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119K Toyota Avalon sedans recalled over airbag woes

Toyota has issued a voluntary safety recall for 119,000 2003-2004 Avalon models because in some cases the airbags could inadvertently deploy.
The automaker says that circuits within the airbag control module could be damaged by electrical noise, which could cause the front airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners to activate. Dealers are going to repair cars by adding an electrical noise filter to the module. Owners will be notified by first class mail.
Toyota Public Affairs Manager Cindy Knight told Autoblog that there was one reported injury caused by the sudden deployment, but there have been no accidents or crashes. The company is currently preparing the parts for dealers now, and the component takes 90 minutes to two hours to install. "We don't believe there are any other affected models," said Knight.

Toyota teases mysterious RND Concept

Toyota is being very secretive about its newly teased RND Concept. The image above is all that the Japanese automaker is showing at the moment, and it's not much to go by. However, the wait to find out won't be very long, as the automaker is unveiling this very mysterious vehicle on January 26 in the UK. Making the RND even more intriguing is that this isn't just a concept pointing the way towards some nebulous future vehicle. Toyota claims that the model is production ready, and the automaker already has pricing, supply and manufacturing space prepared. We likely shouldn't expect a super luxury sedan or sports coupe, though, because Toyota says that the RND is meant for "the widest possible market." Could it possibly be some sort of inexpensive, electric vehicle like the Renault Twizy, then? With just the hind of a taillight, a slash of chrome and what might be an intake, there's not much styling work to go on here. Although, Toyota is making huge promises about the design; it claims the RND "has the potential to transform the look of every vehicle on the road." It's odd to see an automaker other than Tesla reveal a new vehicle outside of a major world auto show, which piques our interest about what Toyota is doing here. Read the company's press release below and let us know what you think the Japanese automaker is up to in Comments. THE NEW TOYOTA RND CONCEPT: SNEAK PREVIEW First details of new model released ahead of world debut next week Toyota is breaking with motor industry convention by revealing a new product outside the familiar surroundings of an international motor show. Instead its new RND Concept will make its world debut in the UK on 26th January, ready for fast-track development that should see it changing the face of motoring within weeks. The first image released today hints at how the concept's design marks a radical shift in direction for Toyota, taking the "fun-to-drive" qualities of its cars to a higher level. Although presented as a concept, Toyota acknowledges the RND will be unveiled in its production-ready form. Manufacturing and product supply have been secured and on-the-road pricing has been fixed at a level that will make the RND Concept accessible to the widest possible market. Toyota is confident, too, that the RND Concept's impact will go far beyond its own model range, having the potential to transform the look of every vehicle on the road.

Toyota JV will sell Leahead EVs in China next year

You may have read that Toyota is about to establish a new electric vehicle sub-brand in China called Leahead that will focus on "cheap electric cars aimed at young and hip car buyers in China." This isn't 100 percent true, but the Japanese automaker is revving its electric motors for EVs in China, in a fashion. It makes sense for automakers to push for more EVs in China, given government support for the technology and the proven success of Tesla there. Low-speed EVs are popular, as well. Indirectly, Toyota is going to sell electric vehicles to Chinese customers next year. We've heard reports before that Toyota is interested in going electric in China, with a different Toyota JV and thus a different brand but now we have an official word on Toyota's future EV moves in China, direct from Jana Hartline, the environmental communications manager for Toyota Motor Sales, USA. Hartline told AutoblogGreen that Toyota just celebrated the 10-year anniversary of GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd (GTMC), its joint-venture manufacturing company in China. And it is GTMC, not Toyota directly, that is the company behind Leahead (called Ling Zhi in Chinese). Leahead will begin selling EVs under the Ling Zhi brand starting in 2015. So, yes, indirectly, Toyota is going to sell electric vehicles to Chinese customers next year. There are rumors that the new EVs will be electric versions of the Corolla EX and/or the Yaris L, but we've got nothing confirmed on that front. We will be waiting for more new at the Shanghai Motor Show next April.