>>Toyota Avensis

Toyota Avensis

Toyota Avensis
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1998-present
Predecessor	Toyota Carina E
Successor	None
Class	Large family car
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 5-door estate 5-door liftback
Engine(s)	Petrol: 1.6 L I4 1.8 L I4 2.0 L I4 2.4 L I4 Diesel: 2.0 L turbodiesel I4 2.2 L turbodiesel I4

The Toyota Avensis is a large family car built in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by Japanese automaker Toyota since the 1998 model year. It is the successor of the Carina E and is available as a four-door saloon, five-door liftback and estate. A large MPV called the Toyota Avensis Verso (Toyota Ipsum in Japan and previously the Toyota Picnic in other markets) is built in derby in the uk on a separate platform. The Avensis is the basis for the youth-oriented, North American-market Scion tC.

Name

Suggests near-Latin avena, oats, becoming the word for any stalk, then a shepherd's pan flute made of reeds. It has the -ensis ending which is commonly used to make a noun into an adjective. Brings to mind a simple sunny world of shepherds abiding in the fields.

First generation (1997-2003)

First generation
Production	1998-2003
Wheelbase	2630 mm (103.5 in)
Length	Estate: 4600 mm (181.1 in) Others: 4520 mm (178 in)
Width	1710 mm (67.3 in)
Height	Estate: 1500 mm (59.1 in) Others: 1425 mm (56.1 in)
Related	Toyota Caldina

Toyota introduced the Avensis nameplate on its all-new car which was launched at the end of 1997. Like its predecessor, the Avensis was built at the Burnaston factory in Derby. At the same time, production of the five-door Toyota Corolla also started at this British plant.

The original Avensis had the option of four engines (1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel) and three body styles (saloon, hatchback and estate). The station wagon was essentially the Japanese-market second generation Toyota Caldina. All of the range gave solid build quality, excellent reliability, a spacious comfortable interior, generous equipment, smooth ride quality and good refinement, but very little in the way of excitement. A facelift in the summer of 2000 (which saw the engines fitted with variable valve timing) made little difference to this, although a sporty Avensis 2.0 L SR with bodykit and tuned suspension did become available.

The Avensis Verso large MPV was introduced in 2001, with room for seven occupants and 2.0-litre engines only. The Verso's platform previewed the Avensis second generation. The Avensis Verso won Australia's Best People Mover, where it is simply called Avensis, the other variants unavailable to that market.

Second generation (2003-present)

Second generation
Production	2003-present
Wheelbase	2700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	Estate: 4715 mm (185.6 in) Others: 4645 mm (182.9 in)
Width	1760 mm (69.3 in)
Height	Estate: 1525 mm (60 in) Others: 1480 mm (58.3 in)
Related	Scion tC

Second-generation Avensis

The second generation Toyota Avensis was launched in early 2003 an all-new format; this time it offered more in the way of driver involvement and visual appeal. The 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines were carried over from the previous Avensis, and the 2.4-litre four-cylinder from the Camry was also added to the range. This was the first Avensis that is exported to Japan. Due to the Camry wagon ending production, the Avensis Wagon is exported to New Zealand, in both 1.8 and 2.0-litre forms. In Britain, there were no 1.6 versions available.

In the 2004 European Car of the Year contest, the Avensis was just edged out of the top three by the Fiat Panda, Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3.

Following the withdrawal of the Toyota Camry in 2004 (2005 in Switzerland), the Avensis became the largest Toyota saloon sold in Europe.

Trim levels in the UK are the T2, T3-S, T3-X, T4, T Spirit and the T180. There is also a special edition, based on the T2 called the Colour Collection. In Ireland there are four trim levels - Aura, Strata, Luna, and Sol.

The original 115 PS (85 kW) D-4D Diesel engine has been complemented with a 2.2 L D-4D in 150 PS (110 kW) and 177 PS (130 kW) versions. Newer versions have dropped the "D-4D" and "2.0" badging from the front wings and tailgate respectively.

In Japan, the Avensis is sold as 2.0 Xi, 2.0 Li, and 2.4 Qi. Only the base model 2.0 Xi is offered with 4-wheel drive.

The Avensis Verso continued to be available alongside the new Avensis until 2006. A replacement to take over from the Avensis Verso and Previa has yet to be unveiled, but is rumoured to feature Toyota's 2.2-litre D-4D engine.

The new facelifted Toyota Avensis became available in June 2006. Some changes from the old model are the inclusion of turn signals in the side mirrors, an MP3/WMA/ASL-ready audio system, new front bumper, and a new grille. Interior materials and cloth seats have also been changed for 2006. Its multi display with on-board computer will be integrated in optitron display and is navigation ready. Also added are automatic headlights and a height-adjustable front passenger seat.

The most notable mechanical difference is the addition of a 124 bhp (92 kW) D-4D engine. This, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox has lowered fuel consumption, emissions, and gives a quoted 0-60 mph time of 10.5 seconds.

Model car of 1st generation Toyota Avensis hatchback

Model car of 2nd generation Toyota Avensis saloon

Model car of 2nd generation Toyota Avensis wagon

>>Toyota AA

Toyota AA

Production line at Koromo plant

The A1 was the first prototype passenger car built by the company that became Toyota. It was redesigned and put into production as Toyota's first production cars, the AA sedan and the AB cabriolet. These were succeeded by the similar AE, AC and BA sedans.

The series as a whole was replaced by the quite different and much more advanced SA.

A1

A1
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1935 (3 prototypes)
Assembly	Koromo, Japan
Successor	AA
Class	medium size family car
Body style(s)	sedan
Layout	front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Platform	ladder chassis
Engine(s)	Type A
Related	G1 truck

3 A1 prototypes were completed in May 1935. None of the them survive. They were blessed in a Buddhist ceremony and Kiichiro Toyoda then drove one of them to his father's grave (his father having given him the seed money to start a car factory).

After completion of the prototypes, Toyota then switched its attention to the G1 truck because it was more likely to be profitable in the short term. After the G1 was in production the company was able to spend resources on developing the AA and AB passenger cars.

Dates

The A1 prototypes were completed in May 1935.

Mechanicals

The A1 used the 3389 cc Type A 6 cylinder engine with a 3 speed column shift manual gearbox.

The chassis and electrics were copied from Ford.

Solid axles were used at both ends. Pressed metal discs were used for all 4 wheel rims (very modern for the time). Braking was by drums.

The mechanicals were the same as used in the production AA, AB and G1 vehicles.

Body

The A1 was a fully enclosed, 4 door sedan, with normal front doors and forward opening, suicide style rear doors. It was heavily based on the Chrysler Airflow, Toyoda having bought an Airflow and disassembled it the year before. The front window was a single piece of flat glass with a top mounted wiper on the driver's side. There was 3 windows per side, one for the front door (without a quarterlight window), one for the rear door and one behind the rear door. A spare tyre was mounted on the near vertical boot lid.

The A1 was only made in right hand drive.

AA, AB

AA, AB
Toyota AA(replica)
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1936 to 1943
Assembly	Koromo, Japan
Predecessor	A1
Successor	AC
Class	medium size family car
Body style(s)	sedan (AA), cabriolet (AB)
Layout	front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Platform	ladder chassis
Engine(s)	Type A
Transmission(s)	3 speed floor shift manual
Wheelbase	2851 mm (112.2 in)
Length	4737 mm (186.5 in)
Width	1734 mm (68.3 in)
Height	1737 mm (68.4 in)
Curb weight	1500 kg (3306.9 lb)

The AA was similar to the A1 prototypes with only minor changes.

Dates and Production Figures

A total of 1,404 AA sedans was produced from 1936 until 1943, when the model was replaced by the more austere AC.

A total of 353 AB phaetons, including the military ABR version, was produced until 1942. There was no direct replacement.

Body types

The AA was a fully enclosed 4 door sedan that largely copied the Chrysler Airflow sedan. It had a metal body (a modern method for its time) on a metal ladder chassis. The rear doors opened backwards (now known as suicide doors). The front glass spanned the entire width of the body in a single pane.

The AB was identical to the AA except that it was a cabriolet with a folding cloth roof, the rear doors opened in the normal manner and the front glass could fold down onto the engine compartment.

Mechanicals

The mechanicals were the same as used in the A1 prototype.

50^th year replica

Toyota wanted to use an AA for its 50^th birthday in 1987 but couldn't find any surviving examples. Toyota decided to build a replica but even for that there were no complete and consistent plans. Plans that could be found were from various points during the car's development process and in any case were often incomplete and lacking by today's standards. However, a single replica was built that is believed to be representative of the AA. This replica is now in the Toyota Motor Museum.

AC

AC
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1943 to 1947
Predecessor	AA, AB
Successor	SA
Class	medium size family car
Body style(s)	sedan
Layout	front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Platform	ladder chassis
Engine(s)	Type B
Transmission(s)	3 speed floor shift manual
Wheelbase	2850 mm (112.2 in)
Length	4884 mm (192.3 in)
Width	1734 mm (68.3 in)
Height	1746 mm (68.7 in)
Curb weight	1550 kg (3417.2 lb)

The AC was similar to the AA, with only minor alternations to the body. The front glass was now a split into left and right halves with thick metal body work between them.

Dates and Production Figures

Design work began in 1938. A total of 115 AC sedans was produced from 1943 until the model was replaced by the SA during 1947-1948. Forty-three were produced in 1943, 19 in 1944 (until February), and 50 units were made from spares in 1947 for a military order, with a final three being built in 1948. No Toyota passenger car production occurred in the years 1945 and 1946, although what would become the first post-war car, the SA, was in development during these years.

Mechanicals

The mechanicals were similar to the AA and AB.

EA

EA
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1938 (prototypes)
Assembly	Koromo, Japan
Class	small family car
Body style(s)	sedan
Layout	front-engine, front-wheel drive
Engine(s)	Type E
Wheelbase	2610 mm
Length	3220 mm
Width	1300 mm
Height	1250 mm
Curb weight	650 kg
Related	DKW F-7

Kiichiro Toyoda designed the EA as a copy of the DKW F-7 sedan in 1938 but production was prevented by war time restrictions.

Dates and Production Figures

The EA was designed in 1938 but did not go into production.

Mechanicals

A small front mounted, 2 cylinder, 2 stroke Type E engine connected as front wheel drive.

EB

The EB was a RWD minicar but production was prevented by war time restrictions.

Dates and Production Figures

The EB was designed in 1938 but did not go into production.

Mechanicals

A small front mounted, 2 cylinder, 2 stroke Type E engine connected as rear wheel drive.

AE

AE
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	1941 to 1943
Predecessor	AA, AB
Successor	AC
Class	medium size family car
Body style(s)	sedan
Layout	front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Platform	ladder chassis
Engine(s)	Type C
Transmission(s)	3 speed floor shift manual
Wheelbase	2500 mm (98.4 in)
Length	4500 mm (177.2 in)
Width	1730 mm (68.1 in)
Height	1635 mm (64.4 in)
Curb weight	1220 kg (2689.6 lb)

The AE sedan was a smaller car than its predecessors.

Dates and Production Figures

The AE was developed in 1939 and introduced at the beginning of 1940, with a prototype being completed at this time. However, production occurred from 1941 to 1943. Only 76 of this model were built.

Mechanicals

The mechanicals were similar to the AA except that it had the Type C engine, which was a Type A with 2 cylinders removed.

BA

The BA was an austerity sedan, and used wood in its framing to conserve metal. This model is said to have been based on the Volvo PV60 , but this is open to question, since the PV60 was not introduced until 1944, and did not enter production until 1946. Most of the prototypes of this Volvo were built in the 1942-1944 period. There is anecdotal information regarding a 1939 PV60 prototype, but the data is sketchy and no photos exist .

Dates and Production Figures

The BA may only have been produced in 1940, when it was introduced. No more than 17 were built . A few sources list production having occurred in 1943, despite admitting to the 1940 introduction , but judging from 1943's production figures, the majority of which would have to represent the AC, it would not seem to be the case that all 17 BA production cars were built that year. Perhaps the model was scheduled to go into full production in 1943. This did not happen. Alternatively, the production of the 17 cars may have been stretched over the 1940-1943 period, with the last few being completed in 1943. Support for this would come from a photograph (obtained from Toyota Motor Co. Ltd.) of a BA captioned as "1943 Totoya Model BA 4-cylinder saloon" in at least one source .

Other prototypes never built in series

One example of the Model BB phaeton was built, in 1941 . It resembled a contemporary Chevrolet.

Two or three examples of a luxury sedan, known as the Model B (or Model BC, according to one source ), were built. Although one source associates this model with the year 1942 , most claim the prototypes were built in 1944 . This was the last passenger car development until after the war ended.

Toyota Passenger Car Production from 1935 through 1949

The following table is a portion of that put out by Toyota, and represents passenger car production only, apparently not including prototypes:

1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949
0	100	577	539	107	268	208	41	53	19	0	0	54	21	235

>>Toyota 4Runner

Toyota 4Runner

Toyota 4Runner
Manufacturer	Toyota Motor Corporation Hino Motors
Production	1984–present
Class	Compact SUV (1984-1995) Mid-size SUV (1996-present)
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive

The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV manufactured by Toyota and sold in countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Chile from 1984 to the present. The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and a little more than a Toyota pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, but the model has since undergone significant independent development into a mid-size SUV. All 4Runners have been built at Toyota's plant in Tahara, Aichi, Japan or at Hino Motors' Hamura, Japan plant.

The 4Runner is sold in other markets, for example Pakistan as the Toyota Hilux Surf.

First generation

Hilux Surf Wagon
Japan speck

First generation
Production	1984–1989
Assembly	Tahara, Aichi, Japan
Body style(s)	2-door SUV
Engine(s)	2.4 L 22R I4 (1984-1986) 2.4 L 22R-E I4 (1985-1989) 22R-TE I4 (1986-1988) 3.0 L 3VZ-E V6 (1988-1989) 2.4 L 2L I4 (1984–1989) 2.4 L 2L-T turbodiesel I4 (1985–1989)
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	103.0 in (2616 mm)
Length	174.6 in (4435 mm)
Width	66.5 in (1689 mm)
Height	66.1 in (1679 mm)
Related	Toyota Pickup Toyota Hilux Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

The Toyota pickup (upon which the 4Runner was originally based) underwent a major redesign in 1983 for the 1984 model year. Many other automakers were introducing mid-size SUVs in the mid 1980s (e.g., Ford Bronco II, Chevrolet S-10 Blazer) and the pressure mounted on Toyota to develop a competing model. Instead of developing an entirely new model, Toyota took their existing short-bed pickup frame, made some simple modifications, and added an open one-piece body with a removable fiberglass top (much like the full-size Ford Bronco and Chevrolet K5 Blazer).

Thus, the first generation 4Runner is nearly mechanically identical to the Toyota pickup. All first generation 4Runners had two doors and were indistinguishable from the pickups from the dashboard forward. Nearly all changes were to the latter half of the body; in fact, because the rear springs were not upgraded to cope with the additional weight of the rear seats and fiberglass top, these early models tend to suffer from sagging rear suspensions.

