Toyota Says Prius US Sales Will Outperform 2010 despite Earthquake Setback
In spite of the earthquake and Tsunami that devastated Japan last March and which deeply affected the country’s automobile production capabilities, Toyota remains confident that US sales of the Prius will outperform those of 2010. The lack of inventory, with many dealers reporting as little as one day’s worth of Prius cars on their lots, led to a whopping 61% drop in July sales in the US, which is the lowest since 2004. And that’s significant because the US accounts for almost half of the all Prius models sold worldwide, which makes it Toyota’s most important market for its compact hybrid.
Moreover, even with these shortages, the Prius remains Toyota’s 3rd best-selling car, behind the Corolla and the Camry.
Before the earthquake, Toyota’s target for the Prius in 2011 was to exceed the 2007 record of 181,221 unit, but the disruption in production has made that impossible. However, according to Toyota’s senior vice president for US sales, the Prius can still exceed 2010’s 140,928 cars. And that’s because the production of both the Prius and the Lexus hybrids is coming back on line faster than initially predicted.
Moreover, the Prius family will soon expand to include three more models: the plug-in Prius, the Prius V estate and, later, the Prius C compact car. Toyota’s US president of sales, Jim Lentz, went as far as predicting that “by the end of this decade, the Prius nameplate will be the number one passenger car nameplate in the industry”.
Pickup Trucks Inventories Rising, Manufacturers are Worried
It seems like US carmakers are beginning to worry about the rising inventory of their big pickup trucks. For example, General Motors has an inventory of 122 days (or 4 months) of its Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra according to a report from Reuters, or 50% higher than the typical industry inventory of 80 days. But GM isn’t the only automaker in distress. Chrysler, Toyota and Ford also are behind their projected sales, with 93 days inventory for the first two makers and 79 days for the third respectively.
“Most manufacturers overestimated the kind of demand they were going to get for full-size trucks in the first half of the year” commented TrueCar research website’s analyst Jesse Toprak. “Its’ not a crisis yet, but it’s above healthy levels”.
So far, pickup truck sales have been on the rise for US carmakers. GM’s Silverado and Ford F-Series have seen their sales increasing by 10%, and Dodge Ram and Sierra sales have risen even more, by 32% and 22% respectively. Overall, in the first six months of 2001 sales of cars and light trucks have increase by 13%.
So why all the fuss? Because despite the rise in the first half of the year, the worsening state of the economy makes the carmakers predict a drop in demand for the second half, forcing them to offer higher incentives and, thus, reduce their profits.
“If demand doesn’t come back in the second half, that means fire sale come December” said Toprak referring to GM, which relies heavily on its wide range of pickup trucks. “On the other hand, if demand does rebound, it will be sitting pretty with lots of trucks to offer”.
New Toyota Yaris Wears a Sport Kit for its Australian Debut at the Melbourne Motor Show
After its world premiere in Japan last December as the Vitz, Toyota is gradually introducing the new generation of the Yaris in other markets around the world. Now, with the European version out of the way, it’s time for the Yaris to make its first appearance in Melbourne at this week’s 2011 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS). Revealed in show car form, the Yaris is fitted with a TRD-like sports kit comprising of a honeycomb grille, a restyled front bumper with larger openings and a chrome trim around the lower grille, side skirts, chunky alloy wheels and a new rear bumper with a diffuser plus a roof spoiler.
In Australia, the new Yaris is scheduled to arrive in local showrooms during the final quarter of 2011.
Toyota Sports Up Prius with new PLUS Package from TRD
At last year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Toyota displayed a lightly modified version of the Prius Hybrid to inaugurate its new line of accessories under the PLUS moniker.
Now it’s time for the Japanese automaker to release the production version of its modestly sported up Prius with the commercial launch of the PLUS Performance Package that will be available for order in July in limited numbers.The package features styling and performance upgrades, and is optionally available on all Prius models with pricing set at $3,699 for the Prius Two, Three, and Four trim levels and $2,999 for the Prius Five.
Customers can choose from four exterior colors -Blizzard Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Black and Winter Gray Metallic. On the outside, the Prius PLUS is dressed in a seven-piece ground effects kit that includes front and rear bumper spoilers, side skirts and a rear diffuser.
The hybrid model also gains 17-inch alloy wheels in a five-spoke design wrapped in low-profile 215/45R17 tires with a custom offset, which Toyota says increases the track width while “maintaining Prius’ low rolling resistance”.
Underneath the sheetmetal, the PLUS package adds a sports-tuned suspension with lowering springs (1.1 inches in the front and 1.3 inches in the rear) and a new rear sway bar constructed of high carbon spring steel.
Custom badging inside and out along with bespoke carpet floor mats round off the package.
All-New 2012 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid Coming this Fall
Toyota officially placed the arrival of the all-new 2012 Camry sedan and its hybrid sibling (2010/2011 Camry pictured above) in the U.S. market for this fall during the company’s annual national dealer meeting which took place on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
The Japanese company said that the next generation of its best-selling model will move away from the conservative designs of the past.“Designed to meet the changing needs of the 21st Century driver, the new Camry will provide technologically advanced features, a contemporary design inside and out, improved performance and refined ride and handling,” Toyota said in a press statement.
Citing an unnamed dealer who attended the meeting, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Japanese carmaker will support the new Camry with a massive media campaign in October with some 40 new commercials positioning the sedan as "smart, safe and worry-free".
The dealer also told the newspaper that Toyota is planning to introduce several new models including a redesigned Avalon sedan, the production version of its Prius c compact hybrid concept, and the Scion FR-S rear-wheel drive sports coupe. He added that the Japanese carmaker also showed dealers battery-powered versions of the RAV4 SUV and the IQ city car.
During the meeting, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) President Akio Toyoda told dealers that the company’s North American division will gain more autonomy and control over its operations.
Calling it his “most important goal,” Mr. Toyoda stated he will “empower those with local knowledge to make their own decisions”.
Robocarpocalypse Begins: Nevada Asks DoT to Draw Up Legislation for Driverless Cars
I can’t remember if there were self-driving cars in the third Terminator movie, though frankly I can’t remember anything other than that red leather and vinyl outfit Kristanna Loken was wearing. What were we talking about? Oh, yes, the robocarpocalypse. With the passing of Assembly Bill 511 in the Nevada Senate, the U.S. Department of Transport will now have to draw up rules governing autonomous vehicles on the state’s roads.
The Bill describes such vehicles as any which use, “artificial intelligence, sensors and global positioning system coordinates to drive itself without the active intervention of a human operator.”
The DoT will now draft safety standards, insurance requirements and a list of approved testing sites for these cars in the Silver State.
At the TED 2011 conference in Long Beach, California, he expresses his views succinctly:
"Do you realize that we could change the capacity of highways by a factor of two or three if we didn't rely on human precision on staying in the lane but on robotic precision, and thereby drive a little bit closer together on a little bit narrower lanes and do away with all traffic jams on highways.”
If I may use an old, tired joke: “I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.” Though I may change my tune when my driverless Toyota Prius gets into an argument with a driverless Nissan Leaf over who has right of way.
Toyota and Lexus Hybrids Recalled Over Stalling Issues
A problem with the electronics of the hybrid system, which could cause certain Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs to lose power or stop running, is the reason behind the Japanese carmaker’s latest recall. Toyota said about 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles from the 2006 and 2007 model years sold in the USA are affected by the voluntary recall.
According to the automaker, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) located inside the Hybrid System Inverter contains a control board with transistors that may have been “inadequately soldered and could be damaged from heat caused by a large current flow during high-load driving”.
Toyota said if the transistors are damaged, then the various warning lamps will illuminate on the instrument panel and in most cases, the vehicle will enter a fail-safe driving mode, resulting in reduced power in which the vehicle can still be driven for short distances. In some cases though the power supply circuit fuse could blow bringing the vehicle to complete stop.
The company noted that it does not have the necessary replacement parts readily available but is working on obtaining them. Toyota said it will notify owners once the replacement parts have been “produced in sufficient quantities”.
Scion Introduces Updated 2012 tC and New tC RS 7.0
It’s only been eight months in the market but Scion has already announced a 2012 model year version of its latest tC sports coupe. Leaving aside the equipment upgrades for the basic model, the most important news for the 2012MY is the launch of the first release series for the second-generation tC sports coupe. The new 2012 tC Release Series 7.0 or RS 7.0 for short, is available exclusively in a “High Voltage” yellow exterior finish with contrasting black side view mirrors and black 18-inch alloy wheels. A sports package from TRD that includes front and rear lower valences and side skirts plus a honeycomb lower front grille is also standard.
Interior goods include “High Voltage” yellow accents with black and yellow seat fabric, a leather wrapped steering wheel with yellow stitching and an individually numbered badge.
