Kief Cars

The Japanese Auto Manufacturer will introduce this concept vehicle at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show later this month. The Toyota FT-86 has been nicknamed the “Toyobaru” because Toyota is actually developing this vehicle in conjunction with Subaru. This rear wheel drive sports car is rumored to be close to going to production. The Toyota FT-86 concept car design apparently draws from the dramatic Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports concept which was shown at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show. The Toyota FT-86 refers to the Toyota Corolla AE-86 (a rear-drive coupe that became Japan’s rally car in the 1980s). The Toyota FT-86 is fitted with a 2.0-litre boxer engine from the Subaru Impreza and a 6 speed gearbox. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see this vehicle on the Toyota production line in South Africa soon.

Toyota’s hybrid vehicle sales have reached 2 million. It took the Japanese Auto Manufacturer almost 10 years to reach the 1 million mark for hybrid vehicles sold. It only took 2 years and 3 months to reach the next million. All 3 generations of the Toyota hybrid vehicle, the Prius is responsible for 1.4 million of those units. Toyota has been selling hybrid vehicles since 1997. The Japanese Auto Manufacturer claims that this has contributed enormously to reduction of carbon dioxide emissions on the planet. Toyota claims that the 2 million hybrids sold by them have resulted in 11 million tons of CO2 not being released (by conventional gasoline driven cars) into the atmosphere. The company currently sells 13 different hybrid models in 50 countries worldwide. The Toyota Prius has been the top selling vehicle in Japan for the last 4 months. It will be a while before hybrid cars will truly be part of the fabric of society. To my knowledge no major releases have been announced for hybrid cars in South Africa, but I could be wrong. Who knows? Maybe 10 years from now all of us will be looking in the classifieds to find a 2nd hand hybrid. Maybe electric cars / hybrid cars / green cars will fail and we will all be stuck without transportation and take up the art of walking as a past time instead.

Related Link:
Toyota – Official Website

Toyota is also the world’s largest auto manufacturer. This multi-national corporation employs about 316,000 people worldwide today. According to the 2008 Fortune Global 500, Toyota is the world’s 5th largest company. Toyota was hit by the global financial crisis in 2008 and was forced to report its first annual loss in December 2008.

In 1867, Sakichi Toyoda was born in Japan. In 1924 Toyoda invents the Toyoda Model G Automatic Loom. In 1929 the patent for the automatic-loom is sold to a British company. In 1930 Kiichiro Toyoda begins research on small gasoline-powered engine. In 1933 the company’s Automobile Department is established at Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. In 1935 precepts are compiled. In 1936 the company completes the AA Sedan. The Toyota Motor Company Limited is established in 1937. In 1938 Toyota’s Honsha Plant begins production. In 1950 Toyota faces a financial crisis and the Toyota Motor Sales Company Limited is established. The Suggestion System begins in 1951. In 1955 Toyota launches the the Toyopet Crown, Toyopet Master and Crown Deluxe. The first prototypes of the Crown are exported to the USA in 1957. Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc is established in the same year. Toyota’s Motomachi Plant begins production in 1959. A joint declaration of labor and management is signed in 1962. Toyota wins the Deming Application Prize for quality control in 1965. In 1966 Toyota launches the Corolla and begins a business tie-up with Hino Motors Ltd. In 1967 Toyota ties up business with Daihatsu Motor Company. In 1974 the Toyota Foundation is established. In 1975 Toyota starts their prefabricated housing business. In 1982 the Toyota Motor Company Ltd and Toyota Motor Sales Company Ltd are merged into the Toyota Motor Corporation. In 1984 Toyota begins a joint venture with General Motors (NUMMI) and begins production in the USA. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, USA, Inc. (present TMMK) begins production in 1988. The Lexus brand is launched in the USA by Toyota in 1989. Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. begins production in 1992. The Prius is launched by Toyota as the world first mass-produced hybrid car in 1997. By 1999 cumulative domestic production reaches 100 million vehicles. Sichuan Toyota Motor Company Ltd. begins production in China in the year 2000. In 2001 Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. begins production in France. In 2002 Toyota enters Formula 1 World Championship. Tianjin Toyota Motor Company Ltd. begins production in China. In 2004 Toyota unveils the Toyota Partner Robot publicly. The Lexus brand is introduced in Japan in 2005. Worldwide Prius sales tops the 1-million mark in 2008.

One can find classifieds for 2nd hand Toyota cars, bakkies and trucks in publications and on websites all around the world. This truly is one of the best known car brands in the world and needs no introduction. I’m sure that we will still be seeing Toyota vehicles on the road in the year 2050. I’ve seen Toyota vehicles that are still running perfectly, even though they’ve got more than 300,000 km on their dials.

The Toyota iQ was first introduced as a concept city car in 2007 at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. Toyota revealed the production version of the Toyota iQ at the Geneva Auto Show in 2008 in Switzerland. Japanese sales began in October 2008. UK sales began in January 2009. The vehicle has not gone on sale in South Africa (my home country). It was named the 2008 car of the year in Japan. The Toyota iQ is a 3 door hatchback and is less than 3 metres (117 inches) in length, making it one of the smallest 4 seater cars in the world. The car has been released in a 1.0 litre and 1.33 litre petrol version. It has also been released in an 1.4 litre diesel version. This might not look like a very safe car, but this car is fitted with 9 airbags: 2 frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side torso airbags, side curtain airbags, front passenger seat cushion airbag, a driver’s knee airbag and a newly developed rear curtain airbag. Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution is standard.

Smaller and more fuel efficient cars seem to be a trend in today’s automative market. It looks like Toyota has decided to get into this as well. In my opinion they’ve done a good job with the Toyota iQ. This vehicle has been rumored to be the basis of the new Toyota Yaris. I’m sure in a few years from now motorists will swop their old cars for small cars like this one or just sell their cars in the classifieds. Brace yourself for smaller car designs and better fuel economy, it’s closer than you think.

The Toyota Motor Corporation started producing the Toyota Hilux pickup truck or bakkie (what we call a pickup in South Africa) in 1968. Since then this vehicle has seen various facelifts over the years. It’s still one of the top selling bakkies in South Africa.

Guess i’ll have to look for a second hand bakkie for sale in one of the classifieds publications since I can’t afford a new one.

Related Links:
Toyota – Official Website.