124-506: Toyota concept vehicles are transportation devices manufactured or designed by automobile company Toyota from 2000 to 2009. As their name suggests, these vehicles were concepts, and, as such, many were never released to dealerships. Many were developed in conjunction with other corporations such as Sony or Subaru . The Yaris Cabrio Concept was a 2-door convertible presented at the March 2000 Geneva Motor Show . The Yaris Cabrio featured
248-469: A SULEV emission rating. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (revised standards) rated it at 8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg ‑imp (28 mpg ‑US ) City/9.4 L/100 km; 30 mpg ‑imp (25 mpg ‑US ) Highway for FWD models and 8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg ‑imp (27 mpg ‑US )/9.4 L/100 km; 30 mpg ‑imp (25 mpg ‑US ) for AWD models. This system
372-521: A [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] rating for pedestrian protection. The safety and effectiveness of the Highlander/Kluger's Vehicle Stability Control system has been questioned by some motoring journalists. During testing for Wheels magazine Car of the Year in 2007, the magazine's editor rolled the vehicle during high-speed gravel road testing. Noting that it
496-900: A 2.8% stake in Panasonic , as well as stakes in vehicle manufacturing joint-ventures in China ( FAW Toyota and GAC Toyota ), the Czech Republic ( TPCA ), India ( Toyota Kirloskar ) and the United States ( MTMUS ). Toyota is listed on the London Stock Exchange , Nagoya Stock Exchange , New York Stock Exchange and on the Tokyo Stock Exchange , where its stock is a component of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX Core30 indices. In 1924, Sakichi Toyoda invented
620-500: A 3.3-liter V6 gasoline engine together with a 120 kW motor. The concept includes VDM and Electronically Controlled Brake System (ECB). The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 is a concept vehicle made in 2003 by the Rod Miller group for Toyota Motor Sales USA. An original 1967 FJ45 Land Cruiser wagon body was widened to fit onto a Land Cruiser 100 chassis and drive train. The 4.7-L V8 engine was set back 20 cm (8 in) to fit
744-536: A 4-cylinder for 5-passenger front-wheel drive models with the all-new ULEV-II certified 2.7-liter 1AR-FE I4 paired to a six-speed automatic. It generates 139 kW (187 hp; 190 PS) at 5,800 rpm and 252 N⋅m (186 lb⋅ft) of peak torque at 4,100 rpm on regular 87 octane fuel. The four-cylinder delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy of 12 L/100 km (20 mpg ‑US ; 24 mpg ‑imp ) city and 8.7 L/100 km (27 mpg ‑US ; 32 mpg ‑imp ) highway. This
868-475: A class below the Crown and Century and offered hardtop coupes and sedans. The Supra , Mark II , Cresta and Chaser offered several trim packages with different engine displacements to provide buyers with annual road tax advantages. At the same time, sports cars like Celica , Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno sold very well. Efforts to open a Toyota assembly plant in the United States started in 1980, with
992-549: A distinctive grille design, differentiating themselves from the non-Sport models. Wheel styling also serves to differentiate the various models—the hybrid sports a unique twin-spoke design. The Kluger was introduced to Australia in October 2003. It was available in three guises: CV, CVX, and Grande. A limited edition CV Sport model was also released in 2006. There was no hybrid model available in Australia. The only engine offered
1116-554: A driver selectable electric only EV mode (when possible) and another ECON mode which restricts acceleration and minimizes air conditioning during acceleration. The Highlander Hybrid Hybrid uses a 1.9 kWh sealed nickel-metal hydride traction battery. For the 2011 model year the Highlander Hybrid received styling changes and was upgraded with the 3.5-liter 2GR-FXE V6 (183 kW (245 hp; 248 PS)), increasing net power by 7 kW (10 hp; 10 PS), and
1240-467: A drop in production and exports. Severe flooding during the 2011 monsoon season in Thailand affected Japanese automakers that had chosen Thailand as a production base. Toyota is estimated to have lost production of 150,000 units to the tsunami and production of 240,000 units to the floods. On February 10, 2014, it was announced that Toyota would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by
1364-473: A fabric roof. It never reached the production stage. The Toyota Celica Ultimate Concept was introduced in 2000, and is based on the 7th generation Toyota Celica . The super car has 500 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and creates 340 lbs.-ft. of torque at 5,500. It is equipped with a 4-cylinder Inline-4 engine. The VM180 Zagato is a concept sports car designed by Zagato , based on the Toyota MR2 . It
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#17327836708221488-785: A joint venture with local partner Astra International in 1971, and conducted significant retooling at the PT Gaya Motor assembly plant. The plant began assembling various models, including the Toyota Corona, Toyota Land Cruiser, large trucks, and the Toyota Corolla, with production surpassing 10,000 vehicles by 1973. For both countries, Toyota developed a basic utility vehicle (BUV) with the local partners to meet local needs and support technology transfers, in response to domestic production policies in Asia. The first prototype of
1612-597: A long-standing partnership between Toyota and the two companies. After the successes of the 1970s, and the threats of import restrictions, Toyota started making additional investments in the North American market in the 1980s. In 1981, Japan agreed to voluntary export restraints , which limited the number of vehicles the nation would send to the United States each year, leading Toyota to establish assembly plants in North America. The U.S. government also closed
1736-408: A platform with its XU30 series Lexus RX/Toyota Harrier cousin. It came in five (2001–2007) and seven-seat (2004–2007) configurations and became a sales success for Toyota in a number of markets across the world. The Highlander came standard with front-wheel drive and offered all-wheel drive (50:50 front:rear fixed torque split). Unlike Toyota's own 4Runner and other mid-sized competitors such as
1860-480: A powertrain similar to the RX450h. The vehicle is now rated at 8 L/100 km; 34 mpg ‑imp (28 mpg ‑US ) for the city, highway and combined cycles. The Highland FCHV was a test vehicle using compressed hydrogen gas, with average fuel economy of 109.9 km/kg (68.3 mi/kg) (approximate mpg equivalent). The vehicle was unveiled at the 2007 LA Auto Show . The Chinese version of
1984-688: A production facility in Brazil, the company's first outside of Japan. Toyota entered the United States market in 1958, attempting to sell the Toyopet Crown. The company faced problems almost immediately. The company had to confront for the first time how its name sounded to native speakers of the English language; namely, "Toyota" has the English word " toy " in its first syllable. Toyota Motor Sales, USA 's first sales administrator James F. McGraw bluntly told his new Japanese supervisors after joining
2108-511: A seat on the board of directors in 2000. Akio's promotion by the board marked the return of a member of the Toyoda family to the top leadership role for the first time since 1999. In 2011, Toyota, along with large parts of the Japanese automotive industry , suffered from a series of natural disasters. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami led to a severe disruption of the supplier base and
2232-524: A vehicle. At the same time, the Japanese government heavily invested in improving road infrastructure. To take advantage of the moment, Toyota and other automakers started offering affordable economy cars like the Toyota Corolla , which became the world's all-time best-selling automobile . Toyota also found success in the United States in 1965 with the Toyota Corona compact car, which
2356-485: A vertical glass rear panel, that can be retracted into the bumper. Inside, ccX features a metal-and-rubber waterproof floor that includes four drain plugs for easy cleaning and see-through bucket seats, as well as mesh netting that can comfortably accommodate four passengers. A blue instrument cluster is mounted in the center of the dash for reduced driver fatigue and better visibility, and a seven-inch multi-display monitor displays DVD, navigation, and audio functions. Powering
2480-488: A white Corolla, rolled off the line at NUMMI on October 7, 1986. Toyota received its first Japanese Quality Control Award at the start of the 1980s and began participating in a wide variety of motorsports . Conservative Toyota held on to rear-wheel-drive designs for longer than most; while a clear first in overall production they were only third in production of front-wheel-drive cars in 1983, behind Nissan and Honda. In part due to this, Nissan's Sunny managed to squeeze by
2604-501: Is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi , Japan . It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, producing about 10 million vehicles per year. The company was founded as a spinoff of Toyota Industries , a machine maker started by Sakichi Toyoda , Kiichiro's father. Both companies are now part of
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#17327836708222728-552: Is a tire pressure monitor, a driver's knee airbag , front seat-mounted side torso airbags , side curtain airbags for all three rows which includes a rollover sensor and active front headrests. Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) is also standard which prevents rolling backwards on slopes, and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) is standard on AWD trims. The IIHS rates the Highlander "Good" overall in their frontal offset crash test, and good in all subcategories except for "Head/neck," which
2852-430: Is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. Sport and Limited models get a standard backup camera using a 3.5-inch LCD display. Major options include leather seats, heated seats, a touchscreen DVD based navigation system , a new Smart Key System , an upgraded JBL Synthesis stereo, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with 9-inch screen, and a towing package that increases towing capacity to 5000 pounds. The XU40
2976-478: Is based on the first generation Matrix . The UUV is a concept car made by Toyota, and shown at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show , and later the Swiss Motor Show . UUV stands for Urban Utility Vehicle. Toyota used a feature called Glass Vision , which is a full width, dash mounted screen which offers entertainment and navigational functions to both driver and passenger. The Toyota MR2 Street Affair
3100-686: Is based on the Highlander XSE sold in North America, with the Toyota badge on the front grille and steering wheel swapped for the Crown badge. Both are powered by a 2.5-liter engine with hybrid powertrain as an option. In North America, the fourth-generation Highlander is offered in L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum grades. A 2.5-liter gasoline/electric hybrid four-cylinder engine and Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT) are available on all but L and XSE, and are standard equipment on
3224-544: Is better than the previous model's four-cylinder with 12 L/100 km (19 mpg ‑US ; 23 mpg ‑imp )/9.4 L/100 km (25 mpg ‑US ; 30 mpg ‑imp ). The same three trim levels were offered (Base, Sport and Limited) until early 2010 when the SE model replaced the Sport model, buyers are still able to choose between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on V6 platforms. Also new
3348-564: Is near identical to that of the Lexus RX 400h . All-wheel drive models were rated to tow 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Toyota revealed the second generation Highlander and Highlander Hybrid at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show , with American sales beginning in July and hybrids in late September. The second generation Highlander and Highlander Hybrid were not sold in Japan. The five-seat Highlander for
3472-675: Is offered only as a Hybrid. The Highlander Hybrid was also launched in South Korea on 25 July 2023. In China, the fourth-generation Highlander was launched on 19 April 2021 at the Auto Shanghai . The Highlander continued to be built and sold by GAC Toyota joint venture. A twin model manufactured by FAW Toyota was launched simultaneously as the Crown Kluger ( simplified Chinese : 皇冠陆放 ; traditional Chinese : 皇冠陸放 ; pinyin : Huángguàn Lùfàng ). The Crown Kluger
3596-465: Is rated as "Acceptable." And "Good" overall in the side impact crash test, with "Good" rating in all nine measured categories. The Highlander is also rated "Good" in the roof strength test, giving it a "top safety pick" rating. In Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) testing the Kluger is given a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] rating but only
3720-453: Is similar to other mid-size crossover SUVs. In addition to the changes, the XU50 featured seating for eight people with a sliding second-row point of entry that gives it 109 mm (4.3 in) of added width space, soft-touch materials on the instrument panel, lane-departure warning , pre-collision warning and blind spot monitoring systems. HD Radio and Bluetooth was standard on all trims for
3844-422: Is the first Toyota vehicle to have the feature Toyota Space Touch , a system in which the driver "touches" holographic projections to control other systems (e.g. air conditioning) inside the car. The Toyota PM is a single seat concept vehicle built by Toyota around the idea of personal mobility. Multiple vehicles can communicate with each other to encourage "meeting, linking and hanging out together". It
Toyota concept vehicles (2000–2009) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3968-589: The Jeep Grand Cherokee , or Chevrolet TrailBlazer , the Highlander aimed for on-road comfort with its unibody construction and independent rear suspension. Although it was longer than the 1996–2002 4Runner available at the time it was launched, the Highlander was surpassed in length by the redesigned 4Runner in August 2002. The Highlander was available in three trim lines in the United States:
4092-526: The Kluger Hybrid that utilizes the company's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology combined with the company's 3MZ-FE 3.3-liter V6 engine offered in either FWD or AWD trim. The hybrid drivetrain was unveiled at the 2004 North American International Auto Show , and was offered to the public in July 2005 as a 2006 model. The power steering pump, water pump and AC compressor were changed from belt-drive to electrically powered versions. A modified alternator
4216-499: The New York International Auto Show and arriving in late 2000 in Japan and January 2001 in North America, the Highlander became one of the first car-based mid-size SUV or mid-size crossovers. The Highlander is the crossover counterpart to the more rugged, truck-based mid-size 4Runner and became Toyota's best-selling SUV before being surpassed by the smaller RAV4 in 2006. The first-generation model
4340-741: The Nissan Murano and the Honda Pilot . The larger engine made it possible for the Kluger to reach 0 to 97 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 7.8 seconds. The Japanese and Australian Kluger was released with a center console integrated with the dashboard, while the North American Highlander initially lacked this integrated center console. The integrated center console was introduced in all US Highlanders and in Canadian Limited Highlanders in 2001, for
4464-782: The T100 (and later the Tundra ), several lines of SUVs, a sport version of the Camry , known as the Camry Solara . They would also launch newer iterations of their sports cars, namely the MR2 , Celica , and Supra during this era. In Japan, Toyota continued to cater to the growing demand for mid-level luxury cars and offered several conventional and pillared hardtops sedans at its Japanese dealership network. The Soarer , Mark II , Cresta , Chaser , Corona EXiV , and Carina ED found many buyers. At
4588-636: The Tiara . After Kiichiro's death, his cousin Eiji Toyoda led the company for the two decades. Eiji helped establish the company's first plant independent from the Loom Works plant. At the start of the 1960s, the Japanese economy was booming, a period that came to be known as the Japanese economic miracle . As the economy grew, so did the income of everyday people, who now could afford to purchase
4712-610: The Toyota Group , one of the largest conglomerates in the world. While still a department of Toyota Industries, the company developed its first product, the Type A engine , in 1934 and its first passenger car in 1936, the Toyota AA . After World War II , Toyota benefited from Japan's alliance with the United States to learn from American automakers and other companies, which gave rise to The Toyota Way (a management philosophy) and
4836-874: The Toyota Mirai , a technology that is much costlier and has fallen far behind electric batteries in terms of adoption. As of 2024 , the Toyota Motor Corporation produces vehicles under four brands: Daihatsu , Hino , Lexus and the namesake Toyota. The company also holds a 20% stake in Subaru Corporation , a 5.1% stake in Mazda , a 4.9% stake in Suzuki , a 4.6% stake in Isuzu , a 3.8% stake in Yamaha Motor Corporation , and
4960-583: The Toyota Production System (a lean manufacturing practice) that transformed the small company into a leader in the industry and was the subject of many academic studies. In the 1960s, Toyota took advantage of the rapidly growing Japanese economy to sell cars to a growing middle-class, leading to the development of the Toyota Corolla , which became the world's all-time best-selling automobile . The booming economy also funded an international expansion that allowed Toyota to grow into one of
5084-618: The World Rally Championships , with functional lines, a lack of luxury features and 'designed to convey the sparse, functional simplicity of a race car'. The RSC was based on the RAV4 . The RSC was never made into a production vehicle. The FCHV-3 was powered by a 90 kW fuel cell, more than four times the power of the FCHV-1, and had a top speed of 150 km/h (94 mph) and a range of 250 km (155 miles). It
Toyota concept vehicles (2000–2009) - Misplaced Pages Continue
5208-441: The 2002 model year, and in all Canadian Highlanders in 2003, for the 2004 model year. However, for these early Highlanders without the integrated center console, a smaller non-integrated stand-alone center console was available as an option, either factory or dealer installed. In 2003, for the 2004 model year, in addition to the 3.3-liter engine, V6 -powered models were equipped with a new five-speed automatic transmission, replacing
5332-413: The 2011 model year, Toyota made some changes to the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid. While the general design remains similar to the 2010 model, the Highlander's front end has been significantly revised, now featuring new headlights, a new black with chrome accent rocker panel, and new front grille. The non-hybrid engines for 2011 remain the same, although now the 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine may be had on
5456-413: The 25% " chicken tax " on imported light trucks. By importing the truck as an incomplete chassis cab (the truck without a bed), the vehicle only faced a 4% tariff. Once in the United States, Atlas would build the truck beds and attach them to the trucks. The partnership was successful and two years later, Toyota purchased Atlas. In Southeast Asia, Toyota made efforts to establish domestic production in
5580-486: The AWD-only Hybrid trim with a 3.5-liter V6 mated to an eCVT . The Highlander is also approved for use as a New York City taxicab . For the third-generation model, Toyota Motor Sales USA took the role of producing the Kluger for Australia and New Zealand after Japanese production of the second-generation model ended in 2013. When the model was replaced with the succeeding XU70 model in 2019, production in
5704-858: The BUV was completed in January 1975. The BUV was launched as the Toyota Tamaraw in the Philippines in December 1976, and as the Toyota Kijang in June 1977. The vehicle was well received in both countries. The energy crisis of the 1970s was a major turning point in the American auto industry. Before the crisis, large and heavy vehicles with powerful but inefficient engines were common. But in
5828-474: The Bronze Edition grade. All grades are available with either Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or All Wheel Drive (AWD). The 2020 model year Highlander was awarded "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS , it received Good ratings in at least six crash test evaluations and it did not receive the higher-tier award as the base trim LED reflector headlights had poor visibility and produce excessive glare. The Grand Highlander
5952-579: The Camry sedan, Camry hybrid, Prius and the RAV4 during the launching event at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Between 2009 and 2011, Toyota conducted recalls of millions of vehicles after reports that several drivers experienced unintended acceleration . The recalls were to prevent a front driver's side floor mat from sliding into the foot pedal well, causing the pedals to become trapped and to correct
6076-548: The Corolla in numbers built that year. Before the decade was out, Toyota introduced Lexus , a new division that was formed to market and service luxury vehicles in international markets. Prior to the debut of Lexus, Toyota's two existing flagship models, the Crown and Century , both catered exclusively for the Japanese market and had little global appeal that could compete with international luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz , BMW and Jaguar . The company had been developing
6200-481: The Crown went on sale in August 1955. The car was met with positive reviews from around the world. After the introduction of the Crown, Toyota began aggressively expanding into the export market; the company entered Saudi Arabia for the first time in 1955 with Land Cruisers, following an agreement reached with Abdul Latif Jameel (founder of his company of the same name ); Toyota also brought Land Cruisers into neighboring Yemen in 1956. In 1958, Toyota established
6324-459: The EPA has rated the hybrid at 8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg ‑imp (27 mpg ‑US ) for the city and 9.4 L/100 km; 30 mpg ‑imp (25 mpg ‑US ) for the highway, same as the previous model. The Highlander's fuel economy, while better than the Lexus RX 400h 's, lags behind the compact 4cyl Ford Escape Hybrid , which ceased production in 2012, and
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#17327836708226448-463: The Highlander (ASU40/GSU45) was unveiled in 2009 at the 13th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition . On 27 March 2013, Toyota unveiled the third generation XU50 series Highlander at the New York International Auto Show , with plans to have the vehicle reach dealerships in early 2014. Production began on 5 December. The XU50 version is longer and wider than the outgoing generation and its design has changed from its boxy look to one that
6572-599: The Highlander Hybrid went on sale in January 2021, solely with a hybrid powertrain. The Highlander for the UK market has been available since March 2021, a year later than the US models due to the extensive engineering work for right-hand-drive models, while the Kluger for the Australian market became available in June 2021. The Highlander was also launched across Gulf Cooperation Council countries around June and July 2020, where it
6696-459: The Highlander is being built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana , from the 2010 model year onward for a majority of North America, replacing Tundra production. TMMI Highlander production began in October 2009 for gasoline engine models only; hybrids continued to be imported from Japan until the release of the third generation XU50, where all production except for China
6820-543: The Highlander. The Clean Hydrocarbon Fuel (CHF) reformer of the FCHV-5 was equipped with a newly developed catalyst and heat exchanger to improve acceleration and fuel economy. Like the FCHV-3 and FCHV-4, it was based on the Highlander. The Toyota Project Go is a concept race car made by Toyota, and shown at the 2002 Sydney Motor Show. The Toyota Matrix Sport is a sport wagon made by Toyota in 2002. The concept
6944-413: The Limited trim. The unibody was slightly modified behind the second row seats to include a depression in the hatch floor able to accommodate the optional third row seating. On models without third row seating, this depression was turned into a storage compartment (prior to 2004 the spare tire was accessible from inside the vehicle where the third row seating would subsequently be located; beginning in 2004
7068-414: The Philippines and Indonesia in early 1970s. In the Philippines, it partnered with local company Delta Motor Corporation . Toyota assisted Delta Motor with capital procurement and technology transfers. In 1973, Delta Motor commenced operations at a new plant, beginning local production of engine blocks for the Toyota Corona 12R engine and other parts. In Indonesia, Toyota established Toyota Astra Motor as
7192-411: The Prius. In 2001, Toyota acquired its long time partner, truck and bus manufacturer Hino Motors . In 2002, Toyota entered Formula One competition and established a manufacturing joint venture in France with French automakers Citroën and Peugeot . A youth-oriented marque for North America, Scion , was introduced in 2003. Toyota ranked eighth on Forbes 2000 list of the world's leading companies for
7316-660: The SE trim level, previously only available on the base model. More standard features are now equipped on all trim levels, with the base model receiving front and rear air conditioning, power locks/windows, cruise control, and a multi-function keyless entry control. The facelifted model was also sold in Russia from 2010 to 2013. Pre-facelift styling Post-facelift styling All models come standard with enhanced Vehicle Stability Control which immediately alters electric powering steering assist w/ traction control (hybrids come standard with VDIM ), anti-lock brakes , brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution . Also standard
7440-450: The Soviet Union and the U.S., who had been allies in World War II. U.S. priorities shifted (the " Reverse Course ") from punishing and reforming Japan to ensuring internal political stability, rebuilding the economy, and, to an extent, remilitarizing Japan. Under these new policies, in 1949, Japanese automakers were allowed to resume passenger car production, but at the same time, a new economic stabilization program to control inflation plunged
7564-409: The Toyoda Model G Automatic loom . The principle of jidoka , which means the machine stops itself when a problem occurs, became later a part of the Toyota Production System . Looms were built on a small production line . In 1929, the patent for the automatic loom was sold to the British company Platt Brothers , generating the starting capital for automobile development. Under the direction of
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#17327836708227688-418: The Toyota Motor Company Ltd. Kiichiro's brother-in-law Rizaburo Toyoda was appointed the firm's first president, with Kiichiro as vice-president. Toyota Automatic Loom Works formally transferred automobile manufacturing to the new entity on September 29. The Japanese government supported the company by preventing foreign competitors Ford and General Motors from importing automobiles into Japan. At
7812-412: The Toyota Production System. For Toyota, the factory gave the company its first manufacturing base in North America allowing it to avoid any future tariffs on imported vehicles and saw GM as a partner who could show them how to navigate the American labor environment. The plant would be led by Tatsuro Toyoda , the younger brother of company president Shoichiro Toyoda. The first Toyota assembled in America,
7936-646: The US continued for exports to both countries until 2021. A refreshed 2017 model year Highlander appeared at the New York International Auto Show in March 2016 with sales starting in the fourth quarter of 2016. In V6 powered models, an eight-speed automatic replaced the six-speeder and the revised V6 engine (now designated 2GR-FKS ) added Toyota's D4-S direct injection fuel system. The facelifted Highlander has an updated fascia with restyled headlights and tail lights, addition of SE trim, XLE and LE Hybrid trims, and updated exterior and interior colors. Chinese market facelift styling The fourth-generation Highlander
8060-456: The US version, which will also come equipped with Toyota's Entune multimedia system along with a 6.1-inch touchscreen display audio system. An eight-inch touchscreen system and Toyota's Entune app suite with 12 JBL speakers were offered as an optional feature. The three powertrain trims that were offered include a 2.7-liter, six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive base model, a 3.5-liter, six-speed automatic model in both front- or all-wheel drive, and
8184-507: The United States and Canada was dropped as the Venza replaced it. Initially the sole powertrain for the 2008 Highlander was a 201 kW (270 hp; 274 PS) 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 mated to a five-speed automatic . The four-cylinder model had been discontinued but added again in 2009. While the 3.5-liter engine has 41 kW (55 hp; 56 PS) more than the previous 3.3-liter V6 and dimensional increases along with increased sound proofing added nearly 225 kg (500 lb) to
8308-475: The United States government over accusations that it had intentionally hid information about safety defects and had made deceptive statements to protect its brand image. Amid the unintended acceleration scandal, Katsuaki Watanabe stepped down as company president. He was replaced by Akio Toyoda , grandson of company founder Kiichiro Toyoda, on June 23, 2009. Akio had been with Toyota since 1984, working jobs in production, marketing and product development, and took
8432-425: The accident and criticised the testing procedures as "unscientific". The Hybrid features Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive which continues to allow an electric only powered mode for short distances and speeds. Weight and cost have been improved over the previous hybrid. The expanded size and new features have led to an increase of 500 pounds to its curb weight . All Highlander Hybrids are all-wheel drive, and
8556-399: The attitude and mood of the driver based on their reactions and how they are driving, and could offer advice on how to improve their current mood. The seats inside are like stools which could freely spin and rotate. On the exterior, the Pod could express its own feelings with coloured LEDs - red for anger, yellow for happy, blue for sad - and an antenna that wags, much like a dog's tail. The Pod
8680-447: The automotive industry into a serious shortage of funds, while many truck owners defaulted on their loans. Ultimately, the Bank of Japan , the central bank of the country, bailed out the company, with demands that the company institute reforms. As the 1950s began, Toyota emerged from its financial crisis a smaller company, closing factories and laying off workers. Meanwhile, the Korean War broke out, and being located so close to
8804-459: The base model, the Sport model, and the Limited model. The base and Limited models were present when the Highlander was initially introduced, while the Sport model was introduced in March 2006. In 2004, the wheels on the Limited trim changed from a six-spoke to a five-spoke alloy. The base-model Highlander wheels also changed from steel-rims to the alloy wheels that were on the 2001–2003 model year Highlander Limited and B-Package. The Sport models had
8928-478: The battlefront, the U.S. Army placed an order for 1,000 trucks from Toyota. The order helped to rapidly improve the struggling company's business performance. In 1950, company executives, including Kiichiro's cousin Eiji Toyoda , took a trip to the United States where they trained at the Ford Motor Company and observed the operations of dozens of U.S. manufacturers. The knowledge they gained during
9052-457: The brand and vehicles in secret since August 1983, at a cost of over US$ 1 billion. The LS 400 flagship full-size sedan debuted in 1989 to strong sales, and was largely responsible for the successful launch of the Lexus marque. In the 1990s, Toyota began to branch out from producing mostly compact cars by adding many larger and more luxurious vehicles to its lineup, including a full-sized pickup,
9176-467: The company in 1959: "'Toy' sounds like a toy and toys break". The Crown was a flop in the U.S. market, with buyers finding it overpriced and underpowered (because it was designed for endurance on the bad roads of Japan, not high-speed performance on the good roads of America). In response, exports of the Crown to the United States were suspended in the early 1960s in favor of the Land Cruiser and
9300-495: The company proposing a joint-venture with the Ford Motor Company . Those talks broke down in July 1981. Eventually in 1984, the company struck a deal with General Motors (GM) to establish a joint-venture vehicle manufacturing plant called NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.) in Fremont, California . GM saw the joint venture as a way to get access to a quality small car and an opportunity to learn about The Toyota Way and
9424-417: The company ran a public competition to design a new logo. Of 27,000 entries, the winning entry was the three Japanese katakana letters for "Toyoda" in a circle. However, Rizaburo Toyoda , who had married into the family and was not born with that name, preferred "Toyota" ( トヨタ ) because it took eight brush strokes (a lucky number) to write in Japanese, was visually simpler (leaving off the diacritic at
9548-543: The company their father had founded. In 1992, Shoichiro Toyoda would shift to become chairman, allowing his brother Tatsuro to become president, a job he held until his retirement in 1995. Shoichiro would step down as chairman in 1999. Both would retain honorary advisory roles in the company. Hiroshi Okuda would lead the company as president from 1995 until 1999 when he became chairman and the President's office would be filled by Fujio Cho . In August 2000, exports began of
9672-459: The company to 33.4 percent, giving Toyota the ability to veto shareholder resolutions at the annual meeting. In 1998, Toyota increased its holding in the company to 51.2 percent, becoming the majority shareholder. On September 29, 1999, the company decided to list itself on the New York and London Stock Exchanges . The later half of the 1990s would also see the Toyoda brothers step back from
9796-730: The company's first truck, the G1 , was completed on August 25, 1935, and debuted on November 21 in Tokyo, becoming the company's first production model. Modeled on a period Ford truck, the G1 sold for ¥2,900, ¥200 cheaper than the Ford truck. A total of 379 G1 trucks were ultimately produced. In April 1936, Toyoda's first passenger car, the Model AA , was completed. The sales price was ¥3,350, ¥400 cheaper than Ford or GM cars. The company's plant at Kariya
9920-486: The coupe was powered by a 4.3 L 3UZ-FE V8 engine using a 6-speed sequential manual gearbox. The Toyota RSC ("Rugged Sport Coupe") was a Toyota 2-door SUV concept car that was first shown at the February 2001 Chicago Auto Show . The RSC was designed by Calty as a 'pure concept vehicle', with no intention to go into production but to 'connect emotionally with young buyers'. Design cues came from rally cars used in
10044-508: The design and manufacturing of auto bodies, which were then mounted on truck frames made by Toyota. The project was a major test for Toyota, who would need to build bodies and develop a new chassis that would be comfortable, but still stand up to the muddy, slow, unpaved roads common in Japan at the time. The project had been championed for many years by founder Kiichiro Toyoda, who died suddenly on March 27, 1952. The first prototypes were completed in June 1953 and began extensive testing, before
10168-658: The end of 2017. The decision was based on the unfavourable Australian dollar making exports not viable, the high cost of local manufacture, and the high amount of competition in a relatively small local market. The company planned to consolidate its corporate functions in Melbourne by the end of 2017, and retain its Altona plant for other functions. The workforce is expected to be reduced from 3,900 to 1,300. Both Ford Motor Company and General Motors ( Holden ) followed suit, ending Australian production in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The automaker narrowly topped global sales for
10292-434: The end), and with a voiceless consonant instead of a voiced one (voiced consonants are considered to have a "murky" or "muddy" sound compared to voiceless consonants, which are "clear"). Since toyoda literally means "fertile rice paddies", changing the name also prevented the company from being associated with old-fashioned farming. The newly formed word was trademarked and the company began trading on August 28, 1937, as
10416-409: The engine bay. A custom independent rear suspension was made and the front suspension was modified for increased travel. The Toyota CS&S is a four-wheel drive , mid-engine sports car concept made by Toyota and displayed in 2003. It utilizes a hybrid system combining electric motors to drive the front wheels, and a combination of a petrol engine and electric motors powering the rear. It
10540-609: The first half of 2014, selling 5.1 million vehicles in the six months ending June 30, 2014, an increase of 3.8% on the same period the previous year. Volkswagen AG , which recorded sales of 5.07 million vehicles, was close behind. Toyota Highlander The Toyota Highlander , also known as the Toyota Kluger ( Japanese : トヨタ・クルーガー , Hepburn : Toyota Kurūgā ) , is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Toyota since 2000. Announced in April 2000 at
10664-526: The founder's son, Kiichiro Toyoda , Toyoda Automatic Loom Works established an Automobile Division on September 1, 1933, and formally declared its intention to begin manufacturing automobiles on January 29, 1934. A prototype Toyota Type A engine was completed on September 25, 1934, with the company's first prototype sedan, the A1 , completed the following May. As Kiichiro had limited experience with automobile production, he initially focused on truck production;
10788-479: The four-speed automatic transmission, while the inline-four models continued to use the old four-speed. This year also saw the introduction of the optional third row seat allowing for two additional passengers. The center console, which was previously exclusive to the Limited trim level, was now standard across all trims. A DVD-based navigation system was introduced to the Highlander for the first time as an option on
10912-470: The front-wheel-drive ccX is a 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine that is linked to a four-speed automatic transmission. It was also shown in 2003 as the Scion ccX . The Toyota SU-HV1 is a concept car made by Toyota, and shown at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show . It entered production as the Lexus RX . The SU-HV1 features an SUV-optimized Hybrid Synergy Drive and E-Four. The hybrid system power unit comprises
11036-413: The frontal offset crash test . The IIHS reported the Highlander had one of the lowest driver fatality rates among all vehicles, and amongst SUVs, only the Toyota 4Runner had a lower driver fatality rate. This report looked at 2001–2005 model year vehicles in the US. Initially, the Kluger was a regular, non-hybrid SUV driven by an internal combustion engine, but later Toyota introduced a hybrid version,
11160-420: The largest automakers in the world, the largest company in Japan and the ninth-largest company in the world by revenue , as of December 2020 . Toyota was the world's first automobile manufacturer to produce more than 10 million vehicles per year, a record set in 2012, when it also reported the production of its 200 millionth vehicle. By September 2023, total production reached 300 million vehicles. Toyota
11284-449: The latest RX 450h, but still produces significantly fewer emissions than the non-hybrid version with a CARB SULEV rating. The Highlander Hybrid continues to use the same 3.3-liter 3MZ-FE V6 (155 kW (208 hp; 211 PS)) offered in AWD from the prior model, net power is 175 kW (235 hp; 238 PS). VDIM and Electronically Controlled Brake remain new features include
11408-685: The loophole that allowed Toyota to pay lower taxes by building truck beds in America. Also in 1981, Eiji Toyoda stepped down as president and assumed the title of chairman. He was succeeded as president by Shoichiro Toyoda , the son of the company's founder. Within months, Shoichiro started to merge Toyota's sales and production organizations, and in 1982 the combined companies became the Toyota Motor Corporation. The two groups were described as "oil and water" and it took years of leadership from Shoichiro to successfully combine them into one organization. In Japan, Toyota offered mid-level luxury cars that were
11532-522: The onset of World War II , Toyota almost exclusively produced standard-sized trucks for the Japanese Army, which paid one-fifth of the price in advance and the remainder in cash upon delivery. Japan was heavily damaged in World War II and Toyota's plants, which were used for the war effort, were not spared. On August 14, 1945, one day before the surrender of Japan , Toyota's Koromo Plant
11656-628: The other in Blue Springs, Mississippi, USA. The company was number one in global automobile sales for the first quarter of 2008. Toyota was hit by the global financial crisis of 2008 as it was forced in December 2008 to forecast its first annual loss in 70 years. In January 2009, it announced the closure of all of its Japanese plants for 11 days to reduce output and stocks of unsold vehicles. In October 2009, Toyota announced that they were establishing an office in South Korea and launched
11780-405: The possible mechanical sticking of the accelerator pedal . At least 37 were killed in crashes allegedly related to unintended acceleration, approximately 9 million cars and trucks were recalled, Toyota was sued for personal injuries and wrongful deaths, paid US$ 1 billion to settle a class action lawsuit to compensate owners for lost resale value, and paid a US$ 1.2 billion criminal penalty to
11904-429: The rear wheels are powered by a separate electric motor. This system is intended for use on snow and ice and is prone to overheating the rear electric motor off-road. Anti-lock brakes , brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution were standard, Vehicle Stability Control w/ traction control optional on 2001–03 models became standard for 2004 models (Hybrids come standard with VDIM ). Also standard for 2004
12028-537: The same time, sports cars like the Supra , Celica , MR2 , Corolla Levin , Sprinter Trueno , and even the subcompact Starlet GT reflected a time of prosperity. December 1997 saw the introduction of the first-generation Toyota Prius , the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car. The vehicle would be produced exclusively for the Japanese market for the first two years. With a major presence in Europe, due to
12152-585: The slight opening of the Japanese auto market to foreign companies. In an effort to strengthen Japan's auto industry ahead of the market opening, Toyota purchased stakes in other Japanese automakers. That included a stake in Hino Motors , a manufacturer of large commercial trucks, buses and diesel engines, along with a 16.8 percent stake in Daihatsu , a manufacturer of kei cars , the smallest highway-legal passenger vehicles sold in Japan. That began what became
12276-523: The spare tire is accessible from underneath the vehicle). Subtle changes to the front grille, front and rear bumpers, headlights and tail lights (LED tail lights on later hybrid models) round-out the major changes for the 2003 mid-cycle refresh. In 2005, for the 2006 model year, Highlanders sold in Canada were offered only in a V6 all-wheel drive configuration. Hybrid models were available with part-time four-wheel drive, which Toyota refers to as 4WD-i whereby
12400-617: The success of Toyota Team Europe in motorsport, the corporation decided to set up Toyota Motor Europe Marketing and Engineering, TMME , to help market vehicles in the continent. Two years later, Toyota set up a base in the United Kingdom, TMUK , as the company's cars had become very popular among British drivers. Bases in Indiana , Virginia , and Tianjin were also set up. Toyota also increased its ownership of Daihatsu during this period. In 1995, Toyota increased its shareholding in
12524-466: The trip, along with what the company learned making looms, gave rise to The Toyota Way (a management philosophy) and the Toyota Production System (a lean manufacturing practice) that transformed the company into a leader in the manufacturing industry. Toyota started developing its first full-fledged passenger car, the Toyopet Crown , in 1952. Prior to the Crown, Toyota had been outsourcing
12648-571: The vehicle's curb weight of approximately 1,815 kg (4,000 lb), fuel economy is slightly improved. The EPA estimated fuel economy for front-wheel drive models is at 13 L/100 km (18 mpg ‑US ; 22 mpg ‑imp ) city and 9.8 L/100 km (24 mpg ‑US ; 29 mpg ‑imp ) highway (previous generation was: 14 L/100 km (17 mpg ‑US ; 20 mpg ‑imp ) city and 10 L/100 km (23 mpg ‑US ; 28 mpg ‑imp ) hwy). For 2009, Toyota again offered
12772-663: The year 2005. Also in 2005, Fujio Cho would shift to become chairman of Toyota and would be replaced as president by Katsuaki Watanabe . In 2007, Toyota released an update of its full-sized truck, the Tundra, produced in two American factories, one in Texas and one in Indiana. Motor Trend named the 2007 Toyota Camry "Car of the Year" for 2007. It also began the construction of two new factories, one in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and
12896-416: The years after, consumers started demanding high-quality and fuel-efficient small cars. Domestic automakers, in the midst of their malaise era , struggled to build these cars profitably, but foreign automakers like Toyota were well positioned. This, along with growing anti-Japanese sentiment , prompted the U.S. Congress to consider import restrictions to protect the domestic auto industry. The 1960s also saw
13020-481: Was a Toyota concept sports car based on the MR2 that was designed by Toyota Germany. A turbocharger was added to the engine to lift power from 100 kW to 193 kW. The body was made from fibreglass, with carbon fibre panels and numerous air scoops leading to the engine bay. The front took style cues from Toyota's Formula 1 car, having a pointed nose and a front wing close to the ground with Formula 1 style wing-lets in front of semi-exposed tyres. The rear mirror
13144-463: Was a concept van made by Toyota and first shown at the October 2001 Tokyo Motor Show . The van had a high mounted driving position and a rear cabin designed to be useful as an office or studio. The Toyota FXS (Future eXperimental Sports) was a concept car made by Toyota and first shown at the October 2001 Tokyo Motor Show , and later at the March 2002 Geneva Motor Show . Based on the Soarer ,
13268-404: Was a tire pressure monitor. Front seat-mounted side torso airbags were optional on 2001–06 models, while front and second row side curtain airbags were optional on 2004–06 models. Side airbags became standard on 2007 models and the curtain airbags gained a rollover sensor that year as well. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests the Highlander was rated "Good" overall in
13392-458: Was bombed by the Allied forces . After the surrender, the U.S.-led occupying forces banned passenger car production in Japan. However, automakers like Toyota were allowed to begin building trucks for civilian use, in an effort to rebuild the nation's infrastructure. The U.S. military also contracted with Toyota to repair its vehicles. By 1947, there was an emerging global Cold War between
13516-463: Was completed in May. In July, the company filled its first export order, with four G1 trucks exported to northeastern China. On September 19, 1936, the Japanese imperial government officially designated Toyota Automatic Loom Works as an automotive manufacturer. Vehicles were originally sold under the name "Toyoda" (トヨダ), from the family name of the company's founder, Kiichirō Toyoda . In September 1936,
13640-540: Was consolidated at TMMI. In Australia, the new generation Kluger was launched in August 2007. There are three trims available, KX-R, KX-S and Grande. All trims are available with either 2WD or AWD. The base model KX-R is also available with either five or seven seats, whilst the latter trims are seven seaters only. Specifications are mostly similar to the US Highlander, sharing the same 3.5-liter V6 2GR-FE engine and five-speed automatic transmission. In 2010, for
13764-524: Was designed as a " car of the future " and hence was never put into production. The Pod was featured in the game Gran Turismo Concept and had an exclusive race to itself. A new track - using segments from the Clubman Stage Route 5 course - was created which involved 6 Pods driving through the pitlane backwards before stopping in a special area for several seconds before being allowed to resume racing. The Toyota DMT (Dual Mode Traveller)
13888-402: Was developed on the body of a Toyota Highlander . The FCHV-4 (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle 4) was the fourth vehicle built by Toyota in its Fuel Cell Vehicle program . It was the first model to be approved for public road testing in Japan, and road tests continued until 2004. Through leasing programs in the US and Japan, it was the first to be commercialised. Like the FCHV-3, it was based on
14012-432: Was first shown at the October 2001 Tokyo Motor Show . The Pod was unique as it was designed with artificial intelligence systems built in to make the car appear more personal. The Pod was much like a living being due to the artificial intelligence programmed into it. It featured a screen inside with Sony-created software running on it, capable of creating shopping lists and running music and radio. The car could also judge
14136-517: Was incorporated into the hybrid system. In North America, the hybrid version was called the Highlander Hybrid . It was also the first seven-seat hybrid vehicle . With the electric motors providing power, overall acceleration improved, particularly at passing speeds. Other additions include Toyota's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system and Electronically Controlled Brake (ECB). The California Air Resources Board gave it
14260-606: Was initially produced exclusively at Toyota Motor Kyushu's Miyata plant for all global markets beginning in May 2007. Production in China for local sales was started on 25 May 2009 by GAC Toyota in Nansha District, Guangzhou, Guangdong. Toyota had intended on building the Highlander in Blue Springs, Mississippi for the North American market in the 2011 model year. However, the Corolla was built there instead, and
14384-432: Was praised for being a leader in the development and sales of more fuel-efficient hybrid electric vehicles , starting with the introduction of the original Toyota Prius in 1997. The company now sells more than 40 hybrid vehicle models around the world. More recently, the company has also been criticized for being slow to adopt all-electric vehicles , instead focusing on the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles , like
14508-537: Was redesigned specifically for the American market with a more powerful engine. The Corona helped increase U.S. sales of Toyota vehicles to more than 20,000 units in 1966 (a threefold increase) and helped the company become the third-best-selling import brand in the United States by 1967. Toyota's first manufacturing investment in the United States came in 1972 when the company struck a deal with Atlas Fabricators, to produce truck beds in Long Beach, in an effort to avoid
14632-528: Was replaced with a camera. The Toyota ccX (stands for Coupe Crossover) was introduced at the 2002 North American International Auto Show . The ccX combines the styling of a sporty coupe with the cargo capability of a light-duty SUV. Designed in Japan and built in Italy , ccX features strong sweeping lines, sharp surface edges, a tall sloping roofline, rounded front and rear contours, two large power sunroofs, and
14756-552: Was shown at the Geneva Motor Show and only 100 were built. The Toyota ES (Eco Spirit cubed) was a concept car made by Toyota in 2001. It was designed to use parts made from bioplastics . The ES was not made into a production vehicle but the technology was used in the Raum in 2003 under the name of Toyota Eco-Plastic . The Toyota Pod was a concept car created by Toyota in collaboration with Sony . The Pod
14880-644: Was shown at the October 2003 Tokyo Motor Show . The Toyota NLSV is a concept vehicle built by Toyota and first shown at the October 2003 Tokyo Motor Show . It had a high roof, a low, flat floor and the door slid back on rails so that even disabled passengers could enter. The front passenger seat could be folded up and slid forward under the dash to make even more room for wheel chairs or cargo. Toyota Toyota Motor Corporation ( Japanese : トヨタ自動車株式会社 , Hepburn : Toyota Jidōsha kabushikigaisha , IPA: [toꜜjota] , English: / t ɔɪ ˈ j oʊ t ə / , commonly known as simply Toyota )
15004-587: Was sold in Japan as the Kluger, which was exclusive to a dealership network called Toyota Netz as a larger alternative to the RAV4. The Kluger nameplate is also used in Australia because "Highlander" is a trademarked trim line name owned by Hyundai . The name is derived from the German word klug , which means smart or clever ( Klüger – with diacritics – means "someone who is smarter than another" in German). The Highlander (or Kluger in Japan and Australