Autoblog.com: Toyota fires bullets into hydrogen fuel tanks, shoots down EV supporters

by Danny King of www.autoblog.com

Many gearheads will remember that the 1970s-era Dodge Dart's claim to fame was that its motor was so durable (though not necessarily powerful) that one could shoot bullets into the engine block. Decades later, Toyota has taken a page out of that testing process.

"Personally, I don't care what Elon [Musk] says about fuel cells" - Toyota's Bob Carter

With some industry members and analysts questioning both the viability and durability of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles, Toyota executive Bob Carter, speaking at the Automotive News World Congress this week, says the Japanese automaker went all Clint Eastwood on the fuel tanks of a fuel-cell prototype. Carter says that bullets from a small-caliber gun bounced off the carbon-fiber tanks, and that .50-caliber bullets barely made dents. The shoot-out motif kept going when Carter name-checked executives from Tesla, Nissan and Volkswagen in saying that he didn't care if other automakers question the future of fuel-cell vehicles. As you can see in the prepared text of Carter's speech below, he said, "Personally, I don't care what Elon [Musk], Carlos [Ghosn] or Jonathan [Browning] say about fuel cells. If they want to 'plug in and tune out' other technologies, that's fine."

After debuting it in Tokyo late last year, Toyota showed off its FCV fuel-cell concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show this week as it get ready to start sales "around 2015." The car has a 300-mile range and should be priced somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000. Autoblog drove Toyota's fuel-cell prototypes last year, and you can read our impressions here.

PRESS RELEASE

2014 Automotive News World Congress- Bob Carter

January 14, 2014

As prepared for:
Automotive News World Congress
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Automotive Operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
_________________

Thanks, Keith and good afternoon everyone.

You know, I've been in the car business for more than 30 years, but I'm more excited about it now than EVER before

Why?

Because for the first time in Toyota's history, we did something here we've NEVER done before.

We shocked people by unveiling two great looking, fun-to-drive cars that blow a hole

in the theory that Toyota only builds "appliances".

Just yesterday, we unveiled Toyota's newest concept, the FT-1 sports car. I'm already getting people asking me when they can get their hands on one.

The FT-1 represents the latest in our heritage of sports cars like the 2000GT, Celica, Supra and most recently, the FR-S.

Then, this morning, the all-new RC-F coupe from Lexus made its world debut.

It offers true racecar performance with a high revving 450+ horsepower, 5-Liter V8. In fact, it's the fastest V8 from Lexus EVER.

I know we have a hit on our hands because my 22 year-old son keeps asking me when he can lease one, and I keep telling him, "not in my lifetime!"

The Lexus RC-F and Toyota FT-1 are tangible evidence of our commitment to create products that are not only safe, dependable and reliable--our stock in trade--but are also BEAUTIFULLY styled and FUN to drive.

It's an unwavering commitment our Global President Akio Toyoda made five years ago that's paying off today in the products we're now bringing to market.

And believe me, the "boss", Akio, drives EVERY product to make sure they're right for our customers.

Along with great looking cars, Toyota and pretty much every automaker agrees, 2014 will be even better than last year.

Our industry is on a roll folks.

Now, those of you who know me probably aren't surprised that I'm bullish on our business.

But my sense of optimism isn't purely emotional, it's also fueled by facts. Three facts, in particular:

We already talked about one: Consumers are demanding great looking cars that are

fun-to-drive and reliable.

Here's fact two: Customer demographics are undergoing a fundamental sea change, and Toyota is ready to navigate the new waters.

And, fact three: The demand for environmental sustainability is achieving critical mass, and Toyota is ready on that front, too.

Let's start with demographics.

We're in the midst of a fundamental shift. The evidence is everywhere.

Consider these two pie charts, compliments of the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2012, 64 percent of the U.S. population was white, with the balance-36 percent-split among Hispanic, African Americans and Asian Americans.

Fast-forward 30 years to 2050 and the pie will look like this.

Today's minorities will comprise tomorrow's majority.

And the biggest jump will be among Hispanics, from 16.5 percent in 2012 to 30.2 percent in 2050.

Now, if you're thinking, "These are just forecasts. There's no guarantee that's how it's going to play out," think again.

More than half of the babies born in America today are non-white. And 40 percent of the 18-to-24-year-olds today are multicultural.

The wheels are already in motion.

Trends in pop culture reflect these shifts. Think about TV sitcoms.

We've come a long way since the days of "Leave it to Beaver," when all of the characters were white.

Today's model?

It's the wildly popular "Modern Family," that mixes characters of different ethnicities, sexual orientation, and age.

It checks all of the boxes.

The shift is also reflected in the foods we eat.

This chart shows the growth of avocado sales since 1989. Holy guacamole!

Maybe we've been in the wrong business all this time.

Even our vocabulary is changing.

More than 30 percent of the new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary between 2000 and 2010 had multicultural roots.

Clearly, the ethnicity of the customer base is changing.

These customers will have different needs for vehicles. They'll have different expectations about the purchase experience.

Such change might strike fear into the heart of some companies. But those of us at Toyota say, "Bring it on!"

I'm proud to say that we're already the most popular automotive brand among Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and African Americans.

And on the retail front, ownership of our dealerships by ethnically diverse individuals

has increased 54 percent since 2002.

We're committed to adding 4 to 6 diverse dealers each year, and we met that goal in 2013.

So, increasingly, the face of our dealers will reflect that of our customers.

Even our Marketing department is undergoing a fundamental restructuring, in large part to ensure our resources are properly aligned with these emerging customer realities.

Another key component of this demographic shift is generational, specifically the transition from the Baby Boomers to the Millennials.

That being said, as a card-carrying member of the Older Folks generation, I can assure you we're not quite ready to hand off the baton. Not just yet.

