Toyota GT86 Twincharged Sports FR Concept with 315HP to Race at Goodwood Hillclimb [New Photos]

The upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 28 - July 1, 2012) is shaping up to be an extremely interesting event for gearheads and motor racing enthusiasts alike.

Today, Toyota confirmed the participation of the all-new GRMN Sports FR Concept based on the GT86 (a sister model to the Scion FR-S) at the famous Goodwood hillclimb.

The track concept was built by Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing, which boosted the standard model's 2.0-liter flat-four boxer with the addition of both a turbo- and supercharger that lift output from 200hp to 315hp (320PS) and peak torque from 205Nm (151 lb-ft) to 421Nm (310.5 lb-ft).

A modified six-speed manual gearbox drives the rear wheels while other changes include a dedicated GRMN-tuned suspension that brings the car closer to the ground, larger brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels and a unique sports body kit.

Read more »

Toyota Gets Playful with Customizable Camatte Concept for the 2012 Tokyo Toy Show

In case you didn't pay much attention to our title, that's the 2012 Tokyo Toy Show (…and not the Tokyo Motor Show), which will open its doors to the public on Thursday, June 14, and continue to Sunday, June 17.

Toyota will be represented at the event by a very playful concept model called the Camatte that was designed as a big toy for the family with customizable body features that even children can drive.

"The Camatte aims to convey the joy and dreams of motor vehicles to current and future drivers, by providing an opportunity for parents and children to experience together the fun of driving, car customization and car enthusiasm," the Japanese automaker said in a statement.

Read more »

Dear Autocar, This is Not the Next Toyota Auris…

We will start by letting you in a big "secret": we all do mistakes. Yes, Carscoop included.

Back in May, in our hurry to post a tip from one of our readers, we neglected to take a good look at French car magazine L'Automobile's patent images of the Audi RS6 Avant, which as some of you quickly pointed out, turned out to be the RS4 Avant.

Today, it's Autocar's time for a slip-up. The British magazine posted a set of patent drawings stating that these pictures preview the next Auris and not the brochure scans that surfaced online last week.

Unfortunately for Autocar, this is not true. The patent images, while real, do not depict the next Auris but the Dear Qin hatchback concept that made its debut alongside a sedan version at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing this past April.

Read more »

Toyota Updates its Nürburgring EV Record Holder to Race at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Say hello to the new TMG (Toyota Motorsport GmbH) EV P002, Toyota's pure electric racecar with which the Japanese brand will compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on July 8.

The EV P002 is the racing version of Toyota's road-legal EV P001 prototype that set a new lap record for electric vehicles at the Nürburgring Nordschleife last year with a time of 7 minutes and 47.794 seconds.

Read more »

Gazoo Builds Twin-Charged Toyota GT86 Sports FR Concept with 315-Horses

All this time, automotive enthusiasts have been complaining about the lack of power in the Toyota GT86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ triplets.

Whilst the three companies have no current plans to address these concerns, Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing has a solution in the works as previewed by new a concept version of the European market GT86 named Sports FR.

Gazoo Racing's engineers have added both a supercharger and a turbocharger to the GT86's Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter flat four boosting output from 200hp to 315hp (320PS) and peak torque from 205Nm (151 lb-ft) to 421Nm (310.5 lb-ft). A modified six-speed manual pushes power to the rear wheels.

Read more »

Gazoo Builds Twin-Charged Toyota GT86 Sports FR Concept with 315-Horses

All this time, automotive enthusiasts have been complaining about the lack of power in the Toyota GT86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ triplets.

Whilst the three companies have no current plans to address these concerns, Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing has a solution in the works as previewed by new a concept version of the European market GT86 named Sports FR.

Gazoo Racing's engineers have added both a supercharger and a turbocharger to the GT86's Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter flat four boosting output from 200hp to 315hp (320PS) and peak torque from 205Nm (151 lb-ft) to 421Nm (310.5 lb-ft). A modified six-speed manual pushes power to the rear wheels.

Read more »

Toyota Once Again Rumored to be Mulling a Replacement for the Supra

After so many reports about Toyota resurrecting the Supra, one would be inclined to doubt the persistent rumors.

On the other hand, we have the example of the on-again, off-again, on-again Acura/Honda NSX, which came into fruition with the presentation of the pre-production concept at the Detroit Auto show in January.

Taking everything we have heard and seen over the past year into consideration, most importantly Toyota's newly found commitment to developing cars with more emotional styling and handling characteristics, there is a strong possibility that these rumors about a Supra replacement originate from facts.

Officially, the last time Toyota hinted at a direct successor to the Supra was in 2007 with the FT-HS Concept, a sharp looking two-seater model powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain linking a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine to an electric motor. That project ended with the financial crisis that ensued the following year.

Read more »

Toyota Once Again Rumored to be Mulling a Replacement for the Supra

After so many reports about Toyota resurrecting the Supra, one would be inclined to doubt the persistent rumors.

On the other hand, we have the example of the on-again, off-again, on-again Acura/Honda NSX, which came into fruition with the presentation of the pre-production concept at the Detroit Auto show in January.

Taking everything we have heard and seen over the past year into consideration, most importantly Toyota's newly found commitment to developing cars with more emotional styling and handling characteristics, there is a strong possibility that these rumors about a Supra replacement originate from facts.

Officially, the last time Toyota hinted at a direct successor to the Supra was in 2007 with the FT-HS Concept, a sharp looking two-seater model powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain linking a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine to an electric motor. That project ended with the financial crisis that ensued the following year.

Read more »

Toyota Shows New Yundong Shuangqing Hybrid Sedan Concept in Beijing

In addition to the Dear Qin compact hatchback and sedan concepts that we told you about earlier today, Toyota also debuted a third study called the Yundong Shuangqing at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing.

