Subaru’s version of the FT-86 to drop AWD laout

Toyota has already revealed the FT-86 while Subaru’s own version of the very same car still remains nothing but words, spy shots and rumours. And it continues with reports about development costs of the Subaru coupe that apparently have sky-rocketed to unbearable limits. To counter this, Subaru is purported to be dropping it’s legendary all-wheel-drive layout. If this turns out to be true, then the difference between the FT-86 and the Subaru Coupe will be limited to aesthetics only. Read more

UMW Toyota Launches New Puchong Jaya Service Center Facility To Cater To Puchong And Neighboring Areas

Puchong, 05 March 2010 – UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd today announced the official opening of its new Puchong Jaya service centre, further expanding the company’s after-sales service in the Klang Valley.

With a total investment of RM24 million, the new Puchong Jaya service centre occupies a total built-up space of 12,140 square meters. The centre, equipped with the latest facilities to accommodate 40 service bays and 52 after-sales staff members, has a total capacity to service a total of 145 cars per day. Read more

Autocar Speaks To The Designer Of The Toyobaru/FT-86

A few days ago there were rumours circulating the internet that Toyota had dismissed the design of the FT-86 as a failure and that the car had to go back to the drawing board. Yesterday Toyota moved to squash this rumours and say that the design is pretty much fine the way it is. In a totally unrelated but relevant interview, Autocar speaks to the FT-86’s senior designer Jaromir Cech about the car and it’s influences. Great watch for fans of the FT-86, I just want to know why there was a image of the Fuji Speedway on the center display of the car. Uber cool if it’s able to display images of the circuit that it’s on and the position of the car on the circuit, any circuit for that matter. Read more

Global Toyota Accelerator Problem Does Not Affect Malaysian Toyota Models

As we read about the mass recall of Toyota cars around the world, currently numbering in the millions, UMW Toyota Malaysia has released a statement assuring all Malaysian owners of Toyota vehicles that the problem does not affect local Toyota models sold by UMW Toyota.

UMW Toyota Motors Sdn Bhd has received confirmation from its parent company in Japan that all Toyota and Lexus models sold by UMW Toyota Motors Sdn Bhd are not affected by the recall exercise. The sticky accelerator pedal issue and the components involved only affect models that are sold in America and Europe;all local models sold by UMW Toyota utilise different components than that of the American and European models.

UMW Toyota Motors would like to advise it’s customers that there is no cause for concern on this matter.

Toyota MR2 Sports Hybrid Concept – 392bhp AWD MR-2 Has The Honda CR-Z In Its Sight

Toyota is taking the fight to Honda with it’s latest Sports Hybrid Concept – the GRMN, short for Gazoo Racing Master of Nurburgring. Aimed at the Honda CR-Z, the GRMN is based on the MR-2 and is a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a mid-mounted 3.3-liter V6 and Toyota’s THSII hybrid system. At lower speeds, the concept is powered by an electric motor that powers the front wheels. When the power needs to be laid down, the V6 engine kicks in and powers the rear wheels, effectively making the concept an all-wheel-drive vehicle. With more than 392bhp powering all four wheels, the 1500kg concept could likely accelerate from 0-100 in less than 4.5 seconds.

Nothing is official as yet but Autocar is reporting Toyota may just be working on a production sports car with a similar hybrid system that could go on sale as early as 2011.

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Tommy Kaira Bodykit For The Toyota Prius Is Now Ready

A few months ago we showed you Tommy Kaira’s renderings on their latest body-kit for the Toyota Prius and now it’s ready. What you see here is the Japanese tuning firms take on what the iconic hybrid car could look like if owners choose to walk down the tuning road. Sure hybrid vehicles may not be the sportiest vehicles but they could look really good with the right body kit. And since hybrid vehicles are slowly taking over the world, it comes as no surprise then that tuning firms are jumping onto the hybrid bandwagon. Read more

Toyota Camry, Prius and Vios Winners Of Autocar Asean’s Car Of The Year 2009 In Respective Categories

The Toyota Camry and Toyota Prius have emerged as winners in the Autocar Asean Car of the Year awards 2009. The awards were presented to UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, the authorised distributor of Toyota and Lexus models in Malaysia. Read more

What’s Next For Toyota?

With a racing history that dates back to the early years of the company, Toyota’s departure from Formula One certainly does not signal the end of it’s racing ambitions. Even with the scrapping of the Formula One team, Toyota continues to race in series as diverse as Formula Nippon, NHRA, Grand Am, Super GT and NASCAR. There’s even speculation that Toyota will be competing in Le Mans, in the new FIA GT1 World Championship or possibly in the World Rally Championship. So for Toyota racing fans, Formula One does not signal the beginning of the end but the beginning of racing road cars again. Here’s a video commemorating those early years and some. Read more

Toyota Officially Quits Formula One

After 8 years of racing at the very top of world motor sports, Toyota has announced its withdrawal from Formula One. The announcement does not come as a surprise as rumours of Toyota’s departure has been circulating the pits for a couple of months already. Since it’s first race in 2002, Toyota has only managed to secure 13 podium finishes, a couple of pole positions and 87 point finishes – a very sad return for a team whose annual budget is purported to be in the region of US$400 million. Read Toyota’s official statement after jump. Read more

Toyota’s History Garage in MegaWeb Tokyo

The Tokyo Motor Show was two days away from the time we landed, so we got shown around town by UMW Toyota. One of the stops was Palette Town in Odaiba, it’s a regular shopping area but we were there to visit the MegaWeb and the Toyota City Showcase.

The “City” is essentially an exhibition hall of all current Toyota road-cars as well as some of the race-cars, Toyota also uses the City to make all new-model announcements as well as to motorsports events. But just to our luck, the most important part of the City (to me at least) – the motorsports square was undergoing maintenance and it was therefore inaccessible.

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