The electric racecar showed promising pace in official testing this last weekend.

The two-day session at the world-famous course in Colorado ran smoothly for the Toyota Motorsport team (TMG) and Toyota Racing Development USA team (TRD).

A half-course run was made each day and the combined results from these indicate an overall time better than the EV record the car set last year.

Rob Millen, a multiple Pikes Peak record-setter, was at the wheel as fine tuning was carried out on the car’s balance, braking, traction control and cooling, and tire options were evaluated.

Last year the Toyota set a new EV record of 10 minutes 15.380 seconds.

According to TMG, data from this run has been used by engineers at TMG’s Cologne technology centre to improve the electric powertrain. Motor speed and torque have been increased and the system’s operating parameters have been tuned to better suit the demands of the 12.42-mile Pikes Peak tack.

The unit now delivers 400 kilowatt and 1,200Nm of torque.

Since the car arrived in the USA last month, the TRD team has made aerodynamic and other upgrades to the chassis.

With the benefit of a three-fold increase in downforce and a new carbon ceramic braking system, TMG said the more powerful TMG EV P002 is ready to take on the increasingly competitive electric class.

Its challenge will be supported by a pioneering off-board, battery-to-battery charging system, which provides a reliable power source at the Pikes Peak circuit, where there is no reliable local grid connection.

TMG EV P002 Technical Specifications

Performance

Maximum speed (mph)                            142

Maximum torque (Nm)                            1,200

Maximum power (kW)                            400

Maximum rpm                                                6,000

Powertrain

Electric Motor                         2 axial flux

Inverter                                   2 x TMG inverters

Gear Ratio                              3.13

Transmission                          Single-reduction gearing

Battery                                    Lithium ceramic

Battery Capacity (kWh)                                     42 kWh

Charging Technology                             Off-boardDC charging

Dimensions

Length (mm)                           4,100

Height (mm)                           1,040

Width (mm)             1,790

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This report was published June 12 by international brand consultancy Interbrand.

Interestingly, automotive brands make up 50 percent of this year’s top ten.

The report gauges the gap between public perception of a brand’s environmental performance – its “green image” – and its actual environmental practices, using publicly available data and information.

According to the report, more than 10,000 consumers around the world have recognized Toyota not only for its commitment to sustainable environmental leadership, but also for its investment in ground-breaking products, such as the Prius, and its programs for reducing greenhouse emissions, energy consumption and water usage throughout its operations.

The Interbrand assessment comes as Toyota is in the early stages of a product launch cycle that will see 21 new or updated hybrid models brought to markets worldwide by the end of 2015.

Other automotive manufacturers to make it in the ranking are Ford (second), Honda (third), Nissan (fifth), Volkswagen (seventh), BMW (13^th), Mercedes-Benz (17^th), Hyundai (34^th) and Kia (37^th).

“What makes the annual Best Global Green Brands report unique and valuable is that it examines performance and perception in action,” said Jez Frampton, Global Chief Executive Officer of Interbrand. “The report provides leading brands with the insights they need to develop robust strategies—strategies that will not only drive their businesses forward, but also have a positive impact on the environment and communities in which those businesses operate.”

Toyota, the top Best Global Green Brand for the third consecutive year, continues to dominate the hybrid vehicle market. The company sold more than 2.9 million Prius models worldwide in 2012. Toyota is also exploring the future of mobility by building a low carbon society called Toyota Ecoful Town in Toyota City, Japan. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to using reusable metal containers for shipping and distribution, Toyota is a leading example of what can result—both in terms of performance and perception—when a company makes sustainability an integral part of its overarching business strategy.

Nissan (fifth) emerged as the top riser on this year’s report. The brand moved up 16 places (from 21^st) and broke into the top 10.

The report said that as with other brands in the auto sector, Nissan is becoming increasingly committed to developing and promoting its green credentials. In February, the company announced that 50,000 Leafs had been produced worldwide, making the Leaf the most widely sold electric passenger car of all time. Nissan plans to cut 15 percent of vehicle weight starting in 2017, and it has joined forces with Daimler and Ford to develop a line of affordable fuel-cell cars that will roll out in 2017. Reducing vehicle weight through smarter design and material selection, utilizing renewable and sustainable materials, and turning to alternative fuels are just a few of the ways Nissan is making significant strides in the green arena—and proving that sustainability can, in fact, lead to profitability.

