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NFL asks Toyota to edit helmet-to-helmet hit out of ad [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Safety, Videos, Toyota

Helmet-to-helmet hit

Toyota’s helmet-to-helmet hit – Click above to watch the video after the break

Anyone who’s managed to catch an NFL game or two this year is surely aware that the league is cracking down (with stiff fines and penalties) on the kinds of violent helmet-to-helmet hits that are likely to cause concussions to either the hitter of the hittee. And for good reason – the NFL and a number of independent organizations have found that such head injuries can be far more damaging over the long-term than once thought.

What does any of this have to do with automobiles? Glad you asked. Research into new helmet designs and technologies is currently underway, and, somewhat interestingly, Toyota has been able to provide data to some universities that’s valuable for both automotive safety research and for sports-related head injuries using its T.H.U.M.S. (Total HUman Model for Safety) injury-simulation software.

Sounds pretty good so far, no? Indeed, Toyota was so pleased with its contributions to safety that it highlighted them in an advertisement that aired during the Sunday slate of NFL games. Sadly, there was one wee little problem… the commercial showed one particularly violent helmet-to-helmet hit – the exact same kind of injury-causing instance the NFL is doing its best to distance itself from.

Not surprisingly, the NFL asked Toyota to do a little creative editing on the commercial. In other words, take out the offending hit or we’ll get our network partners to stop showing your advertisement. In the end, Reuters (via Yahoo) reports that Toyota begrudgingly obliged and altered its commercial appropriately. Score one for safety?

Check out the extended cut of the advertisement after the break.

[Source: Reuters via Yahoo]

Continue reading NFL asks Toyota to edit helmet-to-helmet hit out of ad [w/video]

NFL asks Toyota to edit helmet-to-helmet hit out of ad [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dana coughs up $25M to Toyota over rusty Tacoma frames

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Toyota

1998 Toyota Tacoma

1998 Toyota Tacoma

When an automaker is forced to issue a recall, the defective part or feature is generally the fault of the automaker or of an OEM supplier it contracted to. In the case of the Toyota Tacoma – part of a 110,000-unit recall in 2009 – the problem appears to have been traced back to the supplier. And now the supplier is forced to pay for its mistakes.

The company in question, according to reports, is Dana, the Ohio-based OEM contractor supplying (among other components) axles and driveshafts for automobiles, commercial trucks and heavy equipment. In this case, it supplied the frames for the Tacoma pickup which were found to rust when exposed to road salt.

Although in 2010 Dana sold the plant that manufactures the frame to Mexican conglomerate Grupo Porza’s Metalsa subsidiary, since the component in question was built prior to the sale (from 1995 to 2000), Dana has reportedly been forced to shell out $25 million to Toyota over the issue.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Dana coughs up $25M to Toyota over rusty Tacoma frames originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TAS 2011: Toyota concept is the FT-86’s little sister

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Budget, Japan, Toyota

Toyota T-Sport Concept

We’ve been clamoring for a date with the production version of the Toyota FT-86 for longer than we care to remember, but we officially have a new infatuation. Meet the boxer coupe’s younger sister – the TES T-Sport Concept. If our Google Translator is to be believed, the car supposedly originated from an inner-company survey that asked what type of cars Toyota engineers would most like to see built. Apparently the overwhelming answer was a fun-to-drive, affordable sports car.

Color us stunned.

From there, the Toyota Engineering Society set about crafting their vision of a low buck machine that could still slather a smile on your face. Power comes courtesy of a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with around 110 horsepower, and this thing hits the scales at less than 2,000 pounds. That sounds like a winning combination to us. The T-Sport Concept wears some plenty funky styling, but we certainly wouldn’t hold that against a would-be Mazda MX-5 competitor. As with most things awesome that hail from auto shows, there’s little likelihood that the T-Sport will ever see production. Head over to AutoGuide to get a closer look at the two-seater.

[Sources: Caradisaic, AutoGuide | Image: AutoGuide]

TAS 2011: Toyota concept is the FT-86’s little sister originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota and Lexus show off at Tokyo Auto Salon

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Coupe, Sedan, Hatchback, Lexus, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon, Design/Style

Lexus F-Sport CT200h

Lexus F-Sport CT200h – Click above for high-res image gallery

You’ve seen the Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept (lucky you!), and now it’s time to divert your attention towards the rest of the Japanese automaker’s wares being shown off at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

First up is the Toyota Prius G Sports Concept, which features the kind of gaping maw only the Mama Cylon could love. Rounding out Toyota’s offerings is the TRD Auris GT Concept, which we think actually looks kinda nifty with its subdued body kit and blindingly bright yellow paint.