The first 4Runners were introduced in 1984 as 1984 1/2 models. For this first year, all models were equipped with black or white fiberglass tops. An SR5 trim package was offered that upgraded the interior: additional gauges, better fabrics, and a rear seat were standard with the package. All 1984 models were equipped with the carbureted 2.4 L 22R engine and were all available with a four wheel drive system that drove the front wheels through a solid front axle (although this would be changed in 1986, Much to the chagrin of four-wheelers everywhere).

1985 saw the advent of the electronically fuel-injected 2.4 L 22R-E engine (though the carbureted engine remained available until 1988). Additionally, rear seats were available in all 1985 4Runner trim levels, not just the SR5.

In 1986, all American-market Toyota pickup trucks (and the 4Runner) underwent a major design change as the suspension was changed from a solid front axle to an independent front suspension. This change for the American market made the trucks more drivable at highway speeds and increased the space in the engine compartment, but arguably decreased the truck's off-road capabilities. It also widened the track of the truck by three inches, making it more stable in turns. Outside the US, the Hilux Surf also gained the new Hi-Trac suspension design, though the pickups retained the more rugged and capable, if less refined, solid axle configuration. The 4Runner Grill changed from the 2 segment type to the 3 segment grill on all 4Runners from 1986 Tops were color-matched on blue, red and some gold 4Runners, while other body colors were still sold with white or black tops. During 1984-1986 many 4Runners were imported to the US without rear seats. With only two seats the vehicle could be classified as a truck (rather than a sport vehicle) and could skirt the higher customs duties placed upon sport and pleasure vehicles. Most had aftermarket seats and seat belts added by North American dealers after they were imported.

A turbocharged version of the 22R-E engine (the 22R-TE) was also introduced in 1986, although this engine is significantly rarer than the base 22R-E. It appears that all turbocharged 4Runner models sold in the US were equipped with an automatic transmission, though a five-speed manual could still be ordered in the turbocharged pickups. Most Turbo 4Runners were equipped with the SR5 package, and all turbo trucks had as standard a heavier rear differential (which would show up again in 1988, when the V6 engine was introduced). Low-option models had a small light in the gauge cluster to indicate turbo boost, while more plush vehicles were equipped with an all-digital gauge cluster that included a boost gauge. Turbocharged and naturally aspirated diesel engines were also available in the pickups at this time as well, but it appears that no diesel-powered 4Runners were imported to the United States.

In 1988, the 22R-E engine was joined by an optional 3.0 L V6 engine, the 3VZ-E. This engine was significantly larger and more powerful than the original 4-cylinder offering. Trucks sold with the V6 engine were equipped with the same heavy duty rear differential that was used in the turbocharged trucks, as well as a completely new transmission and transfer case; the transfer case was chain driven, and created less cab noise than the old gear-driven unit used behind the four cylinder engine.

Small cosmetic and option changes were made in 1989, but the model was left largely untouched in lieu of the replacement model then undergoing final development.

Second generation (1990–1995)

Second generation
Production	1990–1995
Assembly	Tahara, Aichi, Japan
Body style(s)	4-door SUV 2-door SUV
Engine(s)	2.0 L 3Y I4 2.4 L 22R-E I4 3.0 L 3VZ-E V6 2.4 L 2L-TE turbodiesel I4 2.8 L 3L diesel I4 3.0 L 1KZ-T turbodiesel I4 3.0 L 1KZ-TE turbodiesel I4
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	103.3 in (2624 mm)
Length	1990 & 1994-95: 176.0 in (4470 mm). 1991-93: 176.8 in (4491 mm).
Width	66.5 in (1689 mm)
Height	66.1 in (1679 mm)
Related	Toyota Pickup Toyota Tacoma Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2-door Toyota 4Runner

The 1990 model year 4Runner represented a fundamental departure from the first-generation model. Instead of an enhanced pickup truck, the new 4Runners featured a freshly designed body mounted on an existing frame. The difference is easily seen when comparing pickups and 4Runners of similar vintage: a 1984 4Runner looks remarkably similar to a 1984 Toyota pickup, whereas a 1990 4Runner shares only subtle styling details with the 1990 pickup.

Nearly all second generation 4Runners were 4-door models; however, from 1989 to 1992, a 2-door model was also produced. These models are similar to the 4-door models of the time in that the bodies were formed as a single unit, instead of the fiberglass tops used in the first-generation 4Runners. Two-door 4Runners from this era are extremely rare, and were discontinued in August 1992, probably due to higher importation duties and owner insurance costs.

Because the drivelines were still developed from the same source, however, available engines were identical. The same 2.4 L four cylinder (22RE) and 3.0 L V6 (3VZ) engines were available in rear wheel drive and four wheel drive layouts. The new 4Runner used the independent front suspension that had been developed on the previous generation. The older style gear driven transfer case was phased out, and both engines now had chain driven cases, probably to cut down cab noise and vibration.

The Hilux Surf version for the Japanese market was also available with a range of diesel engines, including a 2.4 L turbodiesel 2L-TE I4 up to 1993, followed by a 3.0 L turbodiesel 1KZ-TE I4. A small number were also made with a normally aspirated 2.8 L diesel 3L I4. A small number were also produced with a 2.0 L 3Y I4 naturally-aspirated gasoline engine.

Most other full-body SUVs produced at the time (e.g. Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Explorer) featured tailgates that opened upward with the glass closed. In contrast, the second generation 4Runner carried over the retractable-glass tailgate from the first generation. Opening these tailgates requires first retracting the rear window into the tailgate and then lowering the tailgate much like as on a pickup truck.

In 1992, the 4Runner received minor cosmetic updates, including modular headlamps instead of the increasingly outdated rectangular sealed beams. Additional cosmetic changes occurred between 1993 and 1995, the last year of the second generation.

Third generation (1996–2002)

Third generation
Production	1996–2002
Assembly	Tahara, Aichi, Japan
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Engine(s)	2.7 L 3RZ-FE I4 3.4 L 5VZ-FE V6 3.0 L 1KZ-TE turbodiesel I4
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	105.3 in (2675 mm)
Length	1996-98: 178.7 in (4539 mm) 1999-2000: 183.2 in (4653 mm) 2001-02: 183.3 in (4656 mm)
Width	2WD: 66.5 in (1689 mm) Limited: 70.9 in (1801 mm)
Height	1999-2002: 67.5 in (1715 mm) 1999-2002 Limited: 68.5 in (1740 mm) 1996-98: 66.5 in (1689 mm) 1996-98 Limited: 68.7 in (1745 mm)
Related	Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Toyota Hi-Lux Toyota Tacoma

1996 marked another significant redesign of the then-aging 4Runner. Whereas the transition to the second generation 4Runner was one that kept the build quality and options roughly on par with the rest of the mid-size SUV market, the changes made in the third generation turned the 4Runner into a more luxury-oriented vehicle. This move paralleled the upgrades to the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, but moved the 4Runner into a distinctly different class from its older competitors, the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Blazer, and Isuzu Rodeo. The third generation 4Runner did, however, look very similar to the second generation.

Toyota 4 Runner toy car in 1/32 scale

This similarity largely ended with its looks. It carried over the basic design and concept, but executed it differently with an all-new body shell on an all-new chassis. This time, it shared virtually nothing with the pickup it had originally evolved from, and had more in common with the Land Cruiser, as it shared its chassis with that of the Land Cruiser Prado. The third generation 4runner also featured new engines, a 2.7L 3RZ-FE I4 replacing the previous 2.4L 22R-E I4, and a 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 replacing the previous 3.0L 3VZ-E V6. Both of these new engines are also found in the first generation Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks.

Significant changes from the second generation models include a larger body on a longer wheelbase, increased interior space, increased cargo space, twin airbags, ABS, lift-up tailgate, coil-sprung suspension all round, rack and pinion steering. Additionally, Hilux Surf versions immediately moved to 16-inch wheels and gained a center differential, enabling the use of four wheel drive on hard surfaces without complication for the first time. The prior system was retained to give on-the-fly shifting between rear and four wheel drive as before.

