Tag: toyota

Toyota employer explains reluctance to go all in on EVs

Although a growing number of major car manufacturers are diving deep into the world of electric cars, Toyota continues to remain mindful.

Toyota is amongst the globe’s most significant automakers, and the most lucrative, though it has actually dragged its feet in the location of EVs, choosing to focus on crossbreeds as its key option for minimizing discharges.

Even with federal governments proposing, as well as in some instances confirming, plans to ban the sale of automobiles with internal-combustion engines, Toyota has no intention of going done in on EVs. The stance was reaffirmed by Toyota President Akio Toyoda on Wednesday in a speech noting 60 years of operations in Thailand, where Toyota also displayed an electric vehicle idea based upon the Hilux international mid-size pickup.

Toyota, Toyota boss explains reluctance to go all in on EVs, ClassicCars.com JournalToyota, Toyota boss explains reluctance to go all in on EVs, ClassicCars.com Journal
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720″src =”http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-1.jpg”alt=” Toyota, Toyota manager discusses unwillingness to go all in on EVs, ClassicCars.com Journal “class=”wp-image-282063″ srcset =” http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-1.jpg 1280w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-2.jpg 650w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-3.jpg 768w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-4.jpg 1536w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-5.jpg 696w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-6.jpg 1068w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-7.jpg 746w, http://vinnysmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/toyota-employer-explains-reluctance-to-go-all-in-on-evs-8.jpg 1919w”sizes=”(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px”> Toyota Hilux BEV concept”I am often criticized in the press due to the fact that I will not state that the vehicle sector needs to dedicate 100 % to BEV, “he said.”I believe we need to be reasonable about when society will certainly be able to completely embrace battery-electric cars and also when our facilities can support them at scale.”Toyoda contrasted the thrill to EVs as comparable to business a couple of years back promising we would certainly all be riding around in self-driving cars and trucks now. He stated EVs, like self-driving automobiles, will certainly take longer to come to be mainstream than many experts proclaim. He likewise stated Toyota isn’t a company that takes a”one-size-fits-all approach”to its products which there are alternate remedies for conference carbon neutrality objectives. At Toyota, some of these options include carbon-neutral synthetic gas, hydrogen gas cells, and even engines that melt hydrogen. Toyoda claimed he sees hydrogen as equally as appealing as EVs in the battle against carbon discharges, particularly for the transportation sector,which he recently drove a Yaris powered by hydrogen and was” blown away by its performance. ” Toyota Project Portal 2.0 fuel cell-powered semi-trailer truck Toyoda additionally stated the importance of reducing carbon emissions throughout the manufacturing process, and not simply at the neighborhood level. He said this encompasses just how products are sourced, just how cars are constructed, how their gas is provided, and how automobiles are disposed of.”We have to keep in mind that carbon is the actual adversary, not a particular powertrain, and that we can not reach carbon neutrality on our very own,”

he stated.”It needs to be a group effort as well as consist of other markets beyond automobile.”

In spite of the position, Toyota will quickly have among the largest EV lineups readily available, extending both the Toyota and also Lexus brand names. In the U.S., it currently only provides the Toyota bZ4X crossover, and Lexus will quickly offer the RZ crossover. The car manufacturer a year ago

said it prepares to have 30 EVs offered by 2030, as well as to sell around 3.5 million EVs yearly by the same date. For reference, the car manufacturer in 2021 marketed around 10.5 million lorries across its brands. This article was initially

released by Motor Authority, a content companion of ClassicCars.com.

