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Toyota FT-86 II Concept goes in for some glamor shots [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Toyota

Toyota FT-86 II concept in the studio

Toyota FT-86 II Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Toyota FT-86 II concept brings us one step closer to a production rear-wheel-drive Toyota that promises to be fun to drive and great looking at the same time. We don’t have a whole lot in the way of hard specs, but we do have plenty of high resolution pictures of a really hot-looking concept.

Toyota trotted out its black beauty in front of the all-seeing camera lens for an in-depth studio shoot, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it. Check out full compliment of high-resolution photos in the gallery below, then hit the jump to check out the video of the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit-style photo shoot. If the production FT-86 looks this good, we can’t wait for hit to hit ~~news stands~~ dealers everywhere.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 Concept Studio Shots

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota FT-86 II Concept goes in for some glamor shots [w/video]

Toyota FT-86 II Concept goes in for some glamor shots [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bloomberg: Unintended acceleration Toyota plaintiffs challenging NASA findings

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Plaintiffs in the unintended acceleration class action case against Toyota are striking back against the findings laid out by NASA. It was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that produced research showing electronics were not to blame for any sudden acceleration-related issues.

According to Bloomberg, the plaintiffs in the case maintain that NASA didn’t dig deep enough. Toyota’s computer systems utilize eight million lines of code, yet NASA only looked through 280,000. Lawyers for the plaintiffs have filed paperwork stating they plan to bring in experts who’ll contradict NASA’s findings.

Toyota maintains that any issues of unintended acceleration were related to stuck accelerator pedals, faulty floor mats and driver error – two out of three of which have been addressed with recalls.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Bloomberg: Unintended acceleration Toyota plaintiffs challenging NASA findings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: CA court rejects class action suit against Toyota over service contracts

Filed under: Government/Legal, Toyota

The California court system has found that Toyota Motor Insurance Services does not violate the state’s consumer warranty law. According to Automotive News, a court of appeal found that the contracts offer enough services outside of the factory warranty to be considered legal. Toyota was originally sued after Weber DeSiqueira purchased a then-new 2007 Tundra. At the time, the vehicle came with a three-year, 36,000 mile warranty, but DeSiqueira also laid down $1,145 for a Toyota Extra Care Vehicle Service Agreement. The lawsuit alleged that the service agreement covered the same items as the factory, putting the Japanese automaker in violation of the California warranty law.

But a Los Angeles judge dismissed the case without allowing it to go to trial. DeSiqueira appealed, and a three-judge panel unanimously decided that the automaker’s service agreement and the factory warranty are not identical. The plaintiff sought damages and retribution in the form of a refund for the price of the service agreement for himself and other car buyers who had opted into the program.

Despite the fact that the appeals court effectively scuttled Desiqueira’s lawsuit, one judge did suggest that the consumer may have a legitimate claim that Toyota engages in deceptive sales practices by leading buyers to believe that the service agreement offers greater protection than it actually does.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req]

Report: CA court rejects class action suit against Toyota over service contracts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JD Power’s 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study names Lincoln best brand, Toyota wins most segments

Filed under: Car Buying

J.D. Power and Associates has released its annual Vehicle Dependability Study for 2011, and there are a few surprises in store for those who religiously keep track of who outperforms who on the automotive reliability front. For the first time ever, Lincoln, with 101 problems per 100 vehicles, leads the chart, followed by Lexus with a score of 109.

Number three on the list is also something of a surprise: Jaguar, who’s score of 112 problems per 100 vehicles seemingly proves not all leaping kitties leave unwanted presents outside the confines of their litter boxes. Porsche (114) and Toyota (122) round out the top five. The industry average comes in at 151 problems per 100 vehicles, which of course means that some brands perform rather poorly in J.D. Power’s rankings.

Bringing up the rear in this year’s study is Mini, with 221 problems per 100 vehicles. That’s not good. BMW’s smallest brand is followed by Jeep (214), Land Rover (212), Dodge (206) and Chrysler (202). The study also ranks individual models in each category, and Toyota’s seven individual segment victories gives the Japanese automaker more individual victories than any other brand.

A brief explanation of how this particular study is compiled: J.D. Power polled 43,700 original owners on problems experienced during the past 12 months on 2008 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. As such, this study is not ranking the latest vehicles by any given manufacturer, but is instead intended to help consumers predict the durability of a potential automobile purchase.

There’s lots more detail in the press release and graphs found after the break, so click here and put your number-crunching hats on.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading JD Power’s 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study names Lincoln best brand, Toyota wins most segments

JD Power’s 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study names Lincoln best brand, Toyota wins most segments originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Toyota wins right to view unintended acceleration plaintiff data

Filed under: Government/Legal, Toyota

Toyota has been granted the ability to gather financial data on 81 plaintiffs filing lawsuits against the automaker over losses associated with claims of unintended acceleration. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, two private judges ruled that the automaker could, in fact, secure information from banks, lending and insurance institutions. Lawyers working for Toyota have argued that since the cases deal directly with the value of the plaintiffs’ vehicles, the company is entitled to know just how much the cars were worth to begin with. In fact, most of the information has already been accumulated by Toyota, and the plaintiff’s privacy is protected by a special court order.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs, meanwhile, say that the financial information is irrelevant and “highly personal.” Furthermore, there’s some concern that private information like social security numbers and health history may be needlessly revealed during court proceedings. That argument apparently didn’t stand up in front of the court.

[Source: The Salt Lake Tribune]

Report: Toyota wins right to view unintended acceleration plaintiff data originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota bringing Lexus GS, Scion FT-86 to New York Auto Show

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Sedan, Lexus, Scion, Toyota, Rumormill

Lexus GS Toyota FT-86

Click either image for high-res image gallery

We’ve gotten word from a very reliable source that Toyota is planning two big debuts at the New York Auto Show, although neither is wearing a ToMoCo badge.

