Auto News 5

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Toyota's plug-in Prius hybrid will make its global debut as a 'concept' at the Frankfurt show later this month. Full story...

Full-hybrid Auris concept will be joined by plug-in Prius and a pair of IQ show cars in Frankfurt

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The Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept will take centre stage for Toyota at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor show. Full story...

Even though Toyota boss John Howett has indicated the driver will be retained for 2010, Timo Glock is looking around on the market. Full story...

Wave Energy Drink, LLC announced Tuesday that it will sponsor Tommy Baldwin Racing's No. 36 Toyota and Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier in six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. Full story...

The biggest thing about the Highlander is how it modifies the mood I'm in before I drive it. Getting in first thing in the morning (all press vehicles stay outside) can be a bit nippy in the spring before the snow melts. After the ignition, the first thing I do is to make sure the seat heaters are on and then I get out to scrape the windows. The seat heaters only work when you are sitting in them so this is more to make me feel good than anything else. Full story...

Trent Owens is the Crew Chief of the No 32 Dollar General Braun Racing Nationwide Toyota Camry driven this weekend by former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. Full story...

In some 70 years of car making, Toyota has never shut a major manufacturing plant - until now. But the automaker last night confirmed what had been expected for a couple of months - it would pull the plug on New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc (NUMMI), its joint venture with General Motors in Fremont, California, site of its first foray into vehicle manufacturing in the US. Full story...

After numerous postponements, Toyota's Brazilian subsidiary has started construction of its second plant here. Full story...

Toyota is recalling some 95,700 cars and crossovers sold in the US after discovering that icing in cold temperatures could impair the braking system. It is the automaker's second major recall this week following news on Monday it is recalling nearly 690,000 vehicles built and sold in China by its joint ventures there. Full story...

Pickup trucks are the most popular type of vehicle in North America. It's a lucrative segment for the domestic automakers, and outsiders that try to steal some sales away from them aren't finding it very easy. Toyota and Nissan have even built assembly plants in the USA to produce their Tundra and Titan full-size pickups, both of which are selling below expectations. Full story...

Pickup trucks are the most popular type of vehicle in North America. It's a lucrative segment for the domestic automakers, and outsiders that try to steal some sales away from them aren't finding it very easy. Toyota and Nissan have even built assembly plants in the USA to produce their Tundra and Titan full-size pickups, both of which are selling below expectations. Full story...

Toyota plans to operate five car plants on weekends from September in addition to three that are already operating on weekends as demand for cars is showing signs of bottoming out, officials at the automaker said. Full story...

Toyota plans to slash its global production capacity by up to 10% to cope with weak sales, Japanese reports said on Wednesday. A Toyota manufacturing spokesman here in the UK confirmed discussions were taking place internally but said nothing had yet been finalised and no formal announcements made. Full story...

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular compact SUVs on the market right now. In fact, only the Ford Escape is a better seller in this segment. More importantly, since 2005, the little Toyota has been enjoying a steady rise in sales while its arch nemesis, the Honda CR-V (third on sales charts) has been experiencing a slight decline over the past year. Full story...

Toyota Motor (TMC) plans to use the proposed Indo-Thai free trade agreement (FTA) to make India a hub for small cars to be exported to its global markets, a local paper said on Tuesday. Full story...

Toyota is considering introducing its Daihatsu small car brand to India as part of an expansion drive that will include an all-new Toyota-branded mini car by late 2010. Full story...

Toyota will raise production in Japan for the first time in 16 months in November because of recovering car sales around the world driven by government incentives, according to the Asahi newspaper. Full story...

Toyota is to recall 688,314 Camry and other sedans made at its two China joint ventures from Tuesday, its largest recall in the country, to fix faulty electric window switches. Full story...