In stylish new clothes, inside and out, the 2013 Toyota Avalon debuted today at the New York Auto Show.

Despite getting a refresh in 2011, Toyota seems to have recognized that its full-size sedan, aimed squarely at baby boomers looking for value and comfort, needed a new face to continue competing with the ever-changing car market.

Compared to the 2012 model, the upcoming Avalon features a stylish interior that feels more like a German luxury car than its predecessor. While pricing details aren’t available yet, last year’s model started in the low $30,000′s so it seems reasonable to assume this car would stick in the same range.

An LCD screen that fits nicely into the redesigned center stack shows everything from infotainment options music selection to maps. A colorful gauge cluster with white numbers further compliments the redesigned interior which has more space than a BMW 5 Series. There’s also a charging station for mobile devices and captive-touch controls for climate settings.

Other features that were present in previous generations like a power rear window shade remain for rear-seat comfort as well.

“There’s also an unmatched list of technology-driven safety features, including a best-in-class 10 airbags, blind spot monitor with cross-traffic detection and pre-collision system,” said Toyota Motor Sales group vice president Bob Carter.

Continue Reading…

Lexus introduced its all-new ES300h hybrid with a fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine at the New York Auto Show today.

Attaining a combined 39-mpg rating, Lexus boasts tech innovations in its 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder engine like low-friction components, a variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology and a 12.5:1 compression ratio, the in-line four-cylinder combines with Lexus Hybrid Drive for a complete ES300h power output of 200 hp. A surprisingly low figure for an all-new midsize luxury sedan, the ES300h gets from 0-to-60 in an unimpressive 8.1 seconds.

GALLERY: 2013 Lexus ES300h

Continue Reading…

It’s not often that a game changing sports car comes out onto the market. The Toyota GT 86 / Scion FR-S is exactly that, and it’s clear that tuners and aftermarket product manufacturers are just as excited for the platform as automotive enthusiasts are.

There’s little to no doubt in our minds that the Scion FR-S will be a huge hit – you can read our review here – and the aftermarket will only make the vehicle better. Tuners in Japan have already been hard at work since they got their hands on the GT 86 earlier than America. But the Scion Racing / GReddy drift Scion FR-S driven by Ken Gushi (pictured above) looks ready to rock into action at the Long Beach season opener.

Continue Reading…

The Toyota GT 86 will be making its way to America soon as the Scion FR-S, and the Japanese automaker wanted to remind the general public that not only was the vehicle built with passion, but they would like us to drive with passion.

The clip is made to get our blood flowing in anticipation to the release of the FR-S, which will be one of the most affordable sports cars of this decade – you can read our review here. Out to prove that the GT 86 can do it all, on and off the track, Toyota has done an excellent job marketing its newest machine and we can’t wait until they’re on the street.

Watch Full Throttle – Drive with Passion below:

Continue Reading…

The 2013 Toyota Venza has been released by Toyota one day before it is unveiled formally at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

The re-designed Venza’s exterior styling has undergone a serious update, and is getting a new upper and lower grille, new fog lamps and rear taillights. The body style has grown a little more minivan-esque, but is still classified as a crossover and retains some of its SUV styling. The rear loading height is almost the same as the Sienna minivan, and the rear hatch resembles the van quite closely as well. Three new color options are available with the re-design: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica.

Inside, the Venza has seating for seven and fold flat rear seats which optimizes cargo room in the rear of the vehicle. A new center console is also included which has three MP3 player holders with wire concealment features, sliding front cup holders, a storage compartment and USB, and auxiliary in ports.

Toyota’s Entune infotainment system will be included on the Venza as well, complete with smart phone compatibility.

The Venza will be available with two engine options, either a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 268 horsepower and 246 lb.-ft. of torque, or a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 181 horsepower and 182 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines will be standard front wheel drive setups, but will offer an all wheel drive package as well. A  six-speed sequential-shift electronically controlled automatic transmission will be hooked up to both motors. The V6 will get an EPA estimated 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg highway for the FWD version and 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway for the AWD. The less thirsty four cylinder will get 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway for the FWD model and 20 mpg city,25 mpg highway for the AWD.

Three trim packages will be available to suit every customers needs, they are: LE, LXE, and Limited.

Click back to AutoGuide for live coverage from the 2012 New York Auto Show.

GALLERY: 2013 Toyota Venza

When last we spoke to Scion boss Jack Hollis, his interest in a small truck for the youth brand was undeniable. Now reports of increased production at the automaker’s RAV4 facility in Woodstock, Ontario have spawned new rumors about the as yet unconfirmed sixth model in the Scion lineup.

