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Toyota and Lexus will have standard automatic braking by 2017

Last week, NHTSA and IIHS announced that 20 auto manufacturers and three agencies had agreed to include automatic emergency braking (AEB) as standard equipment by 2022. Toyota was one of those 20 companies, but this week they upped the AEB ante: Nearly every Toyota and Lexus model and trim level will have standard AEB by 2017. That's next year. Many models already offer AEB as part of the Lexus Safety System+ and Toyota Safety Sense packages, but consumers have had to pay extra for these options (unless they leased a Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle; it already has AEB as standard equipment.) By the end of next year, all but the Lexus GS, Toyota 4Runner and Toyota 86 — which was developed together with Subaru — will have AEB installed at no extra cost. (Interestingly, the new Prius Prime unveiled at the New York International Auto Show has Safety Sense as an option rather than standard equipment.) The AEB function is part of Toyota's safety suites, which will be included in 25 Lexus and Toyota models. Both makes have a precollision system that detects the possibility of collision with the car ahead and engages the brakes if the driver doesn't react quickly enough, as well as lane departure alerts and automatic high beams. Toyota's move leapfrogs ahead of Honda making its Honda Sensing system, which includes AEB tech, available as a flat $1,000 option on every Civic Sedan. Related Video: This article by Kristen Hall-Geisler originally ran on TechCrunch, a leading technology media property, dedicated to obsessively profiling startups, reviewing new Internet products, and breaking tech news.

Toyota reveals custom Mark X, Harrier and Prius for Tokyo Auto Salon

Toyota offers a robust lineup of models in markets around the world – ours included – but there are certain models that remain reserved for Japan, and now it has revealed some tantalizingly modified versions for its home market. Arguably chief among them is a version of the Mark X that's been upgraded by GRMN. For those unfamiliar, the Mark X is a rear-drive sport sedan offered in the Japanese Domestic Market, while GRMN (shorthand for Gazoo Racing Masters of Nurburgring) is the street-tuning division of one of the company's racing departments. The confluence of these two Japanese lines brings some enticing upgrades to the sedan, including a new front bumper, carbon-fiber roof, trunk spoiler, 19-inch alloys, sport suspension, upgraded brakes and an interior decked out with sports sedans and steering wheel as well as carbon, piano black and Alcantara trim. Motivation comes from a 3.5-liter V6 driving 316 horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and Torsen limited slip differential. Joining the Mark X GRMN are a pair of models enhanced by G's, another one of Toyota's Japan-centric performance lines. There's an Elegance version of the Harrier – similar to the Lexus RX we get Stateside – with a sports suspension dropped by 1.4 inches, upgraded brakes, an aggressively restyled front end and an enhanced interior. Alongside it Toyota has revealed a version of the tall-roofed Prius Alpha (which we know as the Prius V) with a similarly upgraded suspension, refreshed front end styling and interior with sports seats and silver-stitched black interior. All three models are slated to debut at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon - Japan's equivalent of the SEMA show - next month at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba. Featured Gallery Toyota at 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon View 18 Photos News Source: Toyota Aftermarket Green Tokyo Auto Salon Toyota JDM toyota prius v

Toyota will invest $210 million to expand West Virginia engine production

WASHINGTON — Toyota is investing $210 million to expand engine production in West Virginia and add 100 new jobs. The Japanese automaker said it would boost capacity by 70,000 engines a year at the Buffalo, West Virginia plant, up from the nearly 1 million transmissions and engines it produces annually for vehicles assembled in North America. The investment will increase assembly capacity of its four-cylinder engine line. The plant makes four- and six-cylinder engines for Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Lexus ES, Lexus RX350, RAV4 and Sienna. The investment comes as automakers around the world are shifting more focus to electric vehicles and away from vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Toyota says hybrid vehicles, which includes internal combustion engines, will be a key part of its vehicle strategy in the coming decade as other automakers focus more heavily on battery electric vehicles, which only run on electric power. Toyota said last week that 16% of its U.S. sales were hybrid vehicles in 2020, a figure that will jump to at least 20% in 2021. Related Video: