Toyota News and Features 24 November 2017

The latest from the UK and overseas

Click the “read more” links to access the full stories and pictures.

Get the latest Toyota media news first – sign up for our email service here

Robots large, and little
Toyota’s Partner Robot Division has produced a new, third generation humanoid robot that has the potential to help people at home, in hospital and perhaps even in outer space. The T-HR3 debuts new technology that copies the operator’s hand, arm and leg movements. Read more here.

Not to be left out, Toyota’s cute Kirobo Mini palm-sized robot mini has just gone on sale nationwide in Japan. Read more here

Celebrating 20 years of Prius
As the original standard-bearer for Toyota’s pioneering hybrid technology, Prius can be proud of its achievements in reshaping the automotive landscape in the past 20 years. Toyota is paying tribute to the model’s many accomplishments in a dedicated anniversary website here.

50,000 miles of Mirai magic

Britain’s hardest-working Mirai hydrogen fuel cell saloon has just clocked up 50,000 miles of pollution-free service on the streets of London. Read more here.

Mapping motorists’ attitudes to automated technology
Advanced vehicle technologies and automated driving systems are big news right now, but what do motorists think of them and how will they use them? Those are among the questions being addressed by five new research projects being launched by Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Centre in the US, working with leading American research institutions. The aim is to support and inform a safe transition to future mobility. Read more here.

EVs for India…
Toyota has signed a memorandum of understanding with fellow Japanese manufacturer Suzuki with a view to working together to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) to the Indian car market, from around 2020. Specifically, Suzuki will produce the vehicles and supply a number to Toyota, while Toyota provides technical support to the project. Read more here.

…and for China, too
Toyota is preparing an EV for China, to be marketed under its own brand from 2020, expanding an alternative powertrain programme in the country that has already produced around 100,000 hybrid vehicles using locally manufactured systems. Plug-in models are also under development and a feasibility study for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is to be extended to cover commercial vehicles, including buses. Read more here.

Season’s end for Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota Gazoo Racing wound up their FIA World Endurance Championship year with an impressive fifth victory in Bahrain. Meanwhile the TGR World Rally Team closed a superb debut year of world-class competition in Australia. Read more here and here.

LA Auto Show latest
Toyota will reveal a new Adventure Concept, the FT-AC at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. The wraps will come off the SUV study on 30 November. Read more here.

Global green grants
The latest green schemes to benefit from the Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Programme have been announced. The 2017 beneficiaries include 10 international and 10 Japanese projects, working across a wide range of conservation and education initiatives, including forestry and biodiversity, the restoration of coral reefs and protection of rare flower species. Read more here.

Best of the Blog: The world’s best Land Cruiser?
The 40-Series Land Cruiser models are among the most sought-after Japanese collectors’ cars, with their simple but effective retro design and unquestionably rugged performance. Now the best qualities of the original have been faithfully reinterpreted in a new Signature model produced by specialists at the FJ Company. Toyota’s blog found out more about what this remarkable machine has to offer. Read more here.

Media website updates                                  

No updates this week.

Images and video resources
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 and to view and download material.

Toyota social media channels

You can find much more Toyota content at: –

Official Toyota UK media website

Official Toyota UK blog

Official Toyota UK Facebook page

Official Toyota GB Twitter @toyotagb

Official Toyota UK YouTube channel