The growing popularity of retro/old school hot rods in the aftermarket world has inspired Toyota to take a Texas-built Tundra Regular Cab full-size pickup and prove that a present day economical work truck could realistically be made into an American hot rod. Toyota also wanted to show consumers that Tundra is a truck that not only works hard, but plays hard too. The result is the Tundra Hot Rod, which takes a fun look at what a Toyota Tundra pickup truck might have looked like if it had been part of the iconic 1950s and 60s hot rod era.
The Tacoma TX Package Concept was developed for the 2009 SEMA Show to gauge public reaction to its unique design themes and multiple performance modifications. The Tacoma TX is equipped with an impressive list of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) performance accessories and two unique graphics along each side of the truck. SEMA attendee reaction to the Tacoma TX will help enable Toyota to make necessary refinements and finalize a package available for Tacoma buyers in future model years.
The Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer (ATG) combines outdoor sports activities and video games to create the ultimate active lifestyle vehicle for young Tacoma pickup truck owners. The special vehicle was designed to take Tacoma owners to their favorite remote locations where they can pursue their passion for outdoor sports activities and also provide a haven at the end of the day to play their favorite interactive video games.
Production of the Highlander sport utility vehicle, Toyotas 12th North American-built model, began today at the companys plant in Princeton, Indiana. The $450 million investment is part of the adjustments Toyota began last year in order to better utilize manufacturing capacity. Production of the Tundra pickup, originally in Indiana, was consolidated last fall in the Tundra plant in Texas. Since then Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI), which also builds the Sienna and Sequoia, has been preparing for the Highlander.
Value is enhanced on all 2010 Tundra models with the addition of standard and optional exterior, mechanical, safety and convenience features including an all-new 4.6-liter i-FORCE V8 engine. Two new packages for 2010 include the Tundra Platinum Package and Tundra Work Truck. All 2010 Tundra models receive a redesigned front grille and tail lamps. The Tundra grade will have a new two-bar grille design and the Limited grade will be equipped with a unique billet-style grille. Additional standard equipment on all Tundra models includes driver and front passenger knee airbags, height-adjustable headlamps, and a redesigned seven-pin towing hitch connector that sits above the hitch to help avoid damage during high departure angle driving. A shelf to help organize storage space has been added to the lower glove box. Two new colors, Sandy Beach Metallic and Spruce Mica, replace Desert Sand and Timberland Mica.
For 2010, the popular Toyota RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle expands the availability of some key, high-value features first offered on select grades for 2009. The base model now offers the backup monitor system with rear-view camera and monitor integrated into the electrochromic mirror. This feature was introduced for the Sport and Limited grades for 2009.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration issued 3.8 million vehicle recall today which includes the 2005 to 2010 Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks for faulty floormats that can become stuck under the accelerator pedal while driving, causing unexpected acceleration and possibly leading to an accident (one fatal case has already been reported). Owners are urged to contact their local Toyota dealer immediately or visit www.Toyota.com.
Car and Driver came across a rare find at a Texas state fair recently, a spy shot of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner hidden within the fair. The new generation 4Runner looks a lot like it's larger brothers, the Sequoia and Land Cruiser, mixed with the front end styling from the Tacoma. What are your thoughts? Head on over to Car and Driver for more vehicle info.
News across the net has come up today stating Toyota will be moving production of their popular Tacoma pickup truck to their San Antonio, Texas plant in replacement of some Tundra pickup shifts. The company will spend $100 million making the switch for the Tacoma, also hiring around 1,100 new employees for the job. Local communities and workers are excited, as a second shift was cut from that factory last year due to slumping sales and the economy.
A tipster over at Autoblog found some information regarding the 2010 Toyota 4Runner SUV. New for 2010, the truck will receive an inline 4 cylinder motor on the SR5 model as well as an optional third row seating out back. Not bad!
Carscoop has obtained leaked images of the next generation 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Found in a Japanese marketing brochure, the Land Cruiser is completely restyled from the front end to rear with new tail lamps, bumper, tail gate design, and more. Check out the other photos at Carscoop.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2010 Avalon full-size sedan, Yaris subcompact, FJ Cruiser off-road sport utility vehicle (SUV), Highlander mid-size SUV, RAV4 compact SUV, and the Tacoma pickup truck. The 2010 models will begin arriving at dealerships in August, with the exception of Highlander (September).
ACI (Agri-Cover, Inc.), manufacturer of the Access, LiteRider, Lorado and Vanish Roll-Up Covers, now offers roll-up tonneau covers for the all new 2010 Toyota Tundra. ACI roll-up cover features: Easy to install, Rolls open or closed in seconds, allowing full bed usage and no need for removal, Increases gas mileage by up to 10%, Engineered to operate in all four seasons, Lifetime Warranty covers all components, including the fabric, and more.
Toyota will be investing $467.2 million dollars to upgrade their plant in Indiana and retool it for production of the Sequoia and Highlander SUVs. The company is also in talks with New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. over purchasing General Motors' stake in the company. Looks like the economy is beginning to kick up again.
JD Power and Associates have ranked both the 2009 Ford F-150 and 2009 Toyota Tundra as the number one trucks based on initial quality. The trucks tied for first place earning an average rating of 88 problems per 100 trucks sold in a new owner survey. Ford Group Vice President, Bennie Fowler commented "Back in the design phase we were already thinking about quality, Fowler said. We did a series of virtual prove-outs [in computers] that simulated bringing the F-150 out of design and into production on the assembly line. The 2009 Honda Ridgeline somehow took the Midsize pickup truck category.
