February 2011 since sales began in 1997.

In Japan, TMC launched the Coaster Hybrid EV in August 1997 and the Prius in December. Sales of the Prius began in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000. Next came the second-generation Prius in 2003 and the expanded use of TMC’s hybrid system on such vehicles as minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and hatchbacks. The third-generation Prius went on sale in May 2009, and the global cumulative sales of TMC’s hybrid vehicles topped 2 million by the end of August the same year.

In 2011, TMC continued to expand its hybrid vehicle lineup, launching the Lexus CT 200h—the first dedicated hybrid model in the premium-compact segment—in January. TMC currently sells 16 hybrid vehicle models in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world, including three commercial vehicle models in Japan.

TMC plans to introduce 10 new-model hybrid vehicles by the end of 2012, including six newly launched vehicles and 4 vehicles that have been redesigned. TMC is committed to augmenting this lineup even further and increasing the number of countries and regions in which it sells hybrid vehicles.

Toyota to equip Prius V Wagon with lithium-ion battery

The Prius minivan hybrid due later this year will be the first standard hybrid from Toyota Motor Corp. equipped with a lithium-ion battery.

But the advanced, lightweight power pack will appear only in the Japanese version of the car, a person familiar with the plan said Friday. The U.S. version will stick with the heavier nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the current Prius hatchback and Toyota's other gasoline-electric vehicles.

Toyota is using lithium in the Japan-spec Prius minivan to open up more interior room and allow for three rows of seats, as preferred by Japanese customers, the source said. The Prius V minivan shown at this year's Detroit auto show had only two rows of seats, while the Prius + variant shown this week in Geneva has three rows.

Using a bulkier nickel-metal battery requires the battery to consume space in a console between the driver's and passenger's seat.

"We are doing it only for cabin configuration considerations," the source said.

Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said the company couldn't comment on future product plans.

Japan's Nikkei business daily reported separately that the minivan version of the Prius would go on sale in Japan next month and start at 3 million yen ($36,590), when equipped with a lithium ion battery. A lower-grade version with a nickel-metal hydride battery will also be offered, starting at 2.35 million yen ($28,660).

Inside Google's Self-Driving Toyota Prius

The self-driving car that Google revealed to the world last October made an appearance at TED on Thursday, with Sebastian Thrun, one of the developers of the project, speaking to the audience and then taking attendees for a test drive.

The folks at Mashable got the opportunity to ride along as the car whipped around a test track set up outside the conference. Riding at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, the vehicle maneuvered its way between dozens of test cones that had been set up, making a combination of hard stops, tight turns and quick accelerations.

Not a single cone was hit, and I can verify that the driver did not touch the wheel until the very end to drop myself and two other passengers off (this was planned).

The car itself traveled from San Francisco to Long Beach, California, for the conference as part of Google’s ongoing tests. While Thrun tells me he thinks we’ll see self-driving cars in the hands of consumers within our lifetimes, he notes that at this time, “It’s really just a science project … pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s clearly not something that’s going to make us money any time soon.”

Limitations of the vehicle currently include dealing with weather, as well as capturing the imagery and data necessary to allow the car to do things such as stop at red lights and observe speed limits (most of this work has been limited to the Bay Area for now).

Nonetheless, one can’t help be impressed by what Google has accomplished thus far, with its test drive clearly set up to show off just how far along the technology is.

Toyota unveil Yaris Hybrid Concept @ Geneva Auto Show

The Yaris HSD concept was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and represents the first down-sizing of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology.

The concept car inherits all the clever DNA of the Yaris as well as the smooth, sophisticated driving experience of Toyota’s full hybrid powertrain. Its new, more advanced and sophisticated style points to the forward-looking design direction for the next Yaris model range.

It offers customers an ingenious combination of small, compact packaging and a spacious, practical interior. Flanked by highly contoured headlamps, the upper grille opening is shallow, helping the air flow smoothly over the upper half of the body.

The Toyota logo is fully integrated within the front lip of the bonnet, adding stylish articulation to its leading edge.

In profile, the Yaris HSD concept’s sleek, monoform shape is emphasised by the long, sweeping roofline and a single, crisp character line which runs smoothly through the length of the vehicle.

Short front and rear overhangs and a long wheelbase maximise passenger accommodation and load space. Several hybrid-specific styling cues indentify the Yaris HSD concept as a Toyota full hybrid model derivative.

Air turbulence has been minimised by flat, vertical ‘aero’ corners housing front foglamps and matching rear reflectors, a large integral rear spoiler, comprehensive underbody covers and 18″ aero wheels featuring enlarged air gaps for improved cooling air flow.

Even the door handles and rear side-view cameras have been carefully designed to the most aero-efficient shape.

The show car’s striking, white pearl paintwork is unique to the Yaris HSD concept. It showcases a further development of this remarkable finish, with highlighting provided by sparkling blue metallic accents.

Requiring specialised, multi-layering application techniques, this hybrid-specific application brings an extraordinary depth and quality feel to the finished paintwork.

The presence of Hybrid Synergy Drive® is further emphasised through hybrid Blue Toyota badges, LED daytime running lights and ‘synergy’ blue illuminated highlight surrounds to both the outer mirrors and door handles.

Toyota’s proven Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology targets demanding urban customers who expect a new driving and ownership experience from their car.

Combining low fuel consumption, emissions and cost of ownership with uniquely relaxed and quiet driving, HSD proves that driving pleasure need not be compromised by environmental responsibility and low running costs.

Introducing full hybrid technology into a car of this size has presented Toyota with several unique engineering challenges.

The new powertrain design must be optimised for installation within the vehicle’s compact, extremely efficient packaging design without detriment to either system quality and performance, or passenger or cargo space.

This comprehensive repackaging of HSD technology is essential for meeting the growing market demand for urban-based family vehicles, without compromising either interior space or hybrid performance.

The production model, following on from the Yaris HSD concept, will be launched throughout Europe in the second half of 2012.