Automotive News Europe

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. Said on Tuesday it aims to sell 36,000 units a year of its new hybrid Sai sedan in Japan, taking another step towards its goal of selling 1 million hybrid vehicles annually worlwide soon after 2010.

The Sai is the second hybrid-only model under the Toyota brand after the Prius and is a repackaged version of the Lexus HS250h, which went on sale in June.

The Sai is bigger and more expensive than the Prius and will go on sale in Japan on Dec. 7. Prices will start at 3.38 million yen ($37.290), compared with the HS250h's starting price of 3.96 million yen.

Toyota said it had no plans to export the Sai, which will be built by unit Toyota Motor Kyushu in southern Japan.

The Sai has a listed mileage of 23 km/liter (54 mgp), or twice that of a comparable gasoline car, chief engineer Shigeru Nakagawa told a news conference.

Toyota said the Sai concept was derived from a Japanese character meaning talent and coloration.

Toyota is still miles ahead of competitors in the fast-growing hybrid field, which has enjoyed tailwinds especially in Japan thanks to generous subsidies and reduced taxes on cleaner cars.

It expects to sell 500,000 to 600,000 hybrid vehicles globally this year, while facing a short-term battery supply bottleneck for anything further.

Korean Launch

Toyota also on Tuesday launched its brand in South Korea, a market dominated by Hyunday Motor Co. And affiliate Kia Motors.

Toyota will sell the Prius and Camry hybrids, as well as the RAV4 sports utility vehicle and non-hybrid version of the Camry, its most popular sedan.

Toyota expects to sell a combined 500 vehicles per month initially in South Korea, and ims to raise that to a still-modest 700 units beginning in 2010.

"The introduction of the Toyota brand into South Korea is aimed to meet the diversifying needs of consumers in this growing market," Toyota Excecutive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo told a news conference.

Hyunday has been grabbing market share globally from Toyota and other major automakers, winning over customers with its line of cheap, fuel-efficient models and catchy marketing campaigns.

In July, Hyundai launched its first hybrid in the South Korean market, a liquefied petroleum gas-electric vehicle, and is due to launch its first gasoline-electric hybrid, a version of the flagship Sonata, in the latter half of 2010.

Source: www.autonews.com

2010 Toyota Sienna: Versatile Minivan Offers Convenience, Safety

Toyota's Sienna minivan brings the automaker's high quality and top safety standards to the competitive family van segment. The wide choice of model grades, an array of standard equipment and a variety of thoughtful features, make Sienna an impressive value.

Last year, Sienna received the following upgrades and enhancements: two new exterior colors, Super White and Blizzard Pearl; available 17-inch wheels for LE models; and a modified LE Premium Package which includes: 360-watt JBL Synthesis AM/FM/CD with six-disc changer with six speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and rear seat entertainment system.

Offered in CE, LE, XLE and Limited trim levels and available in front- and all-whell-drive configurations, the Toyota minivan is powered by a 3.5L V-6 engine connect to a silky-shifting five-speed automatic transmission.

Sienna's suspension hardware consists of independent MacPherson strusts that control the front suspension while the rear features a torsion beam setup. Front and rear stabilizer bars work to keep the minivan stable and predictable.

Inside the cabin, extensive use of sound damping materials and superior aerodynamics set an impressive standard in low NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) characteristics. Big, clear and uncluttered displays greet the driver. Controls and switches are convenient and easy to use. The driver enjoys a commanding view of the road. A universal mini-jack port is standard on all audio systems and allows connectivity to most portable music players.

The Sienna has two regular AC outlets for applances-115 watt in front and 100 watt in the cargo areat at the rear. The wide openings oe the dual sliding doors combine with hand grips in the "B" pilar to facility entry and exit. The flat interior floor increases the versality of the available interior space. Seating is comfortable in all rows.


By Ken Chester Jr., www.startribune.com

Best Car Lease Deals: November 2009

Now is not a bad time to consider leasing. With sales in an expected post-Cash-for-Clunkers-slump, dealers are looking to move cars any way they can, either through a traditional purchase or through leasing.


Why does leasing make sense now? Carmakers are engineering innovative, more fuel-efficient cars and bringing international best-sellers to the U.S.., meaning that your car-buying options may look very different in two or three years.

If you're wondering why you would buy a car only to own a dinosaur in three years, leasing could be the right option for you.

Even better, monthly lease payments are typically less than what you'd pay each month if you financed a new car, making a leased car slightly easier to fit into a monthly budget.

We've compiled some of the best lease deals that automakers have this month. If you don't see one that works for you, contact a dealer to see what kind of new car lease they can offer you.

Toyota. Toyota runs all specials by region. Contact local Toyota dealers to see what incentives are available in your area.

Most notable Toyota lease offer this month is a whopper... Only $239 per month on Sienna, available in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Honda. The $199 per month deals are still available this month for most Civic models (non-hybrid) and for the Insight hybrid. A bare-bones Civic VP model can be yours for only $159 per month.

Volkswagen. For the first time in several moths, VW is backing down from many of its lease specials. The company is touting low APR on purchases this month, instead.

Nissan. The Rogue is still available at the $199 per month rate this month, in select regions.

BMW. BMW is offering 3-Series and 1-Series leases for under $400 per month.

The Rest. Infiniti and Lexus offer some lease specials this month while Hyundai, Ford and GM are focusing on rebates and financing deals instead.

If you're looking to lease a car, you're in the right place. We stay on top of the latest and greatest lease deals car makers are offering. If you're looking to purchase a car, check out more of this month's best car deals for cash back and financing offers.


Source: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com

Toyota Reviews

Toyota will show off the new FT-86 'Toyobaru' - its new joint project with Subaru to build an affordable, rear-wheel drive sports coupe. The FT-86 will from the centrespiece of the 2009 Tokyo motor show later this month.

Although dubbed a concept car, CAR understands the new Toyota FT-86 is in fact a near-production ready model that will launch Toyota back into the sports coupe market to battle the VW Scirocco and Honda CRZ. It's pretty compact at just 4160mm long and 1760mm wide, making it smaller than a TT or Scirocco.

The FT-86-hachi roku in Japanese-seats five and its design clearly draws from the dramatic Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports concept shown at the 2007 Detroit show. The nose in particular borrows the white bombshell's snowplough front end and surfacing familiar to owners of the diddy Toyota iQ. Unlike the FT-HS which was designed in the US, the FT-86 is credited to Toyota's French ED2 studio.

What's that Toyota FT-86 name all about?

It referencer the Corolla AE-86, a rear-drive coupe that became Japan's rally car in the 1980. The Mk2 Escort from the East, if you will, and it's gone on to great things in the Jap drift scene.

Make no mistake, Toyota could be on to a good thing making the FT-86 rear-drive. All the existing competition in the £20k bracket sports coupe market are front drive, sharing hatchback underpinnings. The fast Toyota stands out.