2005 Toyota Matrix Base Wagon 4-door 1.8l on 2040-cars

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2016 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab revealed along with more details

The Toyota Tacoma stepped behind the curtain for a makeover, and has emerged for 2016 with an appearance both chunky and menacing, plus lots of new tech and features. We've already seen its exterior, but some details we didn't get are that there will be a new locking tailgate that can lower itself slowly, without slamming, an available tri-fold hard tonneau, and four new wheel designs. Supporting that will be a stiffer frame with more high-strength steel and additional hot-stamped, ultra-high-strength steel in a lighter bodyshell. Engines will come in two flavors, either the carryover 2.7-liter four-cylinder or a brand new 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 that utilizes both direct and port fuel injection. The four-pot only can only be had with a six-speed automatic transmission - one extra gear than before - with electronic shifting, the sixer can be specified with that or a six-speed manual. We haven't been given numbers yet, but Toyota says the new truck is "more powerful and fuel efficient," meaning we expect a raise on the 236 horsepower of the current 4.0-liter V6. The dash is laid out with a driver-focused "handlebar" theme, finished with soft materials and metallic accents. Tech options include push-button start, Qi wireless charging, a Multi-Terrain Select system, and blind-spot detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, while luxury is attended to with a power moonroof and leather-trimmed seats. To aid the ambiance, engineers improved the seals, added an acoustic windshield, a sound-absorbing headliner and a floor silencer pad to make the cabin quieter. The suspension has also been retuned to deliver a smoother ride and provide more travel. One neat convenience touch: a GoPro mount next to the rear-view mirror. Five trims will be offered when it goes on sale: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. Before then, there's a press release below with more information, and we'll soon have live pictures from the Detroit Auto Show floor. DOMINATE DIRT...OR ROCKS...OR PAVEMENT IN THE ALL-NEW 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA - Toyota Tacoma Rebuilt Inside and Out - New Engine, Transmissions and Suspension Tuning - Legendary TRD Off-road Toughness - Best-selling Mid-Size Pickup for 10 Straight Years - Designed, Engineered and Assembled in North America DETROIT, January 12, 2015 - - Whatever the terrain, Tacoma is king of the hill.

BMW Z5 roadster gets frosty in winter testing

The successor to the BMW Z4 (remember that thing?) is currently undergoing testing in what may be the least hospitable place for a two-seat roadster – northern Sweden. Yep, even sunshine-loving convertibles need to undergo winter testing. We still aren't 100-percent certain of the name, but rumors are pointing to BMW ditching the Z4 nomenclature in favor of Z5. As we've reported before, it's very likely that this car is being developed with help from Toyota. The platform underpinning the car shown here could become the long-awaited new Supra (albeit in hardtop-only form). We'd love to tell you about the look of this new car, but between the camouflage and the caked-on snow, it's hard to draw a bead. We can clearly see the headlights are inspired by newer BMWs like the 7 Series and 2 Series, but other details are harder to discern. The right elements are here, though. The prototype has a long hood and short rear deck. It's also worth pointing out that the car shown here marks a return to a canvas convertible roof. Aside from being less complex, our spies report that the soft top is being used to lower weight and provide sharper handling. While our report on the Z4's successor from March 2015 pointed to a 2020 launch date for the new roadster, our spies say the German part of this BMW/Toyota partnership could launch in late 2017 or early 2018 with four- and six-cylinder engine options. Related Video: Featured Gallery BMW Z5: Spy Shots Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos BMW Toyota Convertible Performance bmw z5

Is this the fourth-gen Toyota Prius? [w/video]

A new video has appeared on Prius Chat of a camouflaged hatchback that just might be the next Toyota Prius. There's nothing here that concretely proves what we're looking at is the fourth-generation model of the world's best-selling hybrid, but upon first glace, the Prius guess makes sense. In an ironic twist, the car was caught because it needed gas. Prius Chat user Savior1974 says that the car was spotted on a drive between Las Vegas and California in Baker, CA. Savior1974 wrote, "As we are leaving we see a car dressed as it were being road tested. Upon further inspection it looks like it might be a Prius. I took a quick video as I drove by but it's not the best quality." The launch of the next-gen Prius has been delayed because of more work that was needed to make the car more efficient and to improve the styling. Work on getting the Prius to work well with the new Toyota New Global Architecture platform also needed more time. Last summer, we heard rumors that the Prius' new design would be finalized in November 2014. There are a few points to keep in mind that might point to this being something other than the next Prius. First, the all-black, electrical-tape-style camo is not the normal wrap that the Toyota Technical Center uses for testing (compare with these early shots of the Prius C and these other fourth-gen Prius spy shots). Second, the Baker grade between Las Vegas and California (where the video was shot) is full of vehicles being tested by any number of automakers. Nonetheless, the lines of this car do look like a Prius, so we leave you with a gallery of stills from the video and, of course, the video itself, above.