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Examination Drive: 2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone in Chill White
2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone 4WD Course: Large SUV Traveler ability: 7 Miles driven: 200

CG Report Card Area as well as Comfort B + Power and also Performance B + Fit and also Finish B + Fuel Economy B Value B
Report-card qualities are originated from a consensus of test-driver assessments. All qualities are versus various other vehicles in the exact same course. Value quality is for specific trim level evaluated, as well as may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impacts of the entire model lineup. Big & & Tall Comfort Big Guy A Tall Guy B Big & & Tall convenience scores are for front seats only. “Big” ranking based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” ranking based upon 6’6″-high male tester. Drivetrain Engine Specs 437-horsepower 3.4 L Engine Type Turbo crossbreed V6 Transmission 10-speed automatic Drive 4WD

Real-world fuel economy: 17.8 mpg

Driving mix: 50% city, 50% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 19/22/20 (mpg city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base rate: $78,300 (not including $1595 destination cost)

Options on examination automobile: Special color ($425), dash web cam ($499), sphere install ($87)

Price as checked: $80,906

Quick Hits

The excellent: Ample power, roomy as well as comfy cabin

The excellent: Big touchscreen, basic control layout, strong feeling

The not so great: Complicated cargo-area arrangement, overly strong ride

CG Says:

In a lorry category in which every version goes to the very least respectable, it takes a little something extra to stand out. That’s specifically real in the huge SUV section. Now in its third generation, the completely redesigned 2023 Toyota Sequoia recently comes with two functions that should help this large SUV capture the focus of buyers: a new luxury trim level, and a class-exclusive crossbreed powertrain. We’ll get to the powertrain a little later.

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone The new Sequoia is offered in 5 trim levels: entrance SR5, midline Limited, high end Platinum, off-road-ready TRD Pro, and also brand-new topline Capstone. Note that though Capstone is the most-luxurious variation of the 2023 Sequoia, it is not the most-costly. That distinction mosts likely to the TRD Pro, which out stickers the Capstone by $700. And also, starting at $79,895, the Sequoia Capstone is priced just somewhat above the Chevrolet Tahoe High Country and GMC Yukon Denali. Unlike the Chevy and also GMC, or the Ford Expedition and also Jeep Wagoneer as well as Grand Wagoneer, the Sequoia is only used as a standard-length version that is just slightly shorter in general size than the other lorries in the abovementioned affordable set. For a full failure of the Sequoia lineup, check out our First Look article right here.

Test Drive: 2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone Customer Guide invested a week in the new Tundra Capstone, as well as came away mainly amazed. We do have a few grievances, however. Allow’s begin inside. Very perfectly finished, the Capstone cabin does not come off as Lexus-light, not fairly. That said, there’s something concerning just how most Toyota interiors look well created. There’s a fussiness to the fits as well as finishes that somehow guarantees us that the auto or truck you’re in will quickly go 200,000 miles. The Tundra Capstone cabin feels in this manner; it’s neat, meticulously thought about, as well as appropriately upscale feeling.

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone As this vehicle driver has actually mentioned on Twitter, the brand-new, massive, touchscreen is not just easy to check out, but all the available space is put to outstanding use. The” media “screen, for example

, displays a huge album cover or podcast logo, with all of the relevant program info readily available adjacent to the picture. It’s tidy, it’s straightforward, it behaves. As for comfort, there’s ample space in the very first as well as 2nd seats rows, though the 2 nd row no longer glides fore as well as aft, yet the 3-rd row now does. When it comes to the 3 rd row, there’s a sensible quantity of leg space, yet adults will certainly want for clearance. The “legs-forward” seating setting in the back row will likely show fatiguing for bigger owners on long journeys.

What’s New For 2023: Toyota

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone, 3rd row,

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone As well as, right here’s a bummer: due to the hybrid drivetrain– the battery particularly– the 3 rd -row seats do not fold level into the flooring. Instead, because the battery lives down below the tons flooring, the seatbacks simply fold up down over the seat bottoms. To make up for this– sort of– the Sequoia is equipped with an adjustable freight rack that can be transferred to permit a continuous lots floor. This feels like an undue trouble, as well as isn’t something buyers of $80,000 SUVs will certainly want to handle. This arrangement may show to be a bargain breaker for consumers seeking to do a great deal of cargo hauling.

