Four Toyota Models Get Named - Top Rated Vehicles by Edmunds.com

Yet another publication recognizes Toyota vehicles to be the best in their class, as Edmunds.com awarded the 2014 Toyota Prius, Avalon, Highlander and Sienna with its “Top Rated Vehicles” grade.

The 2014 Top Rated Vehicle Awards are determined by Edmunds by evaluating around 200 cars each year, each one of them driven on a standardized road-test loop and at their own test track for further specialized measurements in controlled conditions.

Along with the four models above, Edmunds also named seven more Toyota models in their 2014 Most Popular listing. The winners in their segments included: The RAV4 tops the list in Compact Crossover SUV territory, the Tacoma is the most popular Compact Truck, Avalon in Large Car segment, Tundra as Large Truck, Camry in the Midsize Sedan zone, Highlander topping the Midsize Crossover SUV and Sienna being the most popular Minivan.

‘Slightly’ different from how the Top Rated Vehicles are nominated, the Most Popular models were determined through monthly evaluations of new vehicle shopping consideration during calendar year 2013. “Consideration” means the number of unique visitors during a calendar month to the research and inventory pages on the Edmunds.com desktop site for each new model. The three models in each of 23 vehicle segments with the highest total of monthly car-shopper consideration in calendar year 2013 were named “2014 Most Popular on Edmunds.com.”
            

Toyota Develops New Series of Gas Cars to Get Efficient Engine From Hybrids

Toyota has developed an efficient gasoline engine using technology fine-tuned with gas-electric hybrids, in which Toyota is an industry leader. 

Toyota said the new engine will deliver 10 percent better fuel efficiency than comparable current engines. Two engines will form the base of the new series. The first is a 1.3-liter gasoline engine, it uses an old-style    engine type called the Atkinson cycle, which reduces heat through greater thermal efficiency. The second is a 1.0-liter gasoline engine, jointly developed with Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., that has achieved maximum thermal efficiency of 37 percent.

Toyota said it developed a version that achieves efficiency without sacrificing power. In addition they also used other features such as better combustion and reduced friction to boost efficiency.

The new engine will come in 1.0 liter and 1.3 liter versions, but will be extended to other types, and variations of it will also be used in future hybrid models, according to Toyota.

"They show the future direction of Toyota engine development," said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons.

Toyota has been concerned about the reliability of the oil supply for decades and has focused on green cars, especially hybrids.

The new engines will be used in models scheduled for partial redesign in the near future, and a total of 14 engine models will be introduced globally by 2015.

Toyota unveils the sportiest Camry yet at the New York Auto Show

America’s bestselling car gets even better with an extensive redesign for 2015

The Camry has been the best-selling car in the U.S. for the last 12 years, supported by loyal buyers wedded to a dependable family car. But Toyota acknowledges that tastes have changed, and buyers of midsize cars want more style, comfort and performance to go with the reliability.

Look at Westboro Toyota Camry invetory here.

“Customers today love the durability, quality and value that the Camry represents, but they are looking for a little more style, comfort and performance, and this 2015 Camry has all of the above,” said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. “This is the new Camry, and it’s coming from the new Toyota.”

Camry and Corolla are two names which are known in almost every corner of this planet. Both are best sellers in their own segment line. Camry is America’s most loved car, they say that every hour, 25 Americans buy a new Camry, and that’s the reason it remained top selling car more than a dozen times. Toyota is already selling Camry to its full potential and sales figures are not a problem for Toyota at all as far as Camry is concerned. But Toyota wanted a new Camry which is not boring like the current generation or for that matter, previous generations.

Toyota’s racing enthusiast and CEO said, “I Like Cars That Kick Ass So Our Cars Will Kick Ass Too”. Toyota was working on the refreshed face and technology for not only the 11th generation Corolla. The new Corolla is already selling very well across the US and any other market.

Today, Toyota reveals the fully designed Camry which will go on sale in fall of 2014 as a 2015 model. The new Camry is 1.8″ longer and 0.4″ wider. Re-engineering two stage braking system, redesigned electronic steering as well as suspension system are few of the upgrades. 

Toyota says that they have redesigned almost 2000 parts for the new Camry. The only body panel which is shared and same as last Camry is the roof. Full LED Headlights as well daytime running lights are a new addition.

A lot of changes are visible inside as well. New gauge cluster as well as the media console and dashboard design and material gives a fresh look. A wireless cell phone charger is also available standard among all trim levels.

About engines, Camry is carrying over same the 2.5L 4-cylinder and 3.5 V6 engines with automatic transmission.  Hybrid version will remain with same 2.5L engine. The new Camry will sell like it should.

Toyota's future manufacturing plans see humans replacing robots

In a turnabout, Toyota has started taking jobs away from robots -- and is giving them to humans.

Inside Toyota Motor Corp.'s oldest plant, there's a corner where humans have taken over from robots in thwacking glowing lumps of metal into crankshafts. This is Mitsuru Kawai's vision of the future.

The only way to improve processes and promote more thinking about efficiency is to put people back in charge of making things. The goal is to create a more efficient car production line.

This Toyota’s latest strategy has two main aspects. First, it wants to make sure that workers truly understand the work they’re doing instead of feeding parts into machines and being helpless when one breaks down. Second, it wants to figure out ways to make processes higher quality and more efficient in the long run. The company worries that automation means it has too many average workers and not enough craftsmen and masters. 

“We need to become more solid and get back to basics, to sharpen our manual skills and further develop them,” said Kawai, a half century-long company veteran tapped by President Akio Toyoda to promote craftsmanship at Toyota’s plants. “When I was a novice, experienced masters used to be called gods, and they could make anything.”

Machines are great at doing things quickly and at low cost. But people, especially ones with the experience of performing tasks themselves, bring craftsmanship, insight into process design, and consistency of quality. Toyota has found that the race to reduce the human element can end up making processes less efficient.

Some of the experts around the Toyota Way, as the company's famous production method is known, have taken note.

 "Toyota views their people who work in a plant like this as craftsmen who need to continue to refine their art and skill level," said Jeff Liker, who has written eight books on Toyota and visited Kawai last year.

 "In almost every company you would visit, the workers' jobs are to feed parts into a machine and call somebody for help when it breaks down."

New TS040 HYBRID Race Car For Toyota

TS040 HYBRID Race Car will challenge Audi and Porsche in the FIA World Endurance Championship and at Le Mans

Paul Ricard, France – on the 27^th March, Toyota Racing has revealed the TS040 HYBRID car and improved driver line-up to compete in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Toyota said that this TS040 HYBRID will bring the company into a new era of hybrid motorsport, stating that this race car is the most advanced hybrid technology in racing.

With 480PS (473 hp, 353 kW) of four wheel-drive hybrid boost in addition to the 520 PS (513 hp, 383 kW) 3.7litre petrol engine, the TS040 HYBRID, launched today at Circut Paul Ricard, has maximum power of 1000PS (986 hp, 735 kW) and represents the most advanced hybrid technology in racing.

The move to a four-wheel drive hybrid sees Toyota return to a concept which has been part of its racing hybrid development since 2007, when the four wheel drive Supra HV- R became the first hybrid to win an endurance race, the Tokachi 24 Hours. 

Toyota explained the new hybrid system designed for racing has been developed specifically for the revised WEC technical regulations, which put a particular focus on fuel economy. A fuel flow meter will monitor fuel usage and penalties will be enforced in the race if the three-lap average consumption exceeds defined limits. The fuel allowance is determined by the level of hybrid capacity each team commits to. Toyota Racing has opted for 6MJ of hybrid capacity per lap at Le Mans.

Working together with official partner TOTAL, TOYOTA Racing’s engineers have found further efficiencies and performance through the use of customized TOTAL lubricants.

