VIDEO: 2012 Toyota Prius V Minivan Presentation and Driving Footage

In a move that was more expected than surprising given the success of the Prius over the years, Toyota launched the first addition to the Prius family, the V-branded minivan, and announced an upcoming compact hatchback, previewed by the Prius C concept study, at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. The two models will join the regular Prius hatchback and its forthcoming plug-in version in the North American market.

The production Prius V seen in the videos after the jump, is a practical five-seat minivan based off the hatchback version of Toyota's popular hybrid model. It uses the same 1.8-litre petrol engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive tech offering 50% more luggage space than its smaller counterpart, while returning an estimated 42 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 40 mpg combined. The Prius V will go on sale in North America in late summer 2011 as a 2012 model year.

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New 2012 Toyota Yaris / Vitz Breaks Cover in Japan [Photos and Video]

The new Toyota Vitz, or as we'll come to know it on both sides of the Atlantic, the third generation Yaris supermini, was unveiled Wednesday in Japan. Even though what you see pictured here is the Japanese domestic market (JDM) version, as was the case with the previous generations of the Vitz, we expect the European and North American Yaris to look more or less the same when it arrives in the market late next year.

Toyota's newcomer has grown 100mm in length and now measures 3,885mm long, but is 30mm lower while keeping the same width as its predecessor. The Japanese carmaker says numerous weight saving measures has shaved off 30kg or 66 pounds, with the car tipping the scales at 1,000kg or 2,204 pounds (depending on the model).

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LA Show 2010: New Toyota RAV4 EV Powered by Tesla Appears in the Flesh [with Video]

[Updated gallery] Apparently the RAV4 is still around, and Toyota has partnered with Tesla to make a new EV version of the SUV so the common man can be just like Tom Hanks. The second generation of RAV4 EV is currently undergoing a 35-vehicle test run and analysis through 2011 (similar to the Mini E's pilot program), with production vehicles set to start showing up in 2012... as long as something catastrophic doesn't happen.

The creation of the RAV4 EV was a two pronged attack: Toyota engineers took care of the powertrain upgrade/engineering as they normally would a mid-cycle product change, while Tesla engineers developed the battery pack and related systems.

Toyota says that the EV version of Toyota's CR-V fighter weighs about 220 lbs more than a comparably equipped V6 model, but retains similar acceleration figures. Due to the weight gain (couldn't we call in Lotus to tackle that?), suspension and steering components had to be properly modified or relocated to maintain proper balance.

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VIDEO: Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux Pick-Up on ramp-duty

Having few things to do this weekend, I decided to crash a Toyota event. It was the 2010 Toyota Experience, which will eventually cover 17 Romanian cities and is meant to promote the Japanese manufacturer's European line-up, from the cute-and-cuddly iQ to the rough-and-tough Hilux truck and the more stylish Land Cruiser. Video after break.

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Toyota Confirms New Prius Minivan Debut for 2011 Detroit Show in January, Releases New Teaser Video

With a simple tweet on its Twitter page that said "Next member of the #Prius family (to be revealed at Detroit Auto Show) will be all-new model w/ more comfort, style and versatility", Toyota announced that the world premier of its highly anticipated Prius Minivan will take place at the forthcoming Detroit motor show in the second week of January, 2011.

The as-of-yet unnamed minivan will be the second Prius-badged hybrid in Toyota's range, while the company has already revealed plans to extend the Prius family with a third model that will be smaller than the current five-door liftback. Both the smaller and larger Prius-branded hybrid-electric vehicles are scheduled to go on sale in the States by 2013.

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FAIL: Toyota Land Cruiser vs Puddle [Accident Content]

Nothing brings you back to driving-reality quite as effectively as good a ol' cold shower, or in this case, a puddle bath. The sinkhole incident involving this new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado reportedly happened during a test-drive event organized by a Prado fan club (we're assuming it occurred somewhere in Russia). Photos and a video of the accident after the break.

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VIDEO: 700HP Toyota Celica GT4 Tops Out at 202MPH - 325km/h

Ever wonder what the world looks like at over 200mph from the driver's seat? Well then, just hit the jump to watch this video of the Fensport-prepped Toyota Celica GT4 racer which recorded a top speed of 202.2 mph or 325km/h on November 21 at the Woodbridge Airfield near Ipswich, in the UK.

The man behind the steering wheel of the heavily modified Celica GT4, which features all-wheel drive and a 2.1-liter engine with a Turbo Dynamics' MD355 blueprinted turbocharger cranking out 700-horsepower, was Time Attack competitor, Adrian Smith.

"I started fine. I got wheel spin on the slippery start in the first three gears, but once in 4th the car settled nicely," said Smith. "At around 180 MPH a crosswind again started to move the car off-line. However, I kept my foot in and thankfully the car stayed straight and the wind subdued."

"I checked the speed and it was 201, then 202! I was thinking 'Yes it is going to do 205/206,' but then there was a tiny misfire and the speed dropped to 201 again. By then it was time to brake. I had done 202.22 MPH, what an amazing feeling."

According to Fensport, the 202.22 mph top speed was achieved from a standing start in just 1.1 miles.

Two Better than One: Toyota Australia's New TV Ad on Hybrids Hits the Spot [With Video]

Toyota's Australian division is ramping up its advertising efforts on its hybrid synergy drive technology as the company is getting ready to introduce a total of eight new hybrid models to the market over the next four years, starting with the locally built Camry Hybrid in February 2010. To get the key message around, Toyota aired a new locally produced television commercial called "Better Together" that was created by Sydney advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi.

There are no cars in the advertisement which shows a man with another version of himself standing behind and helping him around with his daily chores - just like an electric motor assists the gasoline engine in Toyota's hybrid models.

