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Toyota to show Camry and Corolla Special Editions, updated Avalon in Chicago

Toyota has quite the party ready for the upcoming Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling of some colorful Special Edition versions the Camry and Corolla to go along with the biggest piece of news, a refresh for the Avalon. The company didn't announce any specific info about the updated sedan but did release this dark teaser image, which we lightened (pictured right) to show off more detail. The stylists seemingly tweaked the higher portion of the grille, while giving the lower section a wide-open mouth. After the Camry's 2015 refresh, the popular sedan now has sharper, somewhat more aggressive styling, and this Special Edition based on the SE trim leans into that demeanor even more. Limited to 12,000 units starting in August, power still comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque with a six-speed automatic, but Toyota tries make it look a meaner, including 18-inch wheels with black highlights, smoked taillights and a choice of either Blizzard Pearl or Blue Streak Metallic paint. The interior changes are more thorough, with black bolsters and blue centers for the seats, plus matching cerulean highlights for the instruments and trim. Buyers also get a few luxuries inside with an Entune Audio Plus stereo, push-button start and moonroof. Navigation is optional. Where the Camry has a blue theme, the Corolla Special Edition goes crimson for its limit of 8,000 units beginning in August. Based on the S Plus trim, exterior upgrades are limited to a set of gloss black 17-inch wheels and a choice of Absolutely Red, Black Sand Pearl or Super White paint. There are a few more updates inside, with red stitching and accents for the seats, dashboard and door trim. These models also get push-button start, but an improved audio system with navigation and power moonroof are optional. View 8 Photos TOYOTA TO CREATE TURBULANCE IN WINDY CITY WITH SPORTY CAMRY AND COROLLA SPECIAL EDITIONS Camry and Corolla to Create Excitement With Special Edition Debuts Limited Production Models Equipped With Unique Sport-Themed Features Refreshed Avalon to be Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2015 - - Winds of change will be blowing into the Chicago Auto Show. Toyota's Camry mid-size sedan, the best-selling car in America for the past 13 years, and Corolla compact sedan, the world's best-selling car of all time, will debut special edition models at next week's Chicago Auto Show.

Suzuki and Daihatsu join Toyota electric vehicle venture

TOKYO — Suzuki Motor Corp and Daihatsu are joining a commercial electric vehicle coalition led by Toyota Motor Corp, the carmakers announced on Wednesday, helping the Japanese alliance expand its focus from trucks to smaller cars. The two automakers will each acquire a 10% stake in the joint venture, on par with Isuzu Motors and Hino Motors, while Toyota will hold a 60% stake, they said. "With Suzuki and Daihatsu joining the project and working together, we'll be able to expand our circle of cooperation to not only cover commercial vehicles but also mini vehicles," said Toyota President Akio Toyoda. "With this expansion, I believe that we'll be able to take one step closer to a better mobility society," Toyoda said. The move comes as Japanese automakers face growing competition from tech giants and other rivals making electric and driverless cars. Toyota, Isuzu and Hino launched the Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation in April to bolster their competitive edge in connected, commercial vehicles. Daihatsu's president Soichiro Okudaira said joining the pact and introducing connected, mini-commercial vehicles would allow data sharing, a major benefit for companies to provide better services to customers and improve logistics efficiency. (Reporting by Eimi Yamamitsu; Writing by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Louise Heavens) Related Video: Green Suzuki Toyota Daihatsu Electric Akio Toyoda

Did Lexus make a BMW? Or did BMW make a Lexus? This and other 2017 surprises

It's that time of year again. The calendar is about to reach its end, Star Trek Cats 2018 is about to take its place, and I'm reflecting about all the cars that graced my driveway this year or summoned me to exotic places. You know, like Stuttgart or Phoenix. In 2017, I drove at least 57, and as I perused the list of them, I started to notice a common refrain: "This car surprised me." Most were pleasant surprises, but there were a few head scratchers and facepalms for good measure. In both cases, it was generally the result of car companies seemingly trying to break out of an existing mold. Nowhere was that more apparent than the pair of Lexuses slathered in Infrared paint: The LS 500 that left me this week and the LC 500 that was my favorite car of 2017. Though Lexus has been trying to shake its crusty, gold-packaged reputation for some time now, its efforts always seemed like an old man choosing Hollister to redo his wardrobe after realizing it hasn't been updated since 1987. I fell in love with the LC, genuinely floored by its near-perfect take on the GT. It's characterful in sound, appearance and tactility. It was at home in the city, in the mountain and on the open road. It was both comfortable and thrilling, and after driving the mechanically related LS 500, I can report that the LC's talents aren't an outlier. The LS 500's turbo V6 may make different noises than the LC's naturally aspirated V8, but it nevertheless invigorates the cabin when the car is placed in Sport+ mode. The steering is truly communicative, body motions are kept in miraculous check, and I absolutely forgot I was in an enormous luxury limo ... and a Lexus one at that. It was everything that the BMW 530e was not. I drove that on the exact same roads and was utterly bored the entire time. Generally doughy, lifeless steering, more distant than Planet 9. And no, the plug-in hybrid powertrain had nothing to do with that. At least it shouldn't. The Porsche Panamera S e-Hybrid I also drove this year proves that, as do the Hyundai Ioniqs, which are surprisingly adept and fun little cars regardless of what powers their wheels (Hyundai + hybrid = fun really blew me away). I would drive that Lexus LS F Sport over the BMW 5 Series any day of the week, which seems like a shocking thing to say in relation to either car. While Lexus is seemingly breaking out of its old crusty mold, BMW seems to be climbing into one.