Increased production of the RAV4 (up by 25%) could simply be a method Toyota is using to keep costs down by reducing the number of RAV4 models it imports from overseas. However, it also supports the possibility that Toyota will build a Scion truck based on the compact crossover platform.

Currently compact pickups are a dying breed, with CAFE rules penalizing smaller trucks that still aren’t tiny. Toyota has bucked this trend with the Tacoma, due mostly to the compact pickup’s dominance in the segment and Toyota’s continued efforts to be a player in the truck segment.

A unibody “truck” that is designed more as a lifestyle vehicle and less as a work machine would continue to help out Toyota’s fuel economy, and could also be rebaged as a Toyota model and sold overseas.

With Toyota currently offering both a 4-cylinder and a V6 in the RAV4, this might also make way for Scion’s first-ever six-cylinder model.

[Source: TacomaHQ]

Last week, Toyota announced that it would be bringing an all-new U.S. designed sedan to the New York Auto Show and presented us with a single teaser image of the vehicle’s rear-end.

And in stunning fashion, the Japanese automaker had its all-new sedan hoisted up similar to the presumably Lexus ES that was teased on Lexus’s twitter account a few days ago. It appears this year that Toyota is taking to covering up its show vehicles and having them lifted up on cranes in anticipation to the show.

The car isn’t scheduled to have its global debut until April 5th, and we’re still under the assumption that it will be the new Avalon. Check back later this week for AutoGuide’s live coverage of the 2012 New York Auto Show.

GALLERY: Toyota New York Auto Show Sedan

In 2007, Top Gear aired the “Polar Special”, documenting Jeremy Clarkson and James May’s Toyota Hilux racing against Richard Hammond and a team of sled dogs.

Amid the childish antics of the three television presenters lay a landmark achievement — this was the first time any expedition had ever reached the Magnetic North Pole in an automobile.

Touted as one of the most indestructible trucks in the world, the Toyota Hilux continues to push the boundaries of extreme endurance further still, having tackled a 5,900 mile journey into Antarctica, a distance that is further than any vehicle of its type has managed ever before. Organized by Extreme World Races, the journey took four months, from November 2011 to this February.

Enduring temperatures dropping as low as -58° Fahrenheit and climbing wild terrain rising to elevations above 11,000 feet, the expedition called for thorough vehicle preparation for safety and success. In total, Extreme World Races outfitted three Hilux trucks for the event, including a “6×6″ models.

Modifications to the trucks included a heavy-duty crane to lift equipment, suspension and drivetrain strengthening, extra-large tires inflated to 2.0 to 3.o psi, which provided the arctic explorers with a footprint 17 times larger than those of standard tires and a 74-gallon fuel tank carrying jet fuel to best cope with the unforgiving cold. In the case of the 6×6, an even larger 211-gallon fuel reservoir was fitted instead. Surprisingly, the Toyota trucks retained the standard 3.0-liter D-4D engines without modifications. Other than a crawler gear, the transmission was left untouched as well.

Upholding its reputation for toughness, the three Toyotas completed the entire journey without a single technical hiccup. This latest feat, the longest expedition in polar history, now recognizes the mighty Hilux for its achievement in reaching both the Magnetic North and South Poles.

GALLERY: Toyota Hilux Antarctic Journey

Toyota Motor Sales has announced MSRP increases for select Toyota and Scion models with the price jumps ranging from $150 to $270 from its previous model year to its current one.

The 2012 Toyota Prius v Hybrid gets a price increase of $150 for the Two, Three, and Five trim models. The Camry L and LE models see a $100 increase while the XLE sees a $50 price change. Meanwhile, the standard Camry SE model is $220 higher than its 2011 model year counterpart, while the SE V6 and XLE V6 is now up $270. Camry Hybrid LE saw a $90 dollar increase while the XLE is up $100.

All Toyota Tacoma models see a $250 price increase while the Highlander Hybrid models see a $175 increase. Lastly, the 2013 Scion tC both automatic and manual will have its MSRP up $150.

We fell in love with the Toyota GT 86 when we first drove it, so how could it get any better? Well, try more than doubling the car’s factory displacement by swapping out the Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter boxer 4-cylinder for a 5.0-liter V8.

Donated from a Lexus IS-F, this custom machine is the ride of choice for Japanese drift and road racer Max Orido, who will compete in the D1 drift series this year.

Watch the video below and we sure to check out our Scion FR-S First Drive here:

Continue Reading…

What’s the real benefit to autonomous cars? To be able to eat your Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch while it drives you to your destination of course.

In all seriousness, Google’s self-driving car just did its biggest and best promotional video yet. The autonomous Toyota Prius shuttled around Steve Mahan, a legally blind man, through a day of errands.