Consider this: In 1960, the average lifespan was 70. Today it stands at 79. Or, to put it another way, 80 is the new 70!

The median age of the U.S. population is also on the rise. That's good news for Toyota, too.

It means that older customers, who have been our bread and butter, will remain extremely important to us for some time.

After all, right now, the Boomers are much more likely than the Millennials to have the discretionary income to buy cars.

Still, younger buyers are our future. So fine-tuning our interaction with multicultural audiences will help us better meet their needs, too.

But the expectations of today's 20somethings don't turn solely on ethnicity. That's where Scion has been so helpful to us.

As you can see here, Scion's customers are the youngest in the industry. And 64 percent of Scion's customers are new to Toyota.

That suggests they wouldn't have found their way to our dealerships' showrooms if not for Scion.

In short, the market is becoming more diverse, complex and, if you ask me, more fun.

And a new more vibrant and innovative Toyota is rising up to meet it.

Our brand's advertising tagline-"Let's Go Places"-encapsulates this mindset. It sends a clear message to our customers that when it comes moving down the path of life, we're all in this together.

---

Now, let's shift gears and talk about that third fact I mentioned at the outset: environmental sustainability. All automakers must respond to long-term needs of our customers, our society, and our environment.

Did you happen to see the headline the other day that said:

"China Vehicle Sales Beat 20 Million as Smog Chokes Cities"?

It really brings home the harsh reality that if we want to continue to grow as an industry, we must find ways so cars will work in harmony with our environment.

At Toyota, we're building on our hybrid leadership and developing pioneer technology

to continue being an environmental leader.

In fact, a week ago, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I unveiled our new hydrogen fuel cell sedan in North America.

We plan to bring a production version of this vehicle to market NEXT year.

Now, I realize there is no shortage of naysayers regarding the viability of this technology and the infrastructure to support it.

Personally, I don't care what Elon, Carlos or Jonathan say about fuel cells. If they want to "plug in and tune out" other technologies, that's fine.

It reminds me of all the head scratching when Toyota made a commitment to hybrid technology back when gasoline was a buck a gallon.

The Prius was dismissed as a PR gimmick and a science experiment.

Well, we've since sold over 2.2 million hybrids in the U.S., and nearly 6 million sales worldwide.

Although hybrids and other alternative powertrain vehicles are still a small part of the overall market, they are growing rapidly and totaled nearly 600,000 units last year

In fact, if you counted gas/electric hybrids...pure electrics...and the trickle of fuel cell vehicles as a segment in 2013, it would be the 7th largest segment out of 21.

Even better, it would have been the second-fastest growing segment in 2013...jumping more than 17% ... better than the hot-selling full-size pickup segment.

That ain't smoke and mirrors, folks.

Ten years from now, I have a hunch our fuel cell vehicle will be viewed in similar terms. We truly believe it has the same potential as the first Prius.

We've been working on this technology since 1992.

Trust me, Toyota would not have continued on this path for this long if it didn't make good business sense.

Fuel cell vehicles offer several advantages.

They drive like electric cars but can be refueled like gasoline cars.

They're safe. In testing, we fired small-caliber bullets at the hydrogen tank and they just bounced off it. It took a 50-caliber armor-piercing bullet to penetrate the shell.

And, even then, it just left a hole and the hydrogen simply leaked out.

This is no Hindenburg.

They're also viable in real-life conditions.

We've battle-tested our fuel cell vehicle in the deep freeze of Yellowknife, Canada,

the stifling heat of Death Valley, the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains, even the steep hills of San Francisco.

And fuel cell vehicles will be cost-effective.

With economies of scale, we're confident a fuel cell vehicle's MSRP will eventually be on par with today's plug-in hybrids.

Meanwhile, the main feedstock for producing hydrogen will be natural gas, which is in abundant supply in this country.

We're even exploring alternative hydrogen sources, including methane emitted from

trash dumps, landfills, waste-treatment plants, farms, and ranches.

Some experts even believe the cost of hydrogen could eventually fall below that of gasoline.

And since a fuel cell is more efficient to operate than a gasoline engine, it requires less fuel to travel the same distance with zero emissions.

The hydrogen refueling station infrastructure will grow, through public-private initiatives such as the California Fuel Cell Partnership.

The issue of infrastructure is not so much about how many, but rather, location, location, location.

Toyota and the University of California Irvine's Advanced Power and Energy Program collaborated on a model that maps-out a specific distribution of hydrogen fueling stations.

And guess what we found?

In California where we'll initially market our sedan, it will only take about 68 station sites to regularly re-fuel about 10,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Another way to look at it... if every vehicle in California ran on hydrogen, we could meet refueling logistics with only 15 percent of the nearly 10,000 gasoline stations currently operating in the state.

So, unlike gas stations, you won't need fuel cell stations on every corner.

Yes there are many challenges ahead. And it will take a lot of collaboration between government regulators, universities, automakers and energy providers. But stay tuned because this infrastructure thing is going to happen.

By the way, we're finding there's tremendous interest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

We set up a fuel cell mini site on our toyota.com website, and in just one week, we've already had more than 56,000 site visits.

And they spent an average of about 4 minutes there, an eternity for web reading.

The real beauty of hydrogen fuel cells is that they have a range of 300 miles and can be re-fueled in 3-5 minutes, similar to today's gas cars.

So you don't have to stop every hundred miles or so, and spend 3 to 5 hours recharging like an electric vehicle.

And they only emit water vapor.

Now, that's not to say EVs won't have an important role in the future of transportation. They will. Hey, we have EVs, too.

The fact is, we believe consumers will be able to find BOTH electric outlets AND hydrogen stations without too much trouble in the future.

The bottom line... fuel cells will be in our future sooner than many people believe, and in much greater numbers than anyone expected.

