Toyota will start producing hybrid cars in Australia amid growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, according to local media reports.
The Japanese auto giant plans to make the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Australia in 2010 by using existing production lines for its standard Camry model, the Nikkei business daily said.
It would also start production at its Thailand plant, scheduled for later this year, it said.
The news comes as the Rudd Government urges the nation's car industry to adapt to climate change, after Holden moved to cut up to 531 jobs by ceasing production of four-cylinder engines by the end of next year.
Holden was criticised for slashing the jobs before the completion of the Bracks review into the car industry but the company insisted reduced export demand for its Family II engine had resulted in its four-cylinder Melbourne operation being reduced to less than 50 per cent capacity.
While Holden said the 27-year-old engine had reached the end of "its life cycle", Industry Minister Kim Carr said the engine would not be able to meet emission standards in its key export markets.
"This highlights the pressure on the industry as a whole to adapt to climate change and the need for fuel efficiency," he said.
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said it was important that every possible measure was taken to ensure Australia continued to have a car manufacturing industry.
"We think that governments need to do everything that they reasonably can to support car manufacturing in Australia," he said.
Nikkei says Toyota aims to lift production of hybrid vehicles to 10,000 units within three to four years at both the Australian and Thai plants.
The Japanese automaker was the pioneer of hybrids, which deliver power by switching between a regular engine and an electric motor. Hybrids have proven a hit, particularly in North America, at a time of skyrocketting oil prices.
Toyota is widely expected in the current year to become the world's top automaker, surpassing US giant General Motors which is in the midst of restructuring.
Toyota introduced the hybrid in 1997. Production is largely in Japan, although it has also made them in the United States and China.
Toyota's hybrid output jumped 25 per cent to 430,000 units in 2007 and is expected to soar to one million units in the early 2010s.
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi planned to launch an eco-friendly electric vehicle based on its subcompact small car in Japan next year, Nikkei said.
Annual output is estimated at 2000 cars at the start and will be raised to 10,000 in 2011, it said.
Exports were to start in 2010 to Britain, France and other parts of Europe as well as to Australia, Singapore and the United States, it said.
Officials of the two companies could not immediately be reached for comment.
Sales of eco-friendly cars have been rising not only in Japan and the United States but also in developing countries in South-East
Toyota to make Electric and Gas cars
2009 Porsche 911 Carrera
In the race for change, the Porsche 911 could lose to an Icelandic glacier. But as with most evolutionary processes, it doesn’t stop. Such is the flow of new product from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Less than one year since the GT2, the last variation of the 997—phase one—was launched, the next 911 is here. It's still called the 997, though, indicating that changes to the legendary sports car are modest.
The body remains unchanged, but Porsche apparently thinks the 911 needs daytime running lights so it won't be overlooked on the road. Admittedly, these LED units also look cool . . . maybe not as cool as those on the Audi R8, but cool nonetheless. The new LED rear lights look aggressive on the road, and their shape is slightly altered. The dashboard is also modified with redesigned knobs and buttons, which makes for a more rounded, less technical appearance.
No 911 ever feels underpowered—it is one of the lightest cars in its class—but Porsche is catching up with the competition in the horsepower department. The 911 Carrera's 3.6-liter engine jumps from 325 horsepower to 345 horsepower, the 3.8-liter unit in the Carrera S gets 385 horsepower, up from 355. Both engines are equipped with direct-injection technology, an expensive and complex technology that significantly improves fuel efficiency. The base 911 Carrera is rated at a remarkable 24 mpg in the European cycle.
New Seven-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission
More significant even than the bump in horsepower is the new seven-speed dual clutch transmission, which replaces the previous five-speed Tiptronic automatic. Known as “PDK” (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe), the new transmission is the latest evolution of the same basic technology developed by none other than Porsche in the early '80s for racing applications, as it saves time by providing seamless upshifts and downshifts. It debuted in 1983 in the 956 and was subsequently used in the 962 race cars. The technology was then largely forgotten until, supposedly, Ferdinand Piëch thought of it again and launched it in a series of VW and Audi models.
Even Speedier than Before
Even though Porsche pioneered dual-clutch technology, this new unit is supplied by ZF. We predict that not every Porsche fan will be pleased that the dual-clutch unit accelerates better than a perfectly driven manual version. However, we do expect most to enjoy the 13 percent increase in fuel economy thus equipped.
Acceleration depends on the transmission: In the Carrera S coupe, 0–60 mph comes in 4.7 seconds with the manual transmission, but with the optional dual-clutch transmission, the figure improves to 4.5 seconds. And if you opt for the Sport Chrono Plus package, time drops further to 4.3 seconds thanks to Launch Control. Top speed for the 911 Carrera S is 188 mph. Not entirely coincidentally, that’s one mile per hour faster than the R8. Now that Porsche officially controls VW Group, and thus Audi, it seems that Porsche is establishing exactly who’s on top.