In a remarkable first for driver, team, vehicle and manufacturer, Joe Bacal and navigator Paul Williamsen took their freshly-built Cancer Treatment Centers of America JTGrey Racing Lexus LX 570 to a landmark maiden victory in the 41st annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 early Sunday. Their win in the Stock Full class* marks a worlds first for Lexus and the culmination of a dream for Bacal and his new team.
Who would have known that a Toyota FJ40 would look great as a tractor? Especially a John Deere! Complete with bucket seats, 4 point harnesses, tractor tires, solid front and rear axles, custom front bumper, winch, and more, this John Deere Toyota FJ40 is one overkill of a tractor for the fields. Thoughts anyone?
Toyota Financial Services (TFS), in partnership with Toyota Motor Sales, announced qualified College Graduates can receive a $1,000 rebate toward the purchase or lease of select new Toyota vehicles, including the Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Camry (excludes Camry hybrid), Tacoma and Yaris and any new Scion model. Toyota and Scion vehicles are some of the most popular vehicles among young adults, but more than that, they serve as a dependable way for new graduates to get to new jobs and start their careers, said Mike Groff, TFS Group Vice President of Sales, Product and Marketing. We recognize its a tough time to be entering this economy, so we hope this $1,000 rebate, which can be coupled with other incentives, saves these new grads some money and gets them going on the right path.
Leading truck cap and tonneau cover manufacturer A.R.E. offers its Deluxe Commercial Unit (DCU) to outfit a wide selection of 2009 truck models, including the Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Ram, Ford F150 and F250, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Isuzu, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and more. The Deluxe Commercial Unit is an ideal solution for the construction, pest control and landscaping industries. A.R.E.'s DCU is made of fully welded aluminum frame construction and has more than 100 options to give professionals the power to create a customizable solution for their work trucks.
IHS Global Insight are forecasting Ford Motor Company to surpass General Motors in production for 2009 with 1.9 million units to be produced in North America. The IHS ranks Honda in third with 1.1 million units, Toyota in fourth with 904,000 units, and Chrysler taking up the rear with 903,000 units (don't know how that is possible when they're not really selling any vehicles?).
The IHS also predicts North American sale to fall around 8.4 million units, down 156,000 from last month. North American sales are still down 37.8 percent compared to a year before.
Consumer Reports put together a top 40 "best deals on domestic new cars" which include discounts up to 25 percent below MSRP with the 2009 Nissan Titan SE 4X4 Crew Cab SWB coming out on top with a 25 percent discount. Other vehicles include the 2009 Nissan Armada LE 4X4 at 20 percent, 2009 Ford Mustang GT Premium Coupe at 20 percent, 2009 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 157-in at 20 percent, 2009 Ford Escape XLT 2.5L 4WD at 15 percent, 2009 Honda Ridgeline 3.5 Auto RTS at 15 percent, 2009 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Auto 4WD SR5 Crew Max at 15 percent, 2009 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 EL at 15 percent, 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1LT 4X4 Crew Cab at 15 percent and many more.
Head on over to the Consumer Reports article to see the rest of the list.
Rumors across the intarweb are pointing at Toyota's re-design of the Lexus GX SUV sometime this fall season. Based off of the mid size SUV category, the GX has struggled in sales since 2003 and deliveries for April were down 66.1 percent. Sources close to Ward's Auto are stating not only will the GX receive an exterior re design but will also get the 310 horsepower 4.6 V8 from the 2010 Toyota Tundra, a large increase from the current 4.7 liter. Expect details to be released by Toyota some time this summer.
Since we all know that print is dead, Motor Trend have posted their comparison online of the 2009 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat versus the 2009 Toyota Tundra SuperCrew Limited. The bottom line of their review placed the Ford F-150 in first place stating "There's simply more design maturity here" and the Toyota Tundra in second. The reason why? "Faster and more fun to drive, but the new world order of trucks is likely to emphasize practical details over driving grins".
A news station in Boston has discovered a problem with Toyota Tundra pickup trucks where heavy amounts of rust have been showing up on the frames of the popular pickups. The problem effects 2000 to 2001 model year Tundra's, where their frames were cracking, panels falling off, and "unsafe to drive". Some Toyota Tacoma's are also said to have had similar problems. The Boston news station is reporting that Toyota is buying back the effected models at over market value, based off of Kelly Blue Book prices in order to quick fix the solutions with customers and avoid being sued. Toyota has not commented on the total number of cases effected by rust.
With the addition of popular standard equipment, including safety features, the base MSRP for Sequoia will range from $38,530 for the SR5 4x2 with a new 4.6-liter V8 engine to $58,905 for the Platinum 4x4 with a 5.7-liter V8. The new MSRPs reflect an average overall increase of $3,361 for all Sequoia models. For 2010, Sequoia provides a much higher level of popular standard features and safety enhancements. The SR5 and Platinum grade models become mono-spec and the Limited grade offers only three stand alone options (navigation system, rear-seat entertainment and seven-passenger seating), giving consumers a more simplified buying process.
Prices for the 2010 Tundra will range from $22,960 for the Regular Cab 4x2 standard bed with a V6 engine and equipped with a Work Truck Package to $42,155 for the CrewMax Limited 4x4 with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. The new MSRPs reflect an average overall increase of $557. Value is enhanced on all 2010 Tundra models with the addition of standard and optional exterior, mechanical, safety and convenience features including an all-new 4.6-liter i-FORCE V8 engine.
Popular automotive blog, Jalopnik, have obtained images from an enthusiast of a next generation 2011 Toyota 4Runner on the highway. Not much can be seen through the thick camouflage, but the new 4Runner seems to reflect a lot of the Tundra and Sequoia styling with a larger grille and head light assembly.
Toyota's residual values have taken a beating this past year, specifically the Tundra pickup truck. Diving from 59.5 percent down to 40.1 percent, the Tundra has experienced one of the largest drops of residual value for pickup trucks. However, the Tundra's resale value still remains higher than it's domestic competitors such as the Chevrolet Silverado at 39.8 percent from 49.6 percent, and the Ford F-150 from 45.6 percent to 32.2 percent. The increase in depreciation values have slaughtered Detroit's automakers and is now beginning to conquer the Japanese.
Toyota Motor Corporation announces it has developed a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) rear-seat center airbag-the first*1 in the world-to help reduce the severity of secondary injuries incurred by rear-seat passengers in a side-on collision. The new airbag is fitted in a large, fixed, rear-seat center console that comes in a version of a Toyota model to be launched in Japan in the near future. When the vehicle is hit side-on, the airbag deploys from the top of the console to act as a barrier that helps lessen injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other or into the console.
Toyota is in trouble over a 1996 recall involving a series of pickup trucks with defective relay rods. The rod connects the steering wheel to the front spindle and can possibly fracture, resulting in an increased risk of crash or death. An NBC investigation video uncovers Toyota's failure of issuing a recall notice about the defective part for nearly ten years, originating in 1996, and ignoring the recall until 2005. You can view NBC's investigation below.
Toyota cut the 4Runner from production nearly seven years ago but the old SUV "still has life left in it", according to a Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc executive. Bob Carter, Toyota's Divisional Group Vice President and General Manager (that's a hell of a title), says "there are plans (for a new 4Runner)" but declined on details of when a new one will be announced. WardsAuto believes the 4Runner will debut in the 2010 year, but no details have been announced from Toyota at this time. (The 4Runner) is an important nameplate thats been with us since 84" and Were fortunate that just like Prius, it carries a lot of brand equity. (The) 4Runner is right there with it; its an important part of the franchise".
Automotive juggernaut, Toyota Motor Sales USA, are now offering buyout packages to 18,000 employees in the United States and have begun cutting bonuses for nearly 3,000 white collar workers. Toyota also halted production and reduced shifts at 14 plants which include ones in Indiana, Kentucky, and Texas. Executive pay was also cut by 5 percent. The massive reductions come as a blow to the company who have seen possibly the largest sales decline in the United States in their company's history.
Toyota Motor Sales, today debuted the 2010 Tundra full-size pickup truck and an all-new 4.6-liter V8 engine at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.
On display are two new packages, including the debut of an all-new Tundra Platinum Package and the recently announced Tundra Work Truck. Value will be enhanced on all 2010 Tundra models with the addition of standard and optional exterior, mechanical, safety and convenience feature upgrades. The 2010 Tundras will arrive at dealerships in April.
Lexus today announced the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2010 RX 350 luxury utility vehicle. The original RX 300 model inaugurated the luxury crossover category in 1998, and the new RX350 once again raises the bar for design, engineering and luxury innovation in the segment. The 2010 RX 350, which arrives at dealerships this month, carries a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel drive (FWD) model and $38,200 for the all-wheel drive (AWD) version.
If you were one of the millions of people watching the Super Bowl this past Sunday you most likely saw Toyota's new Tundra pickup truck commercial called "Killer Heat". Taking place on top of a 80 foot corkscrew of steel contraption in the middle of the Mojave desert, the advertisement showed a 2010 Tundra towing a 10,000 pound trailer while withstanding temperatures over 257 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether the Tundra really is tough enough to bear those temperatures, the behind-the-scenes video below shows their fire tests actually beginning to melt the truck's exterior plastic. It's pretty cool.
Click here if you did not see the full commercial. The behind-the-scenes video is below.
In the following video on YouTube, television personality (and a personal favorite) Mike Rowe places the 2009 Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram pickup trucks head to head at Ford Motor Company's Detroit Proving Grounds in Michigan. The test shows the handling and performance of each truck on the river bed course side by side in real time. I've had the opportunity myself to test both a 2009 Ford F-250 Super Duty and 2008 Dodge 2500 HD pickup truck on the same course and I will say that all of these trucks do take a beating on the river bed and each truck test proves itself. Check out the video below.
Sales figures from 2008 have come in and hybrid sport utility vehicle purchases have already begun to slow, dropping nearly 10 percent for the year. Toyota ranked number one in hybrid sales for 2008 with 241,000 vehicles sold, Honda as number two with 31,000 vehicles, and Ford in third with 20,000 vehicles sold. Although sales are down, General Motors witnessed a 179 percent growth of their Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade Hybrid SUVs, however no figures were noted by GM.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA are now the king of the castle selling over 600,000 units more than General Motors and have become the world's largest automaker. This is a first for the Japanese automaker who stole the title from General Motors after 77 years since 1931. In 2008 Toyota sold 8.97 million vehicles, slightly more than General Motors' reported 8.35 million.
Leading truck cap and tonneau cover manufacturer A.R.E. offers the ActionKover, a new fiberglass tonneau cover available for most current short bed and extra short bed trucks, including the Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram. The ActionKover is a competitively priced tonneau cover featuring an aluminum base rail system, heavy-duty front hinges, an Eberhard palm handle that houses the keylock - offering protection from scratches and chips - and A.R.E.'s popular Lift Assist gas strut system that makes the lid easy to open and close.
