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Toyota Australia has started exporting its new locally built 4-cylinder engines to Thailand and Malaysia for the first time. Now, the new Toyota’s Altona engine plant in Victoria has begun full production of the new 4 cylinder AR series engine.

Approximately 18,000 engines are estimated to be exported in 2013, while more than 90,000 engines will be fitted to Toyota Australia’s locally built Camry and Camry Hybrid sedans for domestic and export markets. Approximately 108,000 engines will be produced this year, of which 85 per cent will be petrol engines and 15 per cent hybrid.

The first shipment of both petrol and hybrid engines are expected to arrive in February 2013 to Thailand and Malaysia.

Today, Toyota Australia has officially opened its new engine plant, making it the first Australian car manufacturer to produce both petrol and hybrid engines.

The engine plant is located in Altona, west of Melbourne, the plant will produce approximately 108,000 four cylinder 2.5 litre engines per year for its locally built Camry and Camry Hybrid sedans. The engines produced in Altona plant will also be exported to Thailand and Malaysia.

The event was attended by the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard; Victorian Premier, the Hon. Ted Baillieu; Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Hon. Greg Combet AM; Victorian Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade, the Hon. Richard Dalla-Riva; Mr Seiichi Sudo, Senior Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation; and His Excellency, Mr Yoshitaka Akimoto, Ambassador of Japan.

Toyota Australia President and CEO, Mr Max Yasuda said the official opening was a proud day for the Australian car industry and testament to the company’s team members who helped secure the new engine plant investment.

“This is a great day for Toyota Australia. The official opening of the new engine plant is part of our overall mission to transform our operations and build a more sustainable business,” Mr Yasuda said.

“We are now one of only four countries in the world to produce the AR four cylinder engine and are the first Australian car manufacturer to produce petrol-electric hybrid engines.”

Mr Yasuda said the unveiling demonstrated the efforts Toyota was taking to transform its operations to ensure local car manufacturing can maintain its presence in a highly competitive marketplace.

“I am a true believer in local car making. We are working to create a new, stronger business that gives us a competitive advantage that is sustainable and profitable for the future. Building a new engine plant in Australia is at the heart of our manufacturing strategy.

“The new engine plant is a significant milestone for Toyota Australia. It enables us to maintain our workforce and further develop our technologies, skills and products so we can continue building engines and cars in Australia for many years to come.”

Mr Yasuda praised the strong desire of both the Federal and State Governments to see more advanced car making technologies introduced to Australia. Along with support from the Victorian Government, the Federal Government contributed $63 million to the commissioning of the new engine plant from its Green Car Innovation Fund.

“An ongoing partnership between local car makers, the government and suppliers is fundamental for ensuring Australian industry can compete,” Mr Yasuda said.

The new 2.5 litre engine boasts significant improvements in fuel efficiency and greater power than the previous 2.4 litre engine. In the current generation Camry this has contributed to an 11 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and a 13 per cent reduction for the Camry Hybrid.

The engine plant has been in development since October 2011. It replaces the original engine plant built in 1978, which was Toyota’s first engine manufacturing plant built outside Japan. The plant will go into full production from 14 January 2013 and produce approximately 450 engines per day.

Toyota Australia has been building cars in Australia for almost 50 years. In August 2012 it achieved one million exports sales, making it the first Australian manufacturer to do so. Later this month Toyota will also build its three millionth locally built vehicle.

The new generation of Toyota RAV4 is global reveal at 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show. There are three engines variants available including a turbo-diesel engine for the first time. Somehow, I felt the front fascia of the car looks similar to the Asean bred Toyota Avanza.

According to Toyota Australia, the 2013 RAV4 will be offered with 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and 2.2-litre 4-cylinder common-rail turbo-diesel engine.

The world debut takes the wraps off a boldly redesigned new Toyota RAV4 that features a sophisticated, dynamic and strong exterior and a spacious, high-quality interior. The spare tyre is now placed under the cargo floor and the new tailgate is hinged at the roof.

According to Toyota, all three engines for the next-generation RAV4 have impressive fuel economy and emissions performance. The new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine is a stand-out, with combined-cycle fuel economy dipping below 6.0 litres/100km and CO2 emissions below 150g/km when mated to a manual transmission. The diesel engine has a strong, flat torque curve with more than 200Nm available from just above idle and a peak well in excess of 300Nm.

