RECAP: a digest of recent Toyota news
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Toyota has been ringing the changes in the heart of its model range, following up the introduction of new Auris and Verso with the 2013-specification Avensis and the first Auris estate car, Auris Touring Sports.
Changes to Avensis are modest, but both saloon and tourer adopt Toyota’s new grade names: Active, Icon, Icon Plus and Excel. The Auris Touring Sports range is due in showrooms in July, but prices and specifications have already been released. It will mark a first in its part of the market by offering a full hybrid as well as petrol and diesel versions. All will be built at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in Derbyshire, alongside the Auris hatch and Avensis.
There was more good news for Toyota’s latest arrivals with top five-star safety rating for both Auris and RAV4 in Euro NCAP’s independent crash testing programme.
This year’s Geneva motor show gave some hints at what customers might be seeing from Toyota in the future. Top crowd-puller was the FT-86 Open concept a soft-top interpretation of the GT86 coupe, presented to gauge public opinion. Less sporty, but using sophisticated new technology, the i-Road is a three-wheeled all-electric city car that seats two in a compact cabin, ideal for negotiating crowded city streets. Proving it’s more than just a show car, i-Road is to take part next year in a major urban transport trial Toyota is supporting in Grenoble, France.
The GT86 has commanded high praise from commentators and customers alike since its launch. Those who want something even more special can now opt for the GT86 TRD, which comes with an array of authentic TRD styling and performance accessories – available in the UK for the first time.
Toyota is famous for its leadership in environmental matters, in particular for vehicle technologies that have helped transform the marketplace. Its green focus extends equally to all areas of its business, including its vehicle showrooms and workshops. An energy efficiency programme for the UK network of Toyota and Lexus Centres has already achieved significant success, reducing the overall carbon footprint by 15 per cent in 2012 and setting the pace for a 20 per cent cut by the end of 2014.
Toyota technology is not just for the open road. Last week Toyota Motor Corporation presented a new “virtual anchor” at the Japan International Boat Show, a power control system that monitors sea and wind conditions and GPS location data to help hold a leisure boat in place.
Toyota continues to develop export markets for the models its builds in North America. Its plants in the USA and Canada are shipping vehicles to more than 20 countries and regions worldwide, with the latest development being the delivery of the Venza large crossover to Russia and Ukraine.
ENDS