For the 1998 model 4 runner there was a recall on the back suspension. The back suspension sagged too much when under load. Any person that purchased 1998 4 runner would have received a notice in the mail. The replacement and installation is free at the dealership.

Fourth generation (2003–present)

Fourth generation
Production	2003–present
Assembly	Tahara, Aichi, Japan Hamura, Japan
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Engine(s)	4.0 L 1GR-FE V6 4.7 L 2UZ-FE V8
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase	109.8 in (2789 mm)
Length	2003-05: 189 in (4800.6 mm) 2006-present: 189.2 in (4806 mm)
Width	2003-05: 73.8 in (1875 mm) 2006-present: 75.2 in (1910 mm)
Height	2003-05 SR5: 68.9 in (1750 mm) 2003-05: 71.6 in (1819 mm) 2006-present SR5: 69.3 in (1760 mm) 2006-present Sport: 71.3 in (1811 mm) 2006-present Limited: 71.1 in (1806 mm)
Related	Toyota FJ Cruiser Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Toyota Hi-Lux Toyota Hilux Surf Toyota Tacoma Toyota Fortuner

The fourth-generation 4Runner incorporated serious changes to the chassis and body of the vehicle, but was targeted at approximately the same demographics as the third generation. Based on the Land Cruiser Prado 120 series, the updated 4Runner looks very different from the older 4Runners, but is still targeted as a mid-size quasi-luxury SUV. Available trims are currently the SR5, Sport Edition, and the Limited. An all-new 4.0 L 1GR-FE V6 is standard in the current 4Runner, but for the first time, a V8 became available for the fourth generation models. The same 4.7 L 2UZ-FE V8 found in the Land Cruiser, Tundra, and Sequoia is now an available option for the fourth generation, and produces 260 horsepower (194 kW) and 306 ft·lbf (415 N·m) of torque.

When it was first introduced for the 2003 model year, the SR5 and Sport Edition models used gray plastic cladding and bumpers. In early 2003, Toyota added an optional Appearance Package for the SR5 model that included color-keyed cladding, bumpers, and liftgate trim. In April 2003, Toyota made the Appearance Package, along with the previously optional fog lamps, running boards, and 16-inch alumimum wheels, standard on the SR5. The Sport Edition also added black running boards and color-keyed trim, replacing the grey cladding and silver-painted grille, door handles and liftgate trim.

In 2004, a tire pressure warning system was added as standard equipment. A 3rd row seat became optional on the SR5 and Limited models.

The 2005 model brought enhancements to the optional V8 engine and made a 5-speed automatic standard on the V6 model. Slight changes were made to the exterior including color-keyed bumper trim (replacing the silver painted trim on all colors except Dorado Gold) on the SR5 and Limited; a chrome grille on the SR5; a black roof-rack and running boards (replacing silver) on the Limited; and a redesigned rear spoiler. A Salsa Red Pearl scheme was also introduced for all trim levels, although a similar color scheme was available for third generation models.

2006-present Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition 4WD

The 2006 model year marked the fourth generation's mid-cycle refresh. The changes included revised front and rear bumpers; a reworked grille; new projector-beam headlamps and LED tail lamps; additional chrome trim on the SR5 model; and a smoked-chrome grille with tubular roof-rack and step bars on the Sport Edition. The revised front bumper features circular fog lights and a relocation of the turn-signals to the headlamp assembly. The redesigned bumper eliminates the rear bumper reflectors. MP3 playback capability and an auxiliary input jack were added to all audio systems. In addition, the Limited model was further differentiated from the other trim levels with the addition of unique 18" wheels and a seat memory system.

For 2007, the 4Runner is unchanged with the exception of a new gray-colored variant: Shadow Mica.

In 2008, the 4Runner saw more of the same, this time with standard side air bags.

Safety

Both the first and second generation 4Runners became targeted as very unsafe SUVs. 1980s and early-1990s US crash regulations were not very strict for light trucks, and all early model 4Runners were fitted with doors that offered little protection in the event of a side collision. In most areas, there was little more than two pieces of sheetmetal and the window to keep incoming vehicles from impacting passengers. The crash test rating for the second generation 4Runner was one star for the driver's side in a frontal collision although the passenger side got a 4 star rating. Later, more stringent crash regulations mandated doors that offered as much protection as passenger car doors.

The most common accusations, however, were that 4Runners (and other narrow-track SUVs of the time) were prone to rollovers. Many light SUVs of the time featured comparatively high centers of gravity and, given the right situations, could be flipped over. Whether or not this is a serious road hazard is dependent on many parameters, including the speed of the vehicle, the tires fitted to the vehicle, the road surface, and the driver's ability to predict and correct for situations that may result in a rollover. Third generation 4Runners were designed with a wider track, but it is unclear if this was directly in response to increased pressure from safety groups, or if it was simply a product engineering decision.

In fall 2007 IIHS tests showed the 4runner as one of the best crash test rating recipient, along with rival Nissan Pathfinder.

>>Toyota 2000GT

Toyota 2000GT

Toyota 2000GT
Manufacturer	Toyota Motor Corporation and Yamaha Motor Corporation (joint project)
Production	1967–1970 337 produced
Predecessor	Toyota Sports 800
Successor	Toyota Celica, Toyota Supra
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	2.0 L 3M I6 2.3 L 2M I6

The Toyota 2000GT was a sports car produced in very limited numbers by Toyota in Japan. First seen at the Tokyo Motor Show of 1965, production vehicles were built between 1967 and 1970. It revolutionized the automotive world's view of Japan, formerly seen as a producer of imitative and stodgily practical vehicles, and showed that the Japanese makers could produce a sports car to rival those of Europe.

Reviewing a pre-production car in 1967, Road & Track magazine summed up the 2000 GT (sic) as "one of the most exciting and enjoyable cars we've driven", and compared it favorably to the Porsche 911. Today, the car is seen as the first seriously collectible Japanese car, the first "Japanese Supercar", and examples change hands for fairly high prices.

Background

Much of the work was done by Yamaha, who in addition to their wide product range of the time also did much work for other Japanese manufacturers. Many credit the German-American designer Albrecht Goertz, a protegé of Raymond Loewy, as designer. He had gone to Yamaha in Japan in the early 1960s to develop a two-seater sports car for Nissan. A prototype was built, but Nissan decided eventually not to pursue the project. Yamaha also worked for Toyota, then perceived as the most conservative of the Japanese auto makers. Wishing to improve their image, Toyota accepted the proposal instead, but with a design of their own penned by Toyota designer Satoru Nozaki.

Styling

From the rear, the E-Type influence is less apparent.

Toyota 2000GT dashboard.

Many cite the Jaguar E-Type as an influence on the lines, but the design is widely considered a classic in its own right. The smoothly flowing bodywork was executed in aluminium, and featured pop-up headlights as well as large driving lamps like that on the Toyota Sports 800 in fixed locations on either side of the grille, with plexiglas covers over them. The design scarcely featured bumpers at all, and the plexiglas driving lamp covers in particular are rather easily damaged. The car was extremely low, just 45.7 in (116 cm) to the highest point of the roof. In 1969, the front of the car was modified slightly, making the driving lamps smaller and changing the shape of the turn signals. The rear turn signals were enlarged at the same time, and some alterations were made inside to modernise the interior. The last few vehicles were fitted with air conditioning and had automatic transmission as an option. These cars had an additional scoop fitted underneath the grille to supply air to the A/C unit. Two convertibles were built for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, but a factory-produced convertible was never offered for sale to the public during the car's production run.