So competitors who dismiss fuel cells out of hand do so at their own peril.

My point is this: No matter how the move to new fuels and technologies plays out,

Toyota will be there with vehicle options and I'm confident we'll continue to thrive.

---

Well by now, I hope you will agree, our industry is in a great place today.

I have no doubt that we're going to be in an even better place tomorrow no matter what the future has in store for us.

So this is more than just a great time to be in the auto business.

It's an INCREDIBLY EXCITING time to be in this industry and we're all lucky to be a part of it.

So together, let's go forth and do some great things in 2014!

Thank you.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/01/16/toyota-fires-bullets-hydrogen-fuel-tanks-shoots-ev-supporter/

Toyota passes the six million mark for hybrid sales, all in just 16 years.

The progress of Toyota’s hybrid power technology has reached another landmark with cumulative global sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles reaching 6.072 million units at the end of December. Notably the latest million-milestone has been reached in the fastest time yet, just nine months since the figure moved past five million.

Toyota recognises that its cleaner, efficient technologies can only truly make a positive impact if they are widely used, hence its on-going efforts to encourage the mass-market take-up of its hybrid vehicles.

As of this month, Toyota Motor Corporation sells 24 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world. In the UK, home to production of the hybrid versions of Auris and Auris Touring Sports, the range extends to 10 Toyota and Lexus hybrids, plus Prius Plug-in.

Within the next two years, Toyota will launch 15 new hybrids. It will continue to develop its product range and the number of markets where its hybrid models are available.

Toyota calculates that, as of 31 December 2013, Toyota hybrid vehicles have reduced the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere – believed to be a cause of global warming – by approximately 41 million tonnes, compared to the impact the same number of equivalent petrol-powered vehicles would have. On the same basis, it also estimates its hybrids have saved around 15,000 million litres of petrol.

Toyota entered hybrid vehicle production in August 1997 with the launch in Japan of the Coast Hybrid EV bus, followed in December by the first generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. Since then Toyota’s hybrids have enjoyed increasing support from customers around the world.

Toyota’s hybrid system is designed as a core technology that can be used in different forms to create environmentally efficient vehicles for different customer requirements. The company will continue to work to raise performance, reduce costs and expand its product line-up – including the introduction of environmentally efficient non-hybrid vehicles.

Toyota hybrid vehicle sales – all brands

(1 = 1,000 units)

Cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid passenger vehicles

(1 = 1,000 units) * Including Prius Plug-in; ** including Auris Hybrid Touring Sports.

Happy 20th birthday to the Toyota RAV4.

The 1994 Geneva motor show marked the arrival of a new kind of vehicle, one that would transform the global car market. At the time few can have anticipated the impact the Toyota RAV4 would make, its world debut setting in train a success story that’s still going on today.

The original Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4-wheel drive pioneered a new segment for compact, highly manoeuvrable SUVs, part of the market that has developed from a niche to become a fundamental feature of the motoring mainstream.

Toyota had modest ambitions for its new model, expecting initial worldwide demand of only around 4,500 units. When 8,000 orders flooded in in the first month alone, production volumes had to be doubled.

In the UK, sales of the “small, light, sporty and affordable” RAV4 kicked off in June. Initially it was available only as a three-door with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Equipped with independent suspension all-round, a monocoque body and measuring just 3.96m long (little more than today’s Yaris), it was unlike anything else on the market.

The public had an appetite for the newcomer, however, and the following year – RAV4’s first full year on sale – almost 6,800 were sold, quickly establishing it as the fourth best-selling model in Toyota’s 14-strong UK line-up.

Where it all began

The first evidence of the direction Toyota was taking to create a compact SUV was the RAV-FOUR concept, unveiled at the 1989 Tokyo motor show. It may have been just a design study, lacking the detail of a genuine development model, but it was warmly received by the public. Two years later Toyota gave the project the green light, and work began in earnest on creating the first RAV4.

The development challenge

Chief Engineer Masakatsu Nonaka soon discovered he had a tough job convincing other Toyota departments of the feasibility of creating a mass production car for a market segment that didn’t yet exist. The term “sport utility vehicle” wasn’t in common use, and many people within the business found it hard to understand the concept of such a compact 4×4.

At one point the project ground to a halt, only to be revived thanks to intervention from an unexpected source. Toyota’s Japanese and European sales divisions came to the rescue, their close contact with the market convincing them that the time was right for this new type of car. Together they put the project back on track, and soon had their faith rewarded.

From niche model to global car

Toyota can rightfully claim to have created the compact SUV market with RAV4’s introduction in 1994. That year it sold 53,000 worldwide; the following year saw double that number reach the road, and by 1995 the total had tripled.

Global sales have grown with each of the four generations of RAV, with more than five million now having been sold – 1.3 million in Europe and more than 167,000 in the UK. As a testament to Toyota’s reputation for building hard-wearing, reliable vehicles, more than 90 per cent of the RAV4 ever sold are still on the road today.

The sales performance is all the more noteworthy given the increase in competition. By 2010 other manufacturers had followed Toyota’s lead, increasing choice in the compact SUV segment to 10 models; today there are 19.

This reflects the fact that the segment is one of the few to show sustained growth in Europe, with sales rising by 36 per cent in the last five years. Last year it attracted 848,000 sales in Western Europe, with a further 387,000 in Russia.

Fourth generation

The compact SUV market hasn’t only grown since 1994, it has also evolved and matured in line with customers’ changing requirements and preferences. At the outset this new type of car was regarded as an alternative to sporty hatchbacks and coupes; today its popularity is among families wanting an alternative to MPVs and estates that’s more fun and fashionable.

