Autoblog

Being Toyota doesn't grant you any additional immunity from simple global economics. Word from Tokuichi Uranishi, executive vice president of Toyota, is that one of the world's largest automakers is going to miss its sales target of 9.85 million vehicles for 2008.

Toyota execs cite slowing sales in the United States, Europe, and Japan as a primary factor. In addition, rising raw material costs are hurting the global automaker, which assembled 9.37 million vehicles in 2007. To top it off, a yen that hit a 13-year high against the dollar at the beginning of this week is cutting profits on exports from Japan.

It may be up to China, Russia, and Korea to pick up some of the slack. Those emerging Asian markets are active, and Toyota is looking at them for future growth. In a move towards achieving that goal, the Prius, Camry, and RAV4 sports-utility will be introduced in South Korea shortly. Sales are expected to be just 500 units per month initially, and then increase to upwards of 1,000 a month.

[Source: Automotive News, subs req'd]

Toyota Motor Corp. is apparently looking into adding a new model to the assembly line at its Georgetown, Kentucky facility. That's the plant we've recently covered regarding union issues. Georgetown is currently building nothing but Camrys right now, so adding a new crossover to the mix "would help ease the plant's dependence on Camry sedans." Sure, like five million Camrys indicates they need a change. They have already added Camry Hybrid production, but it's never a bad idea to diversify to allow for market fluctuations.

The plant update would likely cost around $400 million, but wouldn't add overall production capacity or swell the work force. If and when another model is added, it is likely to be a new crossover, which would require Toyota to shift some Camry production to other facilities. They would also have to be able to build this new crossover in other Toyota plants to meet global demand. With a potential $400 million on the line, it's not surprising to hear that the Kentucky legislature is working on an incentive package for the expansion.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Oh that Camry, such a charmer. It's so not sitting home on Valentine's Day without a date. This time it's the Canadians giving up some automotive love, handing the Camry another trophy for its burgeoning display case - the Canadian Car of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Going home with Good Sport stickers (or plaques or certificates or whatever they get) are the Honda Fit, Volkswagen Rabbit, Lexus ES350, Audi S8, MazdaSpeed3, Volkswagen Eos and the BMW 3-Series Coupe. What a fight that must have been. The AJAC's press release is after the jump, and all their test data and performance numbers are on their site for comparison.

The award was given out today as part of the Canadian International Auto Show, where Toyota took home three more awards, one of which wasn't Camry related. The Lexus ES350 was named the best new luxury car under $50k, while the Camry LE got Best New Family Car $22k-$30k, and the Camry Hybrid also got Best New Family Car over $30k. In the photo above, that's one proud Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota Canada, with his company's CCOTYs.

In case you need some ammo with which to attack/support the AJAC's decision, last year's top CCOTY was the Civic Sedan, in 2005 the Mustang, in 2004 the Mazda3 and in 2003 the 350Z. The Altima won in 2002 and the PT Cruiser took top honors in 2001.

Thanks for the tip, Peter!

In case you somehow hadn't noticed(?!), it's not only deer and turkey season, it's also automotive award season. And here's yet another trophy for those keeping track of all of them. CNET.com wants you to help decide their 2006 Tech Car of the Year Award winner. They've done the hard work and weeded out the really big turkeys to give you a list of some real dears.

In early voting, the Lexus LS460 L, with its 19-speaker sound system, live traffic GPS and self-parking system is leading the other nine contenders. So what's it gonna be for you? Acura's RDX with voice commands? Audi's adaptive-suspension-equipped Q7? BMW's 335i with its adaptive cruise control and iDrive? Or are you more a Cadillac guy, voting for the Escalade with OnStar?

See the other five contestants after the jump.

[Source: CNET]

The onslaught of COTY awards continues, and the Toyota Camry Hybrid can add another trophy to the case after being named 2007 Green Car of the Year yesterday on the last day of the 2006 LA Auto Show. The Camry Hybrid and its purely petrol sister car also won Motor Trend's golden calipers earlier this month.

Sponsored by Green Car Journal, the GCOTY award is voted on by four of the magazine's editors and a host of outside judges including none other than the guru of gasoline, Carroll Shelby. Other cars in contention included the Honda Civic GX, Lexus LS450H, Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec and Saturn Vue Green Line. AutoblogGreen was on hand during the press conference and learned from one of the judges that the Camry Hybrid's mainstream appeal was a big factor in the decision. This was the second time Green Car Journal has given the award, with last year's inaugural CGOTY award going to Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

The award was accepted by Ed La Rocque, Toyota's national car marketing manager, who immediately dedicated the award to Dave Hermance, Toyota's lead engineer on hybrid projects who died in a private plane crash less than a week ago.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

In 2007, Toyota will be bringing to market a Limited Edition model of its popular FJ Cruiser, complete will all the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) goodies.

First off, the limited edition version will be sprayed down head-to-toe, in black paint, nixing its trademarked white roof. The wheels will be coated in an anthracite finish and wrapped with uprated BF Goodrich All-Terrain rubber. To complete the exclusive look, expect the prerequisite "TRD Limited Edition" badges adorning as many surfaces as possible.

Appearance is one thing, capability is another and TRD recognizes that the base model could benefit from a few staple mods to make it a more competent off-roader. The stock suspension will be tossed and fitted with TRD/Bilstein shocks, developed for dirt duty and covered in a red finish. The new shocks are claimed to reduce squat and dive, as well as increase straight-line stability. Another mod includes mating the locking diff with the Active Control computer, which will aid the FJ when rock crawling is the activity du jour. The package will also include a TRD performance exhaust and "rock rails."

The interior will benefit with an array of airbags, including both seat-mounted and side curtain, along with a "multi-informational display" that comes equipped with a temp. gauge, compass and inclinometer.

A total of 3,200 vehicles will be made, with a $7,265 increase in MSRP on manual models and a $7,250 increase on automatic models. The $15 premium on the manual-equipped FJ is purportedly due to the "quick shifter" option.

If you want to see the new FJ in person, it'll be prominently displayed during this year's SEMA show in November.

In the following press release, Toyota also snuck in a $300 increase on its Camry Hybrid, effective October 30th.

Toyota's Kentucky plant is about to crank out Camry number five million. Toyota's manufacturing plant in Kentucky has been operating since 1988, and will be starting a new milestone this year when it begins to produce the Camry Hybrid. That's because after 18 years of producing the Camry, the plant will be the first in North America to produce a Toyota hybrid of any kind.

The employees of the Georgetown, Kentucky plant must all carry rabbits' feet in their pockets to have this kind of luck. Not only does their plant produce beaucoup Camrys and now the 2007 Camry Hybrid, but they also manufacture Avalons, Solaras, and engines. All of this activity at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky represents a $5.4 billion investment with an annual payroll of over $500 million. The Camry and its cousins are critical to Toyota's presence in North America, so it's no wonder this milestone is such a big deal to them.

[Source: Toyota]