However about that drivetrain …

Volkswagen Launches New Scout EV Brand

Cargo Area, folding rear seat,

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone Obtained from the lately redesigned Tundra huge pick-up, Toyota’s i-Force Max engine supplies lots of power, as well as considerably better fuel economic climate than the previous-generation Sequoia. Mated exclusively to a 10-speed automatic, the intermixed, turbocharged, 3.4-liter V6 drain a stout 437 horse power. We didn’t obtain close to the EPA 20-mpg consolidated price quote, our 17.8 mpg observed fuel economic situation is concerning 15 percent far better than we reported seeing throughout our last assessment of the less-powerful previous-generation Sequoia. It’s also much better than we’ve seen in affordable SUVs.

On the road we found the Sequoia enjoyable enough, however not rather as fine-tuned as various other lorries in this class. Mostly we were let down yet the quantity of wind as well as road sound at highway rate, as well as the overly firm ride. No issues concerning the power, as the i-Force Max powertrain made easy job of passing and combining operations. That stated, we observed a lot of abrupt transmission downshifts throughout deceleration, which we presume were connected to the hybrid-battery regeneration system. Not extreme, the shifts were obvious, as well as rather at chances with the Capstone’s luxury goal.

Quick Spin: 2021 GMC Yukon AT4

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone As well as though not exactly sports, we discovered our examination truck to be a proficient handler, with much better steering feel and also less cornering roll that the other vehicles in this class. There are so few access in this sector that significant buyers owe it to themselves to evaluate drive all the offered trucks. We think the cargo-area situation will be a trouble for many buyers, as may the Toyota’s freeway flight top quality. But like the previous-generation Sequoia, this newest example looks strong, and also really feels simply a little sportier than the competition. Does the brand-new Capstone trim level or hybrid powertrain offer Sequoia a side in the segment? Possibly not, but they do maintain Toyota’s biggest rig interesting enough to stay on customers’ radar.

Examination Drive: 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series II

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone Listen to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast Follow Tom on Twitter 2023 Toyota Sequoia Capstone Gallery (Click listed below for enlarged photos)

First Look: 2023 Toyota Sequoia Cars And Truck Stuff Podcast Composed by: The Daily Drive team on November 30, 2022.

Classic Automobile Ads: Safety

JJD Twin Tyres, Classic Car Ads: Safety

JJD Twin Tyres I haven’t heard much concerning exactly how”safety sells”over the last few years. Automotively, we’ve gone on from safety– as a whole terms– to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems(ADAS). ADAS systems include things like blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian discovery, and also lane-keep assist. Actually, stuff we need to all be pretty good at by now– without aid.

Prior to the technological ramp-up to the autonomous-car period, which we are currently in– safety and security was a larger bargain. Consider that, for the very first half of the vehicle age, a lot of vehicles were furnished just with drum brakes, which were a lot less effective than disc brakes, and experienced diminished performance when points got wet.

Tires commonly experienced “blowouts,”and there was no such thing as rollover defense. As a reminder of the security features we currently consider provided, we have collected a number of classic car ads. Read them at your leisure, as well as tell us what you consider vintage security systems.

Classic Automobile Ads: Safety

Libbey-Ownes-Ford (1934 )

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Test Drive Gallery: 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in White The fantastic: Roomy cabin,

strong and polished powertrain, outstanding handling for a pickup, evident develop top quality The excellent: Improved fuel economic climate versus previous-generation Tundra, comfy as well as peaceful at highway speeds

CG Says:

Toyota has redesigned its full-size pick-up for 2022, with boldly aggressive designing and a new suspension system developed for smoother, less “truck-like” flight as well as handling. The brand-new Tundra is offered in two taxicab setups, each with a choice of 2 bed sizes: Double Cab 4-doors are available with a 6.5-foot bed or an 8.1-foot bed; the longer CrewMax 4-door can obtain a 5.5-foot bed or 6.5-foot bed.

