Toyota and Subaru are expecting again, but this time it’s not a sports car
Toyota and Subaru are joining forces again, but they're not interested in creating another sports car -- at least not for now. Instead, they're pooling their resources to design a platform capable of underpinning electric sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. The two firms will also jointly design a battery-powered crossover.
For 2020, Toyota is finally fixing the Prius Prime’s two biggest downsides
The Toyota Prius is our favorite hybrid car, but it's not perfect by any means. For the 2020 model year, Toyota is fixing two of its biggest downsides by adding a fifth seat, and by making Apple CarPlay standard. There are no mechanical or visual changes to report, so the polarizing Prius still has a 640-mile range.
Drywall or kayaks? The 2020 Toyota Highlander is ready for your weekend plans
Toyota introduced the 2020 Highlander ahead of its public debut at the 2019 New York Auto Show. The fourth-generation Highlander is bigger than its predecessor, and it comes with more tech features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. It will begin arriving in showrooms in December 2019.
The 2020 Toyota Yaris offers big car tech in a small, Mazda-flavored package
Toyota resurrected the Yaris nameplate with a little bit of help from Mazda. Closely related to the Mazda2 sold overseas, the hatchback now stands out with a sharper design than before, and tech features normally found on bigger, more expensive cars. The 2020 Toyota Yaris will go on sale by the end of 2019.
Toyota Supra is more efficient than its swoopy body, straight-six engine suggest
The 2020 Toyota Supra made its long-awaited debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. The resurrected sports car, famous for a role in The Fast and the Furious, goes on sale in the U.S. this summer. The 2020 Supra, code-named A90, shares a platform with the 2019 BMW Z4 sports car.
Toyota offers automakers free access to 24,000 of its hybrid-vehicle patents
Toyota announced this week it’s offering royalty-free access to almost 24,000 patents related mainly to its hybrid-vehicle technology. The Japanese automaker says it hopes the move will boost the market and ultimately help countries around the world to meet their emissions goals.
The 2019 Toyota C-HR gains a popular tech feature as its price comes down
Toyota has updated the C-HR, its entry-level crossover, by adding an entry-level trim level to the lineup. Every model regardless of price also comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay. Android users are currently out of luck, but that could change in the coming years.
Robot assistants from Toyota and Panasonic gear up for the Tokyo Olympics
As you might expect with a country like Japan, the nation plans to use next year’s Tokyo Olympics to showcase a range of its advanced technologies. Sponsors Toyota and Panasonic are already getting in on the act, recently unveiling several robotic designs that they intend to deploy at the event.
Toyota shoots for the moon with its new lunar rover concept
Toyota announced it will be teaming up with the Japanese space agency to design and built a lunar rover. The two organizations aim to create a manned, pressurized rover suitable for mobility on the moon, using efficient fuel cells that would allow the rover to cruise more than 10,000 kilometers
Caving to buyer demand, Toyota finally begins adding Android Auto to its cars
For years, Toyota refused to offer Android Auto due to valid privacy and security concerns. That's finally changing for the 2020 model year. The 4Runner, the Tacoma, the Sequoia, and the Tundra will all come standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other models will presumably follow.
Toyota aims to turn its grocery-getter RAV4 into a genuine off-roader
Debuting at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road boasts rally-developed suspension and more aggressive styling. But does that make it a true off-road vehicle? Toyota is trying to emphasize off-road capability with the latest RAV4, despite it being a car-based crossover.
Toyota’s aging Sequoia gets a shot of adrenaline with TRD Pro off-road model
The 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro is the latest model in Toyota's TRD Pro line of off-roaders. The Sequoia gets upgraded suspension, and all TRD Pro models get new infotainment systems for 2020. The 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro debuts at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.
Toyota teases new TRD Pro ‘off-road beast’ for Chicago Auto Show
Toyota will add a new model to its TRD Pro lineup of off-road vehicles at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show. The automaker already sells TRD Pro versions of the Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner. The 2020 Tacoma and Land Cruiser Heritage Edition models are also slated to debut in Chicago.
Sibling rivalry: 2019 BMW Z4 takes on the 2020 Toyota Supra
BMW and Toyota formed an unlikely partnership to develop a sports car platform. BMW's variant made its debut as the Z4; Toyota used the architecture to build the fifth-gen Supra. Here, we're looking at performance, design, tech, and pricing to spot the differences and the similarities between the two.
Toyota recalls another 1.3 million vehicles in U.S. over Takata airbags
Toyota is recalling another 1.7 million vehicles globally as part of the ongoing Takata airbag replacement program, with around 1.3 million U.S.-based vehicles affected. The work will be carried out free of charge and Toyota said it will start contacting those affected later this month.
Toyota’s Guardian system aims to help human drivers, not replace them
Toyota believes self-driving cars could still use a human touch. At CES 2019, the Japanese automaker offered more details on its Guardian system, which is designed to assist human drivers. Toyota plans to develop Guardian in parallel with a fully autonomous system called Chauffeur.
Toyota rolls out an updated autonomous car prototype for CES 2019
Toyota's latest autonomous-driving test car, dubbed Platform 4.0 (or P4 for short) is based on the latest Lexus LS luxury sedan. It also features more sensors and greater computing power than its predecessor. The car debuts at CES 2019 and enters Toyota's test fleet later this year.
Would you buy a performance version of the Toyota Corolla hatchback?
Toyota is open to a sporty Corolla hatchback that could rival the Honda Civic Type R or Hyundai Veloster N, according to a new report. But the model doesn't seem to be a priority for Toyota. The automaker is about to launch the highly anticipated Supra sports car, after all.
Thanks to all-wheel drive, the 2019 Toyota Prius is ready for winter
The 2019 Toyota Prius adds all-wheel drive as an option for the first time, which should expand the appeal of this quintessential hybrid car. But the updates may not extend far enough. The 2019 Toyota Prius makes its public debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, which begins on November 30.
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid delivers 50 mpg in a compact package
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid marks the first time a hybrid powertrain has been offered in Toyota's compact car over its 52-year history. The hybrid model is based on the updated 2020 Corolla sedan. Both new 2020 Toyota Corolla models debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
2020 Toyota Corolla sedan aims to offer sharper handling, better tech
The 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan gets the same upgrades as the recently-introduced Corolla hatchback, including a firmer foundation, new engine, and more tech features. Will that be enough to keep the long-lived Corolla nameplate relevant? Like other sedans, the Corolla is in a battle with crossovers.
Toyota’s Corolla Touring Sports Wagon proves that hatchbacks can be pretty, too
Toyota recently revealed a new form of its popular and worldly Corolla model on the web. It’s called the Corolla Touring Sports, and it's basically a full five-door wagon version of the Corolla. It adds itself as the third variant to the twelfth generation of Corolla, next to the five-door hatch and sedan.
Toyota extends a lifeline to Uber’s troubled self-driving car program
Toyota will invest $500 million in Uber, and partner with the ride-sharing company on a new fleet of prototype self-driving cars. The Sienna minivans will use both Toyota and Uber tech, and will be deployed in pilot ridesharing services beginning in 2021, Toyota said in a statement.
Toyota’s 2nd-generation hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck in it for the short haul
Toyota is ready to roll out the second generation of its Project Portal hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck. Version 2.0 can travel 300 miles on a tank of hydrogen, which is 100 miles more than its predecessor. Toyota will continue testing around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Toyota goes big on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with cheaper, mass-market options
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are the future for Toyota. The Japanese automaker is reiterating its commitment to its FCVs by designing cheaper, mass-market passenger cars and SUVs, with goals of bringing the technology into buses and trucks as well. The next generation of its Mirai hydrogen FCV could be coming soon
Massive data breach exposes trade secrets from Tesla, Toyota, and others
Security researcher Chris Vickery found about 47,000 sensitive files posted on a backup server by a Canadian company that specializes in automation. The 157-gigabyte batch included sensitive documents that details how major companies like Ford, Tesla, and Volkswagen build cars. The information has been taken down.
Lexus F performance models could go hybrid electric
Lexus' performance "F" brand is considering a move to hybridized gas-electric powertrains for its future models as the company seeks to better position itself as a true rival to the top automakers from Germany, both from a performance aspect, and in motorsports.
Toyota picks Hawaii for its first app-controlled ridesharing effort
Toyota has chosen Hawaii for its first ridesharing effort. Similar to the likes of Zipcar and Car2go, the new service offers customers 50 vehicles at 25 stations across Honolulu. An app helps you manage rentals and operate the car, with rates starting at $10 an hour or $80 per day.
Toyota’s Century luxury sedan costs as much as two Lexuses
Toyota's most luxurious sedan isn't for sale in the U.S. The 2018 Toyota Century is sold only in Japan in limited quantities. The 2018 Century is built for VIPs who sit in back having their legs massaged while a chauffeur does the driving.
Toyota will use racing tech to build a road-going hypercar
Who said all Toyotas are boring? The Japanese automaker will build a hypercar based on the GR Super Sport concept, using powertrain components lifted from the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning TS050 Hybrid race car. The road-going hypercar may even race at Le Mans eventually.
Toyota wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans after years of near misses
Toyota has come close to winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, arguably the world's most prestigious race, numerous times. But the Japanese automaker has never been able to finish the job. That changed this year, with Toyota taking an emotional 1-2 finish at the legendary French race.
Hellcat-powered Toyota Prius hot rod is what happens when worlds collide
While the Toyota Prius isn't exactly sought-after by enthusiasts, American Racing Headers is here with a Hellcat engine to change that. The V8 engine has been tuned to make 1,000 horsepower and dropped on a custom-fabricated tubular frame. The PriuSRT8 runs the quarter mile in 9.3 seconds.
Subaru will launch its first plug-in hybrid with a little help from Toyota
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid will be the Japanese automaker's first production plug-in hybrid model. It will also be the second Subaru developed in collaboration with Toyota, which will supply the new model's hybrid system. Will it be more successful than the last Crosstrek Hybrid?