The leading auto brands in this year’s report have made significant progress in regards to how their sustainability efforts are perceived by consumers worldwide. From managing to improve their stature on top sustainability reports and indexes, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), to investing in advertising spend, these brands are not hesitant to communicate their innovative and sustainable practices to consumers worldwide.

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Toyota said the concept, called the “Camatte57s,” is aimed at bringing parents and children closer together as they work in collaboration on building their ideal car.

The vehicle aims to convey the joy and dreams of motor vehicles to current and future drivers, by providing an opportunity for parents and children to together experience the fun of driving, car customization and car enthusiasm.

Compared to the “Camatte” concept exhibited in 2012, the Camatte57s allows an even greater ease and range of customization possibilities.

The vehicle’s body exterior consists of 57 detachable small lightweight panels to allow easy and extensive color and design customization while the roofless design offers a liberating driving experience while also enhancing visibility to increase ease of customization. The seats are in a closely arranged triangular configuration with one front seat and two rear seats to emphasize family intimacy and facilitate communication.

Acceleration and braking pedals as well as seats can be adjusted to enable operation by children, while an adult seated in the rear-right seat can assist steering and braking to help develop the child’s driving skills.

Toyota did not reveal the power of the electric motor powering the Canatte57s.

To explain the name of the vehicle, Toyota said the name Camatte is based on the Japanese word for care and is meant to signify “caring for others” and “caring for cars”; the “s” stands for the Japanese word sawaru, which means to touch.

For Toyota, the name thus reflects the idea that people should feel more in touch with each other and with vehicles.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/video_display.cfm?video_id=23578#.UbaJJAXes84.link

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The Toyota Avalon Hybrid won the Hybrid Car/EV award while the Lexus RX450h won Hybrid/EV Crossover SUV.

AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) objectively measure owner satisfaction with 51 vehicle attributes ranging from interior comfort and convenience to fuel economy and performance.

“Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “The winners perform well in 51 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience.”

AutoPacific said its VSA are based on the results of responses from over 52,000 new vehicle owners.

“With the launch of each new car and truck, carmakers try improve the product and increase the satisfaction of their buyers.  By surveying a substantial number of owners who purchased a new 2013 model year vehicle, AutoPacific’s VSA provides an objective measurement of how well the makers are doing. More than one-third of new vehicle buyers are positively influenced by objective awards based on owner ratings when deciding on a new car or truck,” says Peterson.

The most satisfying brands in 2013 are Cadillac, Top Premium Brand and Buick, Top Popular Brand.

The vehicle – car or truck – registering highest overall satisfaction is the Cadillac SRX Luxury Crossover SUV.

The car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Lexus LS460.

The awards in 2013 are much more diverse than they have been in previous years with no single manufacturer dominating the results.

Brands with multiple wins are: Toyota and General Motors with four best-in-class winners, Chrysler with three wins, and Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, and Ford with two wins.

The most improved brands compared with last year’s results are Infiniti and Land Rover, rising ten and nine positions respectively, while Scion dropped ten positions and Ford dropped eight.

“AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards help vehicle buyers sort through an increasingly complicated selection of brands and models.  For the 2013 model year, there are 294 models and 33 brands from which to choose a new vehicle.  The VSA clearly shows the buyers which vehicles are at the top of the class they are considering,” says Peterson.

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These Auris models are built at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s (TMUK) Burnaston car plant.

Welcoming Toyota’s continued investment in British jobs and manufacturing, the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: “Toyota’s ongoing investment in Burnaston is a huge vote of confidence in our thriving car manufacturing industry, proving again Britain’s ability to make world class cars that appeal to a global customer base. It is thanks to the support of manufacturers like Toyota that we are encouraging more young people to pursue an engineering career. This is an industry that is helping generate the jobs and wealth we need to secure the UK’s place in the global economic race.”

Expressing the new car’s significance for Toyota in Europe, Didier Leroy, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe said the “Auris Touring Sports marks a further stage in our programme for bringing more Toyota hybrid models to the market in Europe, cars that meet the needs of an even wider range of customers. It will be a unique proposition as the only model in the European family/compact estate car market to offer the choice of full hybrid, in addition to conventional petrol and diesel power.”

TMUK is the sole production centre for the Auris Touring Sports, a model that has been developed exclusively for European customers. It is a compact station wagon based on the British-built Auris hatchback, and will go on sale in some early European markets as of July, taking its place alongside Toyota’s new Auris and Verso compact MPV to compete at the heart of the family car market.

