All 12 Toyota plants in Japan have stopped their production, at least until March 16. Other Japanese corporations might follow their example.

Toyota officials announced they will stop production in all the Japanese plants, at least until March 16. As a result of this planned production stop, the Japanese of Toyota will produce 40,000 units less at the end of this year. All 12 Toyota plants in Japan will halt their production for preventing any accidents or deaths, that might be caused during another earthquake in Japan.

Toyota built 234,045 cars in Japan in January 2011. The biggest automaker in Japan and in the world builds 38% of the cars they sell annually on the domestic market. Because of this production stoppage, Toyota shares dropped %7.7, reaching 3.320 yens. Meanwhile, the Nikkei 225 index dropped %6.1, so Toyota shares drop was expected.

Toyota Logo

Some of the Toyota plants were closed since Friday, because of the earthquake. Honda, Nissan, Subaru and other big Japanese brands (like Sony) closed their factories that day. Rumor has it that the other big Japanese companies will do the same as Toyota. In addition, besides lowering the risks, the production stoppage also lowers the power consumption, now Japan providing energy. with one nuclear plant shut down.

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A new version of the Toyota FT-86 concept will be unveiled at Geneva Motor Show 2011. The Japanese have released a teaser photo of the new model.

Toyota is set to unveil a new version of the FT-86 concept at Geneva Motor Show. No official details of the Toyota FT-86 have been revealed yet, but what we know for sure that it’s still a concept. The Japanese said they will launch this model in 2011, but it’s production version is rumored to debut at Tokyo Motor Show 2011, in November. The car that will be displayed at Geneva is a version close to the production version of the Toyota rear-wheel drive coupe.

In terms of design, the model will be a lot more realistic, with shapes extremely close to the production version. The first teaser of the new Toyota FT-86 Concept has a lot more clear and realistic shapes, and the looks of the model seems to have been grown up, but who stole the Toyota logo from the front grille?

The debut of Toyota FT-86 was delayed several times. The model features a four-cylinder boxer engine and rear wheel drive. As a result of the Toyobaru partnership, Subaru also developed their own version of the model, but the launch date is yet unknown. While Toyota wants to sell this model to older customers that can afford a premium product, Subaru wants their FT-86 to be a performance model and even offer a version featuring their famous four wheel drive system.

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Toyota is set to recall not less than about 1.7 million cars in order to check their fuel pump, the fuel pump gasket and fuel pipelines.

I looked like everyone forgot about all the Toyota recalls at the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010. Now, they announced they will conduct a voluntary recall, that targets to check and fix any fuel system issues. The Toyota recall affects 1.7 million vehicles world wide, and among them 245.000 Lexus cars sold in US. This time, Toyota Motor Corporation wants to check the gaskets of the fuel pressure sensor, and the entire fuel system. It seems that on certain cars the fuel pressure sensors have been misinstalled and this would lead to fuel leaks.

Toyota officials say that no incidents related to this issue were reported and no one was injured or any vehicle was damaged. This problem will be solved by tightening the respective sensor and by replacing the gasket if the situation requires it. Of the 1.7 million recalled Toyota vehicles, 1.34 million units have faulty fuel pipes and fuel pressure control valves, but none of them were sold on the US market.

Regarding the 1.34 million cars sold outside North America, 1.2 million affected units were sold in Japan, including Toyota RAV5, Toyota Voxy and Toyota Noah. About 135,000 vehicles affected by the recall are in Europe, and most of them are Toyota Avensis Sedan and Toyota Avensis Wagon built at Toyota plant in Great Britain. For these vehicles, a design error can cause cracks in fuel pipes, which could lead to fuel leaks. Some units may have fuel pressure control valve faults.

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For the third year in a row, Toyota stays the biggest automaker in the world in 2010, too, followed closely by General Motors and Volkswagen.

Even though they didn’t had the best start in 2010 and faced endless series of recalls, Toyota manages to stay in the top of the biggest car builders in the world, for the third year in a row.

The Japanese giant registered a drop in sales on the US market, but they sold a lot better on the emergent markets and took advantage from the raise registered in China. The biggest car market in the world brought a 19% raise for Toyota, a raise inferior to GM rival, who had 29%.

Throughout 2010, with their premium brand, Lexus, and the affiliated companies, Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors, Toyota managed to tick a global raise of 8%. Given these conditions, Toyota may boast about 8.42 million units sold globally in 2010.

The runner-up, but not very far behind, was the eternal rivals of General Motors, that managed to sold 8.39 million cars world wide, 12% more compared to 2009. The Americans had a positive evolution on the US market (2.22 million units sold), where Toyota dropped 0.4%, selling only 1.76 million cars.

The podium was completed by the biggest European automaker, Volkswagen, that managed to sell not less than 7.14 million vehicles in 2010, registering a 14% raise.

Christian Klingler, Volkswagen Sales Department Manager, said that they estimate a 5% raise for 2011. The same happens with Toyota, announcing a raise for 2010, with a 8.6 million cars sold goal for next year.

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The mass production version of Toyota Prius C will not be sold in Europe because of the Japanese Yen - Euro parity. But its platform brother, Toyota Yaris Hybrid, will be build and sold in Europe.

According to the Brits of Autocar, the Europeans will only be able to enjoy the production version of Toyota Prius C on their PC screens and in the automotive magazines, because the model will not be shipped on the Old Continent. Apparently, Toyota will not ship the Prius C in Europe because they are building it in Japan and the Japanese automaker is disadvantaged by the Yen/Euro parity.

As a paradox, although the model is not coming to Europe, Toyota Prius C Concept was designed in a Toyota studio located in Nice. More than this, the model has “European” features and it feels like the Europeans love to drive their cars. These features, better described by the word “sporty” are designed to attract the young US customers and not only. The production version of Toyota Prius C will have its world premiere in USA in 2012. The model will be even more fuel efficient than Prius, but the exact values of fuel mileage and CO2 emissions are yet unknown.

But the Europeans can choose from other two hybrid Toyota cars that should satisfy their need of a green vehicle. One of them is Toyota Auris HSD Hybrid, model available since 2010, while Toyota Yaris Hybrid is expected to debut during the year. For the Europeans wondering how Prius C is, we inform you that car shares its platform with the hybrid version of Yaris. Because both Auris HSD and Yaris Hybrid are build in Europe, Toyota is not facing Yen/Euro parity issues.

Via: Autocar

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The Prius family, designed exclusively for Toyota hybrid models, might include a production version of the Toyota A-BAT Concept, presented at Detroit Auto Show 2011.

Toyota brought this year at Detroit Auto Show the first creations derived from the Prius hybrid: the Toyota Prius V minivan and Toyota C Concept, the already famous HSI eco drive train underpinning both models. The Japanese automaker have officially confirmed the launch of a brand dedicated to hybrid vehicles, called how else than Prius. Once the Japanese officials released these informations the first rumors regarding the first models of the Prius range have hit the web.

According to the American press, the hybrid models family is an old project of the Japanese brand, Toyota abandoned because of financial reasons. Now rumor has it that the futuristic Toyota A-BAT pick-up concept, presented in world premiere at Detroit Auto Show 2008 will join the hybrid line-up.

Bob Carter, Vice-President of Toyota American Division, said that Toyota is considering a hybrid pick-up. “Prius means high mpg, low environment impact, possibly, if it meets the criteria. It’s not off the table, but nothing is decided at this point. The pickup truck has been very volatile over the past few years,” Carter said.

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Toyota reveled at Detroit Auto Show 2011 a concept named Prius C, anticipating a future model of their hybrid family: a city car, focusing on low fuel consumptions.

The Japanese automaker brought at Detroit Motor Show 2011, besides the Prius V minivan, the family model already anticipated by everyone, a surprise-concept, developed on the same hybrid drive train. It’s the Toyota Prius C Hybrid Concept, a prototype that prepares the public for a new member of the Toyota eco-friendly family.

The Prius C Hybrid Concept borrows a lot of the futuristic lines of the next generation Prius, expected to make its market debut next year. According to Toyota official press release, Prius C is wanted to be the small alternative of the line-up, meant to win the public with its low fuel consumption. More precisely, Toyota Prius C is a model focusing on the young customers of the Japanese brand, caring for both a nice-looking and fun car.

The Japanese officials say that the “C” indicative comes from the English word of “City”, clarifying that the model is made for the urban jungle. But the Toyota officials say that the fuel consumption numbers will be the smallest in the range, even without a plug-in system.

Unfortunately, Toyota haven’t revealed more informations about the driving train of the Prius C Concept.

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Toyota displayed at Detroit Auto Show 2011 the first derived of their Prius hybrid mode, a minivan with generous interior, keeping the same drive train.

Just like they promised, Toyota unveiled at Detroit Motor Show 2011 the first member of their Prius hybrid family. We are talking about a minivan, named Toyota Prius V, which is based on the same eco-friendly recipe, but offering more room inside.

The Japanes hybrid minivan is 182 inches long, 70 inches wide, 62 inches high and has a wheelbase of 109 inches. Its generous dimensions help the new Prius V to offer 50% more room when compared with the current generation of Prius and, of course, an a lot more roomy trunk.

The HSD platform hosts the same Atkinson petrol engine, with a displacement of 1.8-liter and 98 horsepower, assisted by an electric motor of 80 HP. The total power sums up 134 HP, enough for a model with these dimensions.

The small drag coefficient (0.29) makes the fuel mileage something to dream about. Toyota Prius V has a fuel mileage of 42 mpg in the urban jungle, 38 mpg on the highway and an average of 39.8 mpg.

Inside, the customers of Prius V will get a new multimedia system, named Entune, which allows the usage of mobile phone applications and even Bing for getting traffic information, gas prices, weather conditions or the latest sport news.

Coming with 16 inch rims and 205/60 tires as stock or 17 inch rims and 215/50 as optional, the new Toyota Prius V is expected to hit the showrooms this year.

Once they unveiled the new minivan, Toyota officials also confirmed that the new arrivals of the hybrid line-up will borrow the name of Prius pioneer, just like it was anticipated.

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The exhaust gases of a Toyota Prius are less polluting than the emissions of a sheep.

The CO2 emissions of a Toyota Prius are less polluting than the ones of a regular sheep. But who knows if is that so or not? It seems that the Israeli division of the Japanese company have made such tests and learned the truth.

As you can see in the picture, the methane gas produced by the animal is more toxic for the environment (and when we say animal gases we can also refer to the ones produced by the human body, both being toxic gases), than the exhaust emissions of a car. Even so, it seems that this rule can be applied for any car, not for the green Toyota Prius Hybrid, which is a champion of eco-friendliness.

Anyway the ad is funny-enough and we are sure that it will be very catchy in many areas of the globe! And in addition, it would be extremely interesting to see the sheep following Euro and EPA regulations, after some tests like those applied to the cars, isn’t it?

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Toyota plans to make their Prius a real American top-seller by 2020. The hybrid and its brothers have the mission to conquer the United Stats public in the next 10 years.

The Japanese automaker has big plans for Toyota Prius and for the entire range of vehicles with the same name, deriving from the hybrid model. Toyota targets to make its hybrid line-up a true best-seller in the United States by 2020.

The current generation of Toyota Prius, already known as the best selling eco model in the world, will underpin in the near future a plug-in version and a mini-van, already previewed in in a teaser and scheduled for debut at Detroit Auto Show. The offensive trio will attack the US market and try to attract a large volume of customers.

Bob Carter, Vice-President of the American division of Toyota, said that Toyota “will end the decade with Prius being the number one nameplate in the industry.” When asked about the top-selling model in US, Toyota Camry, Carter said it “will be a close second, and that’s not because there will be a drop in Camry sales.”

The optimism of the Japanese officials is based on the development of the hybrid line-up in the next years and the appetite of the public overseas for the fuel efficient models.

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