Google’s self-driving Prius has completed over 200,000 miles of computer-led travel and one of their favorite moments was a carefully programmed route for Steve Mahan to show off the benefits of autonomous vehicles. While this was mostly a technical experiment in Google’s eyes, we believe it opens up the rest of the world’s eyes on just how beneficial the technology could be if safety standards could be met.

Without ever touching the pedals or steering wheel, the legally blind Steve Mahan got to enjoy some Taco Bell drive-through and was able to pick up his dry cleaning, something he wouldn’t have been able to do on his own having lost 95 percent of his vision. Steve Mahan was also labeled as self-driving car user #0000000001 by Google.

According to the end of the video, it was created with the assistance of the Morgan Hill Police Department and the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center in San Jose, California.

While its a good thing for the blind, the world had better be careful. If this goes too far, steering might be considered exercise.

Check out the video of Steve Mahan driven around after the break.

[Source: CNet]

Continue Reading…

The Scion FR-S has been on every car-enthusiasts mind for quite a while now. Today we find a video that will certainly help pass the time before the release. A Toyota GT86 (known to us as the Scion FR-S) Testing with full Toyota Racing Development (TRD) trim.

In this video you can spot a few upgrades to the stock GT86. TRD brakes, rims and a great sounding exhaust tone. Other TRD parts like front spoiler and upgraded headlights round out the TRD look.

Watch the whole video below.

Continue Reading…

Another video of the highly anticipated Toyota GT 86 has emerged, showing off the process behind turning the rear-wheel drive sports coupe into a competitive rally car.

The 49 second clip doesn’t detail too much about the rally car, simply teasing us about the looks. However, the Toyota 86 looks like a superb specimen for rally racing.  The video mainly gives us a perspective into the focused engineers prepping their new rally car. Hopefully more clips will follow this one that will further explain how the Toyota 86 rally car came to be.

The vehicle will be entered in the Tour de Kyushu Rally Race. Check out the full video below.

Continue Reading…

Toyota has announced today that it will be bringing an all new U.S. designed sedan to show off at the 2012 New York Auto Show. 

The details are sparse on what the new car will be, with Toyota saying, “the sedan’s exciting new design features an elegant yet athletic look.” The new car could possibly be an all-new Avalon, although we can’t be sure.

Designed in the U.S., (presumably at the brand’s Calty design center in California), it features some massive wheels, aggressive exhaust tips and even a rear-end that’s inspired by the new Scion FR-S sports car.

Toyota designers who worked on the car will be hosting a live video chat at 2pm on the day of the reveal and will be answering the public’s questions regarding the new mystery car.

The Global Premiere will take place on April, 5 at at 10:30 a.m.

Click back to AutoGuide.com for live coverage from the 2012 New York Auto Show.

The Toyota Tacoma was recalled earlier this month for a fault in the steering wheel spiral cable design, which the company claimed affected 2005 to 2009 models. Today, Toyota has expanded the recall to include all 2005 to 2012 model year Tacomas. 

The issue is that the steering wheel spiral cable rubs against the retainer inside the assembly, which over time can result in compromised connectivity to the driver’s-side airbag module. If this happens the drivers side airbag won’t work.

According to Toyota, there is a noise that accompanies the issue and can be deteced by drivers.

If you drive a 2005-2012 Toyota Tacoma, call your local Toyota dealership and they will replace the necessary parts for you.

[Source: TacomaHQ]

After announcing an initial green car partnership at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, BMW and Toyota have now signed a collaborative research agreement to develop the next-generation of lithium-ion battery cells.

The plan by both automakers is to focus on improving the performance and capacity of lithium-ion battery cells, using new materials for cathodes, anodes and electrolytes. With Toyota’s long-standing focus on hybrids and BMW’s push into the green car game with its “i” brand of alternative powertrain vehicles, the fruits of this project are expected to trickle down into a new generation of models by both automakers. In particular, Toyota announced at this year’s Detroit Auto Show that its new NS4 Concept (above) would feature a next-generation hybrid powertrain.

In addition to this recent development, BMW Group has agreed to supply 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe for use in small cars starting in 2014.

Typically at any big auto show, car companies come up with concept cars to not only attract the attention of the press, but also to bring buying consumers onto their show stand.

However, the only turns most concept cars ever see are on the turn-tables at auto shows, not the turns of a road. Some concepts however, have been able to leap into the real world. Car’s like the original Audi TT, the 2002 Ford Thunderbird and the current Chevrolet Camaro started off in life as just concept cars, but strong press and customer response lead their makers to put the vehicles into production.

Now it seems that Lexus might be inclined to do the same regarding their LF-LC concept, which first showed up at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

We first reported on this concepts favorable public reaction earlier this month. Since then, Lexus has taken the concept to the Geneva Auto Show, where it received a similarly positive reaction.

This has given Lexus and its parent company Toyota something to think about. So now, Lexus’ product planning chief Karl Schlicht is saying the LF-LC’s chances of making it to production are 50/50.

“A decision has not been taken,” Schlicht said. “But we’re now up to a 50 per cent chance from a zero per cent one. Every top Toyota Motor Company manager is aware of the great reception it has received and now we’re talking about how we can do it and fit it into the product plan.”

Schlicht said the only reason this vehicle is even being considered for production is because of the reaction the concept got, if it was just a drawing, it would not have gone much further.

Worth noting, the LF-LC was designed at the Calty Design Center in California and the only brief the designers were given was regarding the size of the vehicle and that it needed to be a 2+2 coupe.

Will this hybrid sports coupe concept make the leap into reality? We would certainly like to see that.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC

[Source: Autocar]

Considerations for developing a Lexus GS-F have been raised and discussed in multiple occasions in the past but the idea has yet to take hold.

Now, rumors surface one again as Lexus product planning chief Karl Schlicht  says that we could expect to see a high-performance GS-F on the market in the not-too-distant future that would rival the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

The engine will likely be adopted from the high strung 4.8-liter V10 engine found in the Lexus LFA supercar. However, rather than 4.8-liters, the engine in the GS-F will likely be a slightly smaller displacement 4.6-liter producing approximately 450-hp.\

To distinguish itself from the standard GS range, the front fascia of the GS-F would receive sharper, more exaggerated surface treatments dominated by the spindle grille and preview the design of the next generation IS sports sedan range.

Details on a GS-F remain scarce as the project has yet to be official. If given the green light, expect the GS-F to arrive on showroom floors in approximately two years.

[Source: AutoCar]

Toyota supports environmental consciousness by holding the annual Lexus Eco Challenge competition, encouraging middle and high school students to practice eco-friendliness in creative ways.

Since the program’s inception, $4 million in scholarships and grants have been awarded to middle and high school students for their distinguished projects.

“Through this program, more than 25,000 participants have demonstrated that they want to make the world a better place. by coming up with real-world solutions to environmental challenges, students are learning how they can make a difference in the world around them,” Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin said.

This year, more than 400 teams registered to represent nearly 3,000 students nationwide. In total, $500,000 in grants and scholarships were awarded to honored student teams. Finally, two Grand Prize winners were selected and awarded $30,000 each, while eight First Prize winners were awarded $15,000.

A two phase challenge, the first required teams to address concerns on land, water, air or climate and to create ways to make a difference for the environment in their local communities. The final phase would challenge teams to bring the projects beyond their local community and to inspire environmental action around the world.

The first Grand Prize winner was team “the Green Musketeers” of Jericho High School in Jericho, New York. After successfully creating their own filtration system, the students intend to patent the project, to sell it and to direct the profits towards developing systems in third-world countries.

The second Grand Prize winner was team “One-Towel Wonders” from SCAPA Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. The students demonstrated how the simple idea of using one towel per person, per week could benefit the environment.

Pleased with the honor, “One-Towel Wonders” teacher advisor Ashlie Beals praises the Lexus program.

“For the past five years, all of my 8th grade students have worked in teams to create and implement innovative campaigns to encourage others to make one small change that can have a large positive impact on our environment,” she said. “My younger students eagerly look forward to their chance to participate in the challenge when they are in 8th grade.”

GALLERY: Lexus Eco Challenge

Charge as much as you can, when you can — that seems to be the mentality at Al Hendrickson Toyota of Coconut Creek, Fla. where the sought-after Toyota Prius C is marked up by a whopping $7,000.

A Twitter user with the handle Miami4me2c posted a picture showing the dealership’s “Market Value Adjustment” which brings the car, which carries a $19,900 base price, to a grand total of $27,834. That’s enough to buy the mid-range Prius hackback, but it doesn’t seem to matter because the Prius C is a hot-selling car.

Much to Toyota’s delight, it sold 1,200 units in the first three days of availability in the U.S., and demand continues to exceed supply. So much so that the automaker is taking steps to ramp up production by shifting resources and dedicating more space in its Kanto factory for the small Prius.

Despite that, dealerships like Al Hendrickson can try to scoop as many ladles of greed gravy as possible until the company manages to address the issue. It’s not uncommon for dealerships to mark high-demand cars up to recoup losses, but this case seems excessive.