Technical details

The 2.0 Liter inline six

The engine was a 2.0 L (121 in³) straight-6 (the 3M) based on the engine the top-of-the-line Toyota Crown sedan. It was transformed by Yamaha with new double overhead camshaft heads into a 112 kW (150 hp) sports car engine. Carburation was through three two-barrel Solex 40 PHH units. Nine special MF-12 models were also built with the larger 2.3 L 2M engine. The car was available with three different final drives; optioned with the 4.375 ratio version, the car was said to be capable of reaching 135 mph (217 km/h).

The engine was mounted longitudinally and drove the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. A limited slip differential was fitted, and in a first for a Japanese car, all-round power-assisted disc brakes. The atypical emergency brake gripped the rear disc directly.

The interior offered comfortable, if cramped, accommodation and luxury touches like a rosewood-veneer dashboard and an auto-seeking radio tuner. At the time, Road & Track felt that the interior was up to par for a "luxurious GT", calling it an impressive car "in which to sit or ride - or simply admire."

Production

Toyota 2000GT

An absolutely minuscule 351 (regular production cars) of the 2000GT were built, figures as low as specialist Italian supercar construction. According to Toyota and Yamaha data, there were 233 MF10s, 109 MF10Ls, and nine MF12Ls. All were actually built by Yamaha; it took two years for production vehicles to emerge. In America, the 2000GT sold for about $6,800, much more than contemporary Porsches and Jaguars. It is believed that no profit was made on the cars despite their high price; they were more concept cars and a demonstration of ability than a true production vehicle. About 60 cars reached North America and the others were similarly thinly spread worldwide. Most 2000GTs were painted either red or white.

Ironically, the number of toy 2000GTs made must far outstrip the amount of real cars produced. The car was widely modelled when new, and is still a popular subject with model manufacturers. Scale renditions of the car have been produced by Corgi Toys, Mebetoys, Playart, Yatming, Tekno, Diapet and numerous other manufacturers, while plastic kits have been also been produced in numerous scales by companies including Airfix. In addition to models of the coupe, several of these companies replicated the convertible produced for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. The Bond car has appeared as a diecast model and in plastic kit form, and although no convertible 2000GT was ever sold to the public, some makers manufactured model convertible 2000GTs which clearly replicated the Bond car, but were finished in colours other than the white of the car in the film. Notably, Corgi and Playart both did this, as did kit manufacturer MPC.

Racing

Toyota entered the 2000GT in competition at home, coming third in the 1966 Japanese Grand Prix and winning the Fuji 24-Hour Race in 1967. In addition, the car set several FIA world records for speed and endurance in a 72-hour test. Unfortunately, the record car was destroyed in a pace car accident and eventually scrapped. These records shortly prompted Porsche to prepare a 911R especially to beat this record.

Carroll Shelby would also enter a pair of 2000GTs to compete in the SCCA production car races competing in the CP category. Initially Shelby built three cars, including one spare, although performing well in the 1968 season, that was the only season in the US that the car competed in. Toyota took back one of the cars and rebuilt it into a replica of their record car which still resides in Japan. Nowadays the two remaining cars still reside in the United States.

Movie and TV appearances

2000GT Open-Top, the “Bond Model”

2000GT used in the James Bond film, You Only Live Twice

The 2000GT made its most famous screen appearance in the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. Even though the car was never commercially available as a convertible, two were made specially for the film, although as they did not have roofs - just an upholstered hump at the rear of the cabin to simulate a folded top. They were not really true convertibles. Prior to the decision to make fully roofless cars, building the car as a targa was tried, allegedly due to Sean Connery's height not allowing him to fit into the ultra-low coupe version. This retained the hatchback of the original car, but eliminated the rear side windows. However, when the Targa was completed, Connery's head stuck out of the top to such an extent that it was decided it looked too ridiculous and that roofless versions would have to be made if the car was to be featured in the film (its lead competition for the role was said to be the then-new Chevrolet Camaro.)

Originally, the Toyota was to be driven by 007 himself, but script changes meant that it ended up as the car of his Japanese contact Aki, although as actress Akiko Wakabayashi could not drive, all the actual driving was done by stuntmen in wigs, and all her close-up scenes were filmed while the car was stationary. Some of the close-ups were actually filmed using another white convertible as a stand-in, as in the finished film some shots of Bond and Aki driving clearly show the car's dashboard, and this looks totally different to that of a 2000GT. Budget cuts also meant that of the three planned car chases, only one eventually ended up on screen. Nevertheless, the 2000GT did get some memorable screentime, being used to evade villains in a Toyota Crown. The car had none of the defence mechanisms enjoyed by Bond's own vehicles, although it did feature a TV/radio communications device in the rear cabin. Corgi Toys modelled the car, and added rockets which could be fired out of the boot, although these do not appear in the film.

Two cars were built for the film. One of these was eventually located by Toyota in Hawaii and has since been restored and put on display at Toyota's headquarters in Japan. The other was resprayed blue, and is believed to have been used for racing-ciruit testing in Ginza. Its current wherabouts are unknown, although it is believed it may have been scrapped in the early 1970s. Several 2000GTs have been converted into true convertibles with actual roofs by private owners since, and one was even built into a replica of the unused Targa model. The Cars of the Stars museum located a wrecked 2000GT coupe in a South African scrapyard which was turned into a replica of the You Only Live Twice car. It is now on display at the museum, and has been fitted with the original communications device interior panel from the car in the film.

Television

2000GT's made appearances in the TV series The Ugliest Girl in Town and Hawaii Five-0. The car which appeared in The Ugliest Girl in Town was formerly owned by Twiggy. It was given to her by Toyota as a gift in return for her participating in the car's launch. At the time, she could not drive so placed the car in storage. Toyota subsequently bought it back from her and lent it to the makers of the short-lived comedy series. Originally gold, with the 1968 UK registration number UBY2F, the car had psychedelic motifs added for its TV appearance. On the show, art mirrored life as it was given to the lead character, model "Timmie," who was really a man in drag. The car has been in the possession of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, for a number of years. During this time the car was painted red, but in 2006 it was resprayed gold. It is currently at the Toyota USA Automobile Museum in California.

Today

Although not nowadays quite as well known to the general public as later Japanese sports cars like the Nissan Z, the 2000GT is regarded by many collectors as possibly the first highly collectible Japanese car. As of 2004, good examples can reach very high auction prices (reaching even $200,000 at auctions), though parts availability is a problem. Some combination of interesting provenance (particularly the first and second owners) and cosmetic perfection seems to be the formula for the highest auction values. Panel fit, overall finish, and interior quality/originality seem to be the primary value factors.

>>Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor Corporation Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki-gaisha トヨタ自動車株式会社
Type	Public corporation (NYSE: TM, TYO: 7203.T, LSE: TYT)
Founded	1937
Founder	Kiichiro Toyoda
Headquarters	Toyota, Aichi and Tokyo, Japan
Key people	Kiichiro Toyoda, Founder Fujio Cho, Chairman and Representative Director Katsuhiro Nakagawa, Vice chairman and Representative Director Katsuaki Watanabe, President and Representative Director Shoichiro Toyoda, Honorary Chairman
Industry	Automotive Robotics Financial services Biotechnology
Products	Toyota Lexus Scion
Revenue	USD $215.62 billion
Net income	USD $15.09 billion
Employees	299,394
Subsidiaries	522
Slogan	"Drive Your Dreams" , (and Southeast Asian countries) "Moving Forward" (Spanish-speaking) "Avanza Confiado" (Moving with Confidence) "Maneja Confiado" (Drive With Confidence) "Today, Tomorrow... Toyota" "Oh What a Feeling!" "Nichts Ist Unmöglich" (Nothing is Impossible) , , , (and Central American Countries) "Avancemos Juntos" (Let's Advance Together) "Maneja Con Confianza" (Drive with Confidence) "Make Things Better" (French-speaking) "Faire Toujours Mieux" (Make Things Better) "Lead the Way" "Ve Más Allá" (Go Beyond) "Управляй мечтой" (Drive a Dream) "goniti vaša smovi" (Drive your Dreams) "My Toyota is Fantastic"
Website	Toyota.co.jp

Toyota Motor Corporation (トヨタ自動車株式会社, Toyota Jidōsha Kabushiki-gaisha^?), or Toyota in short, is a Japanese automaker. It is the world's second largest automaker behind General Motors ; however it ranks first in net worth, revenue and profit. It is also the only car manufacturer to appear in the top 10 of the BrandZ ranking.

