Toyota FT-86 to be called FR-S when it reaches production?

It's been awhile since we've heard anything on the tasty little Toyota FT-86 Concept, but it looks like we may finally have an idea of what the car will be called when it hits showrooms. If the rumors buzzing around the Toyobaru forums are to be believed, the Japanese manufacturer won't resurrect any of its fabled names from the company's past. Instead, it's possible that the sportscar may carry an FR-S badge. Toyota just filed a trademark application for the name, so there's a good chance that this particular internet whisper may have some meat to it.

We haven't completely decided where we stand on the FR-S name, partly because we had become so accustomed to calling the front-engine, rear-wheel drive heathen the FT-86. In the end, though, we don't really care what's on the car's badges so long as it makes it to production as an affordable, strong-performing coupe. Toyota could use something with a pulse in a big way, and a spiritual successor to the AE-86 Corolla would be just the ticket.

[Source: Toyobaru.net]

Toyota Set to Pay $16.4 Million Fine "To Avoid Litigation" on Sticky-Pedals

Today Toyota agreed to pay it's relatively meaninglessly 16.4 million dollar fine regarding its sticky-pedal recall.
Meaningless not only because that the capped fine is less than a drop in the bucket to Toyota (Automotive News reports it will be below 2% of net income for the financial year ending March 31), but also because they're side-stepping all real penalties in relation to the safety debacle they caused.
Without a cap, fines could have been up to $6,000 per vehicle, or $13.8 Billion total.
According to Toyota, "We agreed to this settlement in order to avoid a protracted dispute and possible litigation, as well as to allow us to move forward fully-focused on the steps to strengthen our quality assurance operations. This will allow us to focus on delivering safe, reliable, high quality vehicles for our customers and responding to consumer feedback with honesty and integrity."
Toyota goes on to say they regret the NHTSA's decision to seek the civil penalty, they in no way violated the Safety Act, and that they did not hide any safety defects.
Furthermore, new steps have been taken to make their improve quality assurance operations, including strengthening "information-gathering capabilities to respond more quickly to customer concerns and investigate potential quality issues more aggressively" (no word on how they did that) and appointing a Chief Quality Officer for North America.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood disagrees with Toyota a bit, saying, ""I am pleased that Toyota has accepted responsibility for violating its legal obligations to report any defects promptly...By failing to report known safety problems as it is required to do under the law, Toyota put consumers at risk."
Toyota has 30 days to pay the fine, which is expected to be in the form of an electronic transfer.
After that little drop is paid off, Toyota has a couple more problems on its hands: 1) there may have been multiple defects, leading to more than just the one $16.4 million fine, and 2) the 180 lawsuits seeking class-action status and 57 individual suits "claiming injury or deaths" related to the recalls.

By Phil Alex

Lotus puts Toyota's Venza on a Strict Diet

Lotus just released a concept based on the Toyota Venza where the goal was to trim the fat, ultimately reducing CO2 emissions. Officially, the project was meant to showcase a "viable mass reduction strategy" on two representative models: a 2017 near-term version and a 2020 long-term version.
Comparing the Lotus Venza versus the off-the-lot Toyota Venza, overall mass was reduced by as much as 38% on the 2020 (minus power train) at only a 3% increase in component costs. The 2017 model's mass reduction was 21%. All this was done using processes and tech that should be available and affordable by 2020.
Power train included, the 2020's mass was still decreased by 33%, which the US Department of Energy says should be good for a 23% increase in fuel economy.
The process of lightening the two models seems fairly straightforward: take them apart, catalog the parts, evaluate how to reduce mass, and upon reassembly maintain all the standard features (vision, sight line, comfort, etc.).
Key components of the body-in-white have been reduced from 400+ to 211. While the original Toyota used 100% steel in its construction, Lotus's 2020 Venza uses aluminum (37%), magnesium (30%), composites (21%) and high strength steel (7%). No idea where the remaining 5% went, but it may just be regular steel.
The bumpers remain the same, albeit using an aluminum brace beam versus the a steel one (magnesium proved too expensive).
Any hinged parts (originally, again, 100% steel) and fenders were replaced with parts made up of magnesium (33%), plastic (21%), steel (18%), and aluminum (6%). The remaining 22% is made of "other materials".
Inside, the instrument panel was removed and both driver and passenger have "modules containing all key functional and safety hardware". Both the shifter and parking brake have migrated to the touch-screen interface, and lightweight foam front seats get a futuristic floating treatment by being mounted to the center tunnel and side sill (cutting the need for brackets).
Also, full-floor carpeting gets the ax in favor of removable carpet squares. Lotus says "this reduces mass and allows cost effective upgrading of the carpet quality."
Underneath, all chassis and suspension components have been upgraded to account for the updated mass, keeping this a good exercise in future product development.

By Phil Alex

Toyota Suplica Caught in Transition in Texas

Marton from San Antonio, Texas sent us these pics he took at a local auto parts shop thanks to his handy-dandy iPhone. What he and a friend initially thought was some poor Supra turned out to be, in his words, a Suplica; "but good god its ghetto." That one gets a digital high-five.
Marton, if it's ever seen again in a better state of kit, get some more shots and we'll see if the Suplica's gotten any prettier. More photos after the jump.

By Phil Alex

Thanks for the pics Marton!

European Toyota Corolla Sedan Receives Subtle Facelift

The European-market version of the Corolla that's offered exclusively in sedan form has just received a mid-life facelift for 2010 with freshened exterior and interior styling.
On the outside, the updated "Corolla 2010" gets a new front fascia with a redesigned bumper, upper and lower grille, as well as restyled headlamps. To the rear, changes include the new license plate garnish, tail lamps and bumper.
The new, power retractable door mirrors with integral turn indicators and fresh designs for the hub-caps and alloy wheels complete the exterior makeover.
Toyota claims that the goal for the interior redesign was to "enhance perceived quality".
A side from the new, flat bottomed steering wheel with a thicker rim, the "Corolla 2010" also gets a different combination meter while the instrument panel and door handle trim are now finished in silver coating. The same finish is also found on the centre console and door switch surrounds.
Other upgrades include the addition of a remote control trunk opening function on the ignition key, the new seat fabrics and the a newly available, Alcantara upholstery.
The Corolla 2010 engine line-up includes 1.33-liter Dual VVT-i and 1.6-liter Valvematic petrol engines, and 1.4-liter and 2.0-liter D-4D diesel units.