In each development of RAV4, Toyota has worked to keep the model firmly at the heart of its segment, without sacrificing the fun-to-drive quality that defined the original model. When it came to creating the latest, fourth generation modeel, it talked to existing RAV4 customers around the world to understand what the liked best about their car. They cited its good manoeuvrability, ease of access, elevated view of the road ahead, ingenious packaging, versatility and reassuring capability, even when the going gets tough.

As a result, today’s RAV4 reflects a stronger emphasis on family use, while retaining the core values of handling, versatility and on and off-road performance that have underpinned its continued popularity. The result is a car that is stronger and more sophisticated with sharper styling, a more spacious cabin and loadspace, greater comfort and higher levels of safety and versatility.

Customer choice is wider than ever before, with the UK range extending to nine models, offering both two and all-wheel drive, four diesel and petrol engines and three transmissions. Its all-wheel drive capability is more sophisticated than ever before, with Toyota’s Integrated Active Drive System developed to offer a more engaging “sport” mode, with Dynamic Torque Control monitoring and automatically adjusting the amount of drive torque distributed between the front and rear axles.

Toyota RAV4 milestones

• 1994 The first generation RAV4 makes its debut at the Geneva motor show. It’s powered by a transverse-mounted, 2.0-litre, 127bhp petrol engine and has full-time all-wheel drive. Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission is available, but with no transfer box or low-range ratios. The car has a unitary, monocoque construction and features independent suspension front and rear.
• 1995 A five-door model is made available in the UK.
• 1997 Production of an electric-powered RAV4 is launched, continuing until 2000. A number of RAV4 EV are recruited for tourist transport on Jersey.
• 1998 A three-door soft-top RAV4 is offered in the UK.
• 2000 The second generation RAV4 is introduced. The three and five-door models are longer than their predecessors (+55mm and 40mm respectively) and are available with 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines. The AWD system adopts a limited-slip centre differential, with a Torsen LSD provided as an option on the rear axle.
• 2002 The first diesel RAV4 is launched.
• 2006 The third generation RAV4 is built on a new platform and is exclusively a five-door model, but with different wheelbases in different world markets. The car is significantly longer: +190mm for the short wheelbase version and +475mm for the long wheelbase. It features a new AWD system  with an electronically controlled coupling; Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control are also introduced.
• 2010 A new RAV4 EV concept is developed in the USA with Tesla.
• 2013 The fourth generation RAV4 is, again, a five-door only model, offered with a single wheelbase worldwide. It’s longer by 235mm compared to the previous SWB model. The latest model marks the debut of the Dynamic Torque Control AWD system.

Toyota unveils its Ultimate sports coupe concept.

A daring new Toyota coupe concept breaks cover at the Detroit motor show today. The new FT-1 concept is the result of Toyota’s Calty design studio’s mission to create the ultimate sports car.

The California-based team, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has produced a car that is strikingly modern, yet which makes reference to Toyota’s rich sports car history, going back to the 2000GT of the mid-1960s.

The exterior captures the look of racecar with a curvilinear form, pronounced front wings and sharply defined contrasts that express powerful performance. The FT-1’s optimum aerodynamic qualities are communicated by its large air intakes, exhaust ports and retractable rear wing.

The front engine/rear-wheel drive configuration allows the cockpit to set further towards the rear of the car, within the wheelbase, helping improve weight distribution and create classic sports car proportions. The wraparound windscreen and side glass arrangement are a clear nod to the design of the original 2000GT.

The ergonomics of the cabin capitalise on the car’s low centre of gravity, helping the driver derive the maximum reward from the driving experience. A delta-shaped display zone helps make the driver feel at the heart of the action, fully connected to the car. This quality is reinforced by the Formula 1-style steering wheel and a colour head-up display that projects key information just above the wheel. The designers have pushed the A-pillars as far back as possible, to increase visibility when cornering.

Traditionally Toyota’s design decisions have been driven by consensus among a large group of people; as part of a company movement to give Toyota products more energy and passion, the process has been streamlined. This approach has been fundamental to the development of the FT-1, a concept that captures Toyota’s aim of creating cars that connect more deeply with customers and generate a more satisfying ownership experience.

Toyota FT-1 Concept Car VIDEO

Toyota FT-1 Concept Heralds A More Exciting Future (And Maybe A New Sports Car--Supra?!?)

Wouldn't it be nice if this got Honda thinking about a Next Generation Honda Prelude, if only in concept form....?

by Matthew de Paula of www.forbes.com

The suspense is over. After years of hand wringing, diehard fans of Toyota’s defunct but beloved Supra sports car have been given hope of a successor.

Their salvation comes in the form of the FT-1 concept car, which Toyota unveiled today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Although the Japanese automaker has not said whether it will build a production version of the curvaceous coupe, nor whether it would be called “Supra” if it did, the FT-1 is groundbreaking nonetheless. It represents the culmination of Toyota’s efforts to infuse excitement into its vehicles, much as the company’s luxury division, Lexus, is already doing. (Read more about Lexus’ efforts here.)

The Toyota FT-1 concept is a stake in the ground that signifies no more boring cars for Toyota.

“It really expresses the direction that we’re moving in and the company that we’re evolving into, which is one that develops more exciting vehicles with heart, more emotion, more driver-engaged products that speak to the excitement of driving,” said Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s Calty Design Research studio, in a one-on-one interview ahead of the concept car’s unveiling at the Detroit auto show.

The FT-1 has design elements that pay homage to past Toyota sports cars. The slant of the roofline and the wraparound windshield with blacked out roof pillars evoke the styling of the 2000GT, a slinky two-seater built from 1967 to 1970 and famously featured in the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.” The rear of the FT-1 pays homage to the last generation of the Supra, called the Mark IV, which was built from 1993 through 2002.