Sales of the upgraded 911 start in September, with prices ranging from $75,600 for the Carrera coupe to $86,200 for both the Carrera cabriolet and the Carrera S coupe to $96,800 for the Carrera S cabriolet. That's modest if you consider that the standard 911 Carrera now is almost as powerful as the previous 911 Carrera S. Just don't start adding options if you hope to hang onto any money.
With phase II of the 997, the inevitable launch cycle starts all over. A few weeks from now, the 4WD Carrera 4 versions will follow. Look for wide-body versions, Targas, and upgraded GT3, Turbo, Turbo Convertible, and GT2 models down the road.
Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series
This is the 76 series gxl wagen. Its a weapon hey. a truly aussie inspired bush bus. love it.
The 32-valve V8 puts out a not too shabby 151kW at 3400rpm and peak torque of 430Nm at 1200rpm. Pulling and climbing are what this vehicle does best! new 4.5 litre V8 turbo-diesel, single turbo the 200 series gets twin.
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79 Series
76 Series
HISTORY
The Toyota FJ70 is the model designation for a Toyota Land Cruiser made from 1984 until present day. In 1984/1985, Toyota introduced an entirely new design to replace the aging and now 25 year old 40 series Land Cruiser. What Toyota came up with was a most appropriate replacement. Although completely new in styling, every off road positive aspect of the original 40 series was retained. The all new 70 series was introduced.
1984 - 1999: The 70 / 75 series [Toyota Land Cruiser] also known as Toyota Prado and Toyota Land Cruiser 2 in most parts of the world, took over from the 40 / 45 series of workhorse four wheel drives in 1984. The styling maintained a family resemblance to the 40 / 45 series but became more angular. The 70 / 71 series is the short wheel base (SWB), the 73 / 74 is the medium wheel base (MWB) and the 75 series is the long wheel base (LWB). The latter comes as cab-chassis/utility with a "panelled" tray, and "troop carrier" hard-top (HT).
2000-present: In 2000, the pick-up version was designated the 79 series and the Troop Carrier became the 78 series. The principal changes were - coil sprung live axle in front instead of leaf sprung, redesigned steering wheel, redesigned front indicators and, in the cab-chassis, a longer wheel base which increased the rear storage capacity.
2007: The updated 70 series began production in January for market release in late February / early March 2007. Changes involve minor frontal design adjustments which incorporate the headlamps into the front profile of the vehicle due to the chassis rails being moved outwards to accommodate the new V8 turbo-diesel engine - a dramatic change nonetheless considering the exposed lamps and wheel arches have been a signature design component of the 70 series from day one. Only one engine is now on offer - a 4.5L V8 turbo diesel 1VD-FTV, while the cab-chassis / tray back (LWB) and Troop Carrier (LWB) bodies will remain; new to the range is the 76 series, a four door MWB wagon variant.
The suspension, interior and basic layout of these models are nearly identical to the more famous longer wheelbase 75 series Land Cruisers, but the frame and body is much shorter. This allows the Land Cruiser to be more nimble off road. This model was popular as a personal off road transport, but because the Land Cruiser was marketed almost exclusively as a commercial and government vehicle and because these were never sold in the largest auto market in the world, the US, few were built, compared to other Land Cruiser models.
However, these models were sold all over the world, except North America, in the 1980s and early 1990s. They can be found in Japan, Asia, Africa, New Zealand and South America. The short wheelbase models are not quite as common in Australia, but they are very popular in the homeland of Japan, where compactness and rugged 4X4 are a welcome combination.
Square-bodied Land Cruiser utility 4x4 two door with steel doors and top, slanted windshield. The front-clip styling remains much like that of the 40 Series. The grille can be mesh or can consist of three horizontal bars.
Both have three additional horizontal slots in a single line under the grille. Front turn signals are square with triangular white lens elements underneath, and are affixed to the vertical edge of the front clip above the fenders and just outboard of each headlight. The top can be hard or soft. The doors are hard, with roll-up windows. Taillights are long, vertical rectangles inset low into the rear bodywork. Rear doors are paired swing-out 'barn doors'. Windshields of some military versions will fold atop hood. Available in many forms, including , a four-door semi-long (J77V → J76V), a pickup (J75P → J79P), and long wheelbase utility wagon (J75V → J77V / J78V).
Today, few short wheelbase 70 series can be purchased new. Some are still in production today in some select South American countries and possibly still in the Japanese homeland.
