24 Apr 2010
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2011 Scion iQ by Five Axis Spices up 2010 New York Auto Show


Just the Facts:

 

  • 2011 Scion iQ by Five Axis debuted at the New York auto show.
  • Exterior details include Titanium paint and black chrome accents, and a Five Axis flare and aero kit.
  • Performance upgrades include a TRD custom big brake kit and a Tein suspension.

 

NEW YORK — The 2010 New York Auto Show got a touch of SEMA, courtesy of the 2011 Scion iQ by Five Axis.

 

Scion says “elegance and sophistication were the primary influences for the iQ showcar,” which made its show debut on Wednesday.

 

Exterior details include Titanium paint and black chrome accents, along with a Five Axis flare and aero kit.

 

The cabin gets custom leather-trimmed seats and door inserts and an ultrasuede EcoDesign headliner.

 

Performance upgrades include a TRD custom big brake kit and a Tein suspension. The iQ showcar rides on 18-inch Yokohama S.drive tires.

 

Inside Line says: Five Axis works its magic on the Scion iQ. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent

 

(Source: Edmunds Inside Line)

24 Apr 2010
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2011 Scion iQ: 2010 New York Auto Show

Just the Facts:

 

  • The tiny Toyota iQ is being rebranded as a Scion for the American market.
  • At 120 inches in total length, the iQ will be one of the smallest cars sold in the U.S.
  • Because of its diminutive size, Toyota is outfitting the iQ with lots of safety gear, including 10 airbags.

 

NEW YORK — The Toyota iQ urban commuter already has undergone one permutation, resurfacing in Europe as the pricey Aston Martin Cygnet. Through another metamorphosis, the little hatchback is being transformed for the American market into the 2011 Scion iQ, arriving at U.S. dealers in early 2011.

 

For the U.S. market, the four-passenger iQ will be powered by Toyota’s 90-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine, driving the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Projected EPA city fuel economy will be “in the high 30s,” according to Toyota.

 

When it hits these shores early next year, the iQ will be one of the smallest cars sold in the States. Measuring just 120 inches long overall, the baby Scion is nearly 4 feet shorter than its boxy stablemate, the Scion xB, although it is still 14 inches longer than the two-place Smart Fortwo.

 

To downplay the vehicle’s ultra-compact dimensions, Toyota is fitting loads of standard safety gear, including stability and traction control, ABS with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, plus 10 airbags, including an industry-first rear-window air curtain.

 

Music lovers should enjoy the standard six-speaker audio system, which comes with USB and auxiliary inputs, as well as steering-wheel controls.

 

Inside Line says: Hopefully, it will be priced below the Cygnet. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

 

(Source: Edmunds Inside Line)

24 Apr 2010
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Scion tC Convertible: First Look at the Youth Brand’s Future Drop Top

As Scion’s most popular model, the tC coupe already has 30 percent of the Toyota sub-brand’s sales under its low beltline. In convertible form, the tC coupe would be the car to help Scion recover its lost youth-oriented appeal…


Just the Facts:

 

  • Scion could launch a tC convertible in 2012.
  • The new drop top would be based on the redesigned 2011 tC coupe.
  • It would be the first convertible for the Scion division.

 

TORRANCE, California — After a product drought that has lasted too long to be considered cool, Scion unveiled a redesigned tC coupe last month at the 2010 New York Auto Show. It’s the first time the brand-leading coupe has been revamped since its 2004 launch. Now sources tell Inside Line that the tC lineup could expand to include a convertible model in 2012.

 

Should the car make it to production, it would not only be Scion’s first convertible, it would also be the only drop top sold at Toyota/Scion stores, as the Camry Solara went out of production recently.

 

The future Scion tC convertible is expected to share the 2011 tC coupe’s new 180-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual or a six-speed sequential-shift automatic, both of which are new for 2011. Those engines, of course, power the four-seater’s front wheels.

 

As Scion’s most popular model, the tC coupe already has 30 percent of the Toyota sub-brand’s sales under its low beltline. In convertible form, the tC coupe would be the car to help Scion recover its lost youth-oriented appeal. The entry-level convertible market isn’t exactly rife with options, and the tC convertible is bound to be nicely packaged with a power-operated soft top, as Scion has a history of giving its buyers a lot for a little.