In a first for Scion, the tC RS 7.0 features the so-called Smart Key, which includes a keyless entry system that unlocks the doors with a touch of the door handle and a red TRD push-button start.
Toyota’s subsidiary said it will only build 2,200 units of the tC RS 7.0, which is priced at $20,905 and $21,905 when equipped with a manual and automatic transmission respectively, not including a $720 delivery, processing and handling fee.
The changes to the basic 2012 tC are limited to a new standard Pioneer audio system featuring Bluetooth hands-free, Bluetooth streaming audio and HD Radio technology and an optional upgraded version enhanced with a 5.8-inch LCD touch-screen display, features iTunes tagging and Pandora internet radio connected through iPhone and six RCA outputs to add external amplifiers.
Pricing for the entry-level 2012 tC is set at $18,575 when equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox and $19,575 when ordered with a six-speed automatic (not including Scion’s $720 delivery, processing and handling fee).
Both the standard and the RS 7.0 Scion tCs are powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four delivering 180HP and 173 lb-ft of peak torque.
Toyota Avensis Tourer to be exported from UK to Japan
Toyota plans to add another country to the 47 that it already exports the Avensis, which is built exclusively at its UK factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire: its own home market, Japan. The company said demand for European styling and engineering from Japanese customers prompted its decision to bring the mid-size model. The version that will be exported to Japan is the station wagon, named Tourer, powered by a 2.0-litre engine combined with a Multidrive S CVT transmission. Exports of the Avensis Tourer will commence in July, at a rate of 750 cars per month.
Toyota, which has invested over 1.85 million pounds since 1992, already exports 85% of the cars and engines manufactured in the UK, but the selection of Japan has been quite special for its UK division.
Toyota UK Managing Director, Katsunori Kojima, said: “We are very proud that the Avensis has been selected for export to Japan. This is yet another vote of confidence for the factory and the quality of our products”.
A sentiment echoed, naturally, by the British government, with Business Secretary Vince Cable commenting that this is “a tribute to the skills of the workforce, the efficiency of the plant and the quality of its products”.
Toyota Presents the Successor to Last Year’s MR2 Study with the New GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II
At last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota showcased a concept study of an all-wheel drive hybrid sports car (see here) loosely based on the now obsolete MR2 roadster, developed in partnership with Japan’s GAZOO Racing.
Now the time has come for Toyota to unwrap its successor in the form of the GRMN SPORTS HYBRID Concept II that will receive both its public and racing debut at this weekend’s highly anticipated 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race in Germany.The name “GRMN” stands for GAZOO Racing tuned by Meister of Nürburgring, in honor of the late Hiromu Naruse (1944-2010), the Toyota chief test driver and head of the GAZOO Racing team who died in an accident last summer driving a prototype of the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition in Germany.
The latest prototype model features a completely new design for the body and an improved sports-hybrid all-wheel drive system.
The main power unit that includes a 249-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine, rear-wheel drive electric motors and transmission is mid-mounted while the front end hides a second electric motor driving the front wheels offering all-wheel drive traction.
Toyota Europe Officially Presents 2012 Yaris, Sales Start this Summer
We first brought you news on the European version of third generation Yaris hatchback on Wednesday, but today, Toyota followed up with initial details on its VW Polo and Ford Fiesta rival. Toyota’s newcomer in the European supermini segment will manufactured at the Japanese firm’s Valenciennes factory in France with sales to start before the end of this summer.
At launch, the 2012 Yaris will be offered with three different engines, two of which run on gasoline, the 1.0-litre VVT-i and 1.33-litre dual VVT-I, and the other, a 1.4-litre D-4D, on diesel. A hybrid version based on the 2011 Geneva Motor Show concept car has been confirmed for next year with more details to be released at a later date.
The Japanese automaker said the new Yaris will offer affordable multimedia connectivity with the introduction of Toyota Touch & Go featuring a rather large 6.1-inch display with touch screen technology. According to the company, it will be standard equipment on 95 per cent of sales.
Commenting on the introduction of the new Yaris, Didier Leroy, President and CEO Toyota Motor Europe, said: “[The] New Yaris represents Toyota’s strongest offer yet in the important supermini segment. With its new levels of ingenuity, efficiency and quality, we are confident it can build upon Yaris’s previous success and help Toyota rejuvenate its presence in Europe and move towards one million annual sales in the region in the medium term.”
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