While you might readily laugh at your neighbor’s Prius, this puppy from Toyota – the TS030 – can play with the big boys. It will become the first hybrid vehicle to enter the FIA World Endurance Championship. We first saw this guy earlier this month but we had little more than a couple glitzy pictures. At the time, it was classified as a prototype. Creating a hybrid vehicle that would be accepted into the Le Mans meant developing a new kind of energy system.

Even though it’s still nascent technology, though, Toyota is ready to bring it out on the race track. It will only be a matter of months before the hybrid debuts on the professional circuit. Specifically, the TS030 will makes its premiere showing at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May but Toyota is looking to Le Mans, which occurs the following month, as the spot where it can really make its mark.

Team president Yoshiaki Kinoshita said in a statement, “Of course we would love to win Le Mans; that is the dream for all competitors in this race. But we are realistic and we know we need to develop and to learn in order to compete with some very strong competition. Our target this year is to show the performance level of our car and particularly the THS-R powertrain.”

[via Wired]

This vehicle is therefor currently classified as a prototype endurance racer, using hybrid technology to race in and out of our dreams with glee. Currently if you want a car in a Le Mans race in the top LMP1 class, you need to be employing a kinetic energy recovery system working with brakes, exhaust, engine, or suspension that allows for electricity generation on the fly. Energy with this type of system is stored in a battery pack or a flywheel from whens it can be directed to the electric motor where it can be used for a boost in power. This also, of course, increases the efficient nature of the vehicle overall. This Toyota hybrid racer with no name undoubtedly uses something to this effect.

It appear that this car is being prepped for the 24 Hours of Le Mans event this June, 2012, but it may well be popping up in detail before then. The FIA World Endurance Championship races may be the place where this car appears first, it portending what we hope is a high-powered Prius for the mass market soon! Also note, this will be the first time Toyota has competed in a Le Mans race wince 1999.

[via Jalopnik]

So, you get a new Human-Machine Interface (HMI) touchscreen based on a smartphone UI, controlling air conditioning, audio, battery-charge and navigation functions and learning from the driver’s habits to adapt the interface and automated routines over time. There’s also a new Pre-Collision System (PCS) with lane departure, rear-end and pedestrian collision avoidance, pulling together data from radar and stereo cameras – along with IR floodlights at night – to recognize potential hazards.

Toyota NS4 Concept:

Wing mirrors and rear-view mirrors are replaced with cameras, beaming information to high-res screens across the dashboard, and the glass gets hydrophobic and anti-fog coatings along with UV and anti-solar treatments.

As for the Toyota Prius c, the sub-$19,000 hybrid is intended for roads somewhat sooner than the NS4, and pairs a choice of 1.5 liter or 1.8 liter four-cylinder VVT-i engines with an electric motor, CVT and 144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack under the rear seats. That’s apparently good for 53 mpg in the city or 46 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 50 mpg.

You also get nine airbags as standard, along with automatic climate control, Multi-Information Display and Bluetooth hands-free controls, and remote keyless entry. There’ll be an optional 6.1-inch touchscreen satnav unit with iPhone integration and SiriusXM satellite radio support.

All that’s known so far is that the Model X will be based on the same underpinnings as the Model S sedan, the four door car Tesla is expected begin deliveries on later this year. As a fully electric, plug-in vehicle it will qualify for the US government tax credits, though final pricing for the Model X itself is yet to be confirmed.

All Musk will say is that he expects the SUV to be “will be very well received” when it’s revealed next month. Some of Tesla’s expertise will also be called upon for Toyota’s new RAV4, for which Musk says his company is providing “the whole power train, motor, battery pack, inverter, and charger and all the software.” That’s expected to be revealed midway through this year.

The car is also inexpensive with a price in Japan working out to $21,793 in the US. In Japan, the car racked up 83mpg on the JC08 test cycle and 94mpg on the official 10-15 test cycle. The car has a small 1.5L 4-cylinder engine under the hood with 72hp. The car uses an electric motor rated at 45kw giving the vehicle a combined power output of 98hp.

The small car will accelerate from 0-60 in 10.7 seconds. The battery inside the car is a nickel metal hydride pack. Toyota hopes to sell 12,000 Aquas monthly at home. The car will come in three versions dubbed the L, S, and G. The high-end version will sell for $23,756. There will be a TRD sporty version of the Aqua too with a body kit, lowered suspension, larger wheels and more.

