Toyota will offer the bZ4X in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. The former will feature a single 150 kW capable of accelerating the car from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.4 seconds. Per the WLTC standard, the automaker claims the FWD model’s 71.4 kWh battery will allow it to travel approximately 500 kilometers or 310 miles on a single charge.
The battery will support 150 kW DC fast charging, allowing it to go from dead to 80 percent after about 30 minutes of charging. As for the AWD model, it will feature two 80kW motors, one built into each axle, for a total power output of 160 kW. It can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 7.7 seconds. Toyota estimates the ranges of the AWD model at 460 kilometers or 285 miles on a single charge. In both variants, the battery is integrated into the chassis, a design choice the automaker helps lower the SUV’s center of gravity and improve the rigidity of the chassis.
Toyota also plans to equip the bZ4X with some nifty extra features. One of those is a solar roof the automaker says will generate about 1120 miles worth of free power generation. It will also offer a steer-by-wire system that removes the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels. Both features will be available in select models.
The bZ4X will debut in the US and other markets in mid-2022.
Toyota Motor Corporation has formed a joint venture with Mazda Motor Corporation and Denso Corporation to develop basic structural technologies for electric vehicles (EVs) with a view to reducing costs and lead times.
The three companies are establishing a new company that will develop a diverse range of models, from mini-vehicles to passenger vehicles, SUVs and light trucks to ensure flexible and rapid response to market trends.
Called the EV Common Architecture Spirit Co. Ltd, the new company will be owned 90 per cent by Toyota while Mazda and Denso will each have stakes of five per cent.
Toyota, Japan's largest vehicle manufacturer, said the joint technological development project would ensure efficient development processes, and take advantage of existing production facilities.
It would allow Toyota and Mazda to create appealing EVs that embody the unique identities of each brand and avoid the commoditisation of EVs.
Toyota said new regulations that mandate a certain proportion of electric vehicle sales are beginning to emerge as countries adopt increasingly stringent policies to help reduce greenhouse gases.
It said complying with these environmental regulations, while ensuring sustainable growth, required the development of a wide range of powertrains and technologies.
"We regard electric vehicles (EVs) as a key technological field in this process alongside fuel-cell vehicles," Toyota said in a statement.
"With EVs yet to find widespread market acceptance, the huge investments and time required to cover all markets and vehicle segments is a pressing issue for individual automakers when responding to the widely varying demand for vehicles around the world.
"The new company aims to innovate the development process by combining the strengths of each company, including Mazda's bundled product planning and prowess in computer modelling-based development, Denso's electronics technologies, and the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform."
Toyota, Mazda and Denso also aim to create a business structure that is open to participation by other automakers and suppliers.
The new partnership builds on last month's announcement that Toyota and Mazda would work together to develop electric car and advanced safety technologies. As part of that announcement, Toyota agreed to take a five-per-cent stake in Mazda.
The new company will engage in the following:
1. Research into the characteristics (common architecture*) that define optimum performance and functions of EVs from the standpoint of both individual components and the whole vehicle.
2. Verification of component installation and vehicle performance realised by the characteristics achieved in item 1)
3. Examination of the optimum concept for each car classification with regard to each component and each type of vehicle realized by achieving items 1) and 2).
It will initially have approximately 40 employees including selected engineers from the three companies.
Toyota's hybrid vehicles have saved their owners 25 billion litres of petrol - enough fuel, theoretically, for each of their cars to travel around the Earth... and then some.
The calculation was revealed by the world's leading carmaker when it announced it has sold more than nine million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles around the world, including more than 85,800 delivered in Australia.
The latest milestone, achieved in April, comes as Toyota Australia prepares to introduce its newest hybrid, Corolla, early in the second half of this year.
Toyota's parent company in Japan has revealed that the total fuel saving from its nine million hybrids represents an average of more than 2,770 litres per vehicle compared with driving petrol-only cars of similar size.
The saving would provide enough fuel for each of those vehicles to travel at least 52,400km, or 1.3 times around the equator, based on a nominal average consumption of 5.3 litres per 100km. Three-quarters of the nine million hybrids use less than this amount of fuel.
Instead of doing that, of course, Toyota's hybrid owners have pocketed billions of dollars in savings.
Toyota has also estimated its hybrid vehicles have resulted in approximately 67 million fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions than would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance^.
Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the extent to which hybrid vehicles had found homes in driveways around the world confirmed them as a mainstream option for motorists.
"Toyota's hybrid vehicles are renowned for their performance, reliability, durability and exceptionally low running costs as well as their contribution to the environment and to saving precious fossil fuels," Mr Cramb said.
"In Australia, we are looking forward to bringing Toyota's full hybrid technology to the country's best-selling car, Corolla - a move that will further broaden the market appeal of both," he said.
Corolla hybrid hatch will be introduced as a well-specified single grade, expanding the local company's Hybrid Synergy Drive offerings to a fifth model.
It will join Camry, which is the best-selling hybrid vehicle in Australia with 37,879 deliveries - almost double the Prius tally of 19,682 cars - followed by Prius c (7,432) and Prius v (3,430).
Globally, Toyota's total is led by the world's best-selling hybrid, Prius, with 3.7 million sales since its debut in Japan in December 1997. Prius c has reached 1.25 million sales, Prius v 634,000 and Camry hybrid 574,000.
While it took 10 years for Toyota to achieve one million global hybrid sales, it has sold eight million in the past nine years and has averaged more than one million hybrid sales a year since 2009.
The company's hybrid vehicles are sold in more than 90 markets.
Toyota has positioned hybrid advances as core environmental technologies for the 21st century. Using these technologies, Toyota is also working on improving non-hybrid cars.
The Toyota Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, went on sale in Japan in 1997. 18 years later with sales surpassing 8 million vehicles, we're starting to get a clear picture of how durable vehicles powered by electric powertrains are.
The humble Prius has proved so durable, with regular news of taxi operators surpassing 1 million km (the record stands at 1.5M km), there is even a thread on the priuschat website designated for Prius owners who have passed 299,999 miles (480,000 km).
Not only are most Prius achieving these distances on the original battery pack (dispelling that urban myth) but in many cases they are also still on the original factory fitted set of brake pads!! With a Prius able to use brake regeneration down to 10 km/h, industry standard hydro-mechanical friction brakes move from being a system made up of consumable parts to a durable system that lasts the life of the vehicle.
Typical brake pad life expectancy on an ICE car is between 50-100,000 km with brake rotors needing replacement every 100-200,000 km so the increase in Prius brake life is in the region of 10x.
If the relatively low powered 50 kw electric motor / generator in the Prius has made friction brakes 90% redundant, then vehicles like the BMW i3 with a much more powerful electric motor (125 kw) and aggressive speed variable brake regeneration capable of bringing the car to a complete stop, make friction brakes entirely a legacy system whose only function is to provide very low duty-cycle safety functions such as Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
Taxi operators running fleets of Nissan Leaf are also reporting high mileage on original brake pads and no doubt given enough time will also pass 500,000 km without a pad &/or rotor change. Leaf owners have the added benefit of not having an ICE to service (Prius ICE's reportedly consume excessive oil above 500,000 km) and with typical electric motor life measured in the 20-40,000 hour range, electric only powertrains could last in excess of 2 million kilometres of trouble free motoring, compared to a typical ICE car life expectancy of 320,000 km (200,000 miles).
The more that brake regeneration becomes an auto industry standard, the more inevitable the elimination of the dead weight and costs associated with legacy friction brake systems seems. In order to allow electromagnetic braking to functionally replace all mandatory safety systems like ESC, each wheel requires an electric motor to drive / brake each wheel independently.
Technologies that we take for granted these days — like stability control and anti-lock brakes — paved the way for computer-controlled cars, and these long-established safety technologies are mandated by NHTSA etc. Automakers today agreed to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard on most U.S. cars by 2022. Automatic braking, like lane keeping and dynamic cruise control, is considered a precursor to fully autonomous vehicles.
The converging vectors of vehicle electrification and self-driving cars will accelerate the need to consolidate all vehicle dynamic controls for propulsion and braking within a single system, i.e. Software Eats the Automotive Powertrain.
Stay tuned, we'll delve into electromagnetic braking in a future post.
Toyota has advanced the pioneering status of its iconic Prius hybrid car by revealing a fourth-generation model that debuts a futuristic design, fun-to-drive dynamics and an impressive gain to fuel economy.
A new, stiffer platform - the first developed under Toyota's New Generation Architecture (TNGA) program - is at the heart of revolutionary improvements that support a more responsive driving experience and enhanced occupant protection.
In keeping with the Prius name which means "front runner", the new-generation car continues to build on its eco-car DNA with technical breakthroughs including the world's most thermally efficient petrol engine at 40 per cent.
This remarkable achievement, which provides a significant improvement in fuel efficiency, is due to the adoption of new or substantially revised components that were effectively blueprinted to the finest limits and tolerances.
Engineers also succeeded with a comprehensive program of size and weight reductions for major hybrid components while maintaining overall performance, confirming Prius as the global pacesetter in hybrid technology.
The cutting-edge development program for the new Prius also focused on a more responsive drive experience achieved through a lower centre of gravity, newly developed double-wishbone rear suspension and a more rigid body.
The all-new rear double wishbone suspension produces a better connection to the road, providing greater control and feedback in all driving conditions. A more rigid body helps improve responsiveness while cornering without sacrificing ride quality or occupant comfort.
Unveiled at a special event in Las Vegas ahead of its international motor-show debut in Frankfurt next week and an Australian launch early in 2016, the new Prius exterior has completely evolved.
It features a dramatic low-slung silhouette that is approximately 60mm longer, 15mm wider and 20mm lower, delivering a much more planted on-road presence with a lower centre of gravity and more space for occupants and their luggage.
Designers embraced Toyota's concept of "Iconic Human-tech" to blend flowing curves with aggressive cut edges, producing ground-breaking advances and aerodynamic innovations that display a sculptural quality.
The bonnet is lower and the most distinctive Prius cue - the roof peak - has been moved forward, creating an athletic shape inspired by a runner in the starting blocks.
The sporty theme for the new Prius is accentuated by the Toyota emblem in the front grille sitting at exactly the same height as on Toyota's 86 sports car. It is flanked by new headlamps that minimise frontal area while providing a striking light display that helps define the vehicle's distinctive character.
Bold character lines run along the side from the front fenders - one just above the sill that sweeps up towards the rear fender, while the upper crease morphs into the rear spoiler, which has been lowered.
Striking rear combination lamps express the distinctive lines of the Prius from the rear spoiler to the trailing edges of the sides.
Exterior colours include an "Emotional Red", which utilises a newly developed treatment process to achieve a deep and vibrant lustre.
The new Prius interior also embraces Toyota's concept of "Iconic Human-tech" with a strong presence that adopts advanced technology complemented by features that are functional, fun and have high visual impact.
Owners will be rewarded with the comfort and utility offered by a wrap-around cockpit, form-hugging seat design, easy-to-use controls and increased visibility.
A sense of quality and space is created through the wide instrument panel with its layered construction that clearly defines the "display zone", separating it from the "control zone" which is now closer to the driver.
The next-generation Prius will make available a package of electronic safety assistance aids including a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, automatic high beam and active cruise control.
Prius global chief engineer Kouji Toyoshima said nearly every aspect of Prius has been improved to create a car that will appeal to the senses in its own right, above its well-recognised green credentials.
"There is much more to the new Prius than a green image. From the bold design to the quality interior, the Prius has never had such a powerful presence," Mr Toyoshima said.
Prius - with more than 3.5 million sold globally - has popularised hybrid technology to the point it has now become mainstream. The fourth-generation Prius is ground- breaking in its own right.
"We have developed an even-better Prius by expanding its environmentally sensitive DNA while ramping up its desirability with an emotional design and an engaging drive. It offers a new perspective of what a hybrid can be."
Toyota New Generation Architecture is an innovative development program designed to enhance product appeal through improved core vehicle performance and new technologies.
It promotes the strategic sharing of powertrain components and vehicle platforms with the goal of improving resource efficiency by better than 20 per cent.
Toyota has confirmed that it will switch to turbocharged power for the 2016 World Endurance Championship season.