Toyota said it is the only model in its segment to offer the option of a full hybrid powertrain, demonstrating Toyota’s commitment to make the high efficiency, low emissions and smooth driving experience of its hybrid technology available to more customers.

It will add to the momentum of hybrid in Europe, where it now accounts for more than 20 per cent of Toyota’s new car sales.

Within the Auris Touring Sports range, hybrid is expected to take a higher 45 percent share alongside the gasoline and diesel versions.

According to Toyota, the steady increase in the popularity of hybrid demonstrates how customer attitudes to the technology have matured and that it is now regarded as an affordable, reliable and desirable alternative to conventional petrol and diesel, rather than a niche choice.

The production launch of this Auris, which shares a lot with the vehicle known in North America as the Corolla, happens a few days before the expected announcement of a new generation of the North American Corolla.

The post Toyota Launches Production Of New Auris Touring Sports Hybrid appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The hybrid Toyotas will be driven by regional district managers, covering around 30,000 miles a year. Most of this will be town and city driving, which was one of the key reasons for choosing a hybrid model.

The Auris’s hybrid system uses a 1.8-litre gasoline engine and a high-output electric motor. The powertrain is engineered so that the gasoline engine is used as little as possible in city driving, the electric motor enabling zero-emissions driving in slow-moving traffic.

A stop-start function also ensures no energy is wasted when the vehicle comes to a halt. Toyota said that thanks to clever packaging of the hybrid battery, the Auris Hybrid has as much space in the trunk as its gasoline and diesel sister models.

Pets at Home was recently ranked number one in the Sunday Times’ Best Companies to Work for 2013 List.

Simon McKee, Pets at Home Fleet Manager, said the company “chose the Auris Hybrid because it’s efficient, environmentally friendly and large enough to fit the various dog grooming equipment in without being imposingly big if the driver isn’t used to larger vehicles.”

The Auris Hybrid is built at Toyota’s UK manufacturing plant in Derbyshire, alongside gasoline and diesel versions of the compact hatchback and the new Auris Touring Sports wagon, due for launch this summer.

This new generation of Auris is said to give us hints on the U.S. next-generation Corolla.

The post Toyota Hybrid Chosen For Dogs appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Toyota said its commitment to the environment is a way of life, extending across operations and epitomized by the Toyota Prius Family of vehicles.

Hispanics across the country are increasingly becoming environmentally aware, and in an effort to help the Hispanic community further embrace sustainability, Toyota said it will be providing them with the tools necessary to continue on the path of going green.

A new program launched by Toyota will help increase environmental awareness in the Hispanic community across the United States.

With the support of notable Hispanic influencers, including Jon Secada (pictured), Chloe Bridges, Julian Gil, Candela Ferro, Ana Flores, Omar Germenos, Daniel Elbittar, Yarel Ramos, Gina Rodriguez and Diana Franco, and an extensive social media activation, Toyota will promote the importance of living a greener lifestyle.

Through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, the Hispanic community will be able to follow the lives of the influencers and their adventures with their Toyota Prius, while simultaneously learning tips on how to live a greener lifestyle.

“Partnering with Toyota was a natural fit because the company’s commitment to environment echoes my own personal beliefs,” said Jon Secada. “I’m excited to join the brand in encouraging the Hispanic community to continue to embrace a greener lifestyle.”

The program will feature the Toyota Prius Family of vehicles and their hybrid technology. Toyota believes the Toyota Prius has done more to help the environment than any other car in the world.

Toyota said that over the past twelve years, U.S. Prius owners could have saved enough fuel to drive around the Earth an estimated 2,903,557 times, due in part to its estimated 50 MPG rating.

“Together with these influencers we aim to further our shared mission to increase awareness of sustainability in the Hispanic community,” said David Chung, national manager, targeted advertising and strategy for Toyota.

The initiative began on May 28 in Miami and Los Angeles.

Said influencers can be followed through social media:

Jon Secada               @jonsecada              facebook.com/jonsecada

Chloe Bridges          @chloebridges                                  facebook.com/ChloeBridges

Julian Gil                  @juliangil                 facebook.com/JULIANGILTV

Candela Ferro           @candelaferro

Ana Flores                @laflowers

Omar Germenos                 @ogermenos            facebook.com/paginaomargermenos

Daniel Elbittar          @danielelbittar                                  facebook.com/DanielElbittar

Yarel Ramos             @yarel_ramos          facebook.com/pages/Yarel-Ramos/60402985543

Gina Rodriguez                 @HereIsGina           facebook.com/HereIsGina

Diana Franco             @dianafrancotv

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The list is compiled annually by KBB.com editors to highlight vehicles that address unique family specifications and situations, and offer innovation.

