TOYOTA’S PRESENCE AT Frankfurt this month will be all about hybrids and EVs, with luxury arm Lexus revealing the LF-Ch hybrid concept and Toyota showing a plug-in Prius and the Auris (Corolla) hybrid concept.

The Prius PHEV plug-in, previously seen undergoing testing on the second-generation Prius platform, will be revealed at Frankfurt.

Toyota remains tight-lipped on [...]

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DESPITE THE SUCCESS of diesel engines in Europe and a growing popularity in the US and Australia, Toyota is betting the farm on hybrid technology for future fuel economy gains.

The world’s number one carmaker has halted diesel programs for its volume selling passenger vehicles because of increasing technology and manufacturing costs.

Diesel engines, which typically [...]

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AS AUSTRALIAN CAR BUYERS gradually warm to the idea of diesel engines, and Peugeot, Citroen and Volvo forge ahead with their plans to bring diesel-electric hybrids to market, Toyota, the world’s current hybrid-car leader, has reportedly nixed the idea of an oil-burning hybrid.

Toyota currently produces a diesel hybrid truck for the Japanese market, but it [...]

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Many a word has been used to describe the ‘hybrid war’ brewing between the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, but in all honesty, there is no war. Yet.

While Honda will no doubt be keen to make an impact on Toyota’s hybrid market dominance, each will be more focused on winning new buyers to the segment [...]

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Toyota has taken the wraps off its latest Hybrid Camry prior to its official unveiling at the upcoming Los Angeles Motor Show. Not to be confused with the Hybrid Camry shown in Sydney, which is a ‘conventional’ petrol-electric hybrid, this hybrid utilises Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as its alternate fuel source.

While only a concept (there’s [...]

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In news that will surprise almost nobody, Toyota has come out on top in a recent survey conducted by independent global research company Synovate, as the company doing the most to bring new technologies to market.

After surveying a (ahem) “staggering” 500 people, Synovate revealed that Toyota ranks highest among all automotive brands for reliability, environmental [...]

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A recent press release from Toyota delves into the hybrid battery recycling process and it’s an interesting read. It reveals Toyota has had a recycling process in place for the specialised batteries for over seven years in Australia - put in place before the Prius was launched here back in 2001.

Many have questioned the safety and [...]

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The Toyota FT-HS or Future Toyota Hybrid Sports is not new us, but it is new to Australia and has been unveiled today in this country by Toyota Australia.

Toyota Australia’s corporate manager product planning Peter Evans is unique in his description of the FT-HS and hints at a future model whose shoes the FT-HS or [...]

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Toyota have unveiled their A-BAT hybrid pickup concept in time for its Detroit Auto Show debut in January 08. It’s not often that a “pickup” concept gets the automotive juices flowing but this is one cool looking ute. With an interior featuring an “exposed structure” treatment, a design theme influenced by high end mountain bike [...]

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You come across plenty of rumour and rubbish when you trawl through the internet and the following is a prime example of the rubbish that is out there.

An article in Bloomberg online sees the president of Toyota North America, Jim Press pushing the Toyota hybrid corporate line like never before. According to Jim, the Prius [...]

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Toyota has just announced that in conjunction with its luxury brand Lexus it has sold more than 1 million petrol-electric hybrids. The one we all know and love (we don’t but you might…) is the Prius which first saw the light of day in 1997 when it was launched in Japan.

The Prius has gone on [...]

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The International Engine of the Year Awards results are now in for 2007. As expected the BMW V10 took the performance engine award and Volkswagen took the gong for Best new Engine with its 1.4-litre TSI engine.

The awards are organised by UKIP Media & Events - Automotive Magazines Division which is Britain’s largest group of [...]

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