Toyota's technical director Pascal Vasselon confirmed the decision, stating: "I don't think we will retain the normally aspirated V8 configuration. It will be a turbo engine. It's a little too early to release any specific information."
The engine is highly likely to be a small-capacity turbo engine and will target the 8MJ category, something which has reaped dividends for Porsche so far in 2015.
The new technical package will also introduce battery storage, which will work with the same twin-axle retrieval system the team currently uses.
The 2016 car will be known as the Toyota TS 050 and is scheduled to test just after Christmas.
2015 development halted
Toyota is set to undergo a painful remainder of the 2015 season as it essentially calls time on significant development of the TS 040.
"Clearly, it wouldn't be very efficient for us to invest in developing this year's car," said Vasselon. "We could tweak a few things on it, but we do not think that these would make a significant difference. So, yes, we are fully focused on next year's car.
"The gap will vary, obviously, depending on the characteristics of the circuits. However, we expect a difficult end to the season, a bit like Audi experienced last year".
Third Toyota at Le Mans still possible
Toyota could run a third car at Le Mans in 2016, but it would only happen if it would not impinge on the initial development of the TS 050 program.
The decision would also depend on budget resources, which are set to be increased for 2016 onwards.
"We couldn't enter a third car previously, but now the question will arise," said Vasselon. "Now, I cannot give you that answer because we do not yet know the full budget we'll have.
"We know it will be increased, but we know that it will never be at the same level as Audi and Porsche, that's a sure thing. However, it will be increased.
"We will need to re-assess whether running a third car is acceptable without threatening our development programme."
In a new video posted by Toyota Austria, a taxi driver claims to have covered 1 million kilometers (more than 600,000 miles) in his 2007 Toyota Prius - all with the original battery pack and most likely the original factory fitted brake pads.
What's more, the driver, Manfred Dvorak, claims the Prius has never broken down. "For me, the Prius is the ultimate sidekick," he says.
Toyota unveiled the new RAV4 Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show. The eighth hybrid in the Toyota lineup, the RAV4 Hybrid offers more power as well as better fuel economy than the conventional RAV4, according to Toyota Group Vice President and General Manager Bill Fay.
The hybrid system consists of a 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter petrol engine and eCVT transmission along with an All-Wheel-Drive System with Intelligence (AWDi) featuring a rear motor that operates independently from the front motor. This additional electric motor delivers instant torque to the rear wheels only when additional traction is needed, thereby automatically helping prevent wheel spin.
AWDi adapts to the angle or condition of the road, with no driver input needed. The electronic AWD provides increased safety and stability on slippery surfaces and enables a towing capacity of 1,650 kg (3,634 lbs). Easy and safe towing is ensured thanks to Trailer Sway Control system.
RAV4 will also offer a new Bird’s Eye View Monitor. This Toyota-first technology utilizes four cameras that are mounted on the front, side mirrors and rear of the vehicle to give the driver a panoramic view of their surroundings. The system offers drivers assistance when parallel parking, and when pulling in and out of parking spaces.
The Bird’s Eye View Monitor system also has an industry-first feature called Perimeter Scan, that gives drivers a live rotating 360-degree view of what is around the vehicle, helping them see objects that could be in the way.
Toyota has posted an impressive global milestone with confirmation it has sold its seven-millionth hybrid vehicle.
Firmly established as the world's largest producer of hybrid vehicles, the tally includes 3.3 million sold in Japan, 2.5 million in the United States, 770,000 in Europe and more than 67,000 in Australia.
The latest one-million sales were achieved in record time - just nine months after Toyota (including Lexus) reached the six-million hybrid threshold in December last year, which doubled the three million total passed in February 2011. Globally, Prius accounts for almost half the overall total with 3.36 million sales - making it easily the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle.
In Australia, the locally built Camry accounts for more than half the 55,442 hybrids sold by Toyota dealers, followed by Prius with almost 19,000 sales. Local Lexus dealers have sold 12,244 hybrids, led by the CT 200h and the RX 450h.
TMC estimates its hybrid vehicles have cut carbon-dioxide emissions by approximately 49 million tonnes* and saved approximately 18 million kilolitres* of fuel compared with vehicles of similar size and driving performance using petrol-only engines.