 

With the base-level 2010 tC coupe priced at just over $17,000, the tC convertible is expected to cost under $20,000, significantly undercutting other youthful drop tops including the Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper and Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder.

 

Inside Line says: Scion suffered its lowest market share since 2004 last month, and it’s obvious that the once-youth-oriented brand needs more than a small shot of cool injected into its struggling lineup. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor

 

(Source: Edmunds Inside Line)

24 Apr 2010
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“Bloodshot” 2011 Scion tC by Five Axis: 2010 New York Auto Show

Just the Facts:

  • Scion unveiled the racy 2011 tC by Five Axis at the N.Y. auto show.
  • The customized Scion sported a “Bloodshot” custom paint job.
  • Details include a 4-inch wide-body conversion and 20-inch Yokohama tires.

NEW YORK — Decked out in “Bloodshot” custom paint, a 2011 Scion tC by Five Axis made its debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show. The customizer said the modified tC carries a “high-performance, racing theme.”

Details include a 4-inch wide-body conversion, a Tein adjustable coil-over suspension, a TRD custom Big Brake kit and 20-inch Yokohama Advan Sport tires.

The cabin gets Five Axis trim, custom leather-trimmed seats and Chilewich floor mats.

Inside Line says: The eye-popping paint job alone is worth a stop at the Scion exhibit in the Big Apple. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent

(Source: Edmunds Inside Line)

24 Apr 2010
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2011 Scion tC: 2010 New York Auto Show

 

Just the Facts:

 

  • The 2011 Scion tC will include a more powerful engine and new transmissions.
  • The new 2.5-liter four will make 180 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque.
  • The new tC will also include 18-inch alloy wheels and larger brakes.

 

NEW YORK — The Scion tC gets its first major overhaul this fall, when the 2011 edition arrives at U.S. dealers. The sporty coupe will feature a larger, more powerful engine and new transmissions.

 

As part of its first major redesign since its 2004 launch, the tC is being fitted with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 180 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque, compared with 161 hp and 162 lb-ft for the 2.4-liter unit that powers the current model. Toyota said the 2.5 also will get better fuel economy and will be equipped with a sport-tuned exhaust system.

 

Two new transmissions, a six-speed manual and a six-speed sequential-shift automatic, replace the current five-speed manual and four-speed automatic.

The 2011 tC rides on a new platform with a lower ride height than its predecessor. Suspension is via MacPherson struts in front and double wishbones in the rear. Eighteen-inch alloy rims and larger brakes are part of the package, along with a new electronic power steering.

 

Under the new sheet metal, the tC sports a roomier cockpit with new sport bucket seats, redesigned instrument cluster, three-spoke steering wheel, standard panoramic moonroof and an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with eight speakers and steering-wheel-mounted controls.

 

Among the standard safety features for 2011 are ABS, stability and traction control, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, as well as active front headrests and eight airbags.

 

Inside Line says: Sportier, safer and more sophisticated. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

 

(Source: Edmunds Inside Line)

21 Apr 2010
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2010 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid First Drive

2010 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Picture

At the Frankfurt auto show last fall, the 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid was revealed, sending the message that Toyota had taken the next step toward the electric future. Now Toyota has brought 150 examples of the car to the U.S. as part of a demonstration program, putting them into the hands of assorted government and educational institutions in order to collect data about real-world use, establish warranty standards and promote the establishment of charging stations in urban areas.


We had a chance to drive a couple of these demonstration units before the program got into full swing. The cars are not mules or concept vehicles, but perfectly finished units. And it turns out that the Prius PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle, in Toyota techspeak), drives and feels just like a regular Prius. Which is a good thing, really.
Continue reading “2010 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid First Drive” »

21 Apr 2010
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Toyota Tacoma + Apple = World’s first iPad in-car installation

Toyota Tacoma and an IpadYou knew it wouldn’t be long before somebody tried to install the new Apple iPad in their ride. Well, it’s already happened, and the “somebody” in this case is…

You knew it wouldn’t be long before somebody tried to install the new Apple iPad in their ride. Well, it’s already happened, and the “somebody” in this case is Doug Bernards of SoundMan Car Audio in Santa Clarita, California. The team’s ride of choice for what is claimed to be the world’s first automotive iPad install is a Toyota Tacoma pickup.SoundMan decided to use a McIntosh amp for the build, naturally. The team was among the first to receive an iPad, and they got to work immediately. The video chronicling the installation is after the jump.