"The key message is 'Better Together' - that two things working together can achieve more than any one thing ever could," says Toyota Australia's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner. "It is a metaphor for Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, which continues to improve, produce more power and use less fuel with fewer emissions," he said.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive 'Better Together' commercial went to air in Australia on the evening of Sunday, 25 October.

Thanks for the tip Matty!

Toyota FT-86 Sports Coupe: Video and Live Images from the Tokyo Motor Show Floor

The Lexus LFA may be the ultimate sports coupe at this year's Tokyo Motor Show but unless you or your 'daddy' have a wealthy bank account and at the same feel comfortable in spending $375k on non-exotic brand name (not that we'd have a problem if the car's worth it, but just saying...), the one to watch out for is the Toyota FT-86 Concept coupe. Jointly developed with Subaru, the sleek looking FT-86 can seat up to four people and has a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

Under the bonnet of the 4,160mm long sports coupe is a 2.0-liter boxer engine sourced from Subaru that is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. Toyota has not released any performance figures yet but it is believed that the naturally aspirated four-pot may be tweaked to produce close to 200 horsepower.

Toyota and Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Ind. plan to release a production version of the FT-86 concept onto the market in late 2011. According to an earlier statement from Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada, the production model's sticker price will be in the $20,000 range.

SPY VIDEO: 2011 Toyota FT86 - Subaru Prototype Captured on the Nurburgring

The oddly shaped coupe covered in layers of metal and camouflage tape that you see in this spy video undergoing tests at the Nurburgring race track is none other than a test mule for the upcoming Toyota / Subaru co-developed rear-wheel drive sport coupes. Understandably, there's no way of knowing if it's a prototype for the Toyota-badged model that will be previewed at this week's Tokyo Motor Show with the FT-86 Concept or for Subaru's derivative that has yet to be revealed or even named.

Not that it matters as both compact sport coupes will share the same mechanical underpinnings including a modified version of Subaru's 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine said (but not officially confirmed) to produce up to 200HP.

Both the Subaru and Toyota variants of the rear-wheel drive 2+2 coupe are to be produced in Japan at Subaru's Gunma factory with the first examples due to arrive in the market in late 2011.

Via: Jalopnik , Source: Ft86club

VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 and Honda CR-Z Coupes and other 2009 Tokyo Show Cars Filmed in the Flesh

This year's Tokyo Motor Show that runs for the public from October 24 to November 4, 2009 may be a shadow of its former self as aside from the domestic automakers, Lotus and Alpina are the only foreign brands that will be present at the event, but still, the show will play host to some very significant debuts including the hotly-anticipated Toyota FT-86 rear-wheel drive 2+2 and Honda CR-Z Hybrid near-production coupe concepts.

The video below includes live footage of both coupes as well as from the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV SUV Concept, Mazda Kiyora Concept (Japanese Premiere) and the production Nissan Leaf, that were filmed by the folks over at Japan's Motor Magazine during what appears to be a special pre-show event.

VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 RWD Sports Coupe Featured in New Gran Turismo 5 Teaser

You've seen the photos and read the details, now it's time to see Toyota's much anticipated FT-86 2+2 sports coupe burning some rubber and going slideways on the animated circuits of the Gran Turismo 5. The FT-86 will make its world premiere as a close-to-production concept model later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show and go on sale worldwide in 2011. Hit the break to check out the teaser video.

Satirical Video Clip: Pimping in my Prius Hybrid

The name of this satirical rap video is actually "In My Prius" and it's the creative work of the folks over from "Casual Mafia". A nicely done, side-splitting music clip that will certainly cheer you up. Click, click, click below to watch the vid, vid, vid, video.

Via: Autobloggreen

Faux Nissan Advert Pits Toyota Prius against Hyundai Elantra Owner

Though not a real commercial, we really enjoyed watching this faux Nissan Sentra advert from The Midnight Show at UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade theater). Written by James Adomian, the ad pits a Toyota Prius hybrid owner against his neighbor who just bought a Hyundai Elantra. The owners' quarrel over who got the best car / deal ends up with a hilarious driveway shooting. Hit the jump to watch the commercial.

Via: TheTruthAboutCars

Video: 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Driving and Static Footage

Looks like there's a conspiracy of some kind among automakers when it comes to publishing video material for their hybrid models. Just like Honda and it's ultra tedious Insight video, Toyota also released some lifeless 'b-roll' footage for the new Prius that was revealed at the Detroit Show. For the record, we edited the official video cutting it down to a viewable four minutes as well as adding an 'eco' conscious song to break the annoying silence. Enjoy it right after the jump.

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Promo Video featuring the Blue Man Group

Over the weekend, we saw the latest 'leak' in the 2010 Toyota Prius saga in the form of a new video of the hybrid starring the renowned Blue Man Group. The three and-a-half minute long video doesn't reveal anything new on the Prius but the blue-faced actors offer us a theatrical perspective of the five-door hybrid that will make its worldwide debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in mid-January. Skip the jump to watch the video.

Via: Jalopnik

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid: New Photos and Amateur Video Adverts

Believe it or not, the same enthusiast website that "leaked" the first official photos of the new 2010 Prius has not only released a new set of pictures that appear once again to have been scanned from a presentation film but also two amateur commercials of the vehicle. In a time when such leaks are threatened with legal actions, Toyota not only doesn't seem to care, but as many of you may remember, company officials didn't have the slightest problem to publicly confirm the authenticity of the photos on the firm's official blog site. What we can say...

But anyhow, the new photos give us a few more grainy details of Toyota's third-generation hybrid model that will make its global premiere at the Detroit Motorshow in mid-January 2009. See the photos along with the two amateur video ads -gently now- by hitting the jump.

Source: Priuschat , Via: Jalopnik