The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given their approval to a Toyota plan to fix cars that may be subject to sudden, uncontrolled acceleration. The accelerator pedal problem has been connected to 19 deaths and 2000 complaints, prompting Toyota to make the world’s largest recall of nearly 2.5 million vehicles. Toyota has also stopped the production of their eight new models.

Parts related to the sticking accelerator were produced by Indiana firm CTS Corp.  Both CTS and Toyota developed a fix for existing cars, which will require a mechanic to install a shim/spacer in the accelerator pedal assembly to prevent it from sticking, according to published reports.  A new…

Just days before the official debut of the Etios concept at the New Delhi Auto Expo, Toyota released a new teaser video of the said concept. Etios, meaning ‘the origin of’, is a production model intended for promising markets such as China, India and Brazil.

The Etios will be fitted with a 1.4 liter diesel and 1.3 liter petrol. Both engines promise to deliver good fuel consumption and low emissions. The Etios will also feature limited sound-proofing, a basic interior and one windshield wiper.

Toyota admitted that the Etios is far from other high-performance, good-looking autos in the market, but they believe that the Etios’ build quality and resale value will appeal…

The brand new third-generation of Toyota’s Sienna minivan was uncovered at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Expectators at the auto show was blown-away with the attractive styling and luxurious interior of the Sienna.

The 2011 Sienna offers two different engines: a base 2.7 Liter four-cylinder that produces 187 horsepower and a 3.5 Liter V6 with 266 horsepower. Backed up by a six-speed automatic transmission, the V6 is expected to average 18 mpg city/ 24 mpg highway (16 mpg city/ 22 mpg highway on AWD models). The four-cylinder meanwhile is expected to come with 19 mpg city/ 26 mpg highway.

Five different trim levels are also available: Sienna grade, LE, SE, XLE and…

The 2010 Land Cruiser is now available to the Londoners, for a tag price starting at 29, 795 pounds.

The UK new Land Cruiser will be offered as a five-door model fitted with a modified 3.0 Liter D-4D engine. Matched with a five-speed automatic transmission, it can produce 171 bhp of power and 410 Nm of torque. The Land Cruiser zooms from 0-62 mph in 11.7 seconds before hitting its top speed at 190 mph.

The base LC3 trim level also features 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, roof rails, fog lamps, a climate control system. Bluetooth connectivity and a Smart Entry and Smart system. The LC4 adds three-zone climate control, 18 inch…

Toyota has currently announced that it will launch a second dedicated hybrid model. A possible forerunner to the forthcoming Prius brand, the new hybrid will be called ‘Sai’, and it is slated to hit the Japanese Market this coming October 20.

The Sai is based on the Lexus HS 250h, but it will be a four door sedan. The Sai will come with the HS 250h’s 2.4L four-cylinder engine – mated to Toyota’s latest hybrid system – which should net average fuel economy in the 35 mpg range.

Toyota has not yet released any images of the Sai, but according to Automotive News, the Sai will have unique interior and exterior styling.

Pricing…

Another positive sign that the global car market is ready to bounce back from its current state in the next months is Toyota’s confirmation that it has increased yearly sales forecast and global production.

According to Japan’s Shimbun daily newspaper, Toyota has boosted its global sales forecast for the year ending March 2010 by 3 percent, totaling 6.7 million units. Additionally, Toyota also plans to boost its global output by 8 percent over the next few months, resulting in a total of 6.45 million vehicles.

Toyota has been one of the hardest hit by the global recession; however, the Japanese car maker has seen solid growth over the last months thanks to…

Weeks before its official debut at the State Fair of Texas, images of the next generation Toyota 4Runner has leaked onto the net. The latest images of the vehicle shows the 4Runner with a new bigger and tougher look.

Details about the pick up are still unclear but according to sources the next 4Runner will retain its body-on-frame construction. This will not make the make the 2010 4Runner the greenest SUV on the block, but it will make the ‘ute a formidable off-road vehicle. Toyota is so confident in its design that they said that the 2010 4Runner will be “more rugged than ever”.

Powertrain-wise, the 4Runner will come in a four-cylinder…

Just about six months ago Toyota was able to reach the 1 million US hybrid sales milestone. This time Toyota has also confirmed that it has topped the 2 million unit mark in hybrid sales world wide. The biggest market for the cars is the North American market, pushing Toyota’s global sales to 2.017 million units as of August.

The Toyota hybrid revolution was first started with the introduction of the Prius in Japan last 1997. The car then found its way to the United States and Europe in the year 2000. Due to its popularity especially with Hollywood stars, the Prius has been the worlds best selling hybrid model. Sales…

It is now confirmed that the 2010 Toyota 4Runner will get both a four-cylinder model and an optional third row for added utility. Definite figures are not released but given that its horsepower is quoted as 161, we assume it’s the company’s 2.4-liter power plant. The V6 model, on the other hand, will get 268 horsepower, most likely supplied by the 3.5-liter engine seen in the Camry sedan.

The 2010 4Runner will be available in three model levels: SR5, Trail, and Limited, with the I-4 model only being available in SR5 form.

SR5 models will feature 16- or 17-inch wheels, a dozen airbags, as well as a standard backup and clearance sensor, an…

In a recent press release, Toyota claims that they have developed a new technology that will vastly enhance the storage capacity of its next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Toyota did not disclose technical details, but they revealed that the progress came from the production of single crystals of lithium cobalt oxide. In cooperation with Japan’s Tohoku University, Toyota developed this new lithium-ion technology.

According to Japan’s Nikkei business daily, the breakthrough could net a ten-fold improvement in battery performance. If so, Toyota will certainly set the bar higher for electric vehicles with a range of 1,000 miles. Furthermore, the new technology is said to weigh less and occupy less than lithium-ion batteries currently under…

Thanks to the ever reliable web, some images of Toyota’s refurbished 2010 Land Cruiser Prado (Lexus GX) have been leaked out.

You can see in the picture that the updated Land Cruiser sports a contemporary design with an aggressive front bumper, sweptback headlights, and integrated LED turn signals on the mirrors.  No worries as this new SUV is still identifiable as a Prado due to its customary greenhouse and side opening rear tailgate.

On the inside of 2010 Prado is a lavish interior with symmetrical line design.  And of course, if you have seen one before, you’ll know that Prado will retain these features: multifunction steering wheel, heated seats, available keyless entry,…