We called the dealership looking for an explanation, but they refused to comment on the topic.

GALLERY: 2012 Toyota Prius C

[Source: Twitter via Green Car Reports]

The Toyota Prius GT300 race car debuted at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, looking ready to compete in the 2012 Super GT season. But things didn’t go as planned when the team took to testing its race car out at Okayama Circuit prior to the season opener.

We’re sure all the Toyota haters out there would find this the perfect time to make fun of the Prius for catching fire, but let’s keep in mind this is a complete race car and can hardly compare to what we see on the streets. So don’t expect any Chevrolet Volt comparisons from us, especially since it’s already been revealed that the cause of the fire was from a faulty fuel line rather than any issues in the vehicle’s hybrid system.

Thankfully it appears that much of the damage is cosmetic and the driver was unharmed when leaked fuel caught onto the exhaust, igniting the fire. The team is confident that they’ll have their Prius race car ready to roll at the season opener in Okayama.

Watch the video of the Toyota Prius GT300 race car on fire after the break.

[Source: Hanzo Autobuzz]

Continue Reading…

The slow unveiling of the all-new Lexus LS luxury sedan has unofficially commenced when the sharp eyes of Lexus Enthusiast discovered a flash of an image of the concept within a Lexus RX crossover promo video featuring chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda.

When Katsuda started to elaborate on the new and unique “spindle-grill” corporate face of the Lexus line-up, a series of spindle grill profiles were briefly displayed to make a point. More importantly, the images are marketing easter eggs providing hints at Lexus models to come. According to Lexus Enthusiast, the 25-second mark of the video commences a series of images including a GS 450h, the CT 200h F Sport, the next-generation ES, the next-generation LS, and finally the LX luxury SUV.

Having limited information to go by, Lexus Enthusiasts points out the unique full spindle chrome treatment and an elaborate headlight formation.

See for yourself by clicking the gallery and the video after the break.

Continue Reading…

Those in the market for the all-new Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S (Toyota GT 86) will be excited to hear that Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., has announced the production of the new jointly-produced sports car will hit 100,000 a year.

At least that’s their goal. The BRZ/FR-S/GT 86 are all produced at the Subaru Gunma Factory in Japan and it looks like the announcement comes hot on the heels of initial order figures. Toyota has already seen 7,000 orders for the GT 86 while the BRZ has garnered the attention of 2,500 enthusiasts. While those numbers are clearly skewed since it’s a brand new car on the market, it’s still far more than what the Japanese automakers planned on selling each month.

Last week we heard that Subaru only has plans to bring 6,000 BRZs to America. Whether or not that will change remains to be seen, but we have a feeling that more customers will opt for the Scion FR-S than the Subaru BRZ in America.

For more Scion FR-S news and info, visit FR-Sforum.com and to discuss the Subaru BRZ, visit SubaruBRZforum.com

[Source: FT-86 Club]

Introduced for the Japanese market last December, the Toyota Prius C had only hit U.S. showrooms on March 12.  In only its first three days in the U.S. market, the Prius C sold 1,201 units, eclipsing the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf’s complete February sales performance of 1,023  and 478 units respectively.

However, demand for the new small hybrid is even greater in Japan. Quite the hot seller, a 120,000 order backlog for Japan threatens the U.S. allocation. Toyota announced that current supply constraints limit the plants to only assembling 6,000 units per month for the North American market, or 30,000 Prius C’s a month in total.

The car is built exclusively in the Kanto factory of Iwate, northern Japan, and while the plant exported as much as 60 percent of its output in 2007, only 30 percent of its output is exported today. The lack of a North American plant for assembly combined with the yen’s steadily rising rate of exchange against the dollar has tightened the profit margin of the Japan-made vehicle, causing Toyota to concentrate its sales efforts to Japan.

Despite the challenges, Kanto Iwate President Tetsuo Hattori said that tweaks will be performed to push efficiencies that should help boost capacity. What’s more, the Japan-specific Ractis subcompact, built in the same plant, will gradually shift its production elsewhere starting in May, providing extra capacity and dedicating more of the facility to Prius C assembly.

Besides the Ractis small car, a number of Scion xD models, the Belta/Yaris sedans, and the Blade hatchback are manufactured at the Iwate plant.

“We have to produce other models too, so we are running at quite high utilization. We are looking at ways of satisfying demand of all our customers,” Hattori said.

So far, Hattori is unaware of discussions to expand Prius C capacity by assembling them at other plants as well. He did note that Toyota will commence a group wide manufacturing strategy review in Japan this April and May.

Read AutoGuide’s Toyota Prius c Review Here

GALLERY: Toyota Prius C

[Source: Auto News]