Unlike various other full-size pickups, the new Tundra isn’t available with a V8 engine– the previous-generation Tundra’s 5.7-liter V8 has actually been replaced by V6 powertrains of comparable or greater horsepower. Buyers can now choose from a 389-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 (ranked at 348 hp on the base SR trim), or a gas-electric crossbreed version of that engine, which puts out a consolidated 437 horsepower. Both engines couple with a 10-speed automatic transmission, as opposed to the previous Tundra’s 6-speed unit.

The 2022 Tundra’s back suspension is a new multilink coil-spring design in place of the previous leaf-spring configuration, which boosts trip and handling. Recently offered is an Adaptive Variable Suspension, which instantly adjusts damping pressure based on driving conditions. For severe off roading, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport, and also TRD Pro upgrade plans are offered, with various mixes of wheels, tires, and also suspension developed for serious obligation. Maximum haul as well as towing capabilities are both enhanced, to as much as 1940 extra pounds as well as 12,000 pounds, specifically.

The brand new inside is highlighted by the brand-new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, that includes cordless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connection and also is offered with a navigation system that has over-the-air updates. Newly offered are a 12.3-inch electronic gauge display screen, a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, and Toyota’s Panoramic View Monitor 360-degree cam display (which gives visibility of the truck bed and also numerous views of the trailer when towing).

All Tundra designs come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 collection of security features, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane separation alert, lane mapping help, automated high-beam headlamps, and also rear seat tip. A blind-spot surveillance system is additionally conventional. Readily available security functions consist of rear cross-traffic alert and also car park assistance brake, which will apply brake control when the system detects a feasible crash while the truck is being parked.

Although the Tundra has never truly intimidated the massive sales numbers that domestic brand names rack up in this classification, it has actually constantly been a respectable seller with its own special appeal. That stated, the Tundra was long past due for a ground-up redesign, as well as this new variation brings welcome renovations– including much better gas economic situation. With these modifications, as well as Toyota’s online reputation for quality, this brawny looking gear is currently poised to remain an excellent selection for full-size-pickup customers.

2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Click below for bigger photos.

5 Cool Things About the 2022 Toyota Tundra

5 Cool Things About the 2022 Toyota Tundra

2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone Completely revamped for 2022, the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup now includes the in-cabin-technology and drivetrain power and also performance that had actually previously gone wanting. The new Tundra is provided in seven trim levels: entrance SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition

, sturdy TRD-Pro, and also new premium Capstone. Almost the SR and also SR5 can be had with an all-new crossbreed drivetrain which brings both even more power and also greater efficiency. Tundra rates start around $36,000 as well as climb to around $80,000 for a fully equipped Capstone.

Here are five awesome features of the brand-new Tundra:

5 Cool Things About the 2022 Toyota Tundra

Standard Power

Changing the Tundra typical powerplant for 2022 is a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 referred to as i-Force. The brand-new V6 cranks out 389 horse power and 479 lb-ft of torque. That’s 18 horsepower as well as 78 pounds of torque more than previous-generation Tundra’s 5.7-liter V8.

Spin: 2022 Toyota Tundra

2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone

2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone Available Power Need even more power? Expanse’s brand-new i-Force Max features a hybridized version of the conventional i-Force engine.

Ranked at 437 horsepower as well as an impressive 583 lb-ft of torque, the” Max”ranks amongst the most-powerful half-ton pickup engine options. Spin: 2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone Crossbreed Efficiency

Offered only in the crew-cab short-bed body setup, the i-Force Max powertrain delivers around 22 mpg, 2 mpg better than the basic i-Force-equipped Tundras.

Examination Drive: 2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone

Ride and also Handling

The new Tundra flights and also takes care of far better than the previous-generation vehicle many thanks to a brand-new coil-spring back suspension. Tundra signs up with the Ram 1500 in avoiding fallen leave springs, and provides a sportier as well as more refined drive experience because of this. Keep in mind that the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, and also Nissan Titan still take advantage of rear leaf springtimes.

Examination Drive: 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X

2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone

2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone Real Luxury Replacing the 1794 Edition as the leading Tundra trim degree for 2022 is Capstone. Capstone comes criterion with semi-aniline natural leather trim, actual walnut cabin trim, 22-inch alloy wheels, and the i-Force Max engine. The Capstone comes just as a short-bed staff cab. With Capstone, Tundra now has a trim level for GMC Sierra Denali and Ram 1500 Limited shoppers to take into consideration.

Pay attention to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2022 Toyota Tundra Gallery

(Click listed below for bigger pictures)

Classic Car Ads: Cheap Cars of 1983

1983 Toyota Tercel

Cheap Cars of 1983

Affordability is a relative thing. But odds are, if a manufacturer is sharing the price of a product in advertising, the thing being sold is probably a good deal. Of course, in the case of automobiles, the listed base price is subject to any number of asterisks and fine-print notations—especially back in the Eighties, before regulators were paying especially close attention to auto ads.

Still, back in 1983, the cars seen below mostly feel like good deals—especially the close-out-special DeLorean, which, surprisingly, is being sold as an ’83 model, even though production officially wrapped up in 1982.

Peruse the ads below and tell us which of the cars feels like the best deal to you. The place to share comments is down below. Oh, and read the Maxima ad carefully. To us, the car actually seems expensive when adjusted for inflation, but per the text, that Datsun sedan was actually priced below the Cadillac Cimarron. Well, at least a comparably equipped Cimarron—Caddy’s unloved J-Car started at just over $12,000.

Cheap Cars of 1983

Datsun Maxima

1983 Datsun Maxima

1983 Datsun Maxima

Advertised Price: $15,999

Inflation Adjusted: $46,875

I Miss My Maxima

DeLorean DMC-12

1983 DeLorean

1983 DeLorean

Advertised Price: $21,007

Inflation Adjusted: $61,550

Dead-Brand Madness: 10 Classic Car Ads from the 80s and 90s

Dodge Ram 50

1983 Dodge Ram 50

1983 Dodge Ram 50

Advertised Price: $5665

Inflation Adjusted: $16,600

Senior-Year Lust: The 5 Coolest Vehicles of 1983

Dodge/Plymouth Vista

1983 Dodge/Plymouth Vista

1983 Dodge/Plymouth Vista

Advertised Price: $8115

Inflation Adjusted: $23,775

Hiding Behind a Familiar Grille: The Captive Imports of 1987

Nissan Pulsar

1983 Nissan Pulsar

1983 Nissan Pulsar

Advertised Price: $7399

Inflation Adjusted: $21,675

Cheap Wheels: 1987-88 Nissan Pulsar NX SportBak

Renault Alliance

1983 Renault Alliance

1983 Renault Alliance

Advertised Price: $5695

Inflation Adjusted: $16,675

Unsettling Transition: The 1988 Eagle Lineup

Nissan Sentra

1983 Nissan

1983 Nissan Sentra

Advertised Price: $4949

Inflation Adjusted: $14,000

The Datsuns of 1983

Dodge Charger

1983 Dodge Charger

1983 Dodge Charger

Advertised Price: $6379-$8290

Inflation Adjusted: $19,700-$24,300

Rand Road Revisited: A Used Car Dealer Gallery

Hyundai Pony

1983 Hyundai Pony

1983 Hyundai Pony (Canada)

Advertised Price: $6395 Can. ($5050 U.S.)

Inflation Adjusted: $14,800

Canadian Confusion: GM’s Short-Lived Passport Dealerships

Suzuki Alto

1983 Suzuki Alto

1983 Suzuki Alto (England)

Advertised Price: £3250 ($4950)

Inflation Adjusted: $14,500

American Suzuki Files for Bankruptcy; Will End Car Sales in the U.S.

