Quick Take on the Cadillac SRX and Toyota Tacoma

Consumer Reports usually does a “quick take” before doing a full review on a vehicle, and the latest two cars to go through their battery of tests are the Cadillac SRX and the Toyota Tacoma pickup, both of which are deemed competent in their respective classes, but far from perfect.

The Cadillac SRX, last updated for the 2013 model year, is praised for its emphasis on style, solid driving dynamics, upscale interior and excellent V6 engine. However, a cramped back seat, small trunk and very poor visibility for the driver due to unusually thick pillars let the side down.

The other vehicle CR tested is the 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup, equipped with the 4.0-liter V6 engine. It is deemed highly competent at carrying gear and pulling heavy trailers, but it too has several noticeable defects. According to the testers, the quality of the materials used inside was one area where the Tacoma leaves a lot to be desired, as was the lack of height adjustment for the seats which coupled to the very high floor does not make for a very comfylong ride. Refinement on the open road was also rated as quite poor.




By Andrei Nedelea

source via Carscoops.com

Categories: cadillac, CADILLAC SRX, Cadillac Videos, CONSUMER REPORTS, toyota, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Videos, video

It Came from eBay Hell: Once a 1974 Toyota Celica GT, Now a Faux Ferrari

The first generation if the Toyota Celica is somewhat of a cult hero here in Australia. Affordable, sporty-looking and well equipped at the time of its launch in the early 1970s, it proved a popular alternative to the heavier, thirstier American and Australian built offerings of the time.

Let’s put that aside for one moment and focus on our eBay entrant for today. It’s a 1974 Celica GT model that’s been the victim of one of the shoddier-looking Ferrari conversions featured on this site. It’s supposed to look like a 308 GTB, though at best it looks like a 400 that’s been severely shortened.

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Categories: Australia, ebay, Ferrari, Replica, toyota, Toyota Celica, tuning

Toyota Presents its First Minicar in Japan, the New Daihatsu-Based Pixi Space

Toyota has decided to enter Japan's popular minicar, or as it's locally known, "kei" car segment with the new Pixi Space, which is supplied by the firm's Daihatsu subsidiary under a minivehicle OEM agreement reached in September 2010.

The Pixis Space is offered in two distinct flavors the base model in "L" and "X" trims, and a sportier looking variant available as the "Custom X", "Custom G" and "Custom RS".

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Categories: Daihatsu, Japan, New Cars, toyota

Toyota Presents its First Minicar in Japan, the New Daihatsu-Based Pixi Space

Toyota has decided to enter Japan's popular minicar, or as it's locally known, "kei" car segment with the new Pixi Space, which is supplied by the firm's Daihatsu subsidiary under a minivehicle OEM agreement reached in September 2010.

The Pixis Space is offered in two distinct flavors the base model in "L" and "X" trims, and a sportier looking variant available as the "Custom X", "Custom G" and "Custom RS".

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Categories: Daihatsu, Japan, New Cars, toyota

Ad Watch: Unboxing of a 2012 Toyota Yaris

If you're a gadget freak, then you're probably no stranger to "unboxing" videos made to showcase a variety of products and which are posted throughout the internet.

Toyota takes the same idea to a different level by applying the concept to a new commercial for its recently launched 2012 Yaris supermini, starring Gizmodo's Adam Frucci.

Those interested may watch the spot in the video after the jump.

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Categories: commercials, gadgets, New Cars, Offbeat News, toyota, Toyota Videos, Toyota Yaris, video

Ad Watch: Unboxing of a 2012 Toyota Yaris

If you're a gadget freak, then you're probably no stranger to "unboxing" videos made to showcase a variety of products and which are posted throughout the internet.

Toyota takes the same idea to a different level by applying the concept to a new commercial for its recently launched 2012 Yaris supermini, starring Gizmodo's Adam Frucci.

Those interested may watch the spot in the video after the jump.

Read more »

Categories: commercials, gadgets, New Cars, Offbeat News, toyota, Toyota Videos, Toyota Yaris, video

Toyota Says New Prius Plug-in Hybrid will Cost Under £31,000 in Britain

After Toyota's U.S. arm came out with pricing details on the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the firm's British division is next in line to inform buyers what they're going to pay for the car when it goes on sale in Britain in the first half of 2012.

However, instead of giving a exact price tag, Toyota UK said the plug-in version of the Prius will "cost less than £31,000" before any government incentives, which can reduce the price to customer by up to £5,000, or under £26,000.

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Categories: Electric Vehicles, Hybrids, New Cars, Reports, toyota, Toyota Prius, UK

Toyota Says New Prius Plug-in Hybrid will Cost Under £31,000 in Britain

After Toyota's U.S. arm came out with pricing details on the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the firm's British division is next in line to inform buyers what they're going to pay for the car when it goes on sale in Britain in the first half of 2012.

However, instead of giving a exact price tag, Toyota UK said the plug-in version of the Prius will "cost less than £31,000" before any government incentives, which can reduce the price to customer by up to £5,000, or under £26,000.

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Categories: Electric Vehicles, Hybrids, New Cars, Reports, toyota, Toyota Prius, UK

Daihatsu Presents New Fuel-Efficient Mira e:S in Japan

Toyota's daughter brand of small vehicles, Daihatsu, has launched a new version of its Mira kei car called e:S incorporating a raft of new or revised technologies, all of which aim to improve fuel efficiency.

Daihatsu says that it has overhauled all existing aspects of the engine, the transmission, and the body structure, to make the most of energy efficiency and as a result, says that the Mira e:S is almost 40 percent more fuel efficient that current mini cars with engine displacements of up to 660 cc [0.6-liter].

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Categories: Daihatsu, Japan, New Cars, toyota

Daihatsu Presents New Fuel-Efficient Mira e:S in Japan

Toyota's daughter brand of small vehicles, Daihatsu, has launched a new version of its Mira kei car called e:S incorporating a raft of new or revised technologies, all of which aim to improve fuel efficiency.

Daihatsu says that it has overhauled all existing aspects of the engine, the transmission, and the body structure, to make the most of energy efficiency and as a result, says that the Mira e:S is almost 40 percent more fuel efficient that current mini cars with engine displacements of up to 660 cc [0.6-liter].

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Categories: Daihatsu, Japan, New Cars, toyota

Toyota Prices New 2012 Prius Plug-in from $32,760 and Prius V Minivan from $27,160

Toyota has released the full rundown on the pricing of the upcoming 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid and the five-passenger Prius V minivan.

The first-ever Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which combines the firm’s Hybrid Synergy Drive with a small lithium-ion battery to extend the electric-only driving range, starts at $32,000 not including a $760 processing and handling (DPH) fee that raises the price to $32,760, while the better equipped Advance trim model will have an MSRP of $39,525 or $40,285 with DPH.

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Categories: Hybrids, New Cars, Reports, toyota, Toyota Prius

Toyota Prices New 2012 Prius Plug-in from $32,760 and Prius V Minivan from $27,160

Toyota has released the full rundown on the pricing of the upcoming 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid and the five-passenger Prius V minivan.

The first-ever Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which combines the firm’s Hybrid Synergy Drive with a small lithium-ion battery to extend the electric-only driving range, starts at $32,000 not including a $760 processing and handling (DPH) fee that raises the price to $32,760, while the better equipped Advance trim model will have an MSRP of $39,525 or $40,285 with DPH.

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Categories: Hybrids, New Cars, Reports, toyota, Toyota Prius

2012 Toyota Avensis Facelift Uncovered at the Frankfurt Motor Show [Updated Gallery]

Following a sneak preview of the updated Avensis, today Toyota went ahead and officially revealed its Opel Insignia-rival at the Frankfurt Motor Show . The facelift brings cosmetic changes both on the outside and the cabin.

While overall dimensions remain the same as the previous model, the mid-size sedan and the estate (Tourer) version benefit from a fresh face with a redesigned grille that has a chrome upper “lip” and new, narrower headlights that incorporate daytime running lights. At the rear, both body styles gain redesigned tail lamps.

