2005 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner on 2040-cars

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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

Toyota sells 3-millionth Prius

Three generations in sixteen years and more than three million units sold worldwide - as of the end of June, those are the stats on the Toyota Prius. Even though Toyota says Prius sales might not reach the goal of 250,000 units this year, the little hybrid that could still doesn't have any problem flying off dealer lots. The second-generation Prius sold 1.2 million examples in its eight-year lifespan, and the third generation, introduced in 2009, has sold 1.7 million examples in just four years.
Toyota is also touting its investment in future powertrains, some 790 billion yen ($7.9 billion US) on research and development into new platforms and components, and "environmental technology development."
The press release below has more details, the future undoubtedly has more Priuses Prii in it.

Toyota blends Jeep and McLaren F1 in playful concept

Auto shows aren't the only place where Toyota showcases its concepts. It also cooks up something new every year for the Tokyo Toy Show. This year it's the Camatte Hajime, and it's the sixth iteration in a line of youthful concepts following the Camatte Sora, Daichi, 57s, and 57s Sports we've seen in recent years. It blends the best elements from a Jeep Wrangler and a McLaren F1. Okay, so it's more like a Jeep, but it does have the McLaren's signature central driving position and two passenger seats offset just behind. It's also a fair bit smaller than anything Jeep makes, and packs an electric motor of unspecified capacity. Fortunately it'll be switched off while on display at the Tokyo Big Sight during the toy show, so kids can get in and stomp on the pedals all they want. (Stomp in a polite and respectable Japanese fashion, anyway.) Families can have their picture taken inside the open cockpit, then customize the vehicle on tablets to create their own unique memento, while checking out other versions including an ambulance, police car, fire truck and hod dog truck. Childhood Vehicle Playsets Meet the Information Age at the Tokyo Toy Show Tokyo, Japan, June 17, 2015-Ever wonder how you would look racing to rescue a cat from a tree in a purple fire truck? Or cruising around town in a hot pink hot-dog truck? Now you can see for yourself through Camatte Vision, an all-new interactive experience from Toyota for families, debuting at this year's International Tokyo Toy Show. Camatte Vision is the latest way to experience Toyota's Camatte line of exploratory concepts seeking to break the traditional boundaries of the way children play and tinker with vehicles. The aim is to let kids and their parents share the child-like wonder and excitement of cars and trucks. Blazing fast hot rods, life-saving ambulances, hearty construction crane trucks, and many more are available in a rainbow of colors. Through an innovative augmented reality tablet app, see how you and your family would look in a virtually limitless combination of vehicle types and colors. Of course, the fun doesn't end in the virtual world: the latest physical manifestation of the Camatte family, the Hajime, will be on display for families to explore hands-on. Toyota's booth at the International Tokyo Toy Show How Camatte Vision works - Hop into the Camatte Hajime and take a photo of you and your family.