Toyota began selling the Prius in the Japan in 1997 and in Australia in 2001. Camry Hybrid has been built and sold in Australia since 2010 while the Prius was expanded into a family of three vehicles in 2012 with the addition of the Prius c city car and the Prius v seven-seater.
Over the 17 years since the first Prius was launched, Toyota has endeavoured to encourage the mass-market adoption of hybrid vehicles, which use less fuel and emit fewer tailpipe emissions than equivalent petrol-only models. Toyota has positioned hybrid and its related developments as core technologies for the 21st century. The company therefore plans to continue working to enhance performance, reduce costs and expand its product line-up to create vehicles that are popular with consumers.
Toyota's hybrid sales - Australia
Camry
28,537
Prius
18,972
Prius c
5,514
Prius v
2,419
TOYOTA
55,442
LEXUS
12,244
TOTAL
67,686
(Source: VFacts as at September 30, 2014)
Toyota's hybrid vehicle chronology
Year
Month
Milestones
1997
Mar
Unveiling of the Toyota Hybrid System (THS)
Dec
Prius launched in Japan
2000
Nov
Cumulative Prius sales top 50,000 vehicles
2002
Mar
Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 100,000 mark
Aug
Cumulative Prius sales top 100,000 vehicles
2003
Apr
Unveiling of the Toyota Hybrid System II (THSII)
Sep
Prius completely redesigned
2005
Oct
Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales top 500,000 mark
Dec
Prius production begins in China
2006
Apr
Cumulative Prius sales top 500,000 vehicles
May
Camry Hybrid launched
2007
May
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top one-million mark
2008
May
Cumulative Prius sales top one million vehicles
Jun
Hybrid Camry production announced for Australia and Thailand
2009
May
Third-generation Prius launched (July in Australia )
Aug
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top two-million mark
Dec
Hybrid Camry production commences in Australia
2010
Feb
Locally produced Hybrid Camry goes on sale in Australia
Sep
Cumulative Prius sales top two million vehicles
Dec
Annual Prius sales in Japan of 315,669 - a record for any vehicle
2011
Feb
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top three-million mark
Dec
Production of third-generation Prius commences in China
2012
Feb
Completely redesigned Camry Hybrid launched in Australia
Mar
Prius c launched in Australia
Apr
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top four-million mark
May
Prius v launched in Australia
Oct
Global hybrid sales top one million in a year for the first time
2013
Mar
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top five-million mark
Jun
Cumulative Prius sales top three million vehicles
Dec
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top six-million mark
2014
Sep
Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top seven-million mark
During a recent trip to Japan, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says his company and Toyota could team on another “significant” joint project in two or three years, and at higher volumes than the soon-to-end RAV4 program.
Musk’s comments came just four months after Tesla Motors Inc. announced that the agreement to supply battery packs for the electric Toyota crossover would finish this year with sales around 2,500.
Musk said there were no concrete plans for a new vehicle with Toyota but dangled the possibility of a bigger project soon.
“I think that if you look out maybe two or three years from now, that I would not be surprised if there is a significant deal with Toyota,” Musk said today at a ceremony to deliver the first Tesla Model S sedans to customers in Japan.
“My best guess is that it would probably be something significant, maybe on a much higher volume level,” he said.
Toyota Motor Corp., which owns 2.4 percent of Tesla, said in May 2012 it envisioned building around 2,500 RAV4 EVs over three years. When the partners announced in May that the program would wrap this year, they were noncommittal about future projects.
The Japanese and American companies have since sparred over alternative visions for tomorrow’s alternative drivetrains.
Toyota has channeled its focus into hydrogen fuel cells, while dismissing EVs as impractical and impossibly short-ranged. Meanwhile, Tesla has beat the drum for batteries, while deriding cars powered by hydrogen stacks as “fool cells.”
Toyota spokesman Dion Corbett said the world’s biggest carmaker had “nothing to say” in response to Musk’s latest overture.
Toyota sold 2,130 RAV4 EVs through August. The company expects to sell the rest of the planned 2,500 by year’s end.
After those are delivered, Toyota will have neither a single EV nameplate in its lineup nor public plans to add one.
