2012 Toyota Yaris/Vitz Revealed With More Dynamic Design, Increased Size

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The Toyota Yaris is an excellent point A to point B vehicle, with excellent fuel economy and an attractive price. Plus, it’s a Toyota, so it’s reliable. That being said, the reasons to consider buying a Yaris have never included its looks.


Toyota appears to be ready to change that, with new photos from a leaked brochure revealing the design of the all-new Japanese Vitz – which is badged as the Yaris here. A few days ago we brought you initial pics of the car, but now we have it from more angles and with more details. We’ve even surprised to see a center-exit dual exhaust. But wait, that’s a kitted-up version with the regular Vitz looking pretty mundane – like a smaller Matrix.

In terms of functionality, however, the Yaris will gain size. (The bodywork may change when it arrives in North America, but the overall shape isn’t about to). In total, the 2012 Yaris grows by 100mm end to end, with half of that between the wheelbase for improved interior room. The car will also be 20mm shorter overall, likely helping lower the center of gravity and improve handling.

Toyota is expected to deliver a concept version of the upcoming 2012 Yaris in the coming months.

Google's Driverless Car: The Next Alternative Vehicle?

Just the Facts:


•Google reveals its "driverless car" technology.

•Google says it has put more than 140,000 road miles on its test cars, including six Toyota Prius hybrids and an Audi TT.

•Technology consists of a combination of video cameras, radar and laser technology and GPS.


MOUNTAIN VIEW, California — Now this is what we call a Google Street View. The innovative technology company's latest project, revealed over the weekend, is a fully automated car that does not require a human driver. Google says it has put more than 140,000 road miles on its test cars, six Toyota Prius hybrids and an Audi TT, in California and beyond, using its combination of video cameras, radar and laser technology and GPS.

The modified cars' most noticeable feature is a rotating sensor on the roof that scans 360 degrees for more than 200 feet in diameter, creating a 3D map of the car's location. A sensor on the left rear wheel measures the car's movements in detail and helps locate it on the map. A video camera on the windshield near the rearview mirror finds pedestrians, bicyclists, traffic lights and obstacles in the rod and sends that data to the car's onboard computer. Radar sensors at front and back help locate more distant objects. A GPS receiver, a laser range finder and an inertial motion sensor complete the package.

What's the Google angle? Not surprisingly, the cars relate back to Google data centers to process the information the cars gather and need to use. Google says its goal, though, is "to help prevent traffic accidents, free up people's time and reduce carbon emissions by fundamentally changing car use."

The company claims the driverless cars have tackled such challenging terrain as San Francisco's winding Lombard Street and Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Coast Highway and around Lake Tahoe. Google also says it has a "trained safety driver" behind the wheel at all times and a "trained software operator" in the passenger seat — and that the local police have been "briefed...on our work."

Videos of the driverless Google cars have begun to proliferate on the Internet:

http://www.insideline.com/toyota/prius/googles-driverless-car-the-next-alternative-vehicle.html

Toyota iQ Disco is Getting Ready to Party

Toyota is getting funky and has released details about the new iQ Disco model, available for the European market.


So why is it called the Disco? Well, it kind of resembles a disco ball and it also comes with a professional DJ sound system – so you can get down with your bad self while stuck in traffic. The Disco gets its sparkling look with help from mirror platelets that cover the entire car.

As for its sound system, it comes with a fully powered subwoofer/satellite speaker system, a 15-inch bass reflex subwoofer, 2-channel mixer and two Numark NDX 800 players.

The iQ Disco also boasts a new set of 18″ alloy wheels and scissors doors. Giving it its boogie power is a 1.33-liter Dual VVT-i petrol engine.

The Toyota iQ Disco will be making its premiere at the “Cologne Rocks” event in Köln, Germany.

Get more iQ news and info at iQForums and iQColony

Toyota Tacoma X-Runner RTR Revealed Ahead of SEMA Debut With Supercharged 5.7L V8

Built as a SEMA 2010 project, Toyota has been prepping their Tacoma X-Runner RTR and did some baseline test runs out at Pomona this past Tuesday. For those unaware of this project, Toyota was basically looking at producing a “ready to race” Toyota Tacoma X-Runner with the Tundra’s 5.7-liter V8 powerplant. But the fun doesn’t stop there – because a Tundra motor alone isn’t ready to race – TRD steps in with their supercharger and intake kit, pushing the V8 to 504-hp with 550 ft-lbs of torque.