The new, more open regulations have allowed TOYOTA Racing to implement a major increase in hybrid power, with an AISIN AW motor - generator on the front axle added to compliment the DENSO unit on the rear.

Under deceleration, the motor-generators apply braking force in combination with traditional mechanical brakes to harvest energy, which is transferred via inverter (AISIN AW at the front, DENSO at the rear) to the NISSHINBO super-capacitor. During acceleration, the motor/generator reverses its function acting as a motor to deliver a 480PS power boost.

That four-wheel drive hybrid power is allied to a normally – aspirated V8 engine, both having been developed by Motor Sports Unit Development Division at the Higashifuji technical centre, where next-generation TOYOTA road car technology is born.

Toyota has already sold 6 million hybrid road cars since the launch of the Prius in 1997. Know-how from the TS030 HYBRID is already in use to enhance TOYOTA’s road car hybrid and WEC’s focus on road-relevant technology is expected to see further technology transfer from track to road.

The TS040 HYBRID chassis is designed, developed, manufactured, built and operated by TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG) in Cologne. Particular attention has been paid to airflow around the car, both to reduce drag in order to improve fuel economy and to increase downforce, and therefore grip, levels to compensate for tyres which are 5cm narrower compared to 2013.

Extensive development in TMG’s state-of-the-art wind tunnels has resulted in an aerodynamically-efficient design which is also incredibly lightweight thanks to advanced composite design and production processes.

Intensive simulation and calculation work at TMG has refined the TS040 HYBRID, utilising hardware-in-the-loop technology to test individual components based on real track data and powerful calculation computers to optimise designs.

Such cutting-edge techniques are significantly more efficient than track testing, allowing TMG engineers to continue optimising all aspects of the TS040 HYBRID chassis and lay-out for longer than rivals relying on traditional methods.

A slight reshuffle of the driver line-up sees Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima share the #7 car while Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buemi are in the #8.

The TS040 HYBRID made its track debut at Paul Ricard on 21st January and has subsequently completed 12 days of testing across Europe, covering around 18,000km.

TOYOTA i-ROAD Three Wheel Personal Mobility Electric Vehicle

Three wheel wonder, or the future of the city car might be just around the corner!

Toyota has been bringing some ground breaking innovation to the automotive scene with the introduction of their Toyota i-ROAD Personal Mobility Vehicle.

Toyota unveiled the new i-ROAD three-wheeled electric personal mobility vehicle (PMV) concept at the Geneva motor show. Toyota’s i-ROAD 3-wheeled PMV has begun public road trials in Toyota City, Japan, as part of “Ha:mo”, Toyota’s optimized urban transport system.

The i-ROAD offers a novel riding experience, combining the convenience of motorcycle with the comfort and stability of a car. The i-ROAD seats two in tandem and under cover, and has a range of up to 30 miles (50km) on a single charge. Using “Active Lean” technology, it is safe, intuitive and enjoyable to drive, with no need for driver or passenger to wear a helmet.

The all-electric powertrain uses lithium-ion battery to power two 2kW motors mounted in the front wheels, giving brisk acceleration and near – silent running. The battery can be fully recharged from a conventional domestic power supply in three hours. The system also operates when the PMV is being driven in a straight line over stepped surfaces, the actuator automatically compensating for changes in the road to keep the body level. The minimum turning circle is just three meters. More i-ROADs in Toyota City will be made available to the residents, at vehicle – sharing stations. The other important part is that it is electric, this means zero- emission and a nearly silent running experience. 

Toyota will provide ten vehicles to approximately 20 test participants, ranging from members of the general public to trend and industry experts. Feedback will be collected concerning driving feel, user satisfaction, ease-of-use in urban areas, and impact on destination choices.

Later this year, i-ROAD vehicles will be part of a vehicle – sharing project in Grenoble, France, that will last until 2017.