Facing their first decline in automotive sales since 1995, auto juggernaut Toyota Motor Corporation may have to be forced to cut their North American payroll consisting of both white and blue collar workers which has not occurred in over 24 years for the company. One of Toyota's first steps was halting production at their Texas pickup truck factory for 15 weeks, which may lead to layoffs. If we dont see a rebound by the second half of next year, theyd probably have to consider layoffs" said Haig Stoddard, an analyst for IHS Global Insight Inc in Michigan. Toyota have also faced their first operating loss in 71 years of $1.7 billion dollars, due to a 13 percent drop in sales. Is it possible that the death of the Sequoia SUV and popular Tundra pickup truck are near? We shall see. Reported by Bloomberg.
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A, Inc., today announced that a new work truck version of the 2010 Tundra full-size pickup truck will make its U.S. debut at the 2009 San Diego Auto Show. The Tundra Work Truck Package is aimed at commercial truck buyers in industries such as farming, ranching and construction, who require a tough no-frills truck with exceptional cargo and towing capacity. The new Work Truck Package will be available on Tundra 4x2 and 4x4 Regular and four-door Double Cab models in standard and long bed configurations. It will be available with a V6 and two V8 engines including Tundras powerful 381 horsepower 5.7-liter i-Force V8, with a towing capability of up to 10,800 pounds.
Custom Cruise Control Kit from Rostra Precision Controls Inc. is now available for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma. Rostra's Tacoma Cruise Control allows drivers to set speed, coast/reduce speed and resume/accel, while advanced features of the kit include a function for adjusting speed in 1 mile-per-hour increments as well as a controlled resume rate. "Our Tacoma drive-by-wire cruise control is available for the four-cylinder automatic model and works by plugging into the truck's electronic control module," said Sibyl Ringsdorf, manager of marketing and national accounts, Rostra Precision Controls.
After making an announcement last month, Toyota Motor Company are now beginning to export their "once-popular" Tundra pickup trucks outside of the United States to Latin America, Venezuela to be exact. The trucks are built at the company's San Antonio, Texas plant and so far about 300 trucks have been shipped. Toyota said the event is "the first time Tundras have been exported from the U.S." and they are expected to export "about 1,000 vehicles per year". Toyota also have plans to begin shipping their large scale Sequoia SUV to Latin America as well as the Middle East beginning as early as next year. Toyota Motor Sales President, Jim Lentz, made the comment Our broad lineup allows us to satisfy customer needs in North America and beyond". Reported by My San Anonio.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2009 Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) equipped with an all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. With improved fuel efficiency and performance, and an array of standard convenience and safety features, the new four-cylinder model will carry the lowest MSRP in the Highlander lineup at $25,705, offering buyers an excellent value. Pricing for Highlander V6 and Hybrid models were previously announced with MSRP for V6 models ranging from $27,600 for the front-wheel-drive to $34,520 for the full-time four-wheel-drive Limited. Highlander Hybrid MSRP ranges from $34,700 for the four-wheel-drive with intelligence base model to $41,020 for the 4WD-i Limited.
A ceremony today at Toyota's new manufacturing facility here officially kicked-off production of the RAV4 sport utility vehicle. The plant represents an investment of CAN$1.1 billion and boosts Toyota's investment in Canada to approximately CAN$5.6 billion. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toyota Motor Corporation President Katsuaki Watanabe presided over the event, which was attended by local officials, the 1,200 team members who are building RAV4, and hundreds of supplier representatives.
Toyota Motor Company's credit rating has dropped from a AAA rating to AA, after citing "negative developments in the industry" and "Toyota can no longer support a AAA rating", according to a Forbes article which included reports from Fitch Ratings. The drop comes as a first in over a decade for the Japanese automaker, who have been an industry leader for the past ten years and have normally cleared themselves of such problems. "'AAA' represents exceptional ability to pay off credit obligations, while 'AA' demonstrates very high capacity", says Fitch Ratings. The slash of Toyota's credit rating will most likely raise their short term financing costs and rates, but they will be able to recover in the long run. No other details have been reported.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2009 Tundra full-size pickup truck, reflecting a modest overall average increase of $109, or 0.4 percent on all Tundra models. The base MSRP will range from $22,490 for the Regular Cab 4x2 with a V6 engine to $41,605 for the Limited Grade 4x4 CrewMax with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. Tundra Grade Double Cab and Crew Max models gain a standard chrome front bumper, while Limited CrewMax models now offer the Power Memory Package as optional instead of standard equipment.
Lexus unveiled the all-new, next generation RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid at a press conference today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle that pioneered the car-based luxury utility vehicle segment when it launched in 1998, is completely redesigned and will continue to set new benchmarks in areas that have made it the best-selling luxury utility vehicle: innovation, styling, performance, utility and comfort. At the heart of the new RX models are two improved powertrains. Entering its second generation, the RX 450h will feature an enhanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system with a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine that runs on a highly efficient Atkinson cycle. Combined with a new, more efficient inverter, the total system output will be 295 horsepower, 27 more horsepower than the current generation RX hybrid.
Just in case you crawled under a rock last week and did not get the memo about our SEMA coverage, this weeks "Monday Morning Recap" is comprised of our SEMA coverage from last week including the launch of Ford's SVT Raptor F-150 and sighting of the 2009 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition. MOTORZ also launched their 13th episode, a full how-to installation of an Alpine Electronics stereo system.