The 2000GT and Supra lineage is also evident in the long hood of the FT-1. Both the 2000GT and Supra featured so-called in-line six-cylinder engines, which were long and dictated a certain proportion at the front of the car. “Even though we’re not saying exactly what engine is in the FT-1, we thought at least it should feel like it has a long hood and it has a powerful engine under the hood,” Hunter said.

Though it draws on Toyota’s heritage, the FT-1 is far from just a rehash of previous sports cars. “The surfacing is all new. We refer to it as ‘function sculpting,’ and that, I think, is in line with our bigger fundamental design philosophy of ‘vibrant clarity,’” Hunter said. “There’s something rational happening and there’s something emotional going on as well. And it’s kind of those two values merging that creates something new.”

The entire car appears to be shaped by the wind. Deeply sculpted intakes and outlets improve aerodynamics and channel air to cool the engine and other components. “It has to be dynamic, exciting, but it also has to function well as a sports car,” Hunter said.

This design and engineering ethos wrapped up in one can also be found at the pinnacle of motorsports: Formula One. Not by coincidence, the pointy nose of the FT-1 recalls the shape of an Formula One race car. “It was kind of on our mind, I guess, as we were designing the car,” Hunter said.

The interior of the FT-1 is stripped down like that of a race car.

Toyota designers completely rethought how the driver should interact with the vehicle and devised a head-up display, like something from a fighter jet, and large buttons on the steering that look like a video game controller. The goal was to reduce driver distraction.

“It’s very easy for your thumb to identify the input points that relate to the heads-up display,” Hunter said. “So ideally, you can do it blindly, not looking down at the steering wheel and always keep your eyes focused on the road.”

Whereas current cars, including Lexus models, use controllers on the center console to manipulate menus on a screen mounted in the middle of the dashboard, everything on the FT-1 is managed right on the head-up display using only the steering wheel controls. This sort of technology could eventually end up on future production vehicles, Hunter said.

Despite all of the Toyota FT-1’s exotic features, which also include a movable rear wing that raises at high speeds to increase stability, the concept is meant to project the possibility of an affordable sports car in keeping with Toyota’s position as a mass-market automaker. A production version of the FT-1 would cost far less than a Porsche or Ferrari, Hunter said.

“We felt it was important to bring a halo image to the Toyota brand, which could use a bit of strengthening in that area,” he said. “We know that Lexus has the LFA, Scion has the FR-S, and the Toyota brand is really lacking a sports car right now.”

Calty designers came up with the idea for the FT-1 a couple of years ago. They’ve been waiting for the right moment to bring it into the limelight.

To help sway board members and Toyota president Akio Toyoda to produce the concept car, Calty designers worked with Sony to create a virtual version of the FT-1 that could be “driven” in the video game Gran Turismo.

This turned out to be a shrewd move. When the FT-1 was presented in video-game form to the board, Toyoda was able to complete a virtual lap of Japan’s Fuji Speedway faster than his best real-world lap time in his own personal LFA supercar.

Needless to say, the FT-1 got the green light, which is to be expected, considering Toyoda’s passion for motor sports.

“This kind of high-performance car I think is ideal to symbolize the direction that our company is moving in,” Hunter said. “We all know Akio Toyoda said we need to develop more cool cars and more emotional cars.  And he used the term ‘waku doki,’ which means ‘with great passion and from the heart.’ We need to capture this kind of spirit in our new vehicles.”

Source;
http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewdepaula/2014/01/13/toyota-ft-1-concept-car-heralds-a-more-exciting-future-a-surprise-debut-at-the-2014-detroit-auto-show/2/

The Detroit Motor Show, what to expect !

A handy round up of all that you can expect to see at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show

The 2014 Detroit Motor Show is the first major motor show in the 2014 automotive calendar. Officially known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), it opens its doors to the world's press on January 13 2014 before inviting the public in on January 18.

The biggest car manufacturers in the world will be showcasing a whole host of new metal at Detroit, from crazy concept cars to production models that we'll be seeing on the road very soon. And, of course, Auto Express will be there bringing you all the stories live as they happen.

Bookmark this page to stay up to date with the latest from the Detroit Motor Show 2014. We’ll be updating it regularly with all that we know on the biggest stories coming out of this year's show.

Click the links below for the hottest Detroit news stories of the moment and scroll down the page for our full manufacturer-by-manufacturer round-up…

Detroit Motor Show 2014: the key cars

Mercedes C-Class - the all-new Mercedes C-Class compact exec will make its world debut at Detroit with BMW's 3 Series in its sights.

Ford Mustang - the new Ford Mustang takes a bow in production form at Detroit and this one will be sold in the UK.

BMW M3 saloon and M4 coupe - the latest instalment in BMW's M3 dynasty is here but now the coupe version's called M4.   

Audi Q1 concept - Audi is gunning for the Nissan Juke with a new baby SUV concept car.

Lexus RC-F coupe - Lexus hopes to eclipse the BMW M3 with this coupe concept car rumoured to be packing a V8.

Volvo XC Concept - the XC concept car from Volvo should tell us a lot about the design of the new XC90 SUV.

Detroit Motor Show 2014: full round-up 

Audi

Audi has just announced 11 all-new models will be added to the range, and as far as we know the baby Q1 concept will be the first of those to make an appearance, with a debut at Detroit rumoured. It’s aimed at Nissan Juke buyers who crave something a little more premium. BMW and Mercedes are also working on entry-level SUVs

Audi has confirmed a three-door Crossover concept will be on display at Detroit, which is likely to be giving us an insight into the future design direction for the brands next-gen road cars.

BMW

BMW will be one of the busiest manufacturers at the Detroit Motor Show next month with five new or facelifted models making their debuts. Taking centre stage will be the new M3 saloon and M4 coupe, both powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine developing 424bhp. The new high-performance models are lighter, more efficient and more powerful than the outgoing M3.