Lexus wasn’t left out of the proceedings either, and its machines are arguably more interesting than its mothership’s. There’s the F-Sport CT 200h (a future production model) taking center stage with its unique alloy wheels, body kit and Recaro seats, which is joined by the IS F Club Circuit Sports Racer and a set of Club Performance Accessories for the IS F that include front and rear spoilers and a carbon fiber hood.

Last but certainly not least is the Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA supercar that raced at last year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours race. See both sets of vehicular craziness in our high-res image galleries below, then check out all the details in the press releases after the break.

Gallery: Toyota at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

Toyota TRD Auris GT Concept Toyota Prius G Sports Concept Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept

Gallery: Lexus at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

Lexus F-Sport CT 200h Lexus IS F Club Circuit Sports Racer Lexus IS F Club Performance Accessories Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota and Lexus show off at Tokyo Auto Salon

Toyota and Lexus show off at Tokyo Auto Salon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept headlines TMC’s Tokyo Auto Salon roster

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept – Click above for high-res image

SEMA may take the proverbial cake for the American tuner scene, but the Vegas expo isn’t the only tuner show in the world. And with the Tokyo Auto Salon currently underway, Toyota has a wide variety of cars on display under various labels and divisions.

The vehicle you see above is the GRMN iQ Racing Concept. Lest you think the four letters indicate some kind of special nav system, it stands for Gazoo Racing tuned by MN – the same outfit that prepared the Nürburgring 24-winning Lexus LFA racer.

Little in the way of details were released along with the solitary image other than to say that it’s based on a limited-edition model that’s already sold out, and fitted with a roll cage and supercharger. It’s one of seventeen vehicles prepared by the Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiaries for the show, including versions of the Prius, Vitz (aka Yaris), Auris, Corolla, Noah, FJ Cruiser, Ractis, Lexus CT and IS F and more, modified by Gazoo, Toyota Racing Development, G Sports and even the Fuji Speedway and a staff collective known as the Toyota Engineering Society. Read all about it in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept headlines TMC’s Tokyo Auto Salon roster

Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept headlines TMC’s Tokyo Auto Salon roster originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota launches Collaborative Safety Research Center in Michigan

Toyota constantly preaches that safety is a top priority. To further back up those claims, the automaker has announced a new research program: The Collaborative Safety Research Center. Located at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the CSRC examines the science of safety with the goal of reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injuries on American roads. The best part about the program is related to the first word in its name – collaboration. Toyota isn’t keeping this data in-house, instead sharing it with top universities, hospitals, research institutions, federal agencies and other projects or groups whose goal is to make driving a safer experience.

Researchers from North America and Japan will work together at the Michigan location testing everything from driver-distraction to vehicle, passenger and pedestrian safety. Toyota estimates that it will spend $50 million on the CSRC over the course of the next five years. A full press release is posted after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

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Toyota launches Collaborative Safety Research Center in Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Toyota Highlander

A Refreshed Mainstay Glides into Middle-Age

2011 Toyota Highlander

2011 Toyota Highlander – Click above for high-res image gallery

After more than a decade of wild growth and nearly limitless prosperity, Toyota experienced an unthinkable 2010 – the bandwagon derailed in a very ugly, very public way. Embarrassing recalls played their role in the Japanese automaker’s uncharacteristic slide, but even though that public black eye is beginning to heal, Toyota is still grappling with an aging product lineup. The Camry and Corolla still sell in massive numbers, but they’re growing long in the tooth. Admittedly, the latter received a very mild refresh for 2011, but the competition has caught up with each in every category that counts. It’s much the same story for Toyota’s truck and SUV portfolio, where the RAV4, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser and Tundra are hardly spring chickens.