For a huge list of all our SEMA blogs from last week, go to live.truckblog.com.
Edmunds Inside Line were lucky enough to get their hands on a 2008 Toyota TRD Supercharged Tundra pickup truck and see what it can do. With 22 inch wheels stock, 16 inch big brakes and 504 horsepower & 550 foot pounds of torque under the hood, the TRD supercharged Tundra is one to compare with the Ford Lightning...some may say. You'll have to head on over to their website to read their review and check out their video feature of the new pickup truck.
When it arrives at dealerships in mid-to-late January, Toyota's new 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder engine will help make the Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) one of the best in its segment in the areas of fuel economy, low emissions, performance, and value. It is expected to appeal to value-driven, mid-size SUV buyers seeking these characteristics without the price premium of a V6.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced plans to export North American-built Sequoia and Tundra vehicles to distributors in Latin America and the Middle East with an eye for satisfying customer demand in global markets and maintaining leaner North American inventory levels. Shipments will commence in December 2008, marking the first time Sequoia and Tundra vehicles have been exported from the United States. "Our broad lineup allows us to satisfy customer needs in North America and beyond," said TMS President Jim Lentz. "In the Middle East and Latin America, Sequoia and Tundra fit the bill and address customer demand for quality, high-utility vehicles.
Once again the almighty SEMA 2008 Project Truck Mega Blog has been updated with the addition of another vehicle by ICON 4x4 Design for Toyota Motor Corporation, a Lexus LX570 luxury SUV.
Take a look at the other 20 plus trucks that we blogged about and will be seen at next weeks show. If you haven't gotten the memo yet about Truckblog's Live Blogging of the SEMA Show next week, click here to read the details.
The 2008 SEMA Show is just days away and over the past couple of months, we've been bringing you the latest project vehicles that will debut next week in Las Vegas, Nevada. These vehicles represent some of the automotive industries most customized rides built by aftermarket parts companies and automotive manufacturers. In addition to these unique vehicles, MOTORZ TV have entered two vehicles in of their own, a 2005 Ford F-150 SuperCrew and a 2006 F-250 SuperDuty Crew Cab. Check out all of the cool rides inside.
Make sure you visit Truckblog.com all week long beginning November 2nd for our Live Blogging! For more details, click here.
We already brought you ICON 4x4's Toyota FJ45 SEMA project vehicle earlier this month, and now we bring you their second vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser called "Baja FJ43". This custom offroad vehicle features a 450 horse power LS series alloy V8, 4L65E auto transmission, Atlas II transfer case, Dynatrac axles, big brakes, custom mandrel bent frame, Dynatrac ProRock high pinion Dana 60 rear axle...
Our pre-SEMA show coverage continues with four more project vehicles that were added last week including trucks from Chrysler & Dodge and Screet Scene Equipment. A new episode of MOTORZ was uploaded which covered the install of a AMP Research Bed X-Tender on a 2008 GMC pickup truck, a gas station charged only 35 cents causing a fueling frenzy, and General Motors announced more SUV factory closures.
Ford Motor Companys surging domestic quality is now equal to the best in the industry for the 2008 model year, according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles collectively reduced things gone wrong (TGW) by 7.7 percent compared to last year and are now statistically equivalent with Honda (including Acura) and Toyota (including Lexus and Scion) atop the list of seven major automakers in the survey. The 2008-launched Ford F-Series Super Duty and the Lincoln Mark LT ranked first in their respective segments in both TGW and customer satisfaction.
Americans' love affair with their vehicles drives them to spend nearly 18 cents of every dollar on transportation each year with the majority going to car ownership and maintenance (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey). Given that vehicle ownership is not only a part of life but also a reflection of personal style, Toyota Financial Services (TFS) has designed a new program to help Toyota owners reduce the cost of ownership.
We first brought you this story back in May but now it is officially official. Toyota Motor Corporation have made the decision to begin exporting vehicles that have been built here in the United States. Those vehicles include the Toyota Tacoma, Sienna van, Sequoia SUV, and the Tundra pickup truck. The vehicles will be shipped to Latin America and the Middle East, where markets are currently thriving. Toyota commented and said the company "doesn't want to idle its plants if it can help it". Reported by Autoblog.
Last week we bought you two new SEMA project trucks, the Turbonetics 2009 F-150 and ICON's Toyota FJ45 classic pickup truck. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab truck was put to the test, as well as Toyota placing the Tundra Heavy Duty under its own tests of whether or not the truck will survive. General Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation both announced huge savings deals on new vehicles, and Ford's new 6.7 liter diesel engine was spotted.
Toyota Technical Center (TTC) celebrated the grand opening of its new engineering and safety testing facilities here today with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Congressman John Dingell, as well as several hundred government officials, community leaders, suppliers and Toyota team members. TTC, a division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA), already has a site in Ann Arbor. With the expansion in York Township, TTC is adding 400 new jobs and will boost its employment to 1,100 by 2010.
Toyota Motor Corporation have decided not to engage in the traditional "pickup truck wars" experienced between Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge every four years. With the launch of the 2009 Dodge Ram this summer and Ford's new re-designed F-150 this November, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc President, Jim Lentz, decided to hold back on their once popular Tundra pickup truck. "I don't want to get stuck in the middle of Ford and Chevy battling for the No. 1 truck this year, and Dodge launching the Ram," Lentz stated in an interview. Toyota had forecast a sale of 20,000 Tundras per month this year after a successful record last year, although September sales were in the tank with just 7,696 trucks sold.