[via Insideline]

The fruits of the Toyota and BMW deal will initially be seen in 2014, as Toyota cars for the European market roll off the production line under BMW power. The German company has been pushing to expand its engine and powertrain supply business, with the Toyota arrangement presenting shoppers with a cheaper way to get their hands on a BMW-powered car.

Meanwhile, both firms will begin collaborative research into next-gen lithium-ion battery technologies, which could be used to power electric cars and hybrids such as BMW’s i3 and i8 concepts. The partnership is being painted as the first of a number of possible collaborative projects.

As for Honda, it’s not talking about electric but about getting frugal diesel powerplants into cars sooner. The first Earth Dreams Technology engine will show up in the new European Civic, set to go on sale in late 2012. Lighter than existing diesel engines, it has sub-100g/km CO2 emissions yet still delivers 300Nm of torque (at 2000rpm). No word on whether we’ll ever see it appear in cars in North America.

Honda and Toyota didn’t let the Tokyo opportunity to have some weird car fun pass them by, however. As well as the more sensible announcements, Honda brought out the EV-STER TRON-style roadster, while Toyota created what it described as “a smartphone on wheels” in the shape of the ridiculously customizable Fun-Vii.

Meanwhile there’s augmented reality navigation information, together with what Toyota describes as a “navigation concierge” with speech-controlled directions. Live OTA updates keep the in-car computers constantly up to date, and networking systems allow it to communicate with other road users “allowing it to detect other potentially hazardous vehicles – such as vehicles in blind spots – in advance, or to connect with friends who are driving nearby.”

In addition to being able to control the Fun-Vii from onboard, Toyota has developed a companion smartphone app for remote access. Of course, this is all a concept rather than something Toyota expects to end up on roads any time soon – probably a good thing, as we can’t help but see customized door panels changing as you drive along the road being something of a distraction for fellow drivers.

Toyota hopes the self-operating cars that are aware of their surroundings and in constant contact with similar models also on the road of the future will help dramatically reduce injuries and deaths from auto accidents. While this sort of technology – not to mention its acceptance – is a long way off, multiple auto makers are investing millions of dollars into the necessary research and development. While the cars operate independently of a driver, someone still has to be physically seated in the driver’s seat, and manual control can be returned to human hands at any time. GM, Ford an Volkswagen are already working towards the same goal.

Here in the US Google has become a strange bedfellow with the auto industry, demonstrating its autonomous vehicles built on, you guessed it, the Prius. The tests have done very well, with the self-driving cars navigating San Francisco with ease. Only one accident has been reported so far, and that was when one of the cars was rear-ended at a red light. If you happen to be in Tokyo from December 3rd-11th, be sure to check out Toyota’s latest.

[via Slashdot]

The connected car is a big deal it seems, Intel lists the connected car as the third fastest growing tech device with smartphones and tablets taking the first and second place sports. The research involves ways to integrate more technology into the car without causing driver distraction. The goal to getting more tech into the car according to Intel and Toyota is to allow the driver to use the tech more intuitively, leading to less distraction.

The platforms the two firms are looking at are going to be powered by Intel Atom processors. Neither company is offering up any in indication of what specifically they are working on at this point. We can make a few assumptions though based on similar systems like the Ford Synch and MyFord Touch. The tech developed by Toyota and Intel will certainly help to control entertainment and basic car systems without the need for the driver to take their eyes off the road.

The robots are designed to help with specific tasks like assisting a person to walk, assisting users for walking exercises, assisting with balance training, and to assist in transferring from the bed to a wheelchair or other device. The Autonomous Walking Assist robot looks like a fancy leg brace that goes from the knee down to the foot of the wearer. It can swing and draw the leg forward and has sensors inside to control foot and thigh movement. This is the same device used for the walking exercise assist.

The Balance Training Assistance robot uses games that remind me of those on the Wii using the balance board. The robots help the person playing the game to move in the direction of the characters on screen to teach balance. The final bot is an assisted care transfer device that can assist with arm and trunk weight retention. It holds the arms and is designed to help the user move from one device to another if they can’t stand alone. There is no word on pricing at this time or availability outside Japan.

Toyota has now officially announced the plug-in Prius and hopes to sell 50,000 of the fuel efficient vehicles globally once it hits the market. The Prius hybrids that are on the market today have used NiMh battery packs. Compares to the newer battery technology the NiMH battery doesn’t have the range lithium-ion batteries offer. The new Prius will now use NiMH batteries. The new cells will give the plug-in Prius a driving range on the battery only of 14.3 miles at 53 mph.

Once those batteries run out of power the traditional hybrid system kicks in to propel the vehicle. The coolest thing about the battery pack in the Prius plug-in is that Toyota claims the packs can be charged fully in only an hour on a standard AC outlet. That means no expensive charger or associated costs. The car is far from performance oriented with a 0-60 mph time said to be 10.7-seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. The new plug-in tech and battery packs add 110 pounds to the old vehicle weight. Sales of the plug-in Prius will start early in 2012. There is no pricing information offered at this time.

[via DailyTech]

The 2012 Tacoma will come in three cab types with the regular cab, the Access Cab (extended cab), and a four door Double Cab model. The base prices for the redesigned Tacoma will start at $16,875 for a regular cab 4×2 with a 2.7L 4-cylinder and a five speed manual transmission. On the high-end of the range, the Double Cab 4×4 long bed truck with a 4L V6 and a 5-speed auto transmission will go for $27,835.

All of the prices will have an extra $180 bucks added for shipping. The prices represent and increase from previous models of up to $645 depending on the model. The refreshed trucks will be arriving at dealer lots this month from the plants in San Antonio and Baja California, Mexico. It’s worth noting that GM may being a compact truck that is sold globally to the US eventually.

[via USA Today]

This might not be the first time you’ve seen this car, as Toyota introduced the idea of it last year to the North American market. This will be the first time that this 3+1 car will be electric, as revealed at this years Geneva Motor Show. This car is still undergoing testing in its electric state in the EU, the EV expected to have a range of, you guessed it, 65 miles. Will a car with such a relatively short range (considering that only gets most folks an hour away from home) be a tough sell in a country where it’s not out of the question to travel 2 hours to and from work everyday?

There will be some competition for this little monster come 2012, a few of these tiny electrics on sale already. The 2011 Nissan Leaf allows you to have five people in the car and runs 100 miles on a single charge, while the 2012 Ford Focus and the 2012 “Mitsubishi i” will have similar specs and will be available starting in November of 2011. The Focus will have an electric range of 100 miles while the Mitsubishi i will have a range of 85 with seats for four.

The Scion iQ, this lovely little thing we’re speaking of now, has a smaller battery than the competition, a smaller range, and quite possibly a lower price. Its generally understood that a lot of the price in electric vehicles these days comes from the lithium ion batteries they tote. With a 16kw lithium ion battery and a federal tax credit of $7,500 applied for greenness, you’ll be paying $20,490 for the Mitsubishi i. With a slightly smaller battery than that in the Scion iQ electric, you can pretty much bank on a more affordable vehicle. What about you? Have you considered an electric vehicle yet?

[via Autoblog Green]

The joint telematics system will first appear in 2012 Toyota electric and plug-in hybrid cars and will provide energy management, GPS systems, and multimedia technologies. By 2015, when Microsoft’s global cloud platform is set to complete, these next-gen vehicles will be able to connect to servers from around the world.

This adds a whole new segment to mobile computing ecosystems. Thus far, a harmonious ecosystem has been focused on the fusing of smartphones, tablets, notebooks, and computers. But now, we can add vehicles to that environment. There could be an iPhone or Android app, or in this case a Windows Phone 7 app, to remotely start your Toyota or even help monitor the energy levels of your plug-in vehicle.

Press release:

Microsoft and Toyota Announce Strategic Partnership on Next-Generation Telematics
Microsoft and Toyota to participate in 1 billion yen investment in Toyota Media Service Co.

REDMOND, Wash., and TOYOTA CITY, Japan — April 6, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) today announced they have forged a strategic partnership and plan to build a global platform for TMC’s next-generation telematics services using the Windows Azure platform. Telematics is the fusing of telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles; it can encompass GPS systems, energy management and other multimedia technologies.

As part of the partnership, the two companies plan to participate in a 1 billion yen (approximately $12 million) investment in Toyota Media Service Co., a TMC subsidiary that offers digital information services to Toyota automotive customers. The two companies aim to help develop and deploy telematics applications on the Windows Azure platform, which includes Windows Azure and Microsoft SQL Azure, starting with TMC’s electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012. TMC’s goal is to establish a complete global cloud platform by 2015 that will provide affordable and advanced telematics services to Toyota automotive customers around the world.

