Auto News 5

Toyota's global vehicle output last year dipped 22.4% to 6,371,291 units. All other Japanese automakers posted falls ranging from 9% (Suzuki; 2,387,533) to Mitsubishi's 39.5% plunge to 794,681 units. Full story...

Toyota Motor Sales USA (TMS) last night said it would recall about 2.3m Toyota branded vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals, a move separate from the current recall of around 4.2m Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats. The announcement came just hours before ABC News aired a prime time news report about unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles followed later in the evening by a separate investigatory programme. Full story...

Toyota has begun production of the 2011 Sienna minivan at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton. Fully redesigned for North American buyers, the model was styled at the automaker's Calty Design Research Center in California and developed at its technical centre in Michigan. Full story...

Toyota Motor has said it will stop building the Lexus SC luxury coupe-cabriolet [also known in Japan as the Toyota Soarer] at the end of July due to sluggish sales, according to Japanese media reports. Full story...

A Japanese trading house affiliated to Toyota Motor on Wednesday sealed a lithium supply deal in Argentina that could help maintain the automaker's lead in petrol-electric hybrid cars. Full story...

Toyota Motor Thailand expects to sell 11.5% more cars in 2010 than last year. Full story...

Vehicle sales in Thailand fell 10.8% year on year to 548,871 units in 2009 after a drop of 2.5% in 2008, according to industry-wide figures compiled by the local Toyota Motor distributor. Full story...

Stunning FT-86 Coupe get racy makeover and takes starring role in Gran Turismo 5 computer game.

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TORONTO, - Zipcar, Inc., the world's largest car-sharing service, and the City of Toronto will now provide city residents easier access to cost-effective, environmentally friendly transportation options by parking Zipcars on select city streets. A Toyota Matrix Zipcar named "Macall", the first of 11 total dedicated Zipcars to be parked across the city, is now available at the intersection of Harrison Garden Boulevard and Humberstone Drive. Full story...

Toyota Motor Europe's sales in 2009 fell 20% year on year to 855,294 for the Toyota brand; Lexus sales were down 40% to 27,057, the company said in a statement. TME noted that sales were affected not just by shrinking markets in Europe but also by a number of model changes. Full story...

Toyota Motor plans to double its worldwide output of petrol-electric hybrid cars to 1m units in 2011, according to Japanese media reports on Monday. Full story...

Toyota Motor plans to double its worldwide output of petrol-electric hybrid cars to 1m units in 2011, according to Japanese media reports on Monday. Full story...

Well, small thing... Do you love drifting or motorsports? I know I do. So what does a performance fan and lover of all things small, fast and RWD do? They get excited about the thought that finally, Toyota will bring a spiritual successor to the Celica, Supra, Corolla AE86 (Trueno), MR2 and going as far back as the 2000GT. Full story...

Don't be fooled by those fancy sport utes, high-performance coupes and hulking, muscle-bound trucks you see on the road today. Nice and newsworthy as they are, the compact car segment is the hottest in Canada. Full story...

Countless family-oriented used vehicle shoppers are sold on Toyota's promise of reliability and resale value. If you're one of them, you might be considering the last-generation Highlander SUV as your next family ride. Full story...

Wraps come off five-door hybrid stunner due in 2011

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A Toyota engineer wants the plug-in hybrid the automaker is developing for launch in mid-2011 to be offered at an 'affordable' price so it becomes popular. Full story...

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces it plans to begin a gradual rollout in Japan in mid-2010 of its newly developed "G Sports"1 (G's) sports conversion car2 series. The series, to be sold through Toyota-brand dealers, is meant to offer to a wider range of people the "automotive seasoning" that TMC has pursued through its GAZOO Racing3 activities. Full story...

Braun Racing, self-described as the largest independent Nationwide Series-only team will be advancing up to the Sprint Cup series for five races, beginning with the Daytona 500 with Reed Sorenson as driver of a Toyota Camry. Full story...

Braun Racing, self-described as the largest independent Nationwide Series-only team will be advancing up to the Sprint Cup series for five races, beginning with the Daytona 500 with Reed Sorenson as driver of a Toyota Camry. Full story...