Off Road pioneers, ICON 4x4 are debuting one of their two vehicles for the 2008 SEMA show, a Toyota FJ45 pickup truck. The old FJ has been renovated to its original specifications, replacing the old body panels and rusty frame with new parts. ICON then upgraded the front end with a custom bumper and winch assembly, ICON grille, added BFGoodrich tires, 17 inch black off road wheels, canvas pop top roof, Dynatrac axles, aftermarket leaf springs, off road lights with light bar, Chevrolet Vortech eight cylinder motor, custom seats and more.
The largest story from last week was the announcement of Truckblog's Live Blogging at the 2008 SEMA Show which is less than one month away. With that announcement, there has also been some news regarding manufacturers and their individual project vehicles for the show. Check out the new "SEMA trucks" below, along with a re-cap of news from last week.
Toyota Motor Corporation has announced zero percent financing ranging from 36 months to 60 months for the Toyota Matrix, Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks. Toyota Divisional General Manager, Bob Carter, stated Toyota "had the inventory of fuel-efficient models and the capacity to finance or lease them". After announcing a 32 percent drop in sales last month, Toyota blamed the decline on "the overall economic conditions and lack of consumer confidence", which enacted the financing decision. Reported by Detroit News.
Toyo Tires released information today about their Toyota Tundra SEMA truck. Lifted on 40 inch Toyo Mudd terrain tires and 20 inch black beadlock wheels, the Tundra features a Road Armor bumper, winch assembly, Rolling Big Power custom grille, blacked out head lights, Bushwhacker fender flares, custom green and black tribal flames, N-Fab side steps, Tinted tail lights, custom interior, and more.
CORSA Performance Exhausts introduces a cat-back exhaust system specifically tuned for the 2008 5.7L Toyota Sequoia. Featuring CORSA Performance's exclusive Reflective Sound Cancellation (RSC) technology, the new Toyota Sequoia exhaust produces a hearty performance sound during acceleration while eliminating unwanted interior drone at cruising speeds. "The CORSA technology is capable of removing annoying resonance and drone without disrupting exhaust flow," said Jim Browning, Sr., founder and president, CORSA Performance Exhausts. "So in addition to a great sound, we deliver increased horsepower and a 64 percent gain in exhaust flow over stock with the Toyota Sequoia system."
Toyota's 2009 Tundra full-size pickup truck will enhance its on- and off-road appeal with the addition of two new option packages from Toyota Racing Development (TRD). A new TRD Rock Warrior Package is specially tuned and equipped with dynamic appearance features for off-road adventure and a powerful look, while a new TRD Sport Edition Package is optimized for an aggressive street appearance. "Tundra continues to be among the leaders in the full-size pickup truck segment in performance, durability, functionality, safety and value," said Don Esmond, Toyota senior vice president, automotive operations.
To establish the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 as a game-changing vehicle, the Dodge brand turned to the independent vehicle testing and evaluation company Automotive Marketing Consultants Inc. (AMCI) to test the new pickup truck in head-to-head comparisons against its major competitors. In a series of challenges, AMCI, among the industrys foremost automotive testing and evaluation companies, tested the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 in the areas of acceleration, towing, fuel economy and ride quality over a period of eight months and proved 12 compelling claims.
Despite the 24% decline of overall pickup truck sales between January and August 2008 compared to last year, nearly 1.4 million new trucks have been added to the roads this year alone. Nearly 40 million plus trucks are in operation today, according to R.L. Polk vehicle registration data. The Chevrolet Silverado gained the top spot at 256,060 units sold so far this year, down 21% from last year. The Ford F-Series Light Duty pickup truck platform grabbed second place with only 215,982 units sold, a 25% decline. The Ford F-Series Super Duty took third place with 129,896 units, a 26% decline and the Dodge Ram Light Duty pickup took four place selling 108,652 units, down 29%. The least effected vehicles were the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, down only 5% and 11% so far this year.
The Toyota Tacoma, the best-selling pickup truck in its segment, offers the STAR Safety System of dynamic control technologies as standard equipment in all models and grades for 2009. In addition, front seat-mounted side airbags, curtain side airbags are now standard across the Tacoma line-up and active front headrests are standard on all Access and Double Cab models. The Toyota Star Safety System includes the anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC). An Automatic Limited-slip Differential (Auto-LSD), which uses brake intervention in place of a mechanical-type LSD to help reduce tire slippage at the rear wheels, is standard on all Tacoma models for 2009 (with the exception of models equipped with TRD Off-road packages, which will be equipped with a separate locking rear differential). The Auto-LSD replaces the mechanical LSD in all applications where it was previously available.
Success in the work place can sometimes be hard to achieve, especially if you are not a straight shooter with your boss. Bob Slydell of "Office Space" tells us how you can become part of the "upper management" if you are like Peter Gibbons, "I'd like to move us right along to a Peter Gibbons. Now we had a chance to meet this young man, and boy that's just a straight shooter with upper management written all over him". So the question of the morning is, "are you a straight shooter with upper management written all over yourself"?
One thing is for sure, success in the work place can definitely be achieved by checking out our blogs from last week- I guarantee it. Oh by the way, did you get the memo that Truckblog.TV is now called MOTORZ?