As part of its smart-grid activities, aimed at achieving a low-carbon society through efficient energy use, TMC is conducting trials in Japan of its Toyota Smart Center pilot program, which plans to link people, automobiles and homes for integrated control of energy consumption. TMC believes that, as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles become more popular, such systems will rely more on telematics services for achieving efficient energy management.

Microsoft has a long history of delivering platforms and services to the automotive market, including in-car infotainment systems built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, in-car mapping services with Bing and the Microsoft Tellme voice application, and many other consumer solutions.

“Today’s announcement of our partnership with TMC is a great example of how we continue to invest in the automotive industry and of our commitment to power the services that are important to consumers,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “It further validates the power of the cloud, as the Windows Azure platform will provide the enterprise-grade, scalable platform that TMC needs to deliver telematics in its automobiles worldwide.”

“This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world. Creating these more efficient, more environmentally advanced products will be our contribution to society,” said Akio Toyoda, president of TMC. “To achieve this, it is important to develop a new link between vehicles, people and smart center energy-management systems.”

Virtual Press Conference Information

Following a signing ceremony today at Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash.-based headquarters, Ballmer and Toyoda will hold a virtual press conference online from 1 to 2 p.m. PDT. Media can register for the event at http://www.studiosevent.com/press-event and ask questions of both company leaders. More information on the announcement is available at the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/newscenter or the Toyota USA Newsroom at http://www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About Toyota

Founded in 1937, TMC (NYSE “TM”) is a global automotive company with production in 27 countries and sales in more than 170 countries. Founded in 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of TMC, Toyota Media Service is a consumer IT service provider for Toyota automotive customers that actualizes the connected, in-car experience.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

First have a look at the all-touch webOS “StingRay” and marvel at the fact that HP isn’t either releasing these objects faster or taking a trip to the crypt. Next, Apple takes a hint from blathering maniacs everywhere and simply deletes the White iPhone from their system while they make Toyota pull a jailbroken iPhone theme or face their wrath. See a secret Apple Dock Connector that may include Thunderbolt speeds, and see Kee Utility ship their iPhone Desk Phone Dock so you can… use a bigger receiver again, like you always wanted.

On an Android tip, see the Samsung Galaxy S II claim dual-core 1.2GHz speeds, the HTC EVO View 4G (aka HTC Flyer) claim a release with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and the HTC Pyramid take on it’s street name: “Sensation!” Then see Fring Beta take on group video calls and the Xperia PLAY dump its entire contents, including games and wallpapers!

Then the last pack: make sure you’re not being HACKED by Epsilon while you’re sitting pretty on Verizon, see Apple reject an app for lack of functionality then release an app themselves with the same functionality as the one they just rejected, and buy yourself the Facebook-laden INQ Cloud Touch – today!

BONUS: Gamestop claims to have a gaming tablet coming down the pipeline – Kyocera Katsura watch your back!

According to ModMyI’s Kyle Matthews, Apple had contacted Toyota requesting the theme be removed, and they instructed Velti, the ad agency responsible, to do just that so as to “maintain their good relationship with Apple.” According to Matthews, the theme project had been in the works since April 2010.

Apple’s attitude toward users jailbreaking their devices remains reasonably combative, despite jailbreaks being ruled legal; the company maintains that doing so will void the device’s warranty. The fact that it also allows users to bypass the official App Store – and thus bypass Apple’s cut of the revenue stream – is also likely to be a major consideration.

[via AppAdvice]

The Prius Plus will be the first Prius to use lithium ion battery packs. The catch is that the Plus will only get the lithium ion batteries in the Japanese market. The car will get the old nickel-metal hydride batteries in the US that are heavier and used in the current Prius vehicles.

The Japanese Prius Plus cars are getting the lithium batteries to open up more interior space. Toyota has noted that the three-row seating is more appealing to the Japanese market. The Plus with the lithium ion batteries will sell for the equivalent of $36,590 in Japan with a version using standard batteries starting at $28,660.

[via Autonews]

Toyota had originally blamed mechanical problems such as shifty floor mats and sticky gas pedals for the sudden accelerations. But at the time, authorities believed this was just a cover-up for faulty electronics. However, in August 2010, investigations showed that in 35 of 58 accidents they studied, the vehicle’s data recorder showed that brakes had not been applied by the driver. Panic may have caused the drivers to stomp on the gas pedal instead of the brake and then floor mats getting wedged along with sticky gas pedals could have contributed to the problem.