Sharing the limelight will be the new BMW 2 Series. It’s a replacement for the outgoing 1 Series Coupe which goes on sale in March, priced from £25,040. Facelifted versions of the BMW X1 SUV and Z4 will also be making an appearance at Detroit, both featuring subtle visually tweaks inside and out.

Chevrolet

GM has announced Chevrolet will be pulled out of European markets by 2015 but iconic models such as the Camaro and the Corvette will still be available. The new Z06 will debut at Detroit, so far we’ve only seen a teaser image and rumours suggest the muscle car could use a tweaked version of the 7.0-litre V8 tuned to produce around 600bhp.

Ford

Ford has already showcased the new Mustang at several glamorous locations around the world but Detroit will be its motor show debut. For the first time in its 50 years of production, the Mustang will be made available in right-hand drive in the UK. There’s no official word on pricing but the EcoBoost model should start from around £30,000, with the V8 model demanding a further £5,000.

Infiniti

A potential rival for the BMW M3, the Infiniti Eau Rogue concept will be unveiled at Detroit. We only have a few details about the high-performance saloon and we expect a twin-turbocharged 3.7-litre V6 to fitted under the bonnet, producing around 500bhp. The concept is named after one of the most famous corners in the F1 calendar, a sweeping uphill bend at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Kia

Kia has revealed teaser shots of the GT4 Stinger concept car that will be on display at Detroit. We now know it will be  powered by a 311bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, driving the rear wheels. The teaser images show the concept to have a long bonnet, bulging wheels arches and a short tailgate, giving it the classic sports car look. Kia says the new concept is aimed at "delivering head-turning looks".

Lexus

The first image of the new flagship Lexus RC F coupe has leaked online. It’s set to debut at Detroit where the wraps will also be taken off the car's BMW M4 rival. Under the bonnet, a 5.0-litre V8 has been rumoured, with power somewhere in the region of 455bhp.

MINI

The range-topping model in the new MINI range, the John Cooper Works, will be unveiled in concept form at Detroit. It features an aggressive looking body kit and exclusive paint job as well as being powered by a tuned version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine from the outgoing Cooper S. It should arrive in the UK in summer, priced at around £23,000.

Mercedes

After months of leaked images and spy shots the Mercedes C-Class was finally unveiled in December. The baby exec will draw in the crowds at Detroit with an Estate variant sharing the stage. A whole host of petrol and diesel engines will be availble, with a new 1.6-litre diesel engine adopted from Nissan being the entry-level motor.

Mercedes will again be showcasing the S-Class coupe at Detroit after the concept first debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September. We’ll have to wait until March at the Geneva Motor Show before we get to see the production model, however.  

Porsche

Porsche will unveil the 991-generation Targa at Detroit, with leaked images online suggesting the car will revert back the original Targa style body that was first seen in 1966.

Toyota

There has been a lot of speculation about a replacement for the Toyota Supra and the Japanese manufacturer has confirmed there will be ‘some form of performance concept at Detroit’. Rumours started circulating about a successor to the Supra back in 2007, when the Toyota FT-HS concept first appeared at the Detroit Motor Show.

Volvo

Volvo will be showcasing the Concept XC Coupe at Detroit, which gives us a glimpse into the future styling of the manufacturers SUVs. It will also influence the design of the XC90, scheduled to arrive in the UK in the middle of 2014.

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Carbuyer reveals its car of the year - The new Hyundai i10 (plus all other winners)

• £8,345 Hyundai i10 wins overall Car of the Year prize
• BMW takes three awards, including Best Electric Car for i3
• Kia wins Buyer’s Award for its seven-year warranty
• No Brit-built cars among the winners

Britain’s best new car buys for 2014 have today been revealed by CarBuyer, the UK’s fastest-growing car buying advice website.

Hyundai’s new i10 has been named overall Car of the Year and Best City Car, with judges praising its quality, refinement, style and value – this slick city runabout costs from only £8,345. Hyundai’s Santa Fe beat more established brands like Land Rover to be named Best Large SUV.

There was further success for Korean car makers, with Kia winning the CarBuyer Buyer’s Award for its seven-year warranty, which celebrates its seventh birthday this month.

BMW claimed three wins, including Best Electric/Hybrid Car for its new i3 supermini. The BMW 3 Series and 5 Series also won in the two executive car categories.

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of CarBuyer said: “The new Hyundai i10 is a brilliant car, offering a real grown-up feel and plenty of space at an incredibly low price. It’s fun to drive and cheap to own, too – the perfect car for cost-conscious car buyers.”

CarBuyer.co.uk was launched just three years ago yet is already established as one of the UK’s most respected sources of car buying advice. Its blend of real-world reviews, expert advice, owner comments and entertaining video has proved to be a big hit with British car buyers. It’s also the only motoring website to be accredited by the Plain English Campaign.

Car of the Year: Hyundai i10

Best City Car: Hyundai i10
Best Small Car: Ford Fiesta
Best Hybrid / Electric Car: BMW i3
Best Small SUV: Dacia Duster
Best Large SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
Best Family Car: SEAT Leon
Best Large Family Car: Mazda 6
Best Estate Car: Skoda Octavia Estate
Best MPV: SEAT Alhambra
Best Coupe: Toyota GT-86
Best Executive Car: BMW 3 Series
Best Large Executive Car: BMW 5 Series
Best Hot Hatch: Ford Fiesta ST
Best Convertible: Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet
Best Luxury Car: Mercedes S-Class
Buyer’s Award: Kia seven-year warranty

USA - 2014 Toyota Highlander starts production in Indiana after $430 Million investment

• Popular SUV responsible for $430 million investment and more than 600 jobs by 2014 end

Hoosier pride was felt deep and wide on the plant floor of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana this morning as the company celebrated the start of production of the all-new 2014 Highlander. 

