Toyota News and Features 6 February 2017
The latest from the UK and overseas
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Toyota production and sales
Toyota built 10,213,486 vehicles in 2016, a figure that includes Lexus and Daihatsu vehicles and Hino trucks. In the same period its group sales reached 10,175,000 units. Total vehicle production outside Japan grew for the fifth year running, helped by higher manufacturing outputs at European plants. Read more here.
Three-up at Le Mans
Toyota’s 2017 World Endurance Championship campaign will step up a gear with three cars set to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours and the race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The extra car has prompted a driver reshuffle, with Argentinian José Maria López – three-time World Touring Car Champion – joining the Toyota Gazoo Racing squad. Read more here.
Fuel cell fork lifts
Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology is not reserved for road-going cars such as Mirai, it’s also being applied to fork lift trucks. Two machines have just gone into service at the Motomachi plant in Japan, helping reduce manufacturing emissions with their clean operation. Toyota aims to have up to 180 of the fuel cell fork lifts in action by the end of the decade. Read more here.
New engine to debut in Yaris
Yaris will be the first model to feature a new 1.5-litre petrol engine, a member of Toyota’s ESTEC family of high-efficiency powerplants. The 110bhp four-cylinder unit is set to deliver a 12 per cent improvement in fuel economy, compared to the 1.33-litre engine it is replacing. Read more here.
Worldwide action on hydrogen power
Toyota has joined 13 global industry leaders to form a new, international Hydrogen Council to promote the use of hydrogen power as means of helping meet climate goals. Read more here.
Meanwhile the company is hosting a hydrogen technology awareness campaign in Canada, led by the Mirai fuel cell saloon. Mirai was on show last week at the Montreal motor show, prior to a nationwide tour demonstrating Toyota’s advanced powertrain and its ability to operate seamlessly in extreme cold conditions. Read more here.
Invincible X tops Land Cruiser range
A new Invincible X model has been introduced as the new range-topping Land Cruiser in the UK, sporting a new exterior style elements and a set of black 18-inch Pinnacle alloy wheels. Read more here.
Oval hero unveiled
The Toyota Camry will be back in NASCAR racing action in North America in 2018, ready to defend Toyota’s manufacturers’ championship title. The new car was unveiled at the same time as the USA had first sight of the new road-going Camry at the Detroit motor show. Read more here.
Toyota C-HR in the frame
The head-turning looks of the new Toyota C-HR provided plenty of creative inspiration for a group of European photographers and Instagrammers who captured the new crossover on the streets of Madrid. Read more here.
Best of the Blog: the original Toyota drop-top
Toyota has designed plenty of open-top cars over the years, none as rare as the original AB Phaeton, one of the first models to be built by the company back in the 1930s. The blog visited the Toyota museum to learn all about its beautifully restored example. 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 UK media website
Official Toyota UK blog
Official Toyota UK Facebook page
Official Toyota GB Twitter @toyotagb
Official Toyota UK YouTube channel