And now after a year of investigation, the verdict brings us right back to what Toyota initially reported–mechanical problems with shifty floor mats and sticky pedals, not faulty electronics. So the problem wasn’t faulty electronics, nor a cover-up. The investigation was conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) along with Toyota engineers and the input of NASA and the National Academy of Sciences. But surprisingly, the root cause of the error is still believed to be driver error of hitting the wrong pedal, termed “pedal misapplication.”

[via Discovery]

China produces 97% of the world’s supply of rare earths that are use in all sorts of items from electronics to hybrid vehicles and more. The move will make it easier for Toyota to operate without the material from China should there ever be an issue with supply again.

The AP reports that the US, Canada, and Australia all have rare earth deposits as well, but stopped mining the rare earth materials since it was cheaper to get the material from China. China has about 30% of the world supply of rare earth within its country.

Entune is a suite of apps, all collected to bring drivers an easier, and ultimately more enjoyable way to interact with their vehicle. Featuring applications like Pandora, iHeartRadio, OpenTable, Tickets.com, and Bing, Entune is a multimedia system that will be launched with five applications, but Toyota is already planning on integrating more in short time. A simple process for the owner of a new Toyota to head to Toyota’s website, register their vehicle’s VIN, and then download the necessary application to make the magic happen.

Safety is a huge concern for the company, and they plan on making the applications stop functioning, in some fashion or another, while they are driving. For example, you’ll be able to add new radio stations to your Pandora account as long as the car isn’t in motion — the moment it starts moving, that functionality will be shut down, and you’ll only be able to listen to music, and change channels.

Toyota has plans to launch the service some time this year, but a definitive date hasn’t been confirmed yet. The company plans on launching an iPhone and iPad application, but Android, Research In Motion, and even feature phones are planned for the future. The full press release is below for more information.

Press Release

LAS VEGAS, January 4, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. today unveiled the Toyota Entune™ multimedia system at the Consumer Electronics Show. Toyota Entune leverages the customer’s mobile phone to create a rich in-vehicle experience that offers fully integrated and upgradeable entertainment, navigation, and information services. By utilizing conversational voice recognition and in-vehicle controls, the driver doesn’t have to touch their mobile phone, allowing for safer connectivity. Toyota Entune simplifies the interaction for customers and will be available in select vehicles this year.

“Consumers have grown accustomed to having the world at their fingertips through their mobile phones,” said Jon Bucci, vice president of the Advanced Technology Department at Toyota. “And unlike other industry solutions, Entune allows the driver to interact with informative and entertaining mobile content without fumbling with their phone. We offer features that our customers demand and integrate them seamlessly in the vehicle.”

After downloading the Toyota Entune mobile application and pairing a Bluetooth capable phone with their Toyota vehicle, customers can begin accessing a wide variety of personalized content and services. Toyota Entune is wirelessly upgradeable, so in-vehicle applications are never obsolete. Ensuring that nearly all customers can take advantage of this new technology, Toyota Entune is compatible with a wide variety of mobile phones with a data plan. Toyota Entune key features include:

• Mobile Apps – Toyota Entune debuts Bing, keeping navigation continuously up to date with more than 16 million points of interest; OpenTable, make a reservation at one of 15,000 restaurants; and MovieTickets.com, buy movie tickets and read reviews. All destinations can be seamlessly sent to the navigation system. Making drivers’ lives even easier, Toyota Entune delivers customizable real time traffic, fuel prices, weather, stocks and sports.

• Music – Toyota Entune brings you more music in more ways with iheartradio’s 750+ hometown stations; personalized stations with Pandora; XM satellite radio 170+ channels with coast-to-coast coverage; and introducing HD Radio, digital broadcasts of your favorite terrestrial music. Toyota Entune also offers USB connectivity for portable media players and traditional terrestrial radio.

• Voice Recognition – Featuring a best-in-class, advanced conversational voice recognition system, Toyota Entune eliminates the need to memorize thousands of voice commands. The intuitive interface allows the driver to focus more on the road ahead.

“Toyota has always been a leader in the automotive industry, so it makes sense it would bring the latest in mobile technology to the car,” said Chris Daniels, general manager of Bing for Mobile, Microsoft Corp. “By bringing Bing Maps and Bing for Mobile technology to the car, we are helping Toyota enhance the overall in-vehicle experience to be as rich and robust as possible, which means personalizing the information to each driver’s needs.”