Toyota’s early estimations were that the RTR would be able to hit 11-second quarter mile times. Their first outing (mostly to gather data and get a baseline run) netted a 12.01 @ 116.57 mph pass with NHRA pilot Antron Brown behind the wheel. And for those local to Southern California, you’re well aware that Tuesday didn’t exactly have the best weather to be out testing at the strip.

For the tech-heads wondering what all is really going on with the Tacoma, Toyota has confessed that an enthusiast could build this project on their own. The Tundra powerplant fits snugly under the hood along with its rear axle. Modifications were done to narrow its wide track by 5.7-inches to match the Tacoma’s natural stance. The most complex part of the conversion? You guessed it, the wiring.

Converted namely for the track, the front wheels were narrowed to 4.5-inches wide while the rears are 10-inches wide in order to incorporate Goodyear’s Eagle Dragway slicks. The stance of the truck was also lowered by 4.5-inches along with a new steel driveshaft and the RTR currently sports a prototype mechanical LSD.

We’ll be sure to stop by at SEMA 2010 to check this Tacoma out in person.

Toyota FT-86/FR-S Will be Badged as a Scion; Priced at $25,000

Toyota‘s FT-86 Concept will make it to market as a Scion in North America, likely sporting the name FR-S. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Toyota dealers were made aware of the decision by the corporate brass at a recent meeting in Las Vegas.

The decision help build-up the Scion brand, with a new flagship RWD model, however, it won’t help Toyota as it seeks to rebrand itself as a more youth-focused company. The other down-side of this revelation is news that the Scion FR-S could cost as much as $25,000 – significantly more than the $20,000 price tag originally promised.

According to other reports the Scion FR-S could get a 2.5-liter version of the Subaru boxer 4-cylinder in the U.S. while other markets are likely to get the 2.0-liter version.

The official reveal of the production model Scion FR-S is likely to occur at the 2011 New York Auto Show

Prius MPV Teased as Original Prepares to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

As the original Prius prepares to celebrate its 10th birthday, Toyota is planning to finally expand the hybrid lineup, adding an MPV model. While not common in North America, MPVs are a hit in other parts of the world where our minivans are seen as gargantuan.

A single photo showing the Prius MPV peaking out behind the current model was released on the official Prius Facebook page and by the looks of it, the MPV model won’t be a whole lot bigger. The slight size increase all around should lead to more interior room and the Prius MPV will likely get three rows of seats – similar to the Mazda5. In many ways, the MPV model looks a lot like the new Auris Hybrid unveiled at the Paris Auto Show.

We don’t expect any upgrades to the powertrain, as Toyota is likely to debut any big upgrades on the flagship model.

[Source: Prius Facebook Page]

Toyota Tacoma RTR Set for SEMA Debut with Tundra V8 Power.

If you’ve ever attended the SEMA show, then you’re probably no doubt aware of the sizable number of customized trucks parked out in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the week long aftermarket extravaganza.

This year, among them will be a very special Toyota Tacoma – the X-Runner RTR. In what perhaps represents a modern take on the original muscle truck concept, stuffing a big engine in a smaller vehicle, the RTR (which stands for Ready to Race); features an iForce 5.7-liter V8 dropped between the frame rails of a current Tacoma. Rated at 381 horsepower (the same as in the production Tundra) it should be able to move this rig from 0-60 mph in around six seconds, though Toyota is quick to point out, that save for a modified exhaust system to clear the Tacoma’s frame, the engine is essentially stock. As per SEMA tradition, however, expect the outside and interior to be fitted with plenty of TRD accessories (a 2008 X-Runner concept is shown in the photos, since images of the new truck were not available at post time).

This year’s SEMA trade expo runs from November 2-5 and as it stands, the Tacoma X-Runner RTR will likely be a star among truck enthusiasts attending the event. All we’ve got say when it comes to the muscle truck concept is – Ford and GM, are you listening?