The company was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda as a spinoff from his father (Sakichi Toyoda)'s company Toyota Industries to create automobiles. In 1934, while still a department of Toyota Industries, it created its first product Type A engine and its first passenger car (the Toyota AA) in 1936. It is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi and Bunkyo Tokyo, Japan. It also provides financial services through its division Toyota Financial Services and also creates robots besides automobiles. The company along with the original Toyota Industries form bulk of the Toyota Group.

Toyota owns and operates Toyota, Lexus, Scion, has a majority shareholding in Daihatsu Motors , and has minority shareholdings in Fuji Heavy Industries, Isuzu Motors, and the engine, motor cycle and marine craft manufacturer Yamaha Motors. The company includes 522 subsidiaries. Toyota plans to produce 9.4 million vehicles in 2007.It plans to sell 10.4 million automobiles in 2008, which would be the first time an automaker has sold more than 10 million vehicles in a year. By January 8, 2008, the company will drop "Motor" from its corporate name and call itself simply "Toyota Corporation" (株式会社豊田 Kabushiki-gaisha Toyota). Toyota will change the Japanese writing of its brand name from Katakana to Kanji and "Corporation" will move from the end to the beginning.

Founding and earlier history

Founder Kiichiro Toyoda

In 1933, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works created a new division devoted to the production of automobiles under the direction of the founder's son, Kiichiro Toyoda. Kiichiro Toyoda had traveled to Europe and the United States in 1929 to investigate automobile production, and had begun researching gasoline-powered engines in 1930. Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was encouraged to develop Automobile production by the Japanese government, which needed domestic vehicle production partly due to the worldwide money shortage and partly due to the war with China. In 1934, the division produced its first Type A Engine, which was used in the first Model A1 passenger car in May 1935 and the G1 truck in August 1935. Production of the Model AA passenger car started in 1936. Early vehicles bear a striking resemblance to the Dodge Power Wagon and Chevrolet, with some parts actually interchanging with their American originals.

Toyoda automatic loom (Type G)

Production line at Koromo plant

Although the Toyota Group is best known today for its cars, it is still in the textile business and still makes automatic looms, which are now fully computerized, and electric sewing machines which are available worldwide.

Toyota Motor Co. was established as an independent and separate company in 1937. Although the founding family's name is Toyoda (豊田), the company name was changed in order to signify the separation of the founders' work life from home life, to simplify the pronunciation, and to give the company a happy beginning. Toyota (トヨタ) is considered luckier than Toyoda (豊田) in Japan, where eight is regarded as a lucky number, and eight is the number of strokes it takes to write Toyota in katakana. In Chinese, the company and its vehicles are still referred to by the equivalent characters (traditional Chinese: 豐田; simplified Chinese: 丰田; pinyin: fēng tián), with Chinese reading.

Replica of the Toyota Model AA, the first production model of Toyota in 1936

1957 Toyopet Crown

During the Pacific War (World War II) the company was dedicated to truck production for the Imperial Japanese Army. Because of severe shortages in Japan, military trucks were kept as simple as possible. For example, the trucks had only one headlight on the center of the hood. The war ended shortly before a scheduled Allied bombing run on the Toyota factories in Aichi.

After the war, commercial passenger car production started in 1947 with the model SA. The quality and production principles on which Toyota is based originated in an education program from the United States Army in the postwar era. In 1950 a separate sales company, Toyota Motor Sales Co., was established (which lasted until July 1982). In April 1956 the Toyopet dealer chain was established. The following year, the Toyota Crown became the first Japanese car to be exported to the United States and Toyota's American and Brazilian divisions, Toyota Motor Sales Inc. and Toyota do Brazil S.A., were also established. Toyota began to expand in the 1960s with a new research and development facility, a presence in Thailand was established, the 10 millionth model was produced, a Deming Prize and partnerships with Hino Motors and Daihatsu were also established. The first Toyota built outside Japan was in April 1963, at Port Melbourne in Australia.^[13] By the end of the decade, Toyota had established a worldwide presence, as the company had exported its one-millionth unit.

Later history and management

Concept i-unit

Concept PM

The Toyota Motor Company was awarded its first Japanese Quality Control Award at the start 1970s and began participating in a wide variety of Motorsports. Due to the 1973 oil crisis consumers in the lucrative U.S. market began turning to small cars with better fuel economy. American car manufacturers had considered small economy cars to be an "entry level" product, and their small vehicles were not made to a high level of quality in order to keep the price low. Japanese customers, however, had a long-standing tradition of demanding small fuel-efficient cars that were manufactured to a high level of quality. Because of this, companies like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan established a strong and growing presence in North America in the 1970s.

Part of Toyota executive team: Fujio Cho (center), Katsuhiro Nakagawa (left), Katsuaki Watanabe (right)

In 1982, the Toyota Motor Company and Toyota Motor Sales merged into one company, the Toyota Motor Corporation. Two years later, Toyota entered into a joint venture with GM called NUMMI, the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc, operating an automobile manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. The factory was an old General Motors plant that had been closed for several years. Toyota then started to establish new brands at the end of the 1980s, with the launch of their luxury division Lexus in 1989.

In the 1990s Toyota began to branch out from producing mostly compact cars by adding many larger and more luxurious vehicles to its lineup, including a full sized pickup, the T100 (and later the Toyota Tundra), several lines of SUVs, a sport version of the Camry, known as the Camry Solara, and the Scion brand, a group of several affordable, yet sporty, automobiles targeted specifically to young adults. Toyota also began production of the world's best selling hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, in 1997.

With a major presence with Europe, due to the success of Toyota Team Europe, the corporation decided to set up TMME, Toyota Motor Europe Marketing & Engineering, to help market vehicles in the continent. Two years later, Toyota set up a base in the United Kingdom, TMUK, as the company's cars had become very popular among British drivers. Bases in Indiana, Virginia and Tianjin were also set up. In 1999, the company decided to list itself on the New York and London Stock Exchange.

With over 30 million sold, the Toyota Corolla is the best selling car in the world

In 2001, Toyota's Toyo Trust and Banking merged to form the UFJ, United Financials of Japan, which was accused of corruption by the Japan's government for making bad loans to alleged Yakuza crime syndicates with executives accused of blocking Financial Service Agency inspections. The UFJ was listed among Fortune Magazine's largest money-losing corporations in the world, with Toyota's chairman serving as a director. At the time, the UFJ was one of the largest shareholders of Toyota. As a result of Japan's banking crisis, the UFJ was merged again to become Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

In 2002, Toyota managed to enter a Formula One works team and establish joint ventures with French motoring companies Citroën and Peugeot, a year after Toyota started producing cars in France.

On December 7, 2004, a U.S. press release was issued stating that Toyota would be offering Sirius Satellite Radios. However, as late as Jan. 27, 2007, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite radio kits were not available for Toyota factory radios.^{[citation needed]} While the press release enumerated nine models, only limited availability existed at the dealer level in the U.S. Major Lexus dealerships have been offering satellite radio kits for Lexus vehicles since 2005, in addition to factory-equipped satellite radio models.

