A source deep inside Toyota has managed to sneak out some pics and information regarding the facelift for the new Toyota HiLux, with production of the new model starting this month.
Although from what we can gather the only significant change is the slight redesign of the front and minor improvements to the interior.
The Thai-made HiLux will also receive cruise control on SR5 manual transmission double cab models.
New kerb and gross car mass weights have also been updated and are listed below (click on image to enhuge):
What do you think of the updated HiLux?
Posted August 27th, 2008
by admin
Toyota’s popular compact SUV is scheduled for a facelift and our Toyota insider has given us a sneak peak of what we should anticipate from the new model.
New updated models of the new RAV4 are currently being built with the Australian release anticipateed in late September.
Changes are aplenty. As per current model RAV4s an airbag package including front side and curtain airbags is available as an option on 4-cylinder CV grade, and is standard on all other models.
The new additions mean the option pack now includes driver’s knee airbag and front dual zone climate control air conditioning.
Toyota has dropped the moonroof as an option on 4-cylinder Cruiser grade, but it’s now standard on Cruiser L, SX6, and ZR6 variants. Three new exterior colours are also available. Graphite, Liquid Bronze (new to the Toyota range) and Sandstone. The three will replace Storm Grey, Dune and Mist Green.
For the facelift Toyota has updated pretty much everything, although from the pics above, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what has changed. Our source says there has been revisions to the front bumper, headlamps, exterior mirrors, rear bumper, radiator grille, front fog lamps, rear combination lamps as well a range of new alloy wheels.
The headlamps now make use of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as the light source for each of the tail and stop lamps, meanwhile side turn signal lamps have been fitted to the exterior mirrors (moved from the front fenders)
The overall length of the car has increased slightly to 4625mm while kerb weight has also gone up slightly. The interior also receives a new dark silver brushed metallic finish.
A new scuff plate for the upper side of the rear bumper has also been added to prevent scratches.
New wheels for the updated RAV4.
Safety has also been improved with VSC (car stability control), Toyota’s version of ESC, now standard across the entire RAV4 range. Another standard feature is Hill-start assist control. Downhill assist control is also available on all automatic four-cylinder and all V6 models.
Power from the 2.4-litre four-cylinder 2AZ-FE engine now rates at 125kW and 224Nm of torque. The V6 manages 201 killer-wasps and 333Nm of torque.
Official information from Toyota Australia is anticipateed within the next few weeks.
Posted August 27th, 2008
by admin
Part of the misconception with hybrid cars has been the production and disposal of the hybrid batteries. Some simply don’t even think about the process, others have been turned away from hybrid cars as a result. To tackle the problem, Toyota Australia has released some information regarding the process.
The Big T says there has been a recycling process (in Australia) for the battery packs of its hybrid-technology cars for the last seven years.
Toyota organised the battery recycling process well before the Prius launch in 2001. A similar method has been followed around the world where Toyota sells its hybrid cars.
“Toyota Australia regards the batteries as a key ecological issue and has had a recycling solution in place for more than seven years,” Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said
The hybrid Camry, which the federal government is funding to the sum of $35 million dollars, will be produced in Australia from 2010 and uses the same nickel-metal hydride batteries as in Prius.
So what happens when your hybrid battery needs recycling? The more important question should be: will it ever need recycling? So far over 10,000 Prius cars have been sold in Australia and only 17 battery packs have had to be replaced. Three have been completely recycled while the rest are being used for research and training.
If you do happen to be one of the 17 that needed a new battery, Toyota dealers around Australia are the central collection points for batteries, which are then transferred to certified Toyota recycling partners in Australia and overseas at no additional cost to the owner.
Toyota’s Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) batteries don’t contain Cadmium, despite what many think. The plastic, metal and copper wire from the batteries are recycled locally while circuit boards and battery elements are exported for recycling.
In case you’ve an accident and the battery is damaged, Toyota has briefed roadside assistance and emergency service workers how to handle damaged hybrid cars.
Recently a Prius taxi was shown to have managed 500,000km on one single battery. More information on that here.
We are interested and encourage Toyota to release information regarding the amount of CO2 pollution created during the entire production and recycling phase of its hybrid batteries.
Posted August 26th, 2008
by admin
In a press conference in Melbourne yesterday, Ford Motor Co chief Alan Mulally wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Ford’s iconic Falcon switching drive layout.
Speaking to journalists, he noted that Australians were “obsessed with rear-wheel-drive”. And your point is? But the real reason for the push to change, is the global realisation that it makes more economic and environmental sense to utilise front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive layouts.
“All-wheel-drives and front-wheel drives are pretty spectacular and they’re going to continue to get better”, Mulally told Drive.com.au. “We are aggressively transforming our product line to have more fuel-efficient small and medium sized cars and utilities. We’re doing that worldwide.
“The real focus to be successful long term is going to be that you’ve absolutely dynamite smaller cars to support worldwide [consumer demands].”
Mulally did offer hope that Ford Australia would be an engineering base for the global manufacturer, thereby allowing scope for input from Aussie designers. After all, he has been quoted as saying that the current Falcon is a “dynamite car”, and that there’s“going to be a significant market worldwide for the Falcon.”
Whether that’s in rear-wheel-drive, or another platform is unclear at this stage.
“It will be driven by what the customer wants and values, and especially the fuel economy and the performance,” said Mulally.
What do you think? Is it time for the Falcon to switch drive layout?
Posted August 26th, 2008
by admin
Click above for more gruesome shots of gold-plated exoticsDo you ever wonder what company actually does the 24-carat gold plating jobs on those gilded exotic and luxury cars that surface on the web from time to time? Perhaps you’re looking for someone to do the same to your Camry? Alchemist is the appropriately named company behind these works, and its specialty is gold plating just the roof panel, though it will to dip the entire car in gold for the right price. The company is based in London, England and headed by a Frenchman named Jacques Blanc, who will soon be taking a perfectly good Aston Martin DBS and gilding the entire thing with 24-carat gold and platinum-leaf at the upcoming MPH Show in London.
Gallery: Alchemist: Gold Plated Roofs
Posted August 26th, 2008
by admin
Holden is now set to offer its diesel engine in a two-wheel drive Captiva for the first time.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine had previously been available only with all-wheel drive Captiva models.
When coupled with a manual transmission, Holden boasts the new 2WD diesel model leads the medium SUV segment as the most fuel efficient - using 7.2-litres per 100km.
The automatic model returns a slightly less impressive figure, using 8.5-litres per 100km.
“For consumers who want all the benefits of a medium SUV but don’t need the performance of an AWD, the 2WD Captiva SX is the perfect solution,”
At $33,990 for the five-speed manual and $35,990 for the five-speed automatic, the 2WD models represent a $2,000 saving over their equivalent all-wheel drive counterparts.
The five-seater 2WD Captiva diesel is available as an SX model, retaining the trim levels of its AWD equivalents which include Traction Control, Active Rollover Protection, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and six airbags.
The 2WD Captiva SX with automatic transmission is on sale now, with the manual transmission variant scheduled to be in dealerships late September.
Posted August 26th, 2008
by admin
With all the fuzz around the new Fiat 500 that I totally adore, Nokia realized it would be a good marketing move to use a 72 superminis for their ‘Nokia Connectors’ promo tour. How will they be used? Nokia intends to send 250 young people on the UK streets, in parks, on the beaches or at the parties to promote the true potential of their phones and should help the Brits to “unlock the magic in their mobiles”. Nokia is very interested in getting the whole thing rolling, particularly in relation with their new 6220 phone.
I wonder if they’re going to get a bunch of these Fiat 500 or if Apple is going to do anything about it. Maybe they can purchase/rent those marvelous MINI Rickshaws and start a tour to take on Nokia?
via Carscoop
Tags: 500, Fiat, Fiat 500, Nokia, supermini
Posted August 26th, 2008
by admin
Click above for hi-res gallery of the Lada C-Cross conceptThe Moscow Auto Show is underway and Damon’s on site with camera in hand. The car you see here’s the Lada C-Cross Concept, which looks kinda like a Chinese knock-off of a last-gen Euro Ford Focus with added ground clearance. The C-Cross show car presumably gives a sneak peek at what a future AvtoVAZ car-based crossover might look like, and if we’d to guess, a production version probably isn’t too far off. We’ll pass on it, though. Our hearts and minds forever belong to the Lada Niva, whose old-school looks are like visual comfort food. Plus, something tells us that this C-Cross thing wouldn’t do almost as well underwater.
Click above for high-res galleries of models from MoscowWhile Russia’s auto industry is certainly not known for the beauty it produces, the country’s stock of fashion models seems limitless. Standing next to each car on display at this year’s Moscow Motor Show was a maiden who, as you can see in the gallery below, was usually more attractive than the metal against which she was leaning.
click to enhugeTake four of your average Prius hybrids and stick a little color on them - what do you get? A fleet from Big Ink graphics company that’s supposed to express the eco-truth that “Little Things Make a Big Difference.” Does it work? Well, the Big Ink team is certainly excited to save fuel using these can’t miss ‘em cars in and around the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and Big Ink tries to get the cars into the public eye whenever possible. The graphics (get a close-up view in the gallery below) were designed by Image Haus of Minneapolis. Behind the scenes, the company says it recycles tons of waste and paper and offers customers a Zero-Waste Recycling Program that reuses or recycles retail graphics that often have a pretty short shelf life. Not a bad idea in an industry that thrives on churning out new stuff all the time.Gallery: Big Ink Prius fleet
