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Toyota, Lexus recall 460,000 vehicles for stability control issue

Toyota and its luxury subsidiary, Lexus, are recalling 460,000 electrified models produced for the 2020-2022 model years to address an issue that can cause the vehicles' stability control systems not to activate on startup. If you drive a new Toyota or Lexus and it has at least one electric motor in it (or it's the new LX 600), there's a better-than-even chance you'll be hearing from your dealer in the coming months. The good news for owners is that the issue is one of compliance, rather than something which may immediately endanger a vehicle occupant.  "A software error can cause the Vehicle Stability Control system (VSC) not to default to ON the next time the car is started under certain circumstances. This can result in a noncompliance with applicable regulations in the U.S," Toyota said in its announcement. "For all involved vehicles, Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software of the Skid Control ECU free of charge to customers." Included in the campaign are the 2020-2022 Toyota Venza, Mirai, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid. On the Lexus side, it hits the LS500h, LX600, NX350h and NX450h+. Notably absent here are the Tundra-based trucks with the new iForce Max hybrid, though Toyota may have addressed the issue in those models before they went on sale. On the other side of the coin, the LX 600 — a purely ICE model for the time being — managed to stumble into the defect pool.  Toyota says owners should receive notices before the end of June. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green Recalls Lexus Toyota Safety Luxury

Xcar tours Toyota's Secret Racing Collection

Toyota Motorsport GmbH has dabbled in just about every form of motorsport you could think of. The Japanese automaker's European racing division has made its mark in Formula One, Le Mans, rally, hillclimbing... it's even made some road-going prototypes. And Xcar managed to gain access to its inner sanctum. As a result of all its various racing activities, the German facility has an enviable collection of racing machinery, housed in a hall underneath one of its wind tunnels. We couldn't even begin to wrap our heads around the sheer amount of money that's been poured into all these racers and prototypes, or how much they'd be worth on the open market today if Toyota ever had to liquidate its unsurpassed collection. But you can scope them all out in the artfully shot and expertly narrated video above.

Toyota rolls out all-new HiLux pickup Down Under [UPDATE]

Never heard of the Toyota HiLux? That could be because it's not sold in America. But it's been around in other markets for 47 years now, over the course of which it has sold over 16 million units. Suffice it to say, then, that the HiLux is a vital product for the Japanese automaker, so the introduction of the new model you see here is a big deal on a global scale. The eighth-generation HiLux is the first all-new one in a decade, and benefits from some substantial improvements. It's touted as tougher and more capable than the ten-year-old model it replaces, but also safer and more comfortable. It boasts more interior space, a larger fuel tank and greater hauling capabilities. In the right spec, it'll tow more than 7,700 pounds and carry up to 2,700. There's a staggering array of configurations to choose from: 31 in all, resulting from two drivetrains, two transmissions, four engines, three cabin sizes and three levels of trim (in Australia at least - see update below). The top 4.0-liter V6 carries over and the 2.7-liter four has been upgraded for higher output and efficiency, but there are two new common-rail turbo-diesels on offer: a 2.4 with 164 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.8 with 174 hp and 332 lb-ft. They're mated to new six-speed manual and automaker transmissions, and buyers in the many markets where the HiLux contends will also be able to select a new Hi-Rider model that combines two-wheel drive with the ride height of the 4x4. The new HiLux is being introduced today in both Thailand and Australia, which are hardly random choices for the new model's debut. Though the truck is manufactured in six countries around the world, the Thai plant alone accounts for 70 percent of its production. And in Australia, the HiLux has not only been the top-selling commercial vehicle for the past 17 years running, but stands as the country's most popular vehicle of any kind – making it Oz's equivalent to our Ford F-150. UPDATE: While the HiLux is clearly a vital product for Toyota in the land Down Under, that's not the only place where it will be sold - and the details listed above will change from market to market. "Specs will differ across the globe, including engine availability," a spokesman for Toyota in Europe told Autoblog. The company's Australian PR rep confirmed that "Each region has its own unique requirements. Engine specs change based on emissions requirements for instance.