Musk was not expected to meet with Toyota officials during his visit to Japan. While in Tokyo, he handed over the keys to nine new Model S sedans on the 52nd-floor observatory of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, one of the tallest buildings in town.
“We love working with Toyota,” he said. “We have a huge amount of respect for them as a company and certainly much to learn.”
Toyota Motor and BMW will develop a common platform for two sports car models that will become the first products to come out of a comprehensive tie-up the two inked in January 2013.
The automakers will use the same platform as early as 2017 for the BMW Z4 and a planned revival of the Toyota Supra, a model popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The vehicles will have different body designs and be sold under their respective brands.
The car will have a front-engined direct-injection four cylinder turbo and electric motors driving all four wheels. The supercapacitor system will be derived from technology first seen in Toyota's Hybrid Supra HV-R in 2007 when it won the Tokachi 24 hour race and more recenly Toyota's Le Mans LMP1 race cars.
BMW will supply the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine combined with electric motors produced by BMW at its engine plant in Munich while a Toyota-developed electronics system is expected to provide torque-vectoring capability.
The partners also plan to discuss joint manufacturing and parts procurement. BMW is a leader in building cars with lightweight carbon fiber bodies, but the technology is expensive, leading many to focus on whether Toyota will adopt it.
Toyota's tie-up with BMW is aimed at making use of the German carmaker's luxury-vehicle expertise while lowering costs. Toyota and BMW also jointly work on research for lithium-air battery expected to be more powerful than the lithium-ion batteries used in many hybrid and electric vehicles,
Three-digit records are nothing new at the Nürburgring, the go-to location when car manufacturers want to prove the pace of their latest models, but until now, these feats have always been about miles per hour, not miles per gallon.
Toyota turned tradition on its head when it took its Prius Plug-in hybrid to the track, setting out to show not how fast the car could go, but just how little fuel it could use on a single lap of the notorious Nordschliefe.
A first-of-a-kind Nürburgring record was in its sights, but with no help from any clever technical tweaks or trick bodywork. Instead, Toyota designed a genuine, real-world test with the car running in traffic during a public session and complying with all the circuit rules, including the 60km/h minimum average speed.
Automotive News reports the next generation of Prius, set to begin production in December of 2015, may get an all-wheel drive option in addition to its default front-drive layout.
“I think we will possibly do it,” said Koei Saga, senior managing officer in charge of powertrain development, speaking about all-wheel drive. Saga also says that there will be two different battery options available with the 2016 Prius, a low-cost nickel-metal hydride unit or a more expensive lithium ion pack.
The choice of two batteries could possibly deliver a low-cost version using the tried-and-true nickel-metal hydride technology that Toyota has used since it launched the Prius in 1997. And for those wanting longer electric-only driving range, a larger-capacity lithium ion pack could be offered as an upper trim model with a higher price.
The 2016 Prius will ride on a new platform, making the car lighter, smaller and more efficient. ”The batteries will be renewed. Everything will be revised. And I think we will come up with a fuel economy that will surprise everyone,” Saga said.
It looks like the top selling Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV may get some AWD competition.
Toyota Racing's Kazuki Nakajima set a new Le Mans qualifying lap record to put the #7 TS040 Hybrid in pole position for the 82nd running of the famous 24-hour endurance race this weekend.
It was the first pole position ever for a Japanese driver and lowered last year's pole position time by more than half a second.
The feat highlighted the performance and efficiency of the 736kW Toyota Hybrid System - Racing which set the fastest qualifying time despite a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption compared with last year's car.
As well as starting from first place on the grid, the TS040 Hybrid enters this year's race with two wins from the opening two FIA World Endurance Championship races.
This is the fourth pole position for Sarrazin who achieved the honour in 2007-09 and who has been runner-up three times, including last year. He praised the team for its work in setting up the #7 car and Nakajima for a "brilliant lap".
"It is promising for the race because we feel so confident in the car," he said. "We can push on every corner, every lap. Like that everything is positive. The race will be very long, we know that we have to be very calm and not attack it like a short sprint."
