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Toyota rolls out new turbo engine on updated JDM Auris

Toyota may be among the leaders in hybrid powertains, but the Japanese auto giant knows there's more than one way to skin a proverbial cat – especially when it comes to green propulsion. To that end, it has announced a new series of downsized turbocharged engines. Leading the charge is 8NR-FTS, a new 1.2-liter turbocharged and direct-injected engine that uses a single-scroll turbocharger and a water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head. The engine promises to deliver "responsive acceleration and maximum torque across a wide rpm range" combined with "drastically improved thermal and fuel efficiency." It features what Toyota calls D-4T technology – combining direct-injection with a turbocharger in a four-stroke engine – as well as continuously variable intake valve timing. The result is an engine that produces 114 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque from just 1,196 cubic centimeters of displacement. The engine is being rolled out initially on a redesigned version of the Auris hatchback (similar to the Scion iM we'll be getting Stateside) that's being introduced in Japan. In addition to the 1.2-liter turbo, the JDM Auris will also be available with a 1.5- and 1.8-liter engines. Buyers will also be able to choose between CVT and six-speed manual transmissions (the latter only available with the 1.8), in front- or all-wheel drive and in six trim levels – of which the 120T with the new 1.2 and CVT is the top. The refreshed Auris also benefits from revised sheetmetal, interior equipment and safety features. We're awaiting word back from Toyota on whether this new engine (or some derivative thereof) will be made available in North America, but in the meantime you can scope out all the details on both the engine and the new Auris in the press releases below and in the pair of high-resolution image galleries. Turbocharged Toyota Auris Goes on Sale in Japan Toyota City, Japan, April 6, 2015-The partially redesigned Toyota Auris, offering a newly developed turbo engine and a brand new safety package, went on sale in Japan today. Featuring significant interior and exterior changes, this latest redesign advances the Auris brand by building on the individuality and performance that has defined the model since its first generation. In addition, Toyota has combined the best of the model's new features by creating the high-end 120T grade. Across all grades, Toyota aims to sell 1,000 units per month in Japan.

Toyota NA CEO says his excitement for hydrogen sedan is rising

Toyota has an undeniable vested interest in seeing its hydrogen sedan succeed when it goes on sale in the US next year, so it's no surprise that the company's North American CEO, Jim Lentz, says that he's got more hope for the car now than ever before. And if we remember ways that others in the company, like Bob Carter, have loudly sung hydrogen's praises, we have to assume that positivity is running awful high in Torrance. In fact, Lentz said that the US side of the company is far more excited by the H2 car than colleagues in Japan. Speaking at The Wall Street Journal's ECO:nomics conference in Santa Barbara, CA this week, Lentz said: After we've seen the product, understand its range, its driving dynamics, its refueling, we're a lot more bullish than Japan - probably about fivefold more bullish. It's just a question of how many can be produced now. Well, we've driven this car, and we still feel that Toyota is placing a big bet on the technology. One important issue is cost, but Lentz would not say exactly how much the car costs to make or what it will be priced at. He did say, though, that the production cost has dropped by 95 percent from the $1 million price tag the car wore ten years ago. That hints at a production cost of around $50,000. Lentz also said he thinks it will take at least a decade for hydrogen vehicles to hit sales of 500,000 per year in the US. Speaking to Bloomberg, he said: Their acceptance could get off to a quicker start than the hybrids did. I think you're going to see a lot more marketing of the concept of fuel cell much sooner than you did for hybrids, because basically the whole industry is behind it.

Toyota passes BMW as most valuable car brand

An annual market study of the strongest brands across various industries has seen Toyota leapfrog BMW as the world's most valuable automotive brand. Toyota's 2013 brand value rose to $24.5 billion, up 12 percent versus 2012 numbers according to market research company Millward Brown's BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. BMW's value fell slightly; down by 2 percent to a total of $24 billion.
Mercedes-Benz finished in third place in the automotive category, up 11 percent from 2012 for a valuation of $18 billion. Honda ($12.4 billion, down 2 percent) and Nissan ($10.2 billion, up 3 percent) rounded out the top five for the category. Volkswagen was the only other auto brand that finished in the top 100 overall, in 100th place. Audi made the greatest percentage gain over 2012, up 18 percent to $5.5 billion, but finished outside of the top 100.
Technology companies dominated the overall list, with Apple, Google and IBM ranking one through three. Couture brand Prada was 2013's biggest gainer, rising by 63 percent over 2012.