Toyota is expanding consumer choice with the Tundra full-size pickup truck line for 2009, adding flex fuel models and new TRD (Toyota Racing Development) option packages. The E85 flex fuel is available on 5.7-liter 4x4 models in select regions creating 10 model configurations in all. Two new TRD option packages underscore two sides of Tundras capability. The TRD Rock Warrior Package adds off-road suspension, unique wheels, and a striking Black or Super White exterior color scheme. The TRD Sport Package with a distinctive Black or Radiant Red color-keyed exterior is optimized for on-road performance and has unique wheels.
If you were too concentrated on the
Republican National Convention last week and did not check out Truckblog at all (which is a depressing thing), this is your chance to get a recap on our top stories.
Also for our jubilee of "Office Space" remembrance this week I ask, how many pieces of flare did you wear to work today or over the weekend?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have closed an ongoing investigation of sudden acceleration problems among Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, stating there was not enough concrete evidence to conclude an individual cause of the 400 complaints. Toyota Motor Corporation denied any accounts of their Tacoma pickups being a cause of the 51 crashes and 12 injuries. The model years effected by the investigation were 775,000 Tacomas built between 2004 and 2008.
Just like the scene from "Office Space" where Drew talks about a particular person showing their "OH" face, Truckblog.TV HD is guaranteed to make you show your "OH" face. Check it out at hd.truckblog.tv on Apple iTunes. Here's our wrath from last week, just in case you missed it.
In an article by The Wallstreet Journal, Toyota Motor Company announced they will make their hybrid engine system available in every model by the year 2020, including the popular Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Questions were raised when the announcement was made, inquiring about previous statements that most automakers stated they lose money on hybrids. The statements were clarified by Toyota's North American Head of Sales, Bob Carter, stating "his company makes a profit on its Prius hybrids, which recently exeeded sales of 1 million units globally".
Do you share the same tag line "Work Sucks" as the 1999 movie "Office Space" does? We're sorry if you feel this way about your job, but one thing that definitely does not suck is our Truckblog.TV podcast on iTunes. Be sure to check out our latest episode as it will make work suck less and allow you to use the free bandwidth at the office. Here's the re-cap from last week.
If all of the computer equipment at your work is malfunctioning and makes you T.O.'d like the guys in the movie "Office Space", maybe it's a good time to leave your cubical for a few and go purchase a "Birthday Cake Remix" ice cream love affair from a local Cold Stone Creamery. Or if you want to take your mind off things check out Truckblog.TV on iTunes. Click it and subscribe, you know you want to.
Toyota Motor Corporation have made the decision to discontinue production of their popular Tundra pickup truck at it's Princeton, Indiana plant and immediately move it to their San Antonio, Texas plant. Production will also not resume in November as previously reported. The Princeton, Indiana plant will then switch production to the Highlander sport utility vehicle as well as the Sequoia in November. The new restructuring of plants will help avoid laying off nearly 4,500 employees at the factory. Reported by the Detroit News.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the 2009 Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle will offer an all-new, powerful yet fuel-efficient 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. When it arrives at dealerships in mid-to-late January, the new Highlander powerplant will be among the best mid-size SUVs in the areas of performance, fuel economy and value. The new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine will generate an impressive 187 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 186 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 RPM on regular 87 octane fuel. A dual exhaust manifold will help achieve exceptional low-end torque and maximize its power output. In addition to its performance output, the Highlander equipped with the new four-cylinder will be EPA-rated as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEVII) and is expected to be among the leaders in fuel efficiency in the gas mid-size SUV segment.
It seems even the automotive juggernaut Toyota Motor Corporation cannot escape the misery of the North American automotive industry after posting a 28 percent drop in profit to $3.2 billion in just three months. The drop in profit and lack of pickup truck and sport utility vehicle sales have also contributed to the sudden stop in development for the Toyota Tundra heavy duty diesel pickup truck. We originally broke the news back in May of a 7.0 liter diesel eight cylinder motor Toyota had been developing but it seems the glory days of large, gas sucking motors is over (at least for now).
Toyota and Lexus models have earned 11 segment awards out of a possible 19 in the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS), more than any other manufacturer for the third consecutive year. The VDS is one of many vehicle surveys which continue to consistently rank Toyota and Lexus at the top of their respective studies.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices today for the 2009 RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle. Equipped with numerous enhancements for 2009, the average MSRP for the RAV4 will increase by $224, or 0.9 percent. The 2009 RAV4 will begin arriving at Toyota dealerships in early September. The 2009 RAV4 is offered in three distinct grades Base, performance-oriented Sport and top-of-the-line Limited and with a choice between an all-new four-cylinder and powerful V6 engines with either front-wheel drive or electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive.
Auto sales for the United States continued to be rough last month for manufacturers. General Motors suffered the worst loss, down over 34 percent. Chrysler was close behind with a 29 percent loss, Toyota at 18 percent and Ford rallied up at a 14 percent loss, the best of the group. With the lessened damage, Ford managed to conquer the number one selling vehicle spot again, selling 44,829 F-Series trucks. Ford still managed to beat out the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, who lately have been favored for their hybrid and fuel efficient models.
