Subaru/Toyota RWD sports car delayed to 2012

According to Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, the upcoming Subaru/Toyota rear-wheel-drive sports car has been delayed to 2012. Nikkei did not say where it got the information but said that production was to start at the end of 2011 and that Toyota has decided to postpone it until 2012.

“We’re discussing with Fuji Heavy the timing for the start of production and other details,” Hideaki Homma, a Toyota spokesman, said when contacted by Bloomberg. He declined to give further details on the talks.

The Subaru/Toyota rear-wheel-drive sports car will be powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder boxer engine that makes 200-hp. A Subaru version of the car will come to markets first and will be priced under $20,000. The Toyota version of the car will follow at a later date.

Source: Bloomberg (via AutoBlog)

Toyota EV Teaser Image Previews New Exhausting Marketing Campaign [Detroit Auto Show]

Earlier today, we heard about a Toyota EV Concept set to debut at next month's Detroit Auto Show. Now we get the first image in what we assume will be an agonizing teaser campaign.

The pocket-sized all-electric city car will be showing its stuff at the Detroit Auto Show and if history is our guide, Toyota will be dribbling out closeup images of inconsequential parts of the car all the way up to the reveal, just like the new Prius. After carefully doling out images for a few weeks, they'll accidentally spill images of the whole car all over the internet, then they'll keep putting out teaser images like nothing happened. I love what you do for me, Toyota! [KickingTires]

Toyota to Unveil EV Concept at Detroit Auto Show

Toyota announced this morning that the automaker is going to unveil a new electric vehicle concept at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

Other than the single image of the logo and a very short press release (two sentences), Toyota did not release any other details about the new concept. The EV Concept will share the stage with the all-new 2010 Prius.

Related Stories:
More Photos of the 2010 Toyota Prius Show up on the Web

PRESS RELEASE:

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 22 -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle.

Toyota FT-EV Concept - Auto Shows

Toyota to debut some sort of electric something in Detroit.

Toyota announced today its intention to debut an all-new electric-vehicle concept at January’s Detroit auto show. The vehicle will be called the FT-EV, and the single image released shows only the badge, affixed to a translucent, amber­-colored surface. As to the vehicle’s actual identity, FT is simply Toyota shorthand for ‘future,’ so the FT-EV could be anything, really.

To wit, Toyota showed the FT-HS sports-car concept—HS for Hybrid Sports—at the 2007 Detroit auto show. The FT prefix was also applied to the FT-SX concept, which eventually morphed into the production Venza crossover, as well as the FTX concept, which became the current Tundra pickup.

Toyota’s Watanabe not coming to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show

Toyota’s President Katsuaki Watanabe, a regular at the North American International Auto Show will not be attending the show next month in Detroit. Toyota did not comment on Watanabe’s immediate change of plans.

Toyota’s presence at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show will be very significant. The company plans on unveiling the next-generation Toyota Prius Hybrid as well as a dedicated hybrid model for its luxury Lexus brand.

We’re guessing Watanabe doesn’t want answer questions about the Japanese automakers health.

2010 Toyota Prius:

Source: Detroit News

Toyota To Post Operating Loss Of $1.7 Billion For 2008

It's official, as we reported unofficially on Friday, Toyota's a real, live flesh-n-blood automaker, posting an operating loss of $1.7 billion in 2008, the first in 70 years at the Japanese automaker.

Again, like he did after Honda's loss, we're waiting for Senator Richard Shelby (R-Hickabama) to verbally abuse Toyota for not making the cars Americans want to buy.

Wait, what was that? Sorry, folks, hold the phones, we're now hearing word Shelby did not say anything about Honda...and wait...yes, he won't be saying anything about Toyota's operating loss either. Hypocrisy you say? Why yes, well, what do you expect? He is a politician. [CNBC]

Toyota May Post First Annual Loss In 70 Years

According to reports, Toyota will again revise its earnings prediction to the point where second half losses will negate gains from the first half of 2008, resulting in the first yearly loss in 70 years.

Japanese news outlets are reporting Toyota will announce second half losses which will exceed the profits from the first half of the year, resulting in overall net loss for the 2008 fiscal year. This comes in the face of increasingly dire sales figures across the auto industry and against a background of bailout loans for GM and Chrysler announced this morning. Because of this trend, Toyota may refrain from making sales and production forecasts for 2009 in an effort to avoid bringing shame upon Toyota City when they cannot meet targets. [Reuters]

Toyota Australia axes TRD brand

Toyota Australia has pulled the plug on its TRD performance brand, citing the current global financial crisis as the determining factor.

Just 888 TRD vehicles have been delivered since the brand was established in Australia, with the last model set to roll off the production line on March 31, 2009.

The TRD Aurion accounted for 537 of this total since it was first launched 16 months ago, while the TRD HiLux sold 351 units in a much shorter space of time.

“Toyota has a responsibility to ensure its core business activities, and the people who rely on them, are protected for the long term,” said David Buttner, senior executive director Toyota Australia.

All TRD owners will be covered by Toyota’s new-vehicle warranty and the company would continue to supple parts in order to meet its legal obligations.

“Toyota made a significant financial commitment to TRD vehicle conversion and clearly understood short-term profitability was unlikely,” Mr Buttner said.

All employees involved in the TRD performance branch will be located to a new role within Toyota.

Toyota now listing certified preowned vehicles on eBay

Toyota will be listing its preowned inventory on eBay in a move that will put it on the famous auction site with rivals such as General Motors and Chrysler. Toyota’s certified preowned inventory is now searchable on eBay Motors allowing the Japanese automaker to clear out some of its inventory of used vehicles taking up space on dealer lots.

Through November, Toyota has sold 253,855 certified preowned vehicles, an increase of 1.5 percent over  last year.

GM has placed its entire 60,000 used vehicles on eBay and Chrysler lists more than 15,000 certified preowned vehicles.

Source: Toyota (via Motor Trend)

Nice Price Or Crack Pipe: 1974 Toyota Corolla SR5 For $12,800?

We now know that most of you approve of the $39,900 price tag on the 426 Wedge Sport Fury, so today we're going to change it up a bit with a rare Japanese machine.

While the 1970-74 Corollas sold in huge numbers in North America, the TE27 hardtop coupes weren't quite so common, and they're much in demand nowadays. You need to pay real money for a nice one, but $12,800 for a partially-completed restoration? It appears that this '74 is chock-full-o-NOS JDM goodies, and it's a non-rusty California car, so it's possible that no hubba rocks are needed to accept that price. What do you say?