 

TMMI team members and area citizens have much to celebrate, as the popular midsize SUV is responsible for $430 million additional investment and more than 600 jobs at the Princeton automotive plant.

 

“Automotive manufacturers and suppliers around Indiana are putting their expansion plans into gear, creating jobs and more opportunities in every corner of the state,” said Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann. “With Toyota’s launch of production for the new Highlander right here in the Hoosier State, we are witnessing an economy driving forward. From our world-class workforce to our low cost of doing business, Indiana proves daily that it is a state that works for automotive manufacturing.”

 

The Princeton plant builds a gas version of the Highlander and will begin producing the hybrid version early next year.  Highlanders born in Indiana will find new homes with drivers in the Russian and Australian regions as TMMI expands its export reach.

 

Highlander export business allows for better utilization of the Indiana plant, and helps capitalize on the improving North American and global auto market.  In addition to the new jobs created at the Indiana plant, this project increases opportunities and jobs for Toyota’s North American supply base.

 

2014 new Highlander features

• All-new exterior with three-row seating for up to eight,
• Increased cargo capacity,
• Three power train choices: a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine, a powerful V-6 with a new six-speed transmission, and a V-6-powered Hybrid Synergy Drive,
• Entune Audio with Bluetooth phone and streaming music and touch-screen display,
• Integrated backup camera,
• STAR Safety System, includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-Lock Brake System, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Brake assist and Smart Stop Technology,
• Adjustable height power rear liftgate and flip-up rear hatch window, and
• Eight-way power driver seat.

 

“The all-new Highlander is a dynamic, stylish SUV and its quality craftsmanship and the fact that it will be exported to the Russian and Australian markets is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members.” Bafunno said.  “This really is a milestone for our entire team,”

 

Sheila Showalter, Quality Assurance team leader, couldn’t agree more. “When I started here 16 years ago, I was one of 1,300 team members in the West Plant and we were only building the Tundra.  It is exciting to be a part of something this big.”

 

Representing a $4.2 billion investment, TMMI currently employs about 4,500.  By the end of 2014, Toyota will directly employ 4,700 team members.  The Princeton plant also produces the Sequoia full-size SUV and Sienna minivan.  

Toyota Vision Gran Turismo Concept – Could this be the new Supra?

By Hafriz Shah of www.paultan.org

Toyota has just released a teaser sketch of its upcoming Vision Gran Turismo Concept vehicle and guess what, it cuts a very familiar figure! We have nothing else other than the sole silhouette image above, so the rest is up to your imagination.

The Toyota Vision Gran Turismo Concept looks eerily similar to the late Supra sports car. Is the Japanese automaker hatching a surprise concept reveal on the just-released Playstation 3 racing game? That would be fantastic indeed, as the Supra gained a large majority of its strong following among youngsters through earlier instalments of the same game.

A next-generation Supra is way overdue, with the last of its kind rolling off the production line as far back as July 2002. With the new Honda NSX due soon, the timing couldn’t be any better either.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/12/12/toyota-vision-gran-turismo-concept-new-supra/

Lexus Considering LFA Replacement

by Joseph Capperella of www.automobilemag.com

Production of the Lexus LFA supercar ended last year after all 500 vehicles were sold, and a new Lexus halo model could be coming soon according to a report from Autocar. This report says that a possible Lexus LFA replacement could be based on the Lexus LF-LC concept from the 2012 Detroit auto show.

Lexus LFA engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi suggested to Autocar that this new Lexus flagship sport car may already be in development. This model would reportedly slot in above upcoming Lexus models like the RC F, a high-performance version of the recently released RC coupe. However, Tanahashi also hinted that the next range-topping Lexus sports car could be at a much lower price point than the exclusive, $375,000 LFA.

The Lexus LF-LC Concept which debuted at the 2012 Detroit auto show was a large, low-slung coupe with a dramatic look that incorporated many Lexus styling elements like sharp creases and the spindle grille. The LF-LC Concept was powered by a hybrid powertrain, and Autocar’s report suggests that a production version of this car would also likely also feature a gas-electric drivetrain.

This future Lexus sports coupe would sit at the top of a growing F lineup, which will add the aforementioned Lexus RC F to replace the outgoing IS F, as well as a rumored Lexus GS F that we have spied testing recently. Autocar quotes Lexus International vice president Mark Templin as saying that the F moniker will soon be a full performance division for Lexus in the vein of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and BMW’s M, but with a different character thanks to potential differentiators like performance hybrids.

Look out for more news about an upcoming Lexus flagship over the next few months.

Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/report-lexus-considering-lfa-replacement-258473.html#axzz2n5Bz10VK

Toyota Plans Camry Tweaks in 2014 to Extend U.S. Sales Race Lead

by  Alan Ohnsman of www.bloomberg.com

Toyota Motor Corp's Camry, headed for a 12th straight year as the best-selling U.S. car, will get “significant attention” including freshened features to hold the title a 13th year, the brand’s U.S. sales chief said.

The Camry leads its closest rival, Honda Motor Co.’s Accord, by more than 40,000 units through October this year, far ahead of Nissan Motor Co.’s Altima and Ford Motor Co.’s revamped Fusion sedan. Tighter competition in 2014, as Ford boosts Fusion production and Hyundai Motor Co. adds a reworked Sonata, doesn’t guarantee Camry will be knocked from its perch, said Bill Fay, group vice president of the Toyota brand.

“There were some who wanted to write Camry off this year, and it didn’t happen,” Fay said yesterday in an interview at the Los Angeles Auto Show. “We’ll make some effort through the collective team to keep it No. 1 next year.”

As Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker, battles Camry challengers and the best vehicles from U.S.-based competitors in a generation, the Toyota City, Japan-based company is targeting its highest U.S. sales in as long as six years. Demand for new cars and trucks, a bright spot for the U.S. economy, remains robust as the year winds down, Fay said.

Toyota rose 0.2 percent to 6,310 yen as of 10:56 a.m. in Tokyo trading. The shares have gained 58 percent this year, outperforming a 46 percent increase in Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average.

‘Doing Something’

Combined sales of Toyota, Lexus and Scion autos could total 2.25 million vehicles in 2013, Fay said. That’s up 8.2 percent from last year and the most since an all-time high of 2.62 million in 2007.

Fay declined to elaborate on changes the company is considering for the current Camry, released in 2011 as a 2012 model.

“It’s safe to say we’ll be doing something with it,” he said. “We’ll be paying significant attention to Camry next year.”

Additionally, Toyota expects to sell as many as 240,000 Prius hybrids this year, a record for the U.S., yet shy of an initial goal of 250,000 set in January by Jim Lentz, the company’s North American chief executive officer.

Easing gasoline prices have curbed hybrid demand to an extent, Fay said. A gallon of regular grade gasoline cost $3.209 on Nov. 18, compared with $3.416 a year ago, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge website.

“When the price of fuel gets this affordable, it makes the hybrid equation less appealing to some customers,” he said.

Toyota’s U.S. sales unit is based Torrance, California.

Source;
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-20/toyota-plans-camry-tweaks-in-2014-to-extend-u-s-sales-race-lead.html

PaulTan.org; Toyota Aqua Cross crossover, Air roadster and G Sports concepts to debut at 2013 Tokyo Motor Show

Toyota will be showing a trio of Aqua concepts at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. Malaysians are already acquainted with the Toyota Aqua – it is called the Prius c in Malaysia.

This green Aqua is the Toyota Aqua Cross concept, which slaps some offroader styling bits onto the Aqua. The interior trim is black, contrasted with green stitching and piping.

The second concept is the Toyota Aqua Air, which is the Aqua with a roadster style body. Could Toyota be looking at building a small hybrid roadster like the Aqua Air?

The interior is similiar to the standard Aqua’s, except that the rear legroom appears to be smaller and there are colour coded bits that match the car’s exterior paint.

Finally, the Toyota Aqua G Sports (ahem.... Toyota G-Sport?!?....) concept straps on a bodykit, a sports suspension and adds some sporty bits to the interior.

Is Toyota looking to expand the Aqua/Prius c range? These could be concepts to gauge public acceptance before putting more work to turn them into production cars.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/11/15/toyota-aqua-cross-air-g-sports-concepts-debut-tokyo/

Toyota GT 86 Sedan concept confirmed for Dubai Motor Show next week

The official Facebook page of the Dubai International Motor Show has announced Toyota will showcase a sedan concept of the GT 86.

Lately we have been talking a great deal about the possibility of seeing a sedan version of the Toyota GT 86 and it appears this will happen very soon. The Dubai Motor Show is scheduled for next week where Toyota will show this sedan concept, ahead of what will possibly be a 2014 or 2015 market release of a production model.

From what we know so far, the car will use the same platform as the standard model but the wheelbase will be stretched by 3.9 inches (100mm) to increase space for those sitting in the back. Under the hood it will have the same 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine with 200 bhp (149 kW) and 205 Nm (151 lb-ft) of torque.

There are also talks about a hybrid version featuring the technology seen in the Yaris Hybrid-R concept at IAA back in September. This one will allegedly have 268 bhp (200 kW) and is expected to be around 15 percent more economical than the standard model.

The production-ready Toyota GT 86 Sedan is rumored to be publicly introduced in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113110365467/toyota-gt-86-sedan-concept-confirmed-for-dubai-motor-show

USA - Toyota has brilliant October, with increased sales.

All-new Tundra up almost 23 percent; All-new Avalon posts triple-digit gains for eighth month in a row

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported October 2013 sales results of 168,976 units, an increase of 4.8 percent over October 2012 on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw-volume basis, unadjusted for 27 selling days in October 2013 versus 26 selling days in October 2012, TMS sales increased 8.8 percent from the year-ago month.

Toyota Division posted October 2013 sales of 146,257 units, up 4 percent year-over-year on a DSR basis.   Volume-wise, Toyota division sales increased 8 percent over October 2012.

“Consumers showed resiliency in October with steady auto sales despite headwinds caused by the government shutdown,” said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager.  “The growth in the auto industry continues to play a leading role in the economic recovery, and Toyota is on track for a strong close to the year.”

Lexus reported October sales of 22,719 units, a 10.2 percent increase on a DSR basis and a 14.5 percent increase on a raw volume basis, both year-over-year.

"Industry growth is being driven by new products, and we have two of the hottest new models on the market today - the new IS and GX SUV," said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager.  "And as we move into November and December, traditionally two excellent months for Lexus, we're poised to close out the year with strong sales."

Other Highlights:

• All-new Corolla posts sales of 23,637 units
• All-new Avalon posts triple-digit gains for eighth month in a row
• Camry posts sales of almost 30,000 units
• TMS hybrids retain more than half of the market with sales of nearly 23,800 units
• Prius family records sales of 15,623 units
• All-new RAV4 increases 60.8 percent with a best-ever October
• Sienna up 10.1 percent with sales of more than 8,500 units
• Toyota division pickups post sales of more than 22,000 units
• All-new Tundra up almost 23 percent
• All-new Lexus IS up more than 68 percent
• Lexus LS up more than 26 percent
• Lexus ES is volume car leader with sales of nearly 6,000 units
• Lexus RX up more than 15 percent with sales of almost 8,000 units

*Note:  Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect unadjusted raw sales volume