Toyota Tercel

1983 Toyota Tercel

1983 Toyota Tercel

Advertised Price: $4998

Inflation Adjusted: $14,650

Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Cheap Cars of 1983 Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

5 Cheapest American Cars of 1980, Inflation Adjusted

Car Stuff Podcast

Written by: Tom Appel on July 7, 2022.

Rocket Bunny Widebody Kit For The New Toyota GR 86 Is Wild

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Japanese tuning company TRA Kyoto has just unveiled its bold Rocket Bunny widebody kit for the new Toyota GR 86.

The company, which sells its bodykits under the Pandem name in the U.S, has a long history of working on Japanese sports cars and has previously developed bodykits for the old Toyota 86. Unsurprisingly, the kit for the new GR 86 is just as bold and eye-catching as any other from TRA Kyoto and radically transforms the looks of the car.

Watch Also: Pandem’s Widebody C8 Corvette Rocket Bunny Will Shock You

The front includes an all-new fascia with a distinctive grille and a small secondary air intake just in front of the hood. There’s also a pronounced splitter and aerodynamic canards that further add to the aggression.

Continuing the changes along the sides are flared front and rear wheel arches. The front arches are particularly interesting and have an element that extends into the pronounced new side skirts. The car in these initial photos is also rocking aftermarket wheels and a lowered suspension system.

As for the rear, it includes a fixed wing that complements the ducktail spoiler found on the tailgate quite nicely. The taillights have also been tinted and there is a new bumper and diffuser package.

TRA Kyoto has yet to state when it will start delivering examples of the Rocket Bunny kit for the GR 86 nor has it confirmed how much each kit will cost.

PHOTO GALLERY

more photos…

Toyota Offers Adorable Little Plushy Called Issho With GR Models In Britain

Although there are many reasons to buy a new Toyota GR Supra or GR Yaris, the most adorable will certainly be the little plushy you get with your new car in the U.K.

GR Issho is a little mascot and companion that Toyota has created to join buyers of GR and GR Sport models on their adventures. The word Issho means “together” in Japanese and the stuffed toy is designed to fit into your car’s cupholder or on the passenger seat.

Buyers will receive the GR Issho in a presentation box as part of the handover process when they get their new car along with a leaflet containing information about Toyota’s motorsports history and the evolution of its sports cars.

Read Also: Playmobil VW T1 Camping Bus Is A Pristine Double-Digit Bulli On A 1:18 Scale

The plushy is offered with GR and GR Sport models, meaning that everyone who buys a Supra or GR Yaris will get one, as will buyers of the CH-R GR Sport and the Corolla GR Sport.

While you’re no doubt familiar with the first two, the CH-R and Corolla GR Sport add some of the GR line’s aesthetics as well as some performance modifications. The CH-R GR Sport, for instance, comes with retuned suspension and sharper steering, but still some concessions to comfort. The Corolla GR Sport hatchback, meanwhile, adds a redesigned bumper, honeycomb mesh front grille, black bodywork, and 18-inch black alloy wheels.

Buyers who receive their Issho are encouraged to share photos and stories of their adventures together by tagging the Toyota UK social media pages on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

PHOTO GALLERY

more photos…

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Toyota Will Review Its Climate Stance And Lobbying Activities Following Pushback From Investors

Although Toyota was instrumental in making hybrid vehicles mainstream, its support of the Trump administration in 2019 put it uncomfortably in line with climate denialists. The company has now said that it will review its position.

In a statement, Toyota said that it would “review public policy engagement activities through our company and industry associations to confirm they are consistent with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.”

It also said it would provide more information so that “stakeholders can understand our effort to achieve carbon neutrality.” The company confirmed to Reuters that it reconsider its government lobbying activities.

The decision follows pressure from four major Toyota investors. Together, the funds own about $235 billion in assets and are pushing the company to recommit to efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Read Also: Toyota Bringing Multiple EVs To The US in 2021, Remains Lukewarm On Largescale EV Production

“This move must not be a PR exercise but instead signal a clear end to its role in negative climate lobbying which has given it a laggard status,” Jens Munch Holst, CEO of Danish pension fund AkademikerPension, told Reuters.