Compounding the issue is the lukewarm response to some of its newly refreshed. The styling remains staid. The interiors are no longer class-leading. The powertrains and fuel economy have done little to separate them from the rest of the pack. Still, not all Toyota models are headed off the reservation. The redesigned Sienna has been well-received and is doing good work on the sales floor. The same can still be said for the Prius and the redesigned 4Runner, which is selling far better than its predecessor. The subject of Toyota’s latest refresh and the vehicle featured here, the 2011 Highlander, has been consistently successful over its lifespan. Will new tweaks to the seven-passenger crossover help this perennial top-seller stay near the top of the pack, or could the lack of a more comprehensive redesign relegate this CUV to also-ran status?

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Highlander: Review

2011 Toyota Highlander

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Review: 2011 Toyota Highlander originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Toyota asks, what is the plural of Prius?

Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota

Prius goes plural video screenshot

The Prius goes plural – Click above to watch video after the jump

Toyota wants to change our view of the Prius. It’s no longer a singular car but now an entire family of vehicles. The standard Prius that we all know and love will soon be joined by the Prius V, Prius C and plug-in Prius. Clearly, Toyota isn’t just building new cars, it’s attempting to build a new word… and it needs your help.

What is the plural of Prius? That’s a question that has been asked ever since the little hybrid hatchback hit the market, and the truth is that even Toyota doesn’t exactly know… but they do have some suggestions. It might be Prii, Priuses, Prium, Prien or just Prius. You can head over to the Prius web site and vote for your favorite. Voting ends on February 20, and as of this posting, the early leader is Prii. However, our own Chris Paukert suggested that a grouping of Prii should be referred to as a smug, and the rest of us tend to agree.

Hop the jump to check out a video explaining Toyota’s conundrum… but don’t blame us when the song gets stuck in your head.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Toyota asks, what is the plural of Prius?

Video: Toyota asks, what is the plural of Prius? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota developing magnesium batteries as lithium alternative

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Toyota

magnesium on periodic table of the elements Whether you’re talking about cameras, phones or electric cars, lithium is the current battery of choice. Lithium can pack much more energy than the nickel-metal hydride cells hiding in the boot of a Toyota Prius, but that doesn’t mean that the rare earth metal represents the zenith of battery technology.

Bloomberg reports that scientists and engineers at Toyota’s Ann Arbor, Michigan technical center are on the lookout for the next big thing in batteries, and the automaker thinks it may be on to something. Lithium’s possible replacement is composed of magnesium and sulfur, and Toyota engineering manager Jeffrey Makarewicz reportedly feels the batteries can be ready as soon as the year 2020.

The problem with lithium, according to Makarewicz, is that it can only optimally hold about 2,000 kilowatt-hours of energy. That’s apparently not enough spark to consistently power the plug-ins and EVs of the future. We’re guessing Makarewicz is alluding to the fact that electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf only have enough juice to venture 35 to 100 miles on a single charge, while even the most inefficient gasoline mills can travel hundreds of miles

So, will magnesium one day surpass lithium as the battery guts of the future? We have no idea, but we apparently have about a decade of patient waiting before we can find out.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Life123.com]

Report: Toyota developing magnesium batteries as lithium alternative originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: Toyota Prius C Concept is higher efficiency in a smaller package

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

Toyota Prius C Concept

Toyota Prius C Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Toyota Prius V may be the newest production-ready addition to the automaker’s hybrid line, but the family of Prius vehicles will continue to grow in the coming years. Toyota gave us a preview of what to expect by showing the Prius C Concept at the Detroit Auto Show – a car that will come to life in the first half of 2012. Toyota promises that it will be the most fuel-efficient hybrid (that doesn’t need a plug) and will be the most “value-oriented hybrid” in the United States. You’ve been warned, Honda Insight.

It might look like a cartoon frog from certain angles, but what strikes us as odd is that the smaller C Concept keeps the Prius’ five-door design. We were originally tipped to believe this model would be a coupe or hatchback, but even so, we aren’t too put off by this five-door concept. It’s pretty cute, and once its concept-spec lines are toned down for actual production, we’re sure it’ll fit right in with the rest of the Prius clan.

Click past the jump for Toyota’s official words about the Prius C Concept and see it for yourself in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Toyota Prius C Concept: Detroit 2011

Toyota Prius C Concept

Gallery: Toyota Prius C Concept

Toyota Prius C Concept

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Detroit 2011: Toyota Prius C Concept is higher efficiency in a smaller package

Detroit 2011: Toyota Prius C Concept is higher efficiency in a smaller package originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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