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Traditionally Lexus and Toyota have followed a different path when it comes to implementing hybrid technology into their cars, but that’s about to change.
Historically Toyota has opted to use the gasoline-electric mix to deliver maximum fuel economy above all else – take the Prius as an example. Lexus, however, has instead used electricity as an added boost to its gasoline motors, providing additional power while retaining modest fuel economy. The result are cars like the GS450h, which delivers performance equal to that of a V8, but with V6 fuel efficiency. As well, there’s the flagship LS600h, with a 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to an electric motor and a total output of 428 hp. This car, boasted Lexus at the time, was intended to deliver V12 power but with V8 fuel economy.
The problem says Lexus ES and LS product planner Ketan Renade is that sales are extremely slow. “We did studies and focus groups and people said, ‘hybrid equals mpg’”, says Renade. “Cars with 400 and 500 hp are great, but no one is buying them.”
General Motors, which regained the largely symbolic title of world's largest automaker in 2011, slipped back into the second slot for the first quarter of 2012.
Toyota sold 2.49 million vehicles globally in the first three months, edging GM's 2.28 million total and Volkswagen's 2.16 million, Bloomberg News reported.
Toyota's three-year stretch as the world's largest automaker ended in 2011, when the company endured production setbacks in the aftermath of the devastating Japan earthquake and tsunami. But the Japanese automaker, which posted a 15.8% increase in U.S. unit sales during the first quarter, has restored its manufacturing capacity and sales are surging.
GM, which posted a $1-billion profit during the first quarter, faces pressure from Toyota and Volkswagen, which is weathering the European recession better than its competitors.
Japanese auto maker Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:TM) Wednesday posted better-than-expected fiscal fourth quarter earnings results and offered an optimistic fiscal 2013 outlook.
The company reported fiscal fourth quarter earnings of 121.0 billion yen, up from 25.4 billion in the year-ago period. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a smaller profit of 112.9 billion yen for the quarter.
Sales rose 23 percent in the latest period to 5.703 trillion yen.
Looking ahead, Toyota said it expects full-year fiscal 2013 earnings to more than double to 760 billion yen, with sales rising 18.4 percent to 22 trillion yen.
For the current year to March 31, 2013, Toyota forecast operating profit would rise to 1 trillion yen, its highest since the global financial crisis.
Analysts’ are expecting a profit of 990 billion yen.
"Our vision is to establish a strong business foundation that will ensure profitability under any kind of difficult business environment," said Toyota president Akio Toyoda. ... [Read More]
Ironically, these photos were snapped after Toyotafest, which happened here in So Cal this past weekend:
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After an awesome show at Toyotafest this weekend, the fun continued at Toysport where some mint Celicas and an extremely rare 2000GT came out to play. The best part is that the 2000GT was actually driven to and from the show in Long Beach. It runs and sounds great!
LOS ANGELES (May 7, 2012) -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today revealed the highly anticipated all-new Toyota RAV4 EV at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. This all-electric SUV has an expected driving range rating of approximately 100 miles and charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger. The RAV4 EV’s driving performance, dynamics and cargo capacity are equal to or exceed the gas powered RAV4 V6. Arriving fully-equipped with an MSRP of $49,800 the RAV4 EV doesn’t compromise on performance, comfort or versatility.
“It’s all about blending the best of two worlds,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division. “The all-new RAV4 EV marries the efficiency of an EV with the versatility of a small SUV – in fact, it is the only all-electric SUV on the market.”
The RAV4
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