In 2007, Toyota released an update of its full size truck, the Toyota Tundra, produced in two American factories, one in Texas and one in Indiana, and "Motor Trend" named the 2007 Toyota Camry "Car of the Year" for 2007. It also began the construction of two new factories, one to build the Toyota Rav4 in Woodstock, Ontario and the other to build the Toyota Highlander in Blue Springs, Mississippi.

Toyota at present day

Toyota Pavilion at the Expo in Aichi

Toyota has grown to a large multinational corporation from where it started and expanded to different worldwide markets and countries by becoming the largest seller of cars in the beginning of 2007, the most profitable automaker ($11 billion in 2006) along with increasing sales in, among other countries, the United States. The world headquarters of Toyota are located in its home country in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. Its subsidiary, Toyota Financial Services sells financing and participates in other lines of business. Toyota brands include Scion and Lexus and the corporation is part of the Toyota Group. Toyota also owns majority stakes in Daihatsu and Hino, and 8.7% of Fuji Heavy Industries, which manufactures Subaru vehicles. They also acquired 5.9% of Isuzu Motors Ltd. on November 7, 2006 and will be introducing Isuzu diesel technology into their products.

Toyota has introduced new technologies including one of the first mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicle, of which it says it has sold 1 million globally (2007-06-07) , Advanced Parking Guidance System (automatic parking), a four-speed electronically controlled automatic with buttons for power and economy shifting, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota, and Toyota-produced Lexus and Scion automobiles, consistently rank near the top in certain quality and reliability surveys, primarily J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.

In 2005, Toyota, combined with its half-owned subsidiary Daihatsu Motor Company, produced 8.54 million vehicles, about 500,000 fewer than the number produced by GM that year. Toyota has a large market share in the United States, but a small market share in Europe. Its also sells vehicles in Africa and is a market leader in Australia. Due to its Daihatsu subsidiary it has significant market shares in several fast-growing Southeast Asian countries.

In the Fortune Global 500, Toyota Motor is the 8th largest company in the world. Since the recession of 2001, it has gained market share in the United States. Toyota's market share struggles in Europe where its Lexus brand has three tenths of one percent market share, compared to nearly two percent market share as the U.S. luxury segment leader.

In the first three months of 2007, Toyota together with its half-owned subsidiary Daihatsu reported number one sales of 2.348 million units. Toyota's brand sales had risen 9.2% largely on demand for Corolla and Camry sedans. The difference in performance was largely attributed to surging demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. In November 2006, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas added a facility in San Antonio. Toyota has experienced quality problems and was reprimanded by the government in Japan for its recall practices.Toyota currently maintains over 16% of the US market share and is listed second only to GM in terms of volume.

Worldwide presence

The headquarters of Toyota in Toyota City, Japan

Toyota has factories all over the world, manufacturing or assembling vehicles for local markets, including the Corolla. Toyota has manufacturing or assembly plants in Japan, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Brazil, and more recently Pakistan, India, Argentina, Czech Republic, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, and the Philippines.

Toyota has invested considerably into cleaner-burning vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, based on technology such as the Hybrid Synergy Drive. In 2002, Toyota successfully road-tested a new version of the RAV4 which ran on a Hydrogen fuel cell. Scientific American called the company its Business Brainwave of the Year in 2003 for commercializing an affordable hybrid car.

Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Toyota North America headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan and operates at a holding company level in North America. Its manufacturing headquarters is located in Erlanger, Kentucky, and is known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, or TMMNA. Toyota has large presence in the United States with five major assembly plants in Huntsville, Alabama; Georgetown, Kentucky; Princeton, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; Buffalo, West Virginia; and a new one being built in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Toyota also has a joint-venture operation with General Motors at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), in Fremont, CA, which began in 1984, and with Subaru at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), in Lafayette, IN, which started in 2006. Production on a new manufacturing plant in Tupelo, Mississippi is scheduled for completion in 2010; it will be producing the Toyota Highlander. North America is a major automobile market for Toyota. In these assembly plants, the Toyota Camry and the 2007 Toyota Tundra are manufactured, among others. Toyota uses a number of slogans in its American TV commercials such as It's time to move forward, Smart way to keep moving forward, or Moving forward. It has started producing larger trucks, such as the new Toyota Tundra, to go after the large truck market in the United States. Toyota is also pushing hybrid vehicles in the US such as the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, and various Lexus products. Toyota has sold more hybrids vehicles in the country than any other manufacturer.

North American employees and investments

Toyota directly employs around 38,340 people in North America. It has made around $16.8 billion in direct investments in North America. It has in total produced 14.8 million vehicles, 2.5 million vehicles sales (2005), 39.2 million total vehicles sales, and purchased $26.1 billion worth of "parts, materials and components" as of December 2005 in North America. It has 1,745 North American dealers and has given around $301 million as philanthropy to the United States since 1991.

Manufacturing facilities

Australia

• Altona, Victoria - Camry and Aurion (formerly Avalon). 111,610 vehicles and 98,209 engines in 2006.

Canada

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Cambridge, Ontario - 1.8L (1ZZ-FE) engines, Corolla, Matrix, Lexus RX and from 2008 RAV4.

France

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing France, Onnaing-Valenciennes - Yaris

Indonesia

• PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, Cikampek, West Java - Innova, Avanza, and Fortuner

Mexico

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California, Baja California - Toyota Tacoma

Thailand

• Toyota Gateway Plant, Chachoengsao - Toyota Soluna,Yaris, Altis, Camry
• Toyota Samrong Plant, Samrong - Toyota Hilux Vigo, Fortuner
• Toyota Banpho Plant, Chachoengsao - Toyota Hilux Vigo (Export model)

Turkey

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey Inc., Sakarya - Toyota Corolla-Verso,Auris,

United Kingdom

• Toyota Manufacturing UK, Burnaston, Derbyshire and Deeside, North Wales - Auris, Avensis and Corolla

United States

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama – V6 and V8 Engines.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Georgetown, Kentucky – Camry, Avalon and Solara, as well as the AZ and GR engines.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Princeton, Indiana – Tundra, Sequoia and Sienna. 364,983 vehicles produced in 2005. (127,431 Tundra, 44,852 Sequoia and 192,700 Sienna)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, San Antonio, Texas – Tundra. Annual capacity of 200,000 pickup trucks.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Buffalo, West Virginia – ZZ, MZ, and GR engines; automatic transaxles
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Tupelo, Mississippi - Toyota Highlander (est. 150,000/year) This facility is being built. The facility or company is named "Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc."

Joint venture, licensed, and contract factories

Czech Republic

• Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech (joint venture with PSA Peugeot Citroën), Kolín, Czech Republic - Aygo

Japan

• Toyota Industries, Japan (contract facility) - Vitz/Yaris and RAV4

Pakistan

• Indus Motors Company ltd. (IMC) is a joint venture between the House of Habib , Toyota Motor Corporation Japan (TMC) , and Toyota Tsusho Corporation Japan (TTC) for assembling, progressive manufacturing and marketing of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan since July 01, 1990. IMC's production facilities are located at Port Qasim Industrial Zone near Karachi in an area measuring over 105 acres.

United States

• NUMMI (joint venture with GM), Fremont, California - Corolla and Tacoma
• Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (contract facility, starting in Spring 2007), Lafayette, Indiana - Camry

India

• Toyota Kirloskar Industries, Bangalore

Vietnam

• Toyota Motor Vietnam (Vios, Corolla, Camry, Land Cruiser, Hiace, Innova)

Hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies

Toyota Prius, flagship of Toyota's hybrid technology

Main article: Hybrid Synergy Drive

Toyota is one of the largest companies that started pushing hybrid vehicles in the market and one of the first to mass commercially produce such vehicle, an example being the main Toyota Prius. Then it eventually started producing the main smaller cars such as Camry and then it eventually moved on to the Lexus divisions, producing some hybrid luxury vehicles. It labeled such technology in Toyota cars as "Hybrid Synergy Drive" and in Lexus versions as "Lexus Hybrid Drive."

The Prius has become the top selling hybrid car in America. Toyota now has three hybrid vehicles in its lineup (Prius, Highlander, & Camry). The popular minivan Toyota Sienna is supposed to join the hybrid lineup by 2010, and by 2030 Toyota plans to have its entire lineup of cars, trucks, and SUVs to have a Hybrid Synergy Drive option.

The Hybrid Synergy drive is the only one enviroment friend system for automotive industry to decrease enviroment harms. More than 1 000 000 units are already sold, and within few years the TOYOTA will enlarge the number of hybrid models.

Lexus also has their own hybrid lineup, consisting of the GS 450h, RX 400h, and launched in 2007, the LS 600h/LS 600h L.

Toyota is doing plug-in hybrid vehicle (called Toyota Plug-in HV) road test in Japan with possible unveiling in fall 2007.According to the report, Toyota is testing a lithium-ion battery pack in the plug-in. Their strategy is to maintain Toyota's leading position in hybrid technology with the PHEV which has an even lower environmental impact than existing hybrids, competing for mass-production with GM Chevrolet Volt and Ford plug-in hybrids and V2G technology

Toyota in motorsports

Rallying

Toyota's presence in Motorsport can be traced by to the early 1970s, when Swedish driver, Ove Andersson drove for Toyota during the RAC Rally of Great Britain. During the winter of 1972, Andersson formed Andersson Motorsport in his native country and began running a Rallying program for Toyota. The move turned out to be an impractical one and three years after establishing his team, Andersson moved its base from Sweden to Brussels in Belgium. From there the team was renamed, Toyota Team Europe.

Carlos Sainz, World Champion of 1990 and 1992, driving the Toyota Corolla WRC during the Monte Carlo Rally of 1999.

Despite Toyota's exit from rallying in 1999, the company's cars, namely the Celica and Corolla (pictured), are still a popular choice among rally drivers.

Toyota's first win in motorsport came at the 1975 1000 Lakes Rally of Finland, when Hannu Mikkola and his co-driver, Atso Aho, won the event in a Toyota Corolla. Three years later, the team moved to a new base in Cologne, in western Germany. It wasn't until the 1980s when Toyota began to gain notable success, especially in the African rallies, where Bjorn Waldegaard and Juha Kankkunen were usually top of the time sheets. The team then set-up its all purpose Motorsport facility in Cologne three years later, which is still used today.

In 1990, Carlos Sainz gave Toyota its first ever Championship win in a Four-wheel drive Toyota Celica and repeated the feat 2 years later. In 1993, Toyota bought the team from Andersson and named it Toyota Motorsport GmbH, in the same year Juha Kankkunen won the WRC title and Toyota won the Contsructors' Championship, becoming the first Japanese Manufacturer to do so. This success was repeated a year earlier, but this time it was Frenchman Didier Auriol who was responsible.

1995 proved to be a difficult year for Toyota, as the team were caught using illegal turbo chargers and were given a 12-month ban by the FIA. The company returned to rallying in 1996, but its competition, notably Mitsubishi and Subaru, had a clearer advantage over their cars.

1997 would prove to be another uncompetitive year for Toyota, with the team still behind its fellow Japanese manufacturers, Subaru and Mitsubishi, and the Carlos Sainz the highest place Toyota driver in the Drivers' Championship in third place, 11 points behind champion Tommi Mäkinen. Sainz came within 1 point of the 1998 title, when his Corolla suffered an engine failure on the final stage of the final rally in Great Britain, while Toyota were within 6 points of the Contstructors' Championship, many people place the blame on Toyota's choice to run Belgian Freddy Loix as one of the team's points scoring drivers at the Rally of Spain instead of regular driver Didier Auriol, because Auriol managed to win the event ahead of second-placed Loix.

Toyota decided to quit running in the WRC at the end of the 1999 season, quoting that "all that can be achieved has been achieved". The team managed to secure the Manufacturers' title in their last season, 18 points ahead of their nearest rival Subaru, while Didier Auriol came within 10 points of the Drivers' title.

Toyota were replaced the following season by Peugeot, who went on to win the Manufacturers' title in succession from 2000-2002.

In March 2007, Toyota debuted its Super 2000 Corolla rally car, which will compete in the Australian Rally Championship.^[27]

Champ Car

Toyota raced in CART from 1996 to 2002. Its early years in the series were marked by struggles. Toyota-powered cars, campaigned by the All-American Racers and PPI Motorsports teams, languished at the back of the grid, slow and unreliable. Toyota didn't even lead a lap until Alex Barron led 12 laps at the Vancouver street circuit in September 1998.

Toyota started seeing its fortunes improve in 1999 as Scott Pruett took pole position at the final race of the season at the California Speedway. The next year, Juan Pablo Montoya gave Toyota its first-ever CART win at the Milwaukee Mile, the first of 5 races won by Toyota-powered cars that year. Toyota-powered cars won six races in 2001. In 2002, Toyota's final year in the championship, it turned things around completely from its bleak debut. Toyota won the Manufacturer's championship, 10 races, and Cristiano Da Matta rode Toyota power to the driver's championship, with Bruno Junqueira, also Toyota-powered car, finished second.

Le Mans

The Toyota GT-One was raced in the 1998 and 1999 24 hours of Le Mans. Ex-Formula One drivers: Thierry Boutsen, Martin Brundle and Ukyo Katayama drove the GT-One in both events.

Toyota started recruiting staff for their Le Mans efforts in 1997, with an aim to start a Formula One team. Toyota's efforts for a Le Mans car was the Toyota GT-One, which was driven by ex-Formula One drivers: Martin Brundle; Thierry Boutsen and Ukyo Katayama. The 3.6 litre twin-turbo GT-Ones were beaten in 1998 and 1999 but came close to victory, breaking down late in the race. The GT-One held the lap record for the Sarthe Circuit up until 2006 however.

Indy Racing League

Toyota moved to the Indy Racing League in 2003 and provided factory support to former CART teams Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing as well as other teams. They were one of the top engines in their first year, winning the Indianapolis 500 with Gil de Ferran and the championship with Scott Dixon. However, 2004 and 2005 were not so kind and wins were few and far between. Following the 2005 season, the Penske and Ganassi teams announced they would switch engines to Honda, leaving Toyota with no championship contenders. As a result of this and their intent to re-allocate resources for NASCAR, Toyota announced they would leave the series during the off-season.

NASCAR

Dale Jarrett enters pit road at Texas in the #44 UPS Toyota Camry.

Toyota races the Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series as well as the NASCAR Busch Series.

Todd Bodine became the first driver to give Toyota their first ever NASCAR championship by winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Title in 2006.

Formula One (F1)

Toyota F1 racing logo.

Main article: Toyota F1

The Toyota TF107, Toyota F1's car for the 2007 Formula One season.

In 2002 Toyota started racing in Formula One with Toyota Team Europe, based in Cologne, Germany. Despite a huge investment, the team's performances have been considered less than average by fans and pundits alike.

In 2004, designer Mike Gascoyne was hired to help turn things around (as he had done previously at Jordan Grand Prix and Renault F1). However, due to a lack of results and a difference in opinion with the management about how the team should progress he was released from his contract early midway through the 2006 season; by 2005 the team had advanced from the midfield to infrequently challenging for the top positions. Jarno Trulli achieved two second places and one third place in the first five races of the season, helping the team to retain second position in the Constructors Championship for several races before finishing 4th in the constructors championship. Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher are the team's current drivers.

In 2007, Toyota are also supplying engines to the Williams team.