News In Brief

• Toyota number one for reliability
• Rear view monitor and park assist option for Toyota Previa
• 2004 model year Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon gains advanced technology features
• Exported Avensis proves instant hit with Japanese customer

TOYOTA NAMED TOP MANUFACTURER IN RELIABILITY STUDY

Toyota has been named the best-performing manufacturer in a new nationwide reliability survey. The Fleet News annual FN50 study analysed data on more than 790,000 vehicles, provided by multi-marque car leasing companies. In terms of the number of breakdowns per 100 cars, Toyota performed better than any other manufacturer.

The all-round success of the Toyota family was sealed with Lexus taking third place in the survey, ahead of all other prestige brands. Further honours were gained in the “most reliable car” section of the report where the Toyota Avensis was placed second, the Lexus IS200 third and the Toyota Yaris fourth. The Toyota Corolla was also placed inside the top 10.

The results emphasise both the superior quality and durability of Toyota products and the high standard of British manufacturing. Engines for the Avensis and Corolla are assembled at Toyota’s Deeside plant in North Wales and the cars themselves are built at its factory at Burnaston, near Derby

FULL MAP NAVIGATION AND REAR VIEW MONITOR SYSTEM

The Toyota Previa people carrier is now available with a full map satellite navigation system with ETA and a rear view monitor system with park assist for safe and simple reverse parking.

The two features are combined in a single package and are operated by means of a six-and-a-half-inch touch-screen LCD mounted in the centre of the dashboard. The navigation system is DVD-based, providing quick response and allowing for journeys to be programmed across Europe without having to change discs en route.

The rear view monitor function is activated automatically when the driver selects reverse gear and operates in two modes. A miniature rear-facing camera transmits a full colour image from behind the vehicle to the display screen. In the Manual Assist Mode, the image is overlaid with fixed guidelines which indicate the correct path to follow into a parking space or garage. The guidelines can be removed from the screen at the touch of a switch.

In the Reverse Parking Assist Mode, the guidelines move in line with the vehicle, showing the driver the correct steering angle required to park neatly and efficiently in a chosen space.

The Full Map Navigation and Rear View Monitor System with Park Assist are available now as an option on the Previa T Spirit models, priced £750.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FEATURES FOR 2004 LAND CRUISER AMAZON

The Land Cruiser Amazon, the ultimate Toyota 4×4, now benefits from a series of new advanced technology features for improved performance and convenience.

On sale now, the 2004 model year Amazon comes as standard with BluetoothTM telephone interface, integrated into the vehicle’s multi-information display. This allows compatible mobile telephones to be operated hands-free, without the need for a cradle or cable connection. Up to four separate on-board telephones can be registered with the on-board system.

The Amazon’s DVD-based satellite navigation system has been upgraded to provide a number of useful additional functions. These include a “whole route” display option, the ability to programme the intersection of two streets as your destination and a telephone number search function. A “compass mode” screen can also be activated, showing the direction of travel and data on the vehicle’s current location.

The Amazon is also now equipped with a rear view monitor system. On selecting reverse gear, a full colour image from behind the vehicle is transmitted to the display screen.

The 4.2-litre turbodiesel manual and automatic versions now benefit from the trip computer system already installed in the 4.7-litre V8 petrol model and the diesel auto transmission is now five-speed, in line with the V8. By adopting the new gearbox, acceleration, fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions are all improved, as detailed below.

New on the road prices for the Land Cruiser Amazon:

UK-BUILT AVENSIS IS BIG IN JAPAN

Exports of the British-built Avensis to Japan have quickly proved a success with first month sales way above official targets. The car, designed and built as Toyota’s European flagship, went on sale in Japan on 6 October. By 5 November around 4,500 units had been sold, two-and-a-half times more than Toyota Motor Corporation anticipated.

TMC attributes the strong performance to the car’s special appeal, blending the best aspects of European and Japanese quality and performance. It is also competitively priced, compared to other imported models.

Here in Britain the new Avensis continues to perform strongly with more than 16,400 sales since launch at the beginning of March.

ENDS