The fund has said it will consider preparing a shareholder resolution to submit at Toyota’s annual general meeting next year if the company fails to deliver on its green commitments.

“Right up until now, the company has repeatedly undermined climate action, from opposing the U.K. government’s ban on internal combustion engines by 2030 to opposing car fuel economy standards in the U.S.,” Munch Holst said.

Toyota recently previewed a brand new electric SUV, the bZ4X. Co-developed with Subaru, the EV is roughly the size of a Rav4 and will ride on the e-TNGA platform. Long term, it has promised to offer 15 EVs, with sales of the first bZ vehicle set to start in mid-2022.

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Toyota’s Robocars Will Wash Themselves Because We Can’t Be Trusted

Illustration for article titled Toyotas Robocars Will Wash Themselves Because We Cant Be Trusted

Image: Getty (Getty Images)

On Christmas Eve, the United States Patent and Trademark Office publicly released an application submitted by Toyota for a “car wash judgement system.” It’s not a patent application for a system that judges how well you washed your car, nor a system that washes your car while judging you and calling you a bad owner because you let it get to “Wash Me” levels of dirty.

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Instead, it’s a patent application for a system that coordinates onboard sensors with a remote server to tell an autonomous car when it is dirty enough to need a wash — and instructs the car to drive itself to the spa. Here’s a detailed illustration from Toyota:

Illustration for article titled Toyotas Robocars Will Wash Themselves Because We Cant Be Trusted

Screenshot: United States Patent And Trademark Office

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OK. Maybe not so detailed, but the carmaker raises — and quite possibly, answers — a question that we have mostly overlooked. If we are not driving our cars, then we aren’t washing them either. When riders in the driverless future hail a car or summon their Amazon robotaxi, they will expect that this machine rolls up to the curb gleaming like the future it represents. But who is going to wash these?

Illustration for article titled Toyotas Robocars Will Wash Themselves Because We Cant Be Trusted

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

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Well, Toyota is suggesting that the autonomous vehicles will wash themselves by way of this system, which will relay information between the car and an offsite server. The system will monitor weather conditions, time elapsed and distance traveled after the last car wash. Also, time before upcoming car sharing use. And it will use GPS to monitor whether the car has been on unpaved roads.

Illustration for article titled Toyotas Robocars Will Wash Themselves Because We Cant Be Trusted

Screenshot: United States Patent And Trademark Office

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Overall, the system will judge when the car has met conditions “that could cause a vehicle’s outer surface to get dirty,” and will initiate the self-driving protocol to the wash location set by Toyota.

The parameters that the system monitors are a little mundane — OK, some are clever — but the sum of its parts do add up to an interesting whole. And Toyota suggests this system is not just for autonomous cars, but could be used on piloted cars, too, where the wash protocol is replaced by a notification when the car judges it’s dirty.

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The timing here is important. Not just because the robocars are coming, but also because Toyota announced that it is entering the mobility segment with its company Kinto Europe. At first I was confused as to why Toyota wanted to make an e-scooter, but then I found this explainer video:

Alright. I’m still a little confused, but setting Toyota’s delirium aside, the video seems to provide the basic premise for Kinto. It will provide mobility services such as leasing, short-term subscriptions, corporate car pooling and car sharing. The carmaker plans to leverage its dealer network to deploy these services. But, notably, Toyota claims Kinto will “prepare to integrate future advances in automated driving.”

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It’s possible that Kinto fleets are Toyota’s answer to AVs from other carmakers and ride-hailing services. Maybe not in the immediate future, but as the segment matures. Driverless cars have been a long time coming and have a long way to go.

Right now, no one really knows how to solve the problems they pose. At the very least, Toyota seems to be suggesting a solution to one of these, the problem of dirty robocars.