“Our annual list is aimed at helping families find the right ride and always include something for everyone, with a special nod to what is new,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com editors offered these thoughts on the two Toyota models:

On the 2013 Toyota Prius v: “Let’s say you love Toyota vehicles and want the exceptional fuel economy of a hybrid, but the standard Prius just isn’t big enough. Then consider the 2013 Prius v, which comes jam-packed with all the Prius-ness you crave while also offering roughly 50 percent more cargo space. Yes, plus-sizing the Prius cuts combined fuel economy from 50 mpg to 42 mpg, but among family-friendly vehicles the Prius v remains a mileage champ.”

On the 2013 Toyota Avalon: “Renowned for its spacious interior quarters, abundance of luxury features and sofa-soft ride, the fully redesigned Toyota Avalon can now add “high style” to its list of highlights. In addition, laudable fuel economy coupled with an exemplary reputation for reliability and quality, make the 2013 Avalon a smart buy for today’s value-conscious family.”

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Named after the chemical symbol for hydrogen, the H2USA partnership brings together government agencies, gas suppliers, the hydrogen and fuel cell industries and automakers including Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Toyota.

While American automakers and private industry have made significant progress, H2USA will bring experts together to solve key infrastructure challenges, including leveraging low-cost natural gas resources.

Through the program, industry and government partners will identify actions to encourage early adopters of fuel cell electric vehicles, conduct coordinated technical and market analysis, and evaluate alternative fueling infrastructure that can enable cost reductions and economies of scale.

“Fuel cell technologies are an important part of an all-of-the-above approach to diversify America’s transportation sector, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase our competitiveness in the global market,” said assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, David Danielson in the Energy Department’s press release. “By bringing together key stakeholders from across the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen industry, the H2USA partnership will help advance affordable fuel cell electric vehicles that save consumers money and give drivers more options.”

Hyundai is currently making a fuel-cell-powered version of the Tucson with the goal of selling 1,000 units by 2015, when it will launch the next-generation Tucson and target annual output of about 10,000 units.

“Hyundai’s Tucson Fuel Cell program is an integral part of our plan to develop low-carbon, fuel-efficient vehicles that minimize fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” said Gil Castillo, senior group manager, alternative vehicle strategy, Hyundai Motor America. “Our partnership with the Energy Department and H2USA is another way Hyundai is striving to meet the critical social needs for both mobility and environmental preservation.”

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Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) today held an official ceremony to mark the start of production on May 6 of its Toyota Yaris compact car for export to the United States of America, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The model produced is the conventional gas Yaris and annual export volume will be around 25,000 units on a full-year basis.

No word yet on whether or not the Yaris Hybrid will also cross the ocean.

From the small Northern French town of Onnaing, near Valenciennes, TMMF will now export its vehicles to more than 40 countries, including destinations like South Africa, Egypt, Canada and the United States of America.

“Building on more than 10 years of experience in high quality car production, this Yaris is another endorsement of TMMF’s excellence in manufacturing,” said Makoto Sano, President of TMMF. “We are proud to be recognized as a true player in the Toyota organization and welcome this new business opportunity to further strengthen TMMF’s position as an important exporter in France.”

“With Quebec accounting for 65 percent of Yaris’ Canadian sales, a warm welcome will be assured for this ‘Made-in-France’ vehicle,” said Seiji Ichii, President and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc.

The Toyota Yaris became the first vehicle ever produced in France to be certified with the new “French Origin Guaranteed” (“Origine France Garantie”) label.

This certificate was created in order to help customers identify products that have more than 50% of their value manufactured in France.

The current, third generation Toyota Yaris was launched in Europe in the summer of 2011, followed by the Toyota Yaris Hybrid in June 2012. In an overall declining B-segment, the Yaris model range grew 27 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, mainly supported by strong sales of the Yaris Hybrid.

With sales of 182,841 vehicles, the Yaris model accounted for nearly 22 percent of Toyota’s total European sales in 2012.

In the U.S., Toyota sold 30,590 Yaris (hatch and sedan) in 2012. Total sales of the Yaris hatchback in Canada for 2012 was 8,440 units.

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