The Japanese brand's concept is a sharply styled four-door sedan that features a newly developed hybrid system, which was primarily developed at Toyota's R&D facility in China.

Read more »

Toyota Shows New Yundong Shuangqing Hybrid Sedan Concept in Beijing

In addition to the Dear Qin compact hatchback and sedan concepts that we told you about earlier today, Toyota also debuted a third study called the Yundong Shuangqing at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing.

The Japanese brand's concept is a sharply styled four-door sedan that features a newly developed hybrid system, which was primarily developed at Toyota's R&D facility in China.

Read more »

Toyota Dear Qin Sedan and Hatchback Concepts Hint at New Global Compact Model

Making their world premiere at the 12th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition are two new concept models from Toyota called Dear Qin. The design studies are for a compact size five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan.

What you should know about the Dear Qin project cars is that they preview a new global compact model series from Toyota that will be launched onto the market sometime next year.

Read more »

Toyota Dear Qin Sedan and Hatchback Concepts Hint at New Global Compact Model

Making their world premiere at the 12th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition are two new concept models from Toyota called Dear Qin. The design studies are for a compact size five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan.

What you should know about the Dear Qin project cars is that they preview a new global compact model series from Toyota that will be launched onto the market sometime next year.

Read more »

Toyota Teases New Concept Model Ahead of the 2012 Beijing Motor Show

Two cryptic pictures and the promise that we will learn more on Monday, April 23, is all we get from Toyota about its new concept model that will receive its world premiere at the Auto China 2012, or as it is more commonly known, the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

We can't say for sure what kind of model it is, but the front three-quarter picture points to a compact or small sized vehicle, while the second image with the blue LED accent lighting on the grille suggests that it's either a hybrid or a pure electric vehicle.

Read more »

Toyota Teases New U.S. Designed Sedan with an "Athletic Look" Ahead of New York Auto Show

Here's a surprise for you. Toyota has just published a teaser rendering of a brand-new sedan model that will make its world premiere at the 2012 New York International Auto Show on April 5.

Toyota tells us that the as-of-yet-unnamed four-door saloon was designed in the United States and that it features "an elegant yet athletic look, but doesn't clarify if its a production model or a study.

The image shows us the rear end of the car, the styling of which kind of reminds us of the Toyota 86 (and of course, its Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ siblings). We're not going to jump into any premature conclusions, but we're going to admit that a four-door 86 would be a neat idea.

Read more »

New Toyota FT-Bh Concept Breaks Cover in Geneva

Motor shows and Toyota hybrid concepts go hand in hand and at the 2012 Geneva Salon, the Japanese company lifted the covers off a new prototype model named the FT-Bh, an ultra-lightweight supermini that makes use of viable methods and materials for its construction.

The concept is close in size to today’s Yaris, at 3,985mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,400mm tall, with a 2,570mm wheelbase, but it tips the scales at just 786kg (1,732 lbs).

And this despite the fact that its hybrid powertrain, which comprises a two-cylinder, 1.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an electric motor, is heavier than the three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit (weighing about 60kg / 132 lbs) used in the Yaris.

Read more »

Toyota Releases New Teaser Photos and First Video of FT-Bh Supermini Concept

We now have a slightly better view of Toyota's brand-new FT-Bh Concept, as the Japanese automaker published the first real life teaser photos and a slightly more revealing video. The name of the prototype model is an acronym for Future Toyota B-segment hybrid.

Toyota says that it designed the FT-Bh for maximum fuel efficiency while using economically viable methods and materials for its construction.

Read more »

New FT-Bh Affordable City Car Concept Leads Toyota’s Geneva Motor Show Lineup

In the aftermath of Toyota's below-par performance in 2011 due to natural disasters and the strength of the yen, the Japanese automaker decided to focus its efforts for a comeback mainly on hybrid models such as the Prius family.

Therefore, today’s announcement that five out of the six Toyota models that will make their world or European premieres at the Geneva Motor Show in March will be hybrids, comes to no surprise.

Read more »

Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Sedan Concept Signals New Styling Direction [Updated / Videos]

Toyota was one of the few brands that managed to keep one of its Detroit Auto Show debuts under covers until the grand opening and today, the Japanese manufacturer officially revealed the NS4, a sleek looking plug-in hybrid concept.

Like many other conceptual studies shown in Detroit, the NS4's role is to preview the future in the areas of styling and technology.

Toyota says that the NS4 concept signals a new styling direction for the brand "aimed at making an emotional connection with consumers". And truth to be said, the NS4 looks far more interesting than any other Toyota sedan – but then again, it's a concept, so it's supposed to look great.

Read more »

Toyota Video Teases New NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car – Is it a Coupe?

In addition to a very closely cropped teaser photo, Toyota has now published a new video on the NS4, a plug-in hybrid concept car that will be fully revealed at next week's 2012 North American International Motor Show in Detroit.

While mystery continues to shroud the details on the NS4, the new promotional clip gives us a sneak peek on some of the car's styling and tech elements such as instrument panel and center console.

We also get a quick glimpse of a few sketches that appear to be showing a coupe or perhaps a sporty looking four-or five-door fastback, but we can't be sure. Follow the break to watch the video for yourself.

Read more »

Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Heads to Detroit Motor Show

This is our first look at the brand new Toyota NS4 Concept car that will make its world premiere at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, which takes place in Detroit from January 9 to 22.

Toyota is being as secretive about the NS4 as its premium Lexus sibling is about its own prototype that will be shown in Motor Town, with the only piece of information we get about the vehicle is that it will be "an advanced plug-in hybrid concept".

Read more »