Safety Connect
Toyota Entune continues to build on the excellent foundation laid by Safety Connect, bringing peace of mind to drivers with an added layer of more personalized and convenience-oriented features. Safety Connect is the cornerstone of Toyota’s telematics systems providing Automatic Collision notification, Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and Roadside Assistance on select Toyota models. Safety Connect combined with Toyota Entune offers comprehensive safety services and mobile applications not found in any other vehicle make.

Product Availability
Toyota Entune will be available as an option on select models this year. The featured apps of Toyota Entune include: Bing, iheartradio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable.com, and Pandora, as well as location-based services, such as personalized traffic, fuel prices, stocks, weather, and sports. Toyota Entune also includes support for read-back and replay capabilities for text messages. These are combined with a fully featured entertainment and communication system, which includes XM radio, HD Radio, CD player, USB connectivity, Bluetooth streaming and phonebook. A high quality JBL sound system is available as an option as well.

About Toyota
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of nearly 1,500 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion.

The idea behind the new robot is to help those who have suffered a stroke, and have become paralyzed on one side of their body. The robot would help them walk again. Toyota is trying to make the new robot weigh less than robots of its size before it, but still be effective in its day-to-day tasks. The robot would be at the side of the individual, letting them rest their knee on it while they walk, or with their hand on its shoulder if necessary, depending on what the individual needs.

While we know the robot is in testing, there’s not much more in the information department. It seems that the university and Toyota are keeping a somewhat tight lid on their creation for now. Hopefully we’ll get to see more of the robot in the near future, plus see a working model.

[via FarEastGizmos]

In fact, anywhere that power is required but tricky to route is fair game, the consortium reckons.  In a car, power-generating sensors might be integrated into the seats, so that passenger movement and body head could be harnessed; other potential sources include dim light.

The project hopes to have commercial-scale powerless components ready within the next two to three years, and tip the segment as a whole to be worth $4.4bn by 2020.  If all 150 of those luxury car sensors were self-powering and interconnected, they suggest, it could generate enough power to last over a kilometre of driving.

[via Slashdot and via TechEye]

The noise system will make a noise loud enough for pedestrians to hear, but one that’s comparable to a standard engine, so that it’s not the most annoying thing on the road. However, what’s interesting about it, is that Toyota is apparently making the extra feature optional. That’s right. Purchasers of the third generation Toyota Prius will be able to option in for the noise maker.

The buyer will have to fork over an additional 12,600 yen, which is about $150 around these parts, to get the parts installed. But, that’s a small price to pay to make sure that the people around you, who may just be taking a lovely day-time stroll, are safe, right? The picture above does a pretty good job of showcasing the idea. There’s no word from Toyota when, or of, this sound system will see international markets, but it will begin going on sale in Japan on August 30th.

[via PhysOrg]

In return, Microsoft will gain access to DENSO’s patents, though neither company is specifying which, exactly, these include.  However, a quick glance at DENSO’s site shows they specialise in image recognition, stereo image processing, gaze tracking, drowsiness monitoring and remote security systems, together with integrating high-resolution LCD TFT displays with instrument clusters.

No word on the legal details of the agreement, but DENSO is apparently paying Microsoft for their assistance rather than the other way around.  You can all make your hybrid blue-screen-of-death/stuck-gas-pedal jokes now.

Toyota engineers have plans to borrow and test out Woz’s Prius for a week, in order to diagnose the any problems.  Woz’s Prius model is of the newly-released 2010 Toyota lineup, and isn’t under the current Toyota recall (he also claims that he can duplicate the scenario, which he describes as “very scary”).

Wozniak is convinced that it may be a faulty software issue, although no real evidence of any kind has been reported yet.  He’s reportedly a bit concerned that Toyota took a long time to respond to his requests for assistance.

The car was designed at Toyota’s European design center, a closer look shows LED headlights slung way back to the windshield, seats made of mesh, and the lack of a rear bumper.  Wheels look interesting, however, and the interior looks like something straight out of a vehicle from the Avatar movie.

Toyota said Monday it plans to launch eight new hybrid models over the next few years, and will begin introducing plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles in 2012. It says it also will have hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in 2015 in global markets. Recent testing of its hydrogen fuel cells, which create electricity using hydrogen, showed the cars could go 431 miles on a single fueling.

The Tacoma is designed to allow four gamers to play Halo alongside each other, and since squinting at 7-inch headrest-mounted displays lacks the essential gravitas, instead the driver and front-passenger seats motor out and back, to line up with the rear seats.  That leaves room for four 24-inch Samsung LCD displays, which swing out in front of them, while still making space for an energy-drink container in-between.

As for spectators, they’re not left out either since a 60-inch Sharp LCD is mounted to the trailer hitch.  The Tacoma itself has had all four doors removed, welded together into two sections, and gullwing-mounted so that they hinge up and provide shelter from the elements.  The geekiest part?  The license plate reads “My other car is a Warthog”.

[via Jalopnik]

It may feel like an April Fools joke – albeit one in late July – but there’s actually at least one very good reason for the Cygnet’s existence.  Incoming emissions legislation promises to be even more draconian to high-polluting marques, demanding cleaner engines and higher economy.  The rules, however, are based on a company’s overall average CO2 and MPG performance, meaning that the frugal Cygnet could help offset Aston Martin’s more profligate cars.

The company intends to sell 4,000-5,000 Cygnets per year, once the production model is finalized, differentiating it from the iQ by virtue of its premium finish.  Aston Martin and Toyota apparently began negotiations after sharing garage facilities at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

[via Times Online]

Video of the Winglets in action after the cut

Powered by an electric motor, the Winglets are capable of up to 6km/h (3.73mph) for up to 10km (6.2 miles) in the case of the L or M models, or half that in the case of the smaller S version.  Control is by leaning in the direction the rider wishes to move, and a full recharge takes an hour.

Toyota are planning to begin consumer testing at the Central Japan International Airport this Fall, before graduating onto increasingly crowded environments sometime in 2009.  Unlike some of the company’s earlier (and more bizarre looking) personal transporters, the Winglets are actually expected to go into production in 2010.

[via Akihabara]

If it were created, Toyota would be the first major manufacturer to add a car with built-in solar panels and release it to the mass market. The third generation Prius isn’t due to be released until 2009 or the 2010 model year.

The picture shown here is quite obviously an artists rendering, since this is very much still a rumor. Hopefully soon Toyota will give us some juicy details and confirm these rumors.

[via treehugger]

The camera, like I said, monitors the drivers’ face/eyes for signs of sleepiness. If you’re attention goes off the road for a certain amount of time it emits a loud alarm to get your attention and if that’s not enough it’ll apply the brakes on it’s own to prevent a crash.

This device has already been installed in the Lexus LS600H and Toyota plans to put it in more of its cars in the future. I say, thank goodness for people like Toyota who help keep the roads safer.

[via Gizmodo]

Basically here’s what it came down to, the guy needed a vehicle that could haul his family of 6, do it for cheap, and save some gas. The salvaged Prius’ and about 200 hours later there was the Prius limo. The two vehicles reportedly cost him $10 grand and had non-rebuildable junk titles to go with them.

He said he recouped some of that cost by selling the leftover parts. The best part, I has a really nice vehicle that looks like a slightly extended minivan, has 6 doors, and gets about 43 MPG fully loaded with his family and whatever they packed/picked up. That’s the inner city mileage, highway it’ll hit 50MPG fully loaded, with just the maker in the car he said he can get 56MPG. I guess the lower coefficient drag that’s caused by the new, more aerodynamic design is the cause for the highway mileage to se the least amount of change of a standard production Prius.

World’s first Toyota Prius Limo – Shirley shome mishtake…? [via redferret]

Now why is it worth a 5-star rating? Well, the heated seats, oxygen-level conditioner, pinpoint humidifier, and green grass growing just inside the windshield to prevent UV rays from affecting the passengers are all a really good start.

Add to that the fact that it looks like it would be really comfortable to ride in and really easy to get in and out of with that big sliding door. There is also a nice headlight feature for people outside the car, light distribution. Without looking at the seats though, it’d be kind of hard to tell which end was the front.

Toyota’s ‘RiN’ concept hybrid car looks after the environment, the passengers, and pedestrians. Darn over-achievers! [via techdigest]

Some extra treats that will come with the FT-HS include a uniquely designed retractable roof and ultra futuristic interiors such as a hubless steering wheel. But given the price tag is expected to be between $30,000 to $40,000, it is most likely that much of the over-the-top concept stuff wont make it to production.

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept [Via: Uncrate]

Toyota’s hybrid technology getting cheaper, lighter [Via: Mobile Mag]