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Toyota develops new pre-collision system with steering assist

A number of automakers are working on developing fully autonomous cars, but it looks like the groundwork for such technologies will likely show up first as semi-autonomous systems for both safety and convenience. Following recent announcements from Nissan and Ford in this area, Toyota has now released information for some of its advanced semi-autonomous technologies that could be offered in production cars over the next few years.
On the safety front, Toyota's new pre-collision system with pedestrian-avoidance steering assist is aimed at protecting the folks who aren't in the car. This system combines visual and audible alerts with automatic brake assist and automatic steering. If warnings don't get the driver to slow down, the brake assist kicks in if a collision is very likely, but if that is still not able to avoid the impending collision (and if there is enough room to do so), the car can automatically steer itself around the pedestrian. This sounds most beneficial for last-second dangers such as a person accidently stepping out into the road in front of a car. Toyota hopes to have this technology available to customers by 2015.
The Japanese automaker is also testing a suite of technologies called Automated Highway Driving Assist (AHDA). The key part of this is a new adaptive cruise control system that uses vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications rather than a radar-based system. This cooperative-adaptive cruise control allows vehicles to communicate their acceleration and deceleration data with other cars, which Toyota says this helps to improve fuel efficiency and traffic flow. Also a part of AHDA is the Lane Trace Control feature, which sounds like a next-gen lane keep assist. This system uses cameras, radar and a computer to keep the vehicle in a "smooth driving line" by being able to change steering angle, engine torque and braking force. Toyota says this technology could be in place by the "mid-2010s."

Toyota confirms 2016 Tacoma for Detroit

A week on from an announcement by Toyota's Bob Carter, the Japanese marque has formally announced that the 2016 Toyota Tacoma will make its global debut next month at the 2015 North American International Auto Show. Not only that, but the company has given us a very minute (and very muddy) teaser image, showing the truck's tailgate and driver's side taillight. Like its big brother, the Tundra, the 2016 Tacoma will feature its name embossed on its tailgate. Beyond that, though, there's really not much to be gleaned from this sole teaser shot. Of course, we'll have much, much more on the next-generation Taco when it arrives in a month's time. Until then, check out Toyota's hilariously brief and to-the-point press release, available below. Tacoma. Detroit. January 12. It's on. December 10, 2014 Toyota's rolling out the all-new 2016 Tacoma at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 12.

Toyota goofs again in latest Mirai fuel cell ad

In the "gotcha" culture engendered by social media and viral campaigns, it looks like Toyota got, well, got. The Japanese automaker is starting a campaign for its Mirai fuel-cell vehicle, and included a line about the fact that the car "breathes in air." Of course, all light-duty vehicles do that, as Jalopnik's Opposite Lock happily pointed out. Jalopnik added that even electric vehicles have an air intake for their heat exchangers. Oops. It looks like Toyota doesn't think this message is wrong, since the image is still up on the company's Google+ page. The Mirai can still lay claim to something that may impress the layman in that it emits only water vapor from its tailpipe. It's a pitch Toyota started making to Americans last November when the company said it would start Mirai sales this year in California. Toyota's charging an MSRP of $57,500 for those looking to buy the car outright or a three-year lease rate of $499 a month for 36 months (with $3,649 due at signing) for those to want to lease the car. Toyota also said in January that it would ramp up Mirai production to about 2,000 vehicles in 2016 from about 700 this year, as it expands distribution into Europe and the US. In the US, refueling the hydrogen will be free. Just like the chemistry lesson from Opposite Lock. Related Videos: