RECAP: a digest of recent Toyota news
The product news is led by a first glimpse of the new Yaris Toyota will be releasing this summer. Early details and images show the sharper design, part of a comprehensive upgrade that include a reworked cabin with higher quality materials and better handling. The prospects look good for Yaris consolidating its place as a top-10 seller in the UK.
New Aygo is also heading our way, with a re-engineered version of its multi-award-winning 1.0-litre engine that benefits from the latest Toyota technology to improve efficiency and performance.
At the other end of the scale from Aygo, the TS040 Hybrid race car enjoyed a dream competition debut, coming home in a 1-2 finish in the Six Hours of Silverstone and netting the famous Tourist Trophy for Toyota Racing.
Toyota Motor Corporation has published its production and sales results for the 2013/214 financial year. The figures reveal that Toyota worldwide sales – across all the brands in the corporation – exceeded 10 million units for the first time in a 12-month period.
The Corolla might not be sold in the UK any more, but worldwide it keeps breaking records. The latest is to amass more global sales in the past year than any other model range, taking its all-time total close to 42 million – and counting.
A new chapter in Toyota’s history begins next year when it brings its first zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to market. Top Toyota executives have been talking about the importance of the new model, which has the potential to emulate the success of the company’s world-leading hybrid technology.
Does anyone read their car’s handbook? And if they do, does it always explain things clearly enough? To help its customers make the most of the new Toyota Touch 2 multimedia and navigation systems, Toyota has come up with a series of clear and simple “how-to” videos, the online equivalent of having an expert at your beck and call.
Did you know?
China is regarded as a crucial new market for many of the world’s leading manufacturers, but Toyota has been selling cars there since 1964 and building them in joint ventures with Chinese businesses since 2000. It celebrated the 50th anniversary in a special presentation at the Beijing motor show, where it announced new hybrid models would be built in China, using locally manufactured hybrid components.
Remember when?
There hasn’t been a Corolla-badged model in Toyota’s UK model range since Auris took its place as the core compact hatchback in the line-up in 2007. The changeover was the start of a significant new period for Toyota’s UK manufacturing operations, with further investment that led to the production of the company’s first hybrid model in Europe from 2010. Today Toyota’s Burnaston factory builds all Auris models for Europe – hatchbacks, wagons (the Touring Sports) and hybrids.
Picture this
Visit the Images section of our media website, media.toyota.co.uk, for a comprehensive collection of current model shots, concepts and news pictures for easy download for editorial use. For film footage, click on the Videos tab to access the library, view and download material.
And there’s more…
You can find much more Toyota content at: –
Official UK media website
Official Toyota UK blog
Official Toyota UK Facebook page
Official Toyota GB Twitter @toyotagb
Official Toyota UK YouTube channel
Official Toyota UK Instagram channel
