Auto blog

Toyota issues stop sale on 6 key models over seat fabrics; recall possible? [UPDATE]

Toyota has issued a stop-sale order on six of its core models due to concerns about the flammability of certain seat fabrics. The issue rests not with the cloth and leather covers themselves, but with a piece of seat heater beneath them that fails to meet US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for flame retardancy.
There have been no reports of fires or injuries from the affected cars, which include some of Toyota's biggest volume sellers. 2013 and 2014 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon and Sienna models equipped with heated seats are included in the stop-sale, as are 2014 Tundra pickups and Corolla sedans. The exact number of vehicles with the non-compliant materials are still being tabulated, according to The Detroit Free Press.
According to a Toyota spokesman, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been notified, although it remains to be seen if a recall will be issued. Outside of a full recall, though, it's unclear how Toyota will deal with vehicles equipped with the flammable materials that have already found homes.

A Ferrari-swapped Toyota GT86 sounds menacing

Ryan Tuerck and Gumout's Ferrari-swapped Toyota GT86 has clearly been a grueling labor of love. And now, finally, the competition-only car is near enough to completion that the team could fire up for the first time. And the sound coming out of the custom machine is incredible. In addition to putting out a short clip of the engine's glorious sound, Tuerck gives a detailed walkthrough of the entire vehicle and explains some of the custom touches behind the car. The exhaust, which comes out of the front end, for instance, was done to maintain the Ferrari 458 system's length. The result is supposed to mimic the sound of a stock 458, but we think it sounds more brutal than Maranello intended. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The Ferrari-powered machine also shoots flames. Massive, ridiculous, impressive balls of flame. The vehicle is on track to be completed this month, and we can't wait to see it shred some tires. Related Video: News Source: Donut Media, Donut Media / FacebookImage Credit: Donut Media / YouTube Aftermarket Ferrari Toyota Coupe Special and Limited Editions Performance Videos toyota gt86 toyota 86 engine swap

Toyota delves into the history of its Land Cruiser

One of the longest-produced, most widely distributed vehicles in all of automotive history is also one of its most rugged: the Toyota Land Cruiser. With 60 years of continuous production, 14 different model lines and thousands of variations of the Jeep-like sports utility vehicle, the Land Cruiser became a success worldwide and developed a cult following among enthusiasts here in the US.
We'll be the first to admit that tracing the vehicle's lineage from its humble beginnings as a prototype for Japan's National Police Reserve in 1951 to what it is today isn't an easy task, especially when one considers that the types of Land Cruisers produced traditionally have varied from market to market. For example, the Land Cruiser sold in the US is very different from the US-only 40 series Land Cruiser-inspired FJ Cruiser, which is itself different from the Land Cruiser Prado sold in other world markets.
To cover the Land Cruiser's sixty-plus year history from start to present, someone over at Toyota UK was thoughtful enough to devote a plus-size blog post to it. It's worth a read if you have a spare 10 or 15 minutes - and even if you don't, you can check out our historical gallery above. Enjoy!