Following reports in November about Toyota testing a BMW i8 at their Mt. Fuji proving grounds as a pre-lude to a joint venture sports car, a report now claims BMW and Toyota are already developing a second sports car which, like the i8, is a mid-engine model that will battle the Porsche 911.
According to Car Magazine, the model is codenamed "Silk Road 2" and will spawn a BMW Z7 and Supra. The cars will reportedly be developed by BMW in Munich and is expected to be launched in late 2018 or early 2019.
While development is reportedly at an early stage, the magazine says the car will be a plug-in hybrid featuring a twin-turbo 3.0-liter six cylinder engine, a 150 bhp (111 kW) electric motor, a small battery pack between the seats (again like an i8) and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. This setup will reportedly enable them to have a combined output of 400-500 bhp (298-372 kW).
If everything pans out, the cars will weigh less than 1650 kg (3637 lbs) and cost approximately €90,000 ($122,010 / £72,720).
Car and Driver gathered five slippery cars to study their drag and lift properties at a wind tunnel to determine which brand did the best job optimizing its car’s aero performance.
The overall winner was the Tesla Model S by virtue of its larger 25.2-square-foot face and lower 0.24 drag coefficient, which yield the same 6.2-square-foot drag area as the Prius. Low drag is a tougher challenge with a larger frontal area, hence the Tesla’s overall win.
Hot on the heals of news earlier this week that Nissan's Leaf has set a new monthly sales record of 3,117 sales in May, comes official sales figures from Toyota showing the Plug-In Toyota Prius is now the 2nd best selling EV in the US.
Toyota sold 1,741 Prius PHV in May, up 180% on the same month last year. That knocks the Chevy Volt back to 3rd place with 1,684 sales for May.
The number of Plug-in Prius sales are all the more remarkable considering it is available in only 15 states.
Toyota in collaboration with Denso has developed a silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor for use in automotive power control units. Toyota will begin test driving vehicles fitted with the new PCUs on public roads in Japan within a year.
Through use of SiC power semiconductors, Toyota aims to improve hybrid vehicle fuel efficiency by 10 percent under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's JC08 test cycle and reduce PCU size by 80 percent compared to current PCUs with silicon-only power semiconductors. SiC power semiconductors have low power loss when switching on and off, allowing for efficient current flow even at higher frequencies. This enables the coil and capacitor, which account for approximately 40 percent of the size of the PCU, to be reduced in size.
PCUs play an important role in hybrids and other vehicles with an electrified powertrain: they supply electrical power from the battery to the motor to control vehicle speed, and also send electricity generated during deceleration to the battery for storage. However, PCUs account for approximately 25 percent of the total electrical power loss in HVs, with an estimated 20 percent of the total loss associated with the power semiconductors alone. Therefore, a key way to improve fuel efficiency is to improve power semiconductor efficiency, specifically by reducing resistance experienced by the passing current. Since launching the “Prius” gasoline-electric HV in 1997, Toyota has been working on in-house development of power semiconductors and on improving HV fuel efficiency.
As SiC enables higher efficiency than silicon alone, Toyota CRDL and Denso began basic research in the 1980s, with Toyota participating from 2007 to jointly develop SiC semiconductors for practical use. Toyota has installed the jointly developed SiC power semiconductors in PCUs for prototype HVs, and test driving on test courses has confirmed a fuel efficiency increase exceeding 5 percent under the JC08 test cycle.
In December last year, Toyota established a clean room for dedicated development of SiC semiconductors at its Hirose Plant, which is a facility for research, development and production of devices such as electronic controllers and semiconductors.
In addition to improved engine and aerodynamic performance, Toyota is positioning high efficiency power semiconductors as a key technology for improving fuel efficiency for HVs and other vehicles with electrified powertrains. Going forward, Toyota will continue to boost development activities aimed at early implementation of SiC power semiconductors.
Toyota will exhibit the technology at the 2014 Automotive Engineering Exposition, to be held from May 21 to May 23 at the Pacifico Yokohama convention center in Yokohama.
With the FIA having put all World Endurance Championship live TV coverage behind a pay-wall for 2014, we are indeed fortunate that enthusiastic Youtubers are willing to upload the entire 6 hours for those of us who prefer free TV.
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