Did you have a severe road rage incident while driving to work this morning just like Samir Nainanajad does in the beginning of the comedy movie "Office Space"? Now that you are at work and have hopefully cooled down before receiving your TPS reports (you can go ahead and ignore them), take some time to check out our big blogs from last week, then watch the best of Office Space on YouTube so that you understand all of my Office Space references I've made every Monday morning for the past six months. Once you are done with that, please subscribe to our free podcast on iTunes and check out our latest Truckblog.TV episode.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for 13 select 2009 Toyota and Scion vehicles. The overall average MSRP for the 13 models increases by $181, or 0.81 percent. The 2009 FJ Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle adds driver and front passenger active headrests, roll-sensing curtain airbags, a VSC cut-off switch, front map light, and a driver-side vanity mirror as standard equipment. The FJ also adds three new colors: non-metallic Black, Silver, and Iceberg White with all-white monochromatic finish. The base MSRP for the FJ Cruiser will range from $23,320 for the 4x2 V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission to $24,910 for the 4x4 V6 automatic. Overall, the price of the 2009 FJ Cruiser increases by $275, or 1.1 percent.
Small pickups aren't providing as much protection in side crashes as many new cars and SUVs. The Toyota Tacoma was the only one of five small pickup trucks, all 2008 models, to earn the highest rating of good for occupant protection in recent side crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier are rated marginal, and the Chevrolet Colorado is rated poor in the side test, which simulates a side impact from an SUV or another pickup.
Has the boss approached you yet this morning about the missing cover sheet on your TPS reports? Did you see the memo about Truckblog.TV and Apple iTunes within those reports? Just in case you haven't yet, check out the TPS report here, which lists information about our free podcast on iTunes. Click the subscribe button within iTunes and help support Truckblog. Positive feedback and comments are appreciated too! As Bill Lumberg from "Office Space" says, "If you could make sure you do that from now on, that would be grrrreeeat....and i'll make sure you get another copy of that memo, Mmmmkay?".
There's also another memo about reading the top blogs from last week but that can come second, after subscribing to our podcast. Educate below.
Edmunds Inside Line placed three popular small-sized sport utility vehicles, the 2009 Honda Pilot, 2008 Mazda CX-9 and 2008 Toyota Highlander, through several road tests to see which SUV came out on top. The results are pretty surprising with the 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring coming out on top. Click here to check out their lengthy review and video of the test.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. currently offers integrated Bluetooth hands-free wireless systems in 15 models and will make it available on the all-new 2009 Venza when it goes on sale this fall. With more states enacting laws that prohibit driving while talking on handheld cell phones, the Bluetooth hands-free systems connection between certain Toyota models and most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones provide an easy wireless solution. Built into optional Toyota onboard DVD navigation and JBL audio systems, the technology provides users with convenient hands-free phone capabilities.
Toyota is responding to changes in consumer demand and improving the production efficiency and stability of its North American operations by adjusting production mix at three plants. The changes include the addition of the Prius hybrid sedan to its North American lineup. The Highlander mid-size SUV, originally scheduled to be built in Mississippi, will now be manufactured in Princeton, Ind., beginning in Fall 2009. Production of the Tundra full-size pick-up truck, currently built in Indiana and Texas, will be consolidated at the San Antonio plant in Spring 2009.
As greater fuel efficiency becomes increasingly more important to consumers in America, automakers are having a hard time keeping up with the demand for hybrid trucks and SUVs, and apparently it's not the manufacturers faults. According to General Motors' spokesman, John McDonald, "the supply issue isn't entirely because of production limits" but "half of GM dealers opted not to stock the hybrid SUVs. Dealers who wanted them were required to go through special training on servicing the trucks' high-voltage batteries and on explaining the technology to prospective buyers". However dealers are blaming manufacturers for supply shortages.
Although this is not primarily truck news, it definitely serves as a breakthrough in technology and possible innovation for future pickup truck usage. Toyota Motor Corporation have teamed up with Kyocera Corporation to produce solar panels for the next generation Prius hybrid car, which is due for a re-design in 2009. Toyota will install solar panels onto the roof of the "high end" version of the Prius allowing for extra power to be generated and push the vehicles air conditioning system. The new solar panel system will offer a new leap in technology for Toyota and allow for the launch of a third-generation version of the Prius. Offering this additional technology on pickup trucks could prove to be very resourceful...
Yahoo Finance reports that Toyota Motor Corp, General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Corp, Chrysler LLC and other manufacturers have complained to the United States government about its strict proposal to raise fuel efficiency rates by the middle of the next decade. The manufacturers stated the deadline of 2011 through 2015 is "unworkable".
Pickuptrucks.com obtained information about the new 5.7-liter eight cylinder TRD supercharger from Toyota for the 2007 and newer Tundra pickup trucks. Set up as a twin screw roots-type unit at a boost pressure of 8.5 pounds per square inch, the TRD supercharger cranks out 504 horse power and 550 foot pounds of torque, up from the stock 381 horse power and 401 foot pounds of torque. Toyota is backing their TRD supercharger with a 12 month, unlimited mileage warranty, or remaining balance of the factory 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. The new unit will set you back a hefty $5,875.
With gas prices about to hit a national average of $5 dollars per gallon, achieving better fuel economy numbers on your truck or SUV has never been more important to consumers in history than right now. Over the past couple of months here at Truckblog, I have posted a handful of articles relating to fuel saving information, aftermarket products, and tips to help increase your fuel economy. The following is a list of those blogs so you can check them out and start saving today.
Remember the scene in "Office Space" where Peter Gibbons had just got off from work at his apartment, grabs a beer and sits on his couch, then turns on the television? If you don't, his good-ole neighbor, Lawrence, then decides to scream at him through their apartment complex wall to notify Peter of the breast exam infomercial on channel 9. Well, your mission today is to check out our recent episode on Truckblog.TV, as well as read our blogs from last week. Knowledge is power!
