Autoblog

First Look: 2011 Toyota Highlander to launch at Moscow Motor Show next month

Zach Bowman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Toyota, Misc. Auto Shows, Russia, Design/Style

2011 Toyota Highlander - Click above to enlarge

Toyota Europe has confirmed to Autoblog that the automaker's popular Highlander crossover will go on sale in Russia and the Ukraine for the first time ever. Why should Statesiders care? Because the new-look model above will be unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show on August 25, and it's almost certain to be the refreshed CUV that we will receive in North America.

From the looks of things, the 2011 Highlander will retain its strong body lines, but ditch the conservative front fascia of the 2010 model in favor of a leaner, more aggressive nose with angry looking headlamps. With appropriate helpings of chrome in all the right places, the new Highlander is downright handsome. As this is the only shot that we have, we don't know what's going on at the rear, but we would expect redesigned taillamps and perhaps some revamped trim. From what we can see, the Highlander's profile appears unchanged, save perhaps for a new wheel pattern and a very discreet set of turn signal repeaters in the mirrors.

While we have no confirmation that we will receive this same model, European officials believe that it will make it to North America with "more or less the same look." The Highlander is only built in three places at the moment - China, Japan and in Indiana, so it doesn't seem likely that Toyota would bother to develop new sheetmetal for select European markets without disbursing it elsewhere.

Unfortunately, we don't know too much about what's going on under that hood or in the cabin. So far, the only thing that Toyota Europe has confirmed with us is that the hybrid version of the Highlander won't be available in those markets. We'll just have to wait for details from the Moscow Motor Show for more information. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

First Look: 2011 Toyota Highlander to launch at Moscow Motor Show next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Toyota Europe recalling 8 models, 1.8 million cars

John Neff — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Recalls, Toyota

As expected, Toyota Europe announced details today surrounding the recall of cars for defective accelerator pedal mechanisms that began in the U.S. Like the U.S. recall that involves 2.3 million vehicles across eight model lines, the European recall also involves eight models: the Auris, Avensis, Aygo, Corolla, iQ, RAV4 Verso and Yaris. All told, about 1.8 million vehicles are involved.

Unlike in the U.S., Toyota Europe will not be suspending production of any models because replacement parts are already being used at its various assembly plants. What's interesting to note is that some of those plants are located in Japan, specifically ones that build the Corolla and RAV4. Until now, the reason given for all Lexus and Scion models being excluded from the recall was that they were built exclusively in Toyota's native country and used an accelerator pedal mechanism sourced from a different supplier, not CTS Corp. that manufactured the defective part for North American plants.

Whether or not this means the recall could be expanded even further, perhaps to include vehicles from other Toyota brands, remains to be seen, but the fact that the defective part in question has now popped up on the other side of the Atlantic suggests that the problem lies in its design and not how it was manufactured by the supplier.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Officially Official: Toyota Europe recalling 8 models, 1.8 million cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Toyota expands sticking pedal recall to Europe

Noah Joseph — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Recalls, Safety, Toyota, UK

Just as we reported yesterday, Toyota has confirmed the recall announced last week for sticking accelerator pedals will be expanded beyond the U.S. and soon include Europe.

Up until now, the recall had affected only eight models built in North America at plants that were supplied defective accelerator pedal mechanisms by Indiana-based CTS Corp. Certain other models, specifically all Lexus and Scion models, were excluded from the recall because they are built in Japan and use a similar part but from a different supplier. It's unclear exactly where Toyota's European assembly plants got the defective mechanisms, from CTS Corp. or another supplier manufacturing the same defective part.

As of yet, Toyota isn't certain how many vehicles in Europe will be affected by the sticky accelerator recall, saying "the models and exact number of potentially affected vehicles is under investigation." However, unlike here in the U.S. where production for all eight recalled models is being halted for a week on February 1, production in Europe will continue as a replacement part has already been implemented in the production process.

Until the official recall is issued, Toyota is encouraging concerned European customers to contact customer service for assistance. Follow the jump for the announcement from the company's UK headquarters.

[Source: Toyota | Image: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading Confirmed: Toyota expands sticking pedal recall to Europe

Confirmed: Toyota expands sticking pedal recall to Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First images, details of Toyota Verso peek out

Dan Roth — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Toyota, UK

All you need to know about the Toyota Verso: It's like our Matrix, but cooler. The Verso is a seven passenger Corolla-based MPV that's being refreshed for the 2009 model year, and details are starting to trickle out onto the web. The new version goes on sale in April and is intended for European buyers. 1.6- and 1.8-liter gasoline engines get power boosts, emissions reductions and a reduced appetite. Aimed as it is at European buyers, there's also diesels; a 2.0- and 2.4-liter rattlers are available. Transmissions depend on engine choice, with a six-speed manual and CVT offered.

The Verso is longer and wider than its predecessor, and Toyota says it's been tuned to drive well on European roads, which means it'll drive far sharper than anything Toyota offers its North American customers. Inside, the seats are configurable in a billion (32, really) combinations; each folds individually. Safety has been attended to with more high tensile steel in the body shell, so the Verso stands a good chance of earning five-star ratings like its Avensis and iQ siblings. We'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Verso when Toyota rolls it out at the Geneva Motor Show, but for now, there's but a single photo floating around.

[Source: 4Car]

First images, details of Toyota Verso peek out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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