Toyota's FT-EV Detroit Show Concept Previews 2012 Production Version

One day before the Detroit Show's doors open to the members of the press, and Toyota published the first photographs of its battery-electric FT-EV concept car that previews a forthcoming production version expected to hit the market by 2012. As you have probably already guessed by looking at the pictures, the FT-EV is based on Toyota's new urban dweller, the iQ.

Toyota supports in its teaser release that the FT-EV concept "can be driven up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail." Not much, but stay tuned on Carscoop as well have more details on the FT-EV Concept car as soon they come in. For the time being, check out the high-res image gallery of Toyota's battery-electric concept minicar.

Toyota reveals iQ-based FT-EV Concept

Toyota has announced that it will display its new FT-EV concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, while also confirming that it will launch an urban commuter ‘battery-electric vehicle’ (BEV) by 2012. The world's largest carmaker also revealed that it will start consumer trials of a fleet of 150 plug-in hybrids towards the end of this year and launch as many as ten new petrol-electric hybrid vehicles next year. This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota's intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development. The all-electric FT-EV concept shares its platform with the iQ urban commuter vehicle, and can drive up to 50 miles on a single charge. Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota's sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, also set for this month’s Detroit event, is considered Toyota's long-term core powertrain technology.

2009 Toyota FT-EV concept

Toyota talks to Japanese workers to take salary cuts

Toyota announced today that it is in talks with its Japanese workers to cut salaries as it halts production to adjust inventories due to a decreasing global demand. Spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said that the size of the salary cuts is still undecided but she said talks are under way as Toyota decided to stop production at all of its 12 Japanese plants for 11 days in February and March.

Takeuchi said that the Japanese law requires a company to pay at least 60 percent of the average regular wage during such a stoppage.

In March, Toyota is planning on cutting 3,000 temporary workers in Japan - or about half its domestic temporary work force. Job cuts have not affected the 70,000 full-time domestic staff. The Japanese automaker employs a total of 316,000 people globally.

Toyota recently projected its first yearly operating loss in 70 years for the year ending March 31.

Source: Detroit News

Toyota to halt production for 11 days

Toyota announced today that it will halt production at its Japanese plants for 11 days in February and March due to a strong decline in U.S. sales that are leading to inventory pile-ups for dealers. Toyota reported a 37 percent loss in December sales in the U.S., making it the sharpest fall in more than a quarter of a century. It even performed worse than its U.S. rivals General Motors and Ford.

“I never expected the crisis to spread this fast and leave this deep a scar,” Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Tokyo.

Rival Honda and Nissan have both announced production output cuts by at least 200,000 vehicles for the fiscal year ending in March. Toyota had previously announced a 3-day production halt for Jan. 2009 at its 12 Japanese plants.

Source: CNNMoney

2009 Toyota Venza starts at $28,270

Toyota Canada announced the pricing on the 2009 Venza crossover, and also stated that their vehicles would get an average of 1% in price increases.
The base front-drive Venza with a 182-hp, 2.7-litre 4-cylinder engine will start at $28,270. It comes with a power driver's seat, climate control, 6-CD/MP3 changer with 6 speakers, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, power windows and heated outside mirrors, keyless entry, 19-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, 7 airbags, traction and stability-control systems and 6-speed automatic with manual mode.

The Venza AWD goes for $29,720 and adds a power-closing liftgate. It's also available with a $3,440 Premium Package that adds heated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, leather, woodgrain interior trim, a power-opening tailgate, a backup camera and a panoramic sunroof.
The $29,970 Venza V6 gets 268 horsepower from its 3.5-litre engine and 20-inch alloy wheels, and the $2,020 Premium Package adds the power-opening tailgate, backup camera, panoramic sunroof as well as an alarm system.
Finally, the Venza V6 AWD costs $31,420 and can be equipped with several packages that include navigation, xenon headlights, Bluetooth connectivity, an upgraded sound system with 13 speakers and keyless start. A fully-loaded Venza reaches $39,345.

Toyota Developing Solar Car: Report

Toyota Motor Corp. is secretly developing a solar-powered vehicle as an alternative to its popular hybrid Prius and Camry models, the Associated Press is reporting.

Toyota, which also builds luxury-themed Lexus cars, is developing the program in two stages. First, the automaker is working on a method to power a car partially from built-in solar cells, and then recharged via electricity generated from solar panels on the roofs of homes, according to The Nikkei, a leading business daily in Japan. Later, the next step will be to develop a version that's totally powered by solar cells mounted on the car. In both cases, production models are still years away.

Today, Toyota uses solar panels at its central Japan plant to produce some electricity, according to the article. "The solar panels on the roofs add up in size to the equivalent of 60 tennis courts and produce enough electricity to power 500 homes," Toyota said in a statement. "That reduces 740 tons a year of carbon dioxide emissions and is equal to using 1,500 barrels of crude oil." (Image credit: AutoblogGreen)

2009 Toyota Yaris Review

The 2009 Toyota Yaris is Toyota's smallest, least expensive model. Research by TheCarConnection.com finds its styling to be much better received than that of its predecessor, the Echo. For 2009, a five-door Liftback joins the three-door Liftback and four-door sedan in the model line.

Autobytel says, "Overall, the styling is a bit quirky, with the grille and headlights almost creating the automotive equivalent of a grin, but it helps distinguish the Yaris and imparts some personality." Automobile Magazine reports, "The two-door hatch's funky styling was born in Toyota's European design studio," adding that, compared to the Echo that the Yaris replaced for 2007, the Liftback and sedan "no longer look like automotive design don'ts." Road & Track notes that the four-door Yaris sedan "looks like the little brother of the Corolla."

Much attention has been paid to Toyota's departure from the usual conservative styling of its smallest cars; Autoblog thinks "the design is deliberately weird enough" to be sold under Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand instead. "Indeed," continues the Autoblog reviewer, "Toyota's supposedly hipper sub-brand offers the xD, a five-door on the same architecture as the three and four-door Yaris models."

A more sport-oriented "S" model adds sport seats, larger wheels, a mild body kit, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Autobytel reports, "Outside, the S body kit and 15-inch wheels worked wonders on our tester, at least implying some sport if not actually delivering it." However, Road & Track points out that "Yaris owners can up the ante with TRD accessories including suspension modifications, sport exhaust and 18-in. alloy wheels."

The interior design is a bit more controversial; the layout "lends the Yaris a bigger feel inside," says Autoblog, but Autobytel gripes, "A center-mounted gauge cluster is nothing new, and neither are our complaints about it." Automobile Magazine has a particularly negative view, stating, "Toyota insists that drivers eventually get used to the unconventional location—yeah, and convicts eventually get used to cell block D." But Road & Track sees more humor in the center-mounted gauges, quipping, "Now everybody in the car can see how fast you're going, or how much fuel you have left."

Conclusion

The 2009 Toyota Yaris proves that small economy cars don't have to look dull, even if the more daring styling stirs controversy in some areas.