The two petrol four-cylinder Dual VVT-i engines are almost identical to those in the 2.5-litre Camry and the 2.0-litre Corolla Altis.

For Australian market, the new 2013 Toyota RAV4 is available with 6-speed manual transmission for 3 variants, 6-speed automatic transmission for 2.2-litre diesel and 2.5-litre petrol, and CVT with 7-speed sequential manual mode for 2.0-litre petrol.

New RAV4 includes other driver-oriented improvements including an advanced all-wheel drive system, a better driving position, improved front and rear vision, and the safety of a more rigid body and seven airbags.

Premium features on high-grade variants include a power-operated tailgate, blind-spot monitor, rain-sensing wipers and electro-chromatic rear-view mirror.

“These and other attributes of the next-generation model will expand the appeal of a vehicle that has been a hit in Australia with almost 200,000 sales since the first-generation RAV4 was launched in 1994,” Mr Callachor said, executive director sales and marketing of Toyota Australia.

The latest RAV4 is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms during the first quarter of 2013.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Toyota RAV4

Toyota Australia announced the next-generation Corolla hatch, to be launched in Australia late next month. Accordingly, the new Corolla hatch is the result of a total vehicle approach to improving driveability and dynamic performance while also reducing emissions and improving fuel consumption.

The 11th generation of the world’s best-selling car displays the more confident and agile face of Toyota with a low, sloping bonnet and reduced overall height that accentuate Corolla’s sleeker, more streamlined appearance.

The resulting aerodynamic benefits contribute to improved fuel efficiency and driving dynamics. A lighter yet more rigid body shell and revised suspension, steering and seating position offer a more comfortable and engaging drive. These measures have resulted in a lower centre of gravity that improves high-speed stability and cornering agility.

Corolla’s MacPherson strut front suspension has been revised while front and rear springs and shock absorbers have been fine-tuned for ride comfort, improved stability and excellent steering response. The electric power steering (EPS) is more direct to provide greater response with better feedback and greater agility.

New Corolla hatch has a higher quality interior design and improved equipment levels. It will also be cheaper to run while building on Corolla’s long-established reputation for quality, durability and reliability. The interior offers more space and greater comfort for occupants with an emphasis on improved sensory quality and the use of lighting, font, colour and finish to provide a more premium feel. The cabin is noticeably quieter with extensive soundproofing to reduce engine and road noise.

New Corolla hatch maintains Toyota’s high standards in active and passive safety, with the aim of achieving a 5-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating. The cars for the Australian market will be built in Japan.

Lastly, the New Toyota Corolla hatch will make its first public appearance at next month’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney before going on sale nationally from 22 October 2012.

Over the last Saturday, the Rally champion Neal Bates has recorded his first victory in a Toyota 86. Bates won the two-litre class at Round 4 of the Winton Motor Raceway Sprint Series in a road-registered Toyota 86 GT in Australia.

His best flying lap for the tight 2.03km circuit was 1m 39.5s, an average speed of 73.44km/h. Bates drove the car from Canberra to the circuit in central Victoria, highlighting its flexibility as a road and track-day vehicle.

“We’re using the 86 as chief engineer Tetsuya Tada intended, as a fun-to-drive, affordable sports car,” Bates said.

“Our model is two months old and has limited modifications to the suspension, brakes and exhaust; in fact we’ve developed a suspension kit and brakes for track-day use.”

Bates Motorsport team manager Darryl Bush won the September 8 Winton event outright in his Carlos Sainz replica Toyota Corolla World Rally Car. Bates did the fastest flying lap time in the rain-affected last session.

“The event is decided on a combination of your best standing-start and flying lap,” he said.

In Australia, Toyota is offering the 86 in two grades – GT and GTS – both powered by a newly developed 2.0-litre flat-four engine that capable to revs up to 7,450rpm.

Toyota’s D-4S direct-injection technology increases throttle response, power and torque over a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance. The engine of Toyota 86 outputs a max power of 147kW and max torque of 205Nm.