I admit it - I’m just a weenie when it comes to getting dirty and getting close to nature. Those tiny 6-legged creatures that fly and crawl do not fit in my comfort zone. Mountain biking may be one of favorite sports, but I’m always a hot shower away to returning to my clean suburban home, soft feather mattress, and biodegradable citrus cleaners. Today I took the opportunity to get an intro to off-roading at the Toyota Trail Teams outdoor demo at the Sea Otter Classic in beautiful Monterey, CA. Essentially, the Sea Otter Classic is northern California’s largest cycling event and I was at Laguna Seca for four days covering the event for our sister sites - mtbr.com and roadbikereview.com.

Now, how does a bicycle race fit in with a car review site? Read the rest of this entry »

Troy Sumitomo, founder and president of Five Axis Design, will be making an appearance alongside a collection of his super-modified Scion showcars at the second annual Motoring ‘J’ Style show.

ALAMEDA, Calif., April 16, 2008 - Leading edge contemporary automotive stylist Troy Sumitomo will appear with a collection of his custom Five Axis Scion showcars at Motoring ‘J’ Style. Sumitomo, a California native and founder of Five Axis, has established himself in little over a decade as a rising star in the world of custom automobile design and fabrication. The one-day event, which is dedicated to Japanese car culture, will be held Saturday, May 24, at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo, Calif.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• 268 horsepower V6
• 28 MPG V6
• Serene, silent cabin at highway speed
• Reclining back seat with capricious legroom
• Comfortable leather seats

Dings:

• Blue screen of irritation
• Cheap-looking base audio system
• Not suited for the driving enthusiast

Ruling: Lexus luxury, performance and quality for Toyota price.

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January 14, 2008 – Detroit, MI - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new 2009 Venza crossover sedan at a press conference here today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Venza will raise the crossover vehicle to new levels by combining a unique blend of sedan refinement and sport utility vehicle (SUV) functionality.

“The all-new Venza was developed as a vehicle that combines the styling, comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “This winning combination will be ideal for active ‘boomers’ and young couples with small families.” Read the rest of this entry »

Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Support for K-12 Math and Science Education

December 20, 2007 – New York - The Toyota USA Foundation today announced that it has more than doubled the size of its endowment, from $42 million to $100 million. In 2007, the Foundation gave over $4 million to enhance K-12 math and science teaching throughout the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

Toyota presented the Hybrid-X concept at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show – a concept car that proposes a new design language for hybrid models, while also acting as an innovative technology showcase for future generation hybrid cars.

The Toyota Hybrid-X is designed as a four door, four seat open-space concept. It has the dimensions of a conventional family car with an overall length of 4,500mm and wheelbase of 2,800mm. The width is 1,850mm and height 1,440mm.

Click on the link to read the full article at Diseno-Art.com
Toyota Hybrid-X

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept

The Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept is a sports car concept which could fill a gap in Toyota’s model lineup left vacant since 1997 and the passing of the Toyota Supra.

The Toyota FT-HS Concept could be powered by a 3.5 litre V6 working in conjunction with an electric motor, to allow for around 400 horsepower and performance figures in the 4 seconds to 60mph range.

Click on the link to read the full article at Diseno-Art.com
Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Car

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Source:
Diseno-art.com

November 1, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

LAS VEGAS — Toyota pulled the covers off the 2009 Corolla sedan and Matrix sport wagon today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show here.

The new Corolla, the 10th generation of the world’s best-selling compact sedan, stays about the same size, but its appeal could be greater because of an expanded lineup.

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November 1, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

LAS VEGAS — Toyota’s heavy duty diesel truck rumblings are getting louder.

At the Specialty Equipment Market Association show here, Toyota Motor Corp. quietly parked in its display of wild tuner cars the Tundra Diesel Dually, a concept truck that could be the company’s template for its expected entry into the heavy-duty pickup market. Read the rest of this entry »

Toyota’s oldest, burliest nameplate gets a makeover

Toyota may have sold only 3376 Land Cruisers in the United States last year, but the venerable nameplate boasts a longer history on these shores than any other vehicle on the Japanese maker’s roster, with a single unit selling alongside 287 Toyopets in 1958-the year Toyota began selling vehicles in America.

It’s appropriate, then, that the launch of the seventh-generation Land Cruiser accompanies Toyota’s 50th year stateside.

The Land Cruiser trades in its 4.7-liter engine for the Tundra’s meaty 5.7-liter V8, which gives the behemoth an additional 116 hp and 73 lb-ft more torque to drag around its 5690-pound curb weight. Output now peaks at 381 hp and 401 lb-ft.

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Click on the link to view the video interview with Toyota’s Jim Lentz responding to the Consumer Reports ratings.

Video Interview

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Source:
Automotive News

Related article: Consumer Reports says Toyota reliability slips