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Toyota recalls 250 vehicles in two separate campaigns

Toyota is keeping on top of things by issuing two, small recalls on 2015 model year vehicles. The first covers 230 examples of the 2015 Yaris. In the affected models, the bolts holding the rear axle bearing might not be tight enough. If one of these fasteners falls off, it could possibly damage the rear brakes, including the potential of a wheel locking up. The second, even smaller campaign covers just 20 units of the 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro pickups. In the examples delivered to Puerto Rico, they didn't have the correct placard to advise owners of the correct tire size and pressure on the B-pillar. Neither problem has resulted in any crashes, injuries or fatalities. As usual, affected owners will be notified by mail, and Toyota dealers will repair the issues free of charge to customers. Toyota spokesperson Cindy Knight tells Autoblog that those letters will go out in mid-March. TOYOTA RECALLS CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2015 YARIS AND TACOMA VEHICLES TORRANCE, Calif., February 17, 2015 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will conduct a safety recall of approximately 230 Model Year 2015 Yaris hatchbacks and approximately 20 Model Year 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro model pickup trucks. In the involved Yaris vehicles, the rear axle bearing bolts may not have been tightened sufficiently during vehicle assembly. If a bolt is loose and falls off during vehicle operation, the bolt could damage rear brake components, resulting in reduced brake performance or potential wheel lock up, which could increase the risk of a crash. The Tacoma TRD Pro model pickup trucks were distributed to dealers in Puerto Rico without the correct B-pillar tire placard indicating the tire size and recommended cold tire inflation pressure for the front and rear tires. An improperly inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash. Toyota is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities caused by either condition. Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a notification by first class mail. Toyota dealers will repair the vehicles at no cost to the owner. Detailed information is available at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331. ### Featured Gallery 2015 Toyota Yaris View 12 Photos Related Gallery 2015 Toyota TRD Pro Series Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner News Source: Toyota Recalls Toyota Safety Truck Hatchback

Cleanliness of Toyota Mirai fuel cell exhaust depends on air quality

Is the water vapor coming out of Toyota's first production fuel-cell vehicle drinkable? If you're driving through the Sierra Nevadas? Probably. Cruising through Beijing? Not so much. Toyota executive Seiji Mizuno discussed whether the water vapor emitted from the Toyota Mirai is safe enough to drink and, according to Automotive News, the short answer is "yes," since the slightly-acidic vapor has "fewer organic impurities" than milk. The catch, though, is that the vapor immediately gets mixed with the surrounding air. That means that there's always the chance that something funky gets mixed in with the air intake, especially if the Mirai's driving through a smog-infested city. That makes the idea of swigging off the tailpipe a slightly riskier venture, so it's best to keep that reusable bottle full of tap water handy. Toyota, which recently showed the Mirai off at the Los Angeles Auto Show, confirmed earlier this month that the Mirai would start sales in California in 2015 with lease rates starting at $499 a month. While the model's MSRP will be $57,500, federal and state incentives could bring that number to less than $45,000. Fewer than 200 Mirai vehicles will be available in the US by the end of next year.

255-hp Toyota GR86 and other big news leaks in dealer presentation

Last month, Motor1 said it received information on Toyota and Lexus product plans for the next few years from an inside source who attended a dealer presentation. To protect the source, Motor1 didn't publish any slides or proof from that presentation. A snippet of what happened behind closed doors has found its way online, Allcarnews posting one of the slides yesterday, as well as its own recap of the Japanese automaker's plans that mirrors the Motor1 report. If all of this is true, not only is there a ton of product in the works, but Toyota and Lexus lineups will get more interesting while answering the requests of several enthusiast groups. We'll start with the 86, then go by model year after that. The next-gen coupe developed with Subaru should sit on Toyota's TNGA platform and get a rebrand to wear the GR86 name, for Toyota's Gazoo Racing division. The real hallelulah happens under the hood, where a turbocharged four-cylinder is expected to produce 255 hp, a 50-hp jump over the present model. Look for an upgraded interior, too. The debut is slated for summer 2021, possibly July.    This year: The fall season should introduce a new crossover and a new Sienna with hybrid powertrains only. The current minivan has been on sale since 2010, getting a minor refresh in front in 2018. The crossover will be a five-seat midsizer that brings back the Venza name, this model already rumored here and abroad. It, too, will only get hybrid powertrains. Both planned as 2021-model-year products, it's possible their motivations will be based on the 2.5-liter four-cylinder in both the RAV4 and Highlander hybrids. And a refreshed Camry might come later this year as a 2021MY sedan.  2021: Next year will be a busy one. ... On the Toyota side, and as TFL has reported, the all-new Tundra that's first to sit on the TNGA-F truck platform will show in December 2021 as a 2022MY pickup. Rumor has the top model powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid with around 455 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque, perhaps distinguished by the i-Force Max name that Toyota recently applied to trademark. A few months before that, Toyota will roll out a Corolla-based crossover maybe called the Corolla Cross, and potentially built in the U.S. at the Alabama facility being constructed with Mazda. And remember, a Toyota exec teased a small hot hatch for this market as well, "an answer" to the GR Yaris sold in Europe, which Car and Driver figures will be based on the Corolla.