More information as it becomes available.

Posted from WordPress for Android

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have held press conference in Palo Alto, California to announce that both companies will be working together on electric vehicle development and manufacturing, with Toyota spending $50 million in private placement of Tesla stock.

Tesla and Toyota plan to use the recently closed ex-Toyota NUMMI plant in Freemont, CA, USA with Model S production expected to bring back 1,000 workers and output 20,000 cars a year, with that output expected to increase as new models are added. The plant could soon expand to as many as 10,000 workers, and approach it’s previous capacity of 300,000 cars per annum.

The Model S is on track for production in 2012. No information is yet available on any technology or process sharing deals between Tesla and Toyota, but Tesla is expected to benefit greatly from Toyota’s mass production expertise and efficiency.

FT-86 concept no more?

According to a report in Autocar, the FT-86 is being turned into yet another bland Toyota vehicle a la Camry.

The car’s focus is now aimed between 30 and 40 year olds, retains RWD, and will suffer in the performance department as Toyota seek to wring more fuel economy out of the Subaru sourced boxer instead of performance.

Toyota are also expected to increase the price from around US$20,000 to US$23,000 for a base model, and going as high as US$26,000 for a spec’d up version. Toyota risks alienating younger, more performance oriented drivers with this move, as the company has no significant sports vehicles.

Ed: Looks like Toyota doesn’t have the stones to make a new sports car, as we saw with the HT-FS. Nissan (370), Mitsu (EVO), Subaru(WRX) and even Hyundai (Genesis) are filling the gaps here, though not necessarily in the same price bracket.

Source: [Autocar]

Being the inquisitive sort, I decided to take a look at this immense beast in some detail, and discovered yet another JDM car with a tonne of history and character.

About the Century

Named in homage to the 100 year anniversary of Japan becoming an open, trading country, the iconic Toyota Century began production in 1967, built by under contract by Toyota by Kanto Auto Works, Ltd. One of the largest JDM cars of its type, the first generation of the car surprisingly remained essentially the same for the following 30 years till the second generation in 1997.

Almost all Toyota Century’s are painted black, and all are FR layout based, luxury full size 4 door sedans with 3 or 4 speed automatic transmissions. The first generation (1967–1997) Toyota Century was based on the Toyota Crown, and so the 1967 model carried an upgraded version of the Toyota 3V 2.6L v8, bored to 3.0L. Following years would see upgrades to the 3V till its retirement in favor of the 3.4 L 4V-U V8 (1973), and 4.0 L 5V-EU V8 (1982).

It wasn’t till the second generation Century in 1997, that the car would receive the V12. The most expensive luxury car in the Japanese market received the 206KW (276HP) 1GZ-FE V12, a considerable power jump from the outgoing 5V-EU’s 140KW (187HP) and also received a new 6 speed automatic transmission. It received a bevy of other features such as, electrically closing and opening doors, and massaging rear seats, but stylistically the interior and exterior remained almost identical to the 1967 model that started the namesake.

The Century is a very low volume car, and while not strictly handmade, the car is scrutinized as if it was handmade, and hence the quality is extremely high. Considered a tasteful and conservative sign of wealth and success, the car does away with a flashy show of chrome, gold and platinum (often leather is discarded for quality cloth) to reflect complete conservatism and hence traditional Japanese restraint and manners.

Made to order, the Century is also a car of choice for the Japanese Imperial family who ride in one of five specially customized of the Century aptly named the Century Royal.

Technical Specifications

1st Generation (1967– 1997)

Chassis Codes:

• VG20 (3.0L 3V)
• VG30 (3.4L 4V-U)
• VG40 (4.0L 5V-EU)
• VG45 (4.0L 5V-EU)

Engines : (Note the ‘V’ is not an indication of valve number)

• 3.0 L 3V (1967)
• 3.4 L 4V-U (1973)
• 4.0L 5V-EU (1982)
• All engines: EFI 16-valve OHV V8. Standard unleaded petrol.
• Consumption: 16.3L/100kms combined.

Transmissions:

• 3 speed automatic (Floor shift, unknown designation)
• 4 speed automatic (1973, Floor shift, unknown designation)

Suspension (1982):

• Front: McPherson strut shaped spring system
• Rear: Lateral rod attaching 4 link spring system

Dimensions:

• Width: 74.4 in (1890 mm)
• Height: 57.1 in (1450 mm)
• Length: 201.6 in (5120 mm)
• Wheelbase: 112.2 in (2860 mm)
• Curb Weight: 3885 lb (1760 kg)

Other Features:

• Dual air conditioner
• ABS
• Power front and rear seats
• Optional leather

Second Generation (1997– Present)

Chassis Code:

• GZG50

Engine:

• 5.0 L 1GZ-FE V12, VVT-i, EFI 48-valve DOHC. Regular unleaded.
• Power: 276HP/206KW @ 5300RPM
• Peak Torque: 355 ft?lbf (481 N?m) @ 4000RPM
• Consumption: 13.8L/100kms combined

Transmission

• 4 speed automatic (ECT-i)
• 6 speed automatic (ECT-i)

Suspension

• Front and rear double wishbone type air spring

Dimensions:

• Width: 74.4 in (1890 mm)
• Height: 58.1 in (1475 mm)
• Length: 207.5 in (5270 mm)
• Wheelbase: 119.1 in (3025 mm)
• Curb Weight: 4393 lb (1990 kg)

Other Features:

• Rear fog lamp
• ABS
• TCS (Traction Control)
• Optional leather
• Dual air conditioner
• Central locking
• Power windows
• Telescopic, tilting steering wheel
• Power front and rear seats, with massage function on the rear
• In-car navigation
• Driver, passenger side airbags.
• Power steering
• Self opening and closing doors with contact latch close

What is All Japan Day?

Sick and tired of car shows that spend so much time promoting themselves that they’ve forgotten all about the cars?

So was the All Japan Day organising committee! We decided to band together and create a simple event that ‘got back to basics’ and allowed entrants and spectators to do what they love doing best — just admire and talk about the sensational cars on display. By keeping it simple, we’ve also kept the costs down, which has benefited both entrants and spectators.

We are very excited about our inaugural event on 27 April 2008 and we hope its success will encourage suitable entrants from interstate (maybe even overseas? Mazda please send us a 787B racer!) in future years.

So, come and enjoy us for a relaxing day out and be dazzled by some of Australia’s finest Japanese automobiles.

So for those of you in Adelaide who love Japanese cars, head over to the All Japan Day website to learn about becoming an entrant and spectator.

The last model Celica. Will we see styling cues from this?

But perhaps even more surprising is the rumor that the car will be engineered to a large degree by Subaru. In November Toyota confirmed rumours of a new sports car and Celica replacement, with the sports car being a collaboration between Subaru and Toyota, and now it seems the car is the performance model of the Celica line. However, the new car will not come with a Toyota bred turbo four in the tradition of the (somewhat) underpowered motor of the old model — instead it’s going to be carrying a Subaru Boxer turbo, most recently seen in the all grown up Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

The new model is said to come in two distinct performance variants. First, the base ‘GT’, packing a front engined, RWD drivetrain and naturally aspirated 2.0L 4 cylinder Boxer (most likely from the Impreza RX), designed to slide in under the $20,000 bracket. Secondly the full fat GT-4, which carries the new JDM STi’s 224KW (300HP) Boxer turbo and AWD system standard, with Motor Trend claiming the engine will be closer to the cars firewall in order to facilitate the installation of in-wheel electric motors to help with traction.

The GT and GT-4 will be built in in coupe and three-door hatch variants, but no five door variants because of Toyota and Subaru not wanting to compete in the Impreza’s arena, which is rather tongue in cheek considering this new car will inevitably be seen as either a Impreza in Toyota clothing, or as direct competition by tuners. This begs the question then; will the new GT-4 be a real contender in the hotly contested price for performance bracket? Will the Toyota be lighter, faster, and more capable than the new STi? Would Subaru shoot themselves in the foot, and does it matter considering Toyota’s widening stake in Subaru?

Does this mean Subaru will become more and more the performance arm of Toyota? Time will tell, but we certainly hope not.

Turbo Dreams Video

Supra Compilation/Mix

Lambo vs Supra (Tongue in Cheek because it’s so short)

Supra @ 380km/h (Also known as ‘suicidal’)

Supra VS Ferrari F360

Supra Drift Video

Monster Turbo Supra

Ryan Woods — Insane 8.62 sec Supra

Supra Police Chase

Supra VS R34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec

Prestige Motorsports prices for the Caldina start at AU$20,000 for a 02/03 model with ~60,000kms. The 2006/2007 will set you back around $30,000. Considerable value for money for this great turbo family wagon.

[Source: Prestige Motorsport]

New ‘AE86’?

The car is apparently being aimed at the under 2,000,000 yen mark. In itself this is interesting because typically, a JDM RWD coupe could very easily exceed this. Keeping this in mind, cost is the reason for the car’s 1.5L (EL15) DOHC flat-four engine. This DOHC engine puts out a very ho-hum 110ps @ 6,400rpm and 14.7kg/m @ 3,200rpm, and is a cheap, cost effective motor. Knowing this, Toyota wants the car to be under 1100kg to provide any sort of performance.

The test mule currently sports a 200mm shorter version of the Legacy chassis, 4WD running gear (minus front drive), double wishbone suspension, and a Subau differential. However, 7tune tells us the differential is a weak link, and it is more likely we will see the Impreza 15S platform over any further variations of the Legacy platform.

The aspect of this car that confuses us is that EL15 engine and it’s dismal output. Why? Both Subaru and Toyota have plenty of experience in making decent power DOHC motors in the 2.0L range, and in making light vehicles when they wish. Cost is a factor, but one has to wonder if the new collaboration wouldn’t be better served by adding 500,000 yen and giving us a more potent motor, even if it’s a sourced turbodiesel, like the new Boxer TDi.

Perhaps Subaru and Toyota are using the EL15 only to deter us, and have something more potent in the works. Something along the lines of the Mugen Civic RR’s 177kW N/A — or even ditching N/A for a turbocharged flat four. Perhaps add a few pounds to sort out the rear end, drivetrain mechanics and chassis strength — the extra weight would easily be accounted for with greatly increased power.

Perhaps Toyota has forgot how to make a sports car in the long years since the Supra, and even longer years since the AE86.

[Source: 7Tune]

�Last Week’s VOTW