The new system uses cameras and a supersensitive radar called millimeter wave. Together, they help detect impending frontal crashes, such as one caused by a pedestrian crossing the street, and help the car take steps to avoid collision.

According to Toyota’s chief safety technology officer, Moritaka Yoshida, the vehicle instantly calculates how much braking and steering are needed to avoid a crash.

Toyota didn’t say when the technology would hit the market but hinted that it would be soon, the Detroit News reported.

Last month, Volkswagen demonstrated a car that could drive itself using radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors.

During the safety demonstration, Toyota also presented a pop-up hood that rises slightly during a pedestrian crash. The action would soften the blow to a person being hit by the front of the car. Both Jaguar and French automaker Citroën currently use the technique.

source from: autoweek

2010 Lexus ES 350

This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota’s part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota’s information is “inaccurate and misleading” and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected.

The Toyota statement included reference to a letter being sent out to customers which Toyota stated, “confirms that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.”

The NHTSA minces no words in contradicting Toyota’s claims, calling the removal of the offending floor mats an interim measure only, and saying that “This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator by floor mats, which is related to accelerator and floor pan design.” That leaves no doubt that the NHTSA considers the design of the vehicles and the accelerator pedal both to be defective in this regard.

Between the tragedy of a California Highway Patrol officer and his family losing their lives in a borrowed dealership Lexus ES 350 and the farcical zip tie solution issued shortly thereafter, the Toyota/Lexus floor mat recall is quickly becoming one of the most unique events in recent automotive safety history.

The problem, according to Toyota, lies with installation and mat selection. The dealer loaner car that was driven to a fiery end in Southern California earlier this year was just such a case, says the company: the wrong mat was installed improperly.

So the fix? To install the proper floor mats and do it properly. The letter mailed earlier this week explains that the notice is of a future voluntary safety recall campaign which will see the mats replaced with the right model and installed according to procedure for no charge. Owners had previously been warned to pull driver’s side floor mats from affected vehicles and not replace them with any other mats.

Affected models include:

• 2007 – 2010 Camry
• 2005 – 2010 Avalon
• 2004 – 2009 Prius
• 2005 – 2010 Tacoma
• 2007 – 2010 Tundra
• 2007 – 2010 ES350
• 2006 – 2010 IS250 and IS350

If you own one of these models, look for the letter in your mailbox over the next couple of days. But be forewarned that the NHTSA isn’t buying Toyota’s story.

Source:motorauthority.com

Jarno Trulli during practice at the 2009 Japanese GP

Toyota Motor Corporation confirmed officially on Wednesday its decision to pull out of Formula One with immediate effect. Given that the team was told it had “two more years” for success in December 2007–a deadline that has come and gone without a race win, despite a generally strong showing this season–the decision perhaps ought to be unsurprising.

“Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw,” said the Japanese carmaker’s president Akio Toyoda at a news conference in Tokyo. The economic situation actually put even this season’s run in doubt, with the team boss commenting on the near-cancellation this March.

The decision to pull out of F1 could mean that up to 550 Toyota F1 employees will be out of a job, however.

A Toyota staff member told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport magazine that, following the announcement of the carmaker’s withdrawal from F1, he heard rumours that only 150 employees will remain at Cologne for the next racing project.

About 700 staff currently work on the team’s F1 engine and chassis programs in Junkersdorf, in the west of Cologne.

One option for the withdrawing owners of F1 teams is to sell the operation as a going concern, but team president John Howett said on Wednesday that he believes Toyota Motorsport GmbH will instead be scaled down in order to participate in “grassroots motor sport.”

Source:carsmart101.com

Throughout its life span the Celica has been powered by various four cylinder engines. The most significant change occurred in 1986, when the car’s drive layout was changed from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive. During the first three generations, American market Celicas were powered by various versions of Toyota’s R series engines. A four-wheel drive turbocharged model (designated All-trac in the US or GT-Four in Japan and Europe) was produced from 1986 to 2000. Variable Valve Timing came in late 1997 Japanese models, and became standard in all models from 2000 on. Through seven generations, the model has gone through many revisions and design forks, including the Toyota Celica Supra (later known as the Toyota Supra). The Celica was available as notchback and liftback coupes, as well as a convertible.