With accidents said to cause by the Toyota Prius being too quiet that pedestrians are not aware of there is actually a car near them. Toyota has come out with a solution for it. Yesterday, Toyota announced in Toyota City, Japan that from 30th August, Prius owner are able to purchase a device that stimulate the engine sound outside the car.

The device will automatically emits a sound of an electric motor when the Prius is about 25km/h and above, the sound is aim to alert pedestrians that there’s a vehicle nearby. The sound will falls and rises in pitch depending on the Toyota Prius Speed thus help to stimulate a more “real” engine sound. This simple device with a speaker inside the Prius front bumper will be also equipped in other hybrids or electric cars that Toyota will launch in future. The device is currently applicable to the Third-generation Toyota Prius and is selling at 12,600 yen in Japan ( excluding installation and other fees) and in today’s exchange rate would be RM475.52 . Check out the video of the demonstration below, as part of the video – Toyota trying to prove  the sound does not add much noise to the cabin and it can be switch on or off. I wish they could allow us to select what type of engine sound too..Lexus LFA engine sound perhaps?

Toyota Australia announced to add the Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV into its model offering by Quarter-1 2011. This retro-styled SUV from Toyota will be revealing at Sydney International Motor Show in coming 15 October 2010.

“FJ Cruiser has loads of character that isn’t found in any other SUV, let alone one that is built for off-road terrain,” said Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner. “It will be a lot of fun to own and drive, satisfying those who want a modern vehicle with the boulder-crawling spirit of Toyota’s legendary off-roaders,” he added.

No specific details were given about the FJ Cruiser’s power train options, but Toyota said the Australian market models, which will be imported from Japan, will come with “a powerful engine and dual-range 4WD”. Most likely, this Retro-SUV will come with 4.0-litre V6 that churns out 258HP.

Besides, Toyota Australia recently began a branding campaign to improve its standing amongst younger buyers with the launch of the Toyota Rukus.

Australia’s newly seated Prime Minister – Julia Gillard, announced stricter compulsory pollution standards for new cars from 2015, adding new elements as part of Labor’s climate policy.

This program has been funded with AUD 394 millions and runs from January 1, 2011 until December 31, 2014. The main objective is to help take some 200,000 pre-1995 vehicles off the road over 4 years that guzzle a lot of petrol and spew out a lot of pollution.

Australians who trade in older cars for more fuel-efficient vehicles will be eligible for a $2000 rebate under a new initiative unveiled by Australian Labor Party.

However, the rebate would only apply when motorists purchased extra-efficient vehicles, such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Holden (Chevrolet) Cruze or Hyundai Getz. This program not only helps to save the earth, but it also able to stimulate the car sales in Australia too.

Malaysia’s Toyota Corolla Altis is going to have a facelift in September this year, this is according to our internal Toyota spy. On top of that, our spy is kind enough to provide us some spyshot which is actually taken in Toyota’s Thailand factory. Before you leave your eye from this sentence – we were told the upcoming facelifted Toyota Corolla Altis will likely come with a 2.0L version too!

This version in the photo of the facelifted Toyota Corolla Altis is classified as a 2.0 V spec. As we can see the headlights are with black background to create the smoked head lamp effect (like the TRD Sportivo Altis we reported earlier) and the center grille are with 1 black spoke bar across. The bumpers design are similar to the one’s on the facelifted Toyota Camry.

The Toyota Corolla Altis Facelift 2010 2.0L V spec from Thailand will feature a full bodykit with a 5 spoke sport rim.

From the rear of the facelifted Toyota Corolla V spec, it looks like the V Spec has a different rear bumper compare to the standard spec. The rear lights are partial transparent which remind me of the Camry Hybrid rear lights. A rear spoiler with 3rd brake light is included as well.

We are not too sure whether UMW Toyota will get this version in but looking at trend today, it would be a good idea to bring in a much better looking, sporty Corolla Altis. Check out a few more pictures below for the standard G-spec Toyota Corolla Altis Facelift 2010.

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By 2012, it is about time that Toyota Camry will be replaced with complete new model and introduce to the market.

* 2010 Toyota Camry Model

From the information provided, Toyota Motor Corp of Japan have announced that the 2012 Toyota Camry will be locally assemble in Shah Alam Plant, Selangor, Malaysia by Assembly Services Sdn Bhd in coming 2 years time. Assembly Services Sdn Bhd is a unit of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd which owned by Toyota Japan, Toyota Tsusho Corp and UMW Corp Sdn Bhd. The facility is scheduled to be begin operation by mid-2011.

In this project, UMW Toyota initially invest about RM100 millions to start the local production and possibly extending to RM170 millions in coming 3 years for Assembly Services. Moreover, UMW Toyota will also invest about RM200 millions to build a centralised stock-yard in Bukit Raja, Klang.

There is a news reported today that Toyota’s chief test driver, 67-year-old Hiromu Naruse, has died in a crash on highway 410 near the Toyota’s workshops at Nürburgring race track in Germany. The chief was driving the upcoming Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition at the time of the accident, and reports say he goes around into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with two others test drivers in a BMW 3-series. The two BMW test drivers survived the crash, though one is reportedly still in critical condition. Police are investigating the crash and have yet to determine its cause.

This prototype of a special edition version of the LFA that he was driving when the accident occurred was reportedly worth 1.5 million euro.Which equals to about 6 Million Ringgit Malaysia.