Besides the iPad, the system consists of an Audison Bit One processor, the McIntosh six-channel amplifier, an Onkyo ND-S1 and “a special iPod dock which allows the digital signal to be pulled from the iPad and distributed to the BitOne via optical output.”As the blurb on the company’s website puts it:

“We chose to use the iPad as the only source for the vehicles entertainment system. The dock connector will plug into a cable that runs to a Onkyo ND-S1 which will send the digital signal from the iPad directly into an Audison Bit One. The Bit One will then act as the D/A converter, and will also process the audio signal. The Bit One also has a great controller for adjusting the volume and audio settings. The amplifier we chose is the McIntosh MCC406M. Stay tuned for the rest of the build. You’ll be able to find all the pictures and videos on this page as they become available.”

(Source: Autoblog)

21 Apr 2010
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FT-86 Pricing Update

Toyota FT-86Toyota touts its hotly anticipated FT-86 coupe as a quick, light and attractive sports car for the masses. One of its strongest selling points is a price tag…

Toyota touts its hotly anticipated FT-86 coupe as a quick, light and attractive sports car for the masses. One of its strongest selling points is a price tag that reportedly hovering somewhere around $20,000 in base form, making the rear-drive coupe an affordable option for cash-strapped enthusiasts.

However, a report from Autocar claims that higher than expected development costs could derail any dreams of a good looking, inexpensive FT-86. The British site sites unnamed Toyota sources as saying that the base price of the little coupe has shot from £13,000 ($20,000 in U.S. funds) to £15,000 ($23,000 U.S.), with a range-topper coming in at £17,000 ($26,000 U.S.). Further, Autocar reports that Toyota sports vehicle department head Tetsuya Tada says that the company has increased the targeted FT-86 age group has been bumped by a full 10 years from the 30s to the 40s.
If the report turns out to be true, we’re sure there will be more than a few disappointed enthusiasts out there. But if Toyota still delivers on the attractive, lightweight, rear driver, we’re sure we can find it in our hearts to forgive an extra few thousand green-backs. 

(Source: Autoblog)

08 Mar 2010
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Toyota prices the redesigned 2011 Avalon

Toyota has officially announced pricing for the updated 2011 Avalon which made its public debut at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.

Toyotahas officially announced pricing for the updated 2011 Avalon which made its public debut at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.

The Avalon, which goes on sale later this month, starts at $32,245, which is the same starting MSRP as the outgoing 2010 model. Higher-grade Limited models start at $35,485, which represents an increase of $200 over the 2010 model. All Avalons use Toyota’s 3.5-liter V6 with VVT-i dual variable valve timing, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Aside from the slightly revised styling, 2011 Avalons feature plusher interior amenities, as well as more up-to-date technological features.

Pricing for the Avalon does not include destination charge of $750.
Continue reading “Toyota prices the redesigned 2011 Avalon” »

20 Jan 2010
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RAV4 Beats the Competion (Again) in Latest “Car and Driver” Comparison

In 2008 “Car and Driver” pitted the RAV4 against more than a half dozen of its rivals in the small SUV category.  It emerged victorious with a close win over its nearest rival the Honda CR-V.

Two years later the same magazine did another comparison test with seven more rivals, some newly introduced, to challenge the RAV4 V6 AWD.  Once again the RAV4 emerged victorious and this time the results weren’t close, “in 2008, a four-cylinder RAV4 defeated all of its closest competitors. Twenty-four months later, a six-cylinder RAV4 repeats the feat. By day two of our four-day drive, no one knew which vehicles would finish in second through eighth places. Yet everyone knew where the Toyota would finish.”

There is simply no better vehicle in its class than the RAV4!

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