First up is a fully redesigned Lexus GS, something that we’ve reported on and spied before. Although it’s unclear whether the GS we’ll see in NYC is a concept or a production model, we do know that it will be underpinned by an all-new platform that will also be used on the next-generation IS, due out sometime next year.

The current GS has been on the market since 2005 and, despite consistent sales, it’s overdue for a refresh. Expect many of the same V6 and V8 powerplants to carry over, although we haven’t gotten word on an F variant or whether the 450h hybrid will soldier on.

More intriguingly is word that Scion will bring its own version of the FT-86 to the Big Apple’s auto show, although don’t expect a production version – this will be yet another concept similar to the version we saw at the Geneva Motor Show, just with new badges and a few stylistic tweaks.

Expect more details to follow in the coming weeks.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Next-Gen Lexus GS

Next-generation Lexus GS spy shots

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Rumormill: Toyota bringing Lexus GS, Scion FT-86 to New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota FT-86 could get hybrid option

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Etc., Toyota, Rumormill

Toyota FT-86 Concept

Toyota FT-86 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota may have a few more changes in store for the FT-86. The company recently unveiled a second swipe at the car’s exterior at the Geneva Motor Show, but from the sounds of things, a new front fascia won’t be the only surprise when the car touches down. Auto Express is reporting that the Japanese automaker is open to the possibility of a hybrid FT-86 at some point in the distant future. The company’s engineers specifically reworked the vehicle’s front fascia and windshield to be more aerodynamic – a trait that would be more than handy on a hybridized version of the vehicle.

As of right now, though, the FT-86 is supposed to arrive with a Subaru-sourced powerplant under its swooping hood. There’s some indication that the production version of the vehicle will debut later this year at the Tokyo Motor Show, and that Subaru will yank the sheets back on its own version of coupe at the same time. We’re guessing that all of drivetrain and styling questions will be answered as we get closer to that event.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: Toyota FT-86 could get hybrid option originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota FT-86 II restyling happened because of driver feedback

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Toyota, Design/Style

Toyota FT-86 Concept

Toyota FT-86 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota showed off yet another version of the FT-86 concept at last week’s Geneva Motor Show, one they say is closer to production than any of the others. That’s right, the FT-86 has been around long enough to warrant a facelift even before it goes on sale.

According to Akihiro Nagaya, manager of Toyota’s design department, the changes are in response to driver feedback on the original FT-86 concept. Along with a redesign for the front end, necessitated by Europe’s strict pedestrian impact rules, the A-pillar has been pushed back by around four inches to produce a more upright windshield.

Autocar says the redesigned windscreen apparently makes the driving experience closer to the original AE-86, and alleviates a tunnel-vision effect the old concept produced.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

[Source: Autocar]

Toyota FT-86 II restyling happened because of driver feedback originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: VW Darth Vader Super Bowl ad gets the Toyota spoof treatment

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

Darth Vader Commercial Spoof Toyota

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Volkswagen’s Darth Vader Super Bowl ad has all the trimmings of an all-time classic. It involves kids and the most famous Star Wars character of all time. Who doesn’t love kids and Star Wars? And, perhaps most importantly, the big game spot was hugely funny. Beyond that, from the moment we first laid eyes on the ad we were certain that this clever spot would spawn a raft of Vader spoofs. We haven’t been disappointed.

Beyond the jump is the latest Vader spoof. This time, the mini Jedi trades in his 2011 Passat for a previous-generation Toyota Corolla. But while the original spot was fun and playful, this spoof takes a turn for the Dark Side. Junior Vader chokes his mom, throws his dad and even uses his Jedi mind to lift the toilet seat. But in the end, the edgier Vader meets a force more powerful than the Dark Side. Hit the jump to watch the Violent Broccoli creation – the ending is a bit predictable, but it’s still worth checking out. Thanks to all for the tips!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: VW Darth Vader Super Bowl ad gets the Toyota spoof treatment

Video: VW Darth Vader Super Bowl ad gets the Toyota spoof treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Toyota Prius+ sips fuel with room for seven

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Toyota

Toyota Prius+

2012 Toyota Prius+ – Click above for high-res image gallery

As the second size extension of the Toyota Prius family tree, the 2012 Prius+ adds a healthy dose of roominess to the well-known fuel-sipping hybrid equation, and it’s making its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. There’s seating for seven occupants inside, but the multi-purpose vehicle shares a clear design language with Toyota’s standard-bearing Prius. What’s more, it manages a low 0.29 drag coefficient thanks to its extended roofline and carefully designed front fascia.

Equally as notable is the battery. This is the first lithium-ion battery pack to be incorporated within a non-plug-in Toyota full hybrid. Toyota has found enough room underneath the center console between the driver and the front passenger to fit the battery, which helps maximize interior space for occupants and their cargo.

As you would expect from a Prius, there are three drive modes: A zero-emission EV mode that relies on electric motor power alone, an ECO mode that maximizes efficiency and fuel economy and finally a somewhat ambitiously named POWER mode that is said to boost overall performance.

Toyota is saying that the Prius+ will be on sale in Europe in the first half of 2012, but it’s coming to the U.S. around the same time in the form of the Prius V, which we previously saw at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Check out the complete press release after the break and be sure to check out our high-res image gallery of live photos below.

Gallery: Toyota Prius+ MPV: Geneva 2011

Toyota Prius+

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Toyota Prius+ sips fuel with room for seven

Geneva 2011: Toyota Prius+ sips fuel with room for seven originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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