Moving backward on Hiromu Naruse background, he was heavily involved with the development of the Lexus LFA supercar, along with many other past sports cars from Toyota’s history since he joined the company in 1963.

Motoring Enthusiasts today call him the “Godfather of the LFA” though he was involved in the development of sports cars for Toyota. From all you can name it, 1965 Sports 800, 1600GT, 2000GT, all generation of the Celica, AE86, the 1^st and 3^rd generation MR2s, Supra, Altezza, 2^nd generation Prius to the latest Lexus LFA. Naruse-san was responsible for all of them, and now he’s gone.

On behalf of Team FastMotoring, we express our condolence to Naruse-san and Rest in Peace.

[Photos From Autoblog]

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Based on Toyobaru Forum Thread, one of the member found Toyota Motor Corporation recently filed a trademark for “FR-S” name in both the U.S. and Canada. It is speculated that this new name is belonging to the long awaiting FT-86.

FR-S, it should be stands for FR (Front Engine, Rear Wheel Drive), S (Sport).

If everything goes smooth, I guess it won’t be long and we shall be able to see the good news from Toyota in early 2011.

Photo Gallery: Toyota FT-86 at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

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With the incoming of competition from various rivals for Toyota Vios such as, Honda City, Naza Kia Forte, Nissan Latio, Sentra – Toyota have to come out with a car that would stand out from the crowd and at time justify-able. UMW Toyota has decided take away the Vios “S” spec and give way to a more sporty and with more equipment – Toyota Vios TRD Sportivo.

Toyota Vios TRD Sportivo was born in the last pre-facelift version and it has been revised together with this Vios facelift version. We’ve reported to you on the Toyota Vios G Spec & Toyota Vios E Spec earlier. Thus, we will be concertrating what UMW Toyota give you as extra in the Vios TRD Sportivo as compare to other Vios variants.

At a glance from the front, immediately the sporty factors is carried out with the lower front bumper bodykit and with a badge with “TRD Sportivo” it does give this Vios a very outstanding factor as compare to others variant.

The rear of a the Vios TRD Sportivo is equipped with  low spoiler with another 3rd brake light on top of the existing one. Although the spoiler it’s not as aggressive looking as those after-market Mugen or Evo X spoiler, this spoiler carries the sportiness of the 1.5L  Vios without over doing it unlike the one on Toyota Altis TRD Sportivo we posted earlier.

The sides of the spoiler is also badged with TRD Sportivo logo. The rear bodykit of Vios TRD Sportivo is painted with a two-tone colour effect to increase the visual effect of a diffuser like styling. A chrome tail pipe is also attached to the exhaust. To further identify this top of the range Vios, a TRD Sportivo badge is attached to the rear boot where normally other version of Vios would be placing “J, E or G” .

Click here to read more details on Toyota Vios TRD Sportivo

You probably be wondering, is there a Altis TRD Sportivo ?  We are here to to tell you, Yes there is. Aside from the Toyota Vios TRD Sportivo, there’s actually Toyota Corolla Altis TRD Sportivo. The turn-off point is, it is only available in Thailand.

On the front of Toyota Corolla Altis TRD Sportivo, upgrades can be seen on a few areas. The headlights which has black background now, the huge front bodykit warped on the existing bumper & of course the matte black grille with  a TRD Sportivo Badge. Toyota Thailand did a limited batch of 2000 unit of Toyota Corolla Altis TRD Sportivo with a option of 1.6 litre engine or 1.8 litre vvt-i engine. There’s only 2 colours to choose from which is Black or White.

From the rear of this Toyota Corolla Altis TRD Sportivo, it make me feel excited with the huge spoiler similar in size as the Civic Mugen  or Evo X type and the button with rear diffuser along with the rear bodykit.  The rear headlights are also different than a standard Corolla Altis. The yellow reflector signal light has been replace with a clear-type rear light case.

As we view the Corolla Altis TRD Sportivo from the side, we are not so sure whether to call it a nice car with those bodykit fitted to it. In our opinion,it does not look that sleek. However you do get the TRD Sportivo sticker at the lower part of the side rear door – The sticker positioning reminds of me the latest Civic Type R. The rims also replace with a 205/55R16 profile TRD Sportivo 16 inch rims.

Click here to read more about Toyota Corolla Altis TRD Sportivo

From today onwards until Sunday. Toyota Malaysia and Honda Malaysia will have roadshows to show off their vehicle in 1utama shopping mall in Petaling Jaya. We expect they will certainly bring their newly launch vehicle. On the left with have Toyota Vios Facelift or rather know a.k.a Vios Desirable. On the right, we have the as what Honda Claimed, Premium Compact-MPV, the Honda Freed.

We have covered the Toyota Vios Facelift ( Vios Desirable) and of course the Honda Freed in detail. Do check out our post below. If you want to view the actual cars head to One Utama today or this weekend to see the flee of Toyota and Honda vehicles.

Toyota Roadshow – 1 Utama – 12-16 May 2010 – Ground Floor Highstreet

Honda Roadshow – 1 Utama – 14-16 May 2010 – Ground Floor

Our internal sources told us that, below are the other cars expect to turn up.

As for Toyota,

As for Honda,

Enjoy viewing the cars this weekend in 1utama. Click the below links to obtain more information on Toyota and Honda roadshow across Malaysia.

All Toyota Road Show Date and Venue

All Honda Road Show Date and Venue