FastMotoring Motor News In Speed

This is the future! Toyota has just revealed the all-new Toyota RAV4 electric vehicle at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. The Toyota RAV4 EV has an expected driving range rating of approximately 160km and charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger.

Accordingly, the Toyota RAV4 EV’s driving performance, dynamics and cargo capacity are equal to or exceed the petrol-powered RAV4 V6. Just like the Nissan Leaf claimed that its driving experience and performance is close to power of 3.5-litre V6 engine.

The RAV4 EV is the product of a unique collaboration with Tesla Motors spurred by Akio Toyoda, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation.  It is about 22 months after the project announcement, Toyota and Tesla engineers have succeeded in bringing the vehicle to market.

The RAV4 EV combines a Tesla designed and produced battery and electric powertrain with Toyota’s popular SUV. The front-wheel-drive RAV4 EV allows drivers to select from two distinctly different drive modes, Sport and Normal. In Sport mode, the vehicle reaches 60 mph (96.6 km/h) in just 7.0 seconds and has a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Normal mode achieves 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of about 137 km/h (85mph). Maximum output from the electric powertrain is 115kW @ 2,800 rpm.

Toyota RAV4 EV offers an exceptionally smooth, quiet ride and comfortable handling due in part to its low coefficient of drag and low centre of gravity. At 0.30 Cd, RAV4 EV achieves the lowest coefficient of drag of any SUV in the world.

Compared with the petrol-powered RAV4, Toyota re-styled the front bumper, upper and lower grille, side mirrors, rear spoiler and under body design to provide optimum air flow around the vehicle. The RAV4 EV’s battery pack is mounted low and to the centre of the vehicle, contributing to a more sedan-like ride.

The vehicle will go on sale in the United States late in coming summer.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV

In conjunction of 10 Years of Toyota Prius Anniversary Celebration, Toyota releases a sneak peek at an upcoming addition to the Prius family of products in Toyota Prius Facebook Page.

In the photo, the billboard that shows the Prius MPV hiding behind the current Prius with the tagline “The Prius family is getting a whole lot bigger.”

I think this is one of the 4 upcoming Toyota hybrid models that mentioned by Takeshi Uchiyamada – Toyota’s global chief of engineering and product development.

Toyota Motor Corporation plans to introduce 6 new hybrid vehicles model by 2012 on a global basis. Toyota plans 2 new Lexus models and 4 Toyota models with hybrid power plant. Some models will be only hybrid models and some that have a gasoline-engine variant.

All of the hybrids will be totally new model and not next-generation versions of existing hybrid models, said Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota’s global chief of engineering and product development.

The recent development of Toyota’s plug-in electric vehicle: Toyota and Tesla announced to debut the RAV4 Electric SUV at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show in coming November 2010.

Based on the current battery technology, it is not feasible to have all-electric vehicles for the entire fleet, Mr. Uchiyamada said. However, he added that the vehicles line-up in the next decade from Toyota will be hybrid and plug-in electric cars.

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.