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Categories: Diesel, Frankfurt Motor Show, Galleries, New Cars, toyota, Toyota Avensis

2012 Toyota Avensis Facelift Uncovered at the Frankfurt Motor Show [Updated Gallery]

Following a sneak preview of the updated Avensis, today Toyota went ahead and officially revealed its Opel Insignia-rival at the Frankfurt Motor Show . The facelift brings cosmetic changes both on the outside and the cabin.

While overall dimensions remain the same as the previous model, the mid-size sedan and the estate (Tourer) version benefit from a fresh face with a redesigned grille that has a chrome upper “lip” and new, narrower headlights that incorporate daytime running lights. At the rear, both body styles gain redesigned tail lamps.

Read more »

Categories: Diesel, Frankfurt Motor Show, Galleries, New Cars, toyota, Toyota Avensis

Facelifted 2012 Toyota Prius Quietly Makes World Premiere in Frankfurt

We're wrapping up the first press day of the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt, but not before we bring you one final unveiling that flew under the radar for most of the event.

We're talking about the 2012 Toyota Prius facelift that made its world premiere in Germany today. The changes on Toyota's updated hybrid include minor tweaks to its exterior and interior design, and the introduction of a fresh assortment of multimedia systems.

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Categories: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrids, New Cars, toyota, Toyota Prius

SCOOP: Is this the Toyota FT-86 or the Subaru BRZ?

Our spies dropped these photos shot in Germany into our email box as the Subaru BRZ prototype. After checking out the cool assortment of BMW M3s in the background (the E30 still looks the part, doesn't it…), we went over our previous spy shots of the BRZ's Toyota sibling, the FT-86, and well, it looks the same.

However, we still don't know if the BRZ will share the same body styling as the FT-86 as Subaru has yet to reveal an actual concept of the sports coupe –the Geneva Salon prototype was a see-through concept designed to exhibit the car's mechanical hardware.

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Categories: Scion FR-S, Scoops, Subaru BRZ, toyota, Toyota FT-86, Toyota Scoops

Toyota Introduces Yet Another Variant of the 2012 Camry, this Time in Japan

Toyota continues the roll out of country-specific versions of its new generation Camry with the launch of the Japanese domestic market (JDM) derivative of the mid-size sedan, which follows the recent introductions of the North American and Ukrainian models.

In Japan, the 2012 Camry is offered at launch exclusively as a hybrid model with power coming from a newly developed 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle, four-cylinder engine delivering 160HP and an electric motor with 143HP, for a combined maximum output of 205 horsepower.

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Categories: Japan, New Cars, toyota, Toyota Camry

Toyota Officially Previews 2012 Avensis Facelift Prior to the Frankfurt Show

In early August, a reader of Dutch car magazine Autoweek snagged some revealing photos of the facelifted 2012 Avensis sedan and its estate sibling parked at an undisclosed location with no camouflage whatsoever.

Now, only a week before the grand opening of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Toyota has released the first official picture of its updated mid-size model.

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Categories: Frankfurt Motor Show, New Cars, toyota, Toyota Avensis

2012 Toyota Tacoma Facelift Uncovered [Photos + Video]

After an early, unwanted reveal through a leaked video, Toyota has officially released the updated Tacoma pickup truck, which enters the 2012 model year with a fresh face, a subtly refined interior and equipment improvements.

Toyota's designers started on the outside by adding a new front grille on all grades that led to restyling of the headlamps, while the hood and the front bumper are also new.

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Categories: New Cars, toyota, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Videos, video

2012 Toyota Camry Appears in Different Form in Ukraine [High-Res Gallery]

After this week's world premiere of the North American market 2012 Camry, Toyota is now preparing the debuts of its mid-size sedan in other regions of the world. First up is the Ukrainian version, which will most likely be offered in the same form in other surrounding markets including Russia.

While both iterations of the 2012 Toyota Camry share the same body and platform, the Ukrainian model sports a different and more prominent front-end design with bespoke headlamp units, bumper, hood, grille and front fenders.

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Categories: New Cars, Russia, toyota, Toyota Camry