Toyota auto news

More details on rumored Toyota Prius coupe

Toyota's new president admits the automaker needs an excitement-infusion, and to that end - and in order to match the upcoming Honda CR-Z tit-for-tat - Toyota is rumored to be working on a two-door version of the Prius.

The latest reports out of Japan indicate that a shortened, 2+2 Prius-based hybrid sports coupe is under development, packing an uprated version of the 1.8-liter 2ZR-FXE four-cylinder putting out around 134 hp - 36 hp more than in its sedan counterpart. Naturally, Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system will carry over and the additional power boost will have an adverse impact on fuel mileage - albeit a minor one.

If the Prius coupe does come to fruition, expect it to be around 100 mm shorter than the sedan, carry over the standard Prius' interior and debut sometime in mid-2012. Conveniently, there's no word on a name and whether or not the coupe will be sold in the States, but we wouldn't be surprised to find out that this would be a JDM-only affair.

Toyota NA President Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved

Those who have been watching Toyota in the past decade have observed the company grow at a tremendous and seemingly inexorable rate. When the big crash hit in 2007-8, Toyota proved to be no more immune than any other automaker and recently recorded the first full-year loss in 71 years. As one of the biggest markets for the company, the North American operations clearly played up part in that loss and will play a part in returning the company to profitability. Read more after the jump.

Continue reading Toyota NA President Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved

Toyota NA pres Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved

Those who have been watching Toyota in the past decade have observed the company grow at a tremendous and seemingly inexorable rate. When the big crash hit in 2007-8, Toyota proved to be no more immune than any other automaker and recently recorded the first full-year loss in 71 years. As one of the biggest markets for the company, the North American operations clearly played up part in that loss and will play a part in returning the company to profitability. Read more after the jump.

Continue reading Toyota NA pres Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved

Prius promotion plants giant solar flowers with free electricity, WiFi in cities

As part of Toyota's strange but seemingly effective marketing campaign for its new 2010 Prius hybrid, the Japanese automaker has rolled out a bunch of 18-foot tall solar flowers to various urban centers all around the United States, starting with Boston's Prudential Plaza. Next up: New York, followed by Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

According to Toyota, these so-called solar flowers represent the Prius theme of "Harmony between Man, Nature, and Machine." Apparently, they achieve this by providing seating for up to ten people and by featuring laptop and cell phone recharging stations and access to free wireless internet service. Understandably, there's probably not quite enough juice from the petal-shaped solar panels to provide all the necessary energy for those ten people, so we're guessing there are some high-powered batteries involved in there somewhere.

Gallery: Toyota Solar Flowers

VIDEO: Toyota iQ: Small Car, Font Jockey

Anyone who has ever used a computer knows that there are a lot of fonts out there, but we can't think of one that was designed with the use of a cute little hatchback. Letmedesign typographers Pierre & Damien teamed up with Stef Vancampenhoudt to create a whole new font using the new Toyota iQ, and the resulting ABCs are colorful to say the least.

Hit the jump to watch Vancampenhoudt maneuver the iQ inside a parking garage in an effort to recreate the alphabet. The iQ was fitted with red, green yellow and blue lights at the corners while being taped by an overhead camera. Special software was created to track the colored dots and create a one of a kind font, made by the ultra-compact Toyota city car. Check it out, and if you like the font, you can download it here. Thanks for the tip, Tom!

Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota iQ: Small Car, Font Jockey

Sales Watch: Honda Accord sales creeping up on Toyota Camry?

While the Honda Accord dominated the 1990s, it has been virtually all Toyota Camry in the new century. Yet a look back at the first six months of 2009 shows that the newer, larger Accord is continuing to gain ground on its chief rival. Camry sales have so far remained top in its segment, with 150,242 sales in the first half of the year. The Accord isn't far behind, though, as it has amassed 131,143 sales through June; only 19,199 behind Camry.

Wards Auto reports that the Accord's gains have been consistent over the past three years, as the sales gap went from 94,004 in 2006 to 80,877 in 2007 and 63,828 in 2008. With sales deeply depressed so far in 2009, though, the numbers can be a bit deceiving. Still, the Camry has seen a 37.4% drop in sales, as compared to 36.3% for the Accord.

Toyota told Wards that one reason for the Accord's improved sales verses the Camry are increasing incentives on the full-size Honda. According to Edmunds, the Accord's April incentives increased four-fold verses the automaker's April, 2008 numbers. Even more interesting is the fact that cash on the hood has increased since April, hitting $2,183 in June. The Camry, on the other hand, had $1,538 on the hood last month; down over $400 compared to May.

REPORT: Toyota in talks to provide Mazda with hybrid tech

Mazda already has one of the first non-Toyota hybrids to hit the market with its Tribute SUV (above), but that model is only on sale in California, with hybrid tech from Ford Motor Company. Now that Ford has a much smaller percentage stake in the automaker, Mazda cannot rely on the Blue Oval to develop its future hybrid technology. With hybrid sales in its home market of Japan booming, the Hiroshima-based automaker is rumored to be looking for potential partners.

According to Reuters, Japan's Nikkei business daily is reporting that Mazda is in talks with Toyota to license the Japanese juggernaut's hybrid technology for future models. Toyota and Mazda are thus far denying the reports, but Nikkei quotes anonymous sources saying the deal could include the licensing of batteries, motors, and other vital components. The publication further reports that the first Mazda-badged hybrid could arrive as soon as 2013. That's two years earlier than Mazda research and development boss Seita Kanai speculated earlier in the year.

The move would benefit Toyota by boosting revenue and increasing economies of scale. Some analysts speculate that Toyota, which has been in the global hybrid game longer than anyone, could capitalize by leasing out its gas-electric tech to more automakers. Toyota already has an arrangement with Nissan to supply technology for use in its Altima Hybrid.

Gallery: Mazda Tribute Hybrid SUV

VIDEO: Unlikely Goodwood - Rod Millen's Toyota Tacoma charges up the hill

Last year, Rod Millen took his Toyota Tacoma Pike's Peak runner to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Looking, sounding, and handling nothing like a Tacoma, and powered by - according to the caption - a "2-little turbocharged 4-cylinder," Millen flings the thing up the hill, all the while the forced-induction drivetrain is chattering away like a pack of rabid chipmunks. He manages to avoid the hay bales, but then nearly collects what looks like a Bowler Nemesis at the end for his troubles. Follow the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading VIDEO: Unlikely Goodwood - Rod Millen's Toyota Tacoma charges up the hill

UPDATE: Hampton Toyota responds to proof of employee misconduct with video

Last week, we showed you video of a dealership employee stealing from a customer's Tundra at Hampton Toyota of Lafayette. The customer, Jason Leonard, suspected that some of his belongings had been taken out the truck on previous occasions, so he complained to dealership management. He evidently received no response, so he placed a camera in his truck on a subsequent service call to keep a digital eye on his stuff.

What he saw was a technician taking quarters and looking through a pill bottle. There was reportedly another video that showed a second employee watching porn on a diagnostic computer while sitting in the truck, but that footage was pulled from YouTube before we could check it out for ourselves. After sending a letter to dealer Mark Hampton, along with a DVD of his surveillance video, the three employees involved with the issue were fired and Leonard received a $2,000 extended service contract on his truck.

After the news hit websites like, well, Autoblog and Consumerist, the dealership decided to post a response video on YouTube. In the video, owner Mark Hampton reiterates the events that transpired as detailed in an official letter signed by both Hampton and the rankled customer. In the video, the dealer describes the entire ordeal, including what lead to the firing of the three workers.

Interestingly, Hampton says that he took Leonard out to lunch and offered a personal apology before the videos were sent to the press, showing that the dealership took steps toward doing the right thing even before the matter received media attention. Hampton also reiterates that Leonard went back for service at his dealership after their lunch meeting, presumably illustrating that he now trusts the service department to take car of his truck.

For our money, we think the dealer did the right thing in taking care of the customer, while also firing those implicated in the videos. It's also impressive that the owner of the dealership met with the disgruntled customer in person and gave him an extended service contract for his troubles. However, cynics will likely suggest that the video apology was necessary to begin healing the dealer's public image, not to mention the possible benefit of going on record to potentially head off further complaints and/or legal action by Leonard or other Hampton Toyota customers. Hit the jump to view the response video for yourself, and let us know if you think the dealership handled the matter well in Comments.

Continue reading UPDATE: Hampton Toyota responds to proof of employee misconduct with video

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.8.09

	Review: 2010 Cadillac SRX Cadillac wants the all-new SRX to be more expressive inside and out with state-of-the-art technology and superior driving dynamics. Does the 2010 SRX have what it takes?		Spy Shot: Redesigned Lincoln MKX Lincoln's new split-wing grille debuted on the MKS, has migrated to the MKZ and was expanded for the MKT three-row crossover, and now it's set to appear on the redesigned MKX crossover.
	Michael Bay made Megan Fox wash Ferrari for audition Since the role of Mikaela Banes required Fox to act as sexy as she already looks, we can see why Bay chose for her to wash a Ferrari as part of the audition, but the fact that the 'audition' took place at his home and the tape has gone missing does seem a bit "casting couch" to us.	Other news of import 2010 Hyundai Sonata spied with little camo Second New Grand Bentley teaser released BMW 5 Series GT may push out 5 Series Wagon Jay Leno filming Top Gear UK? Chevy targets gay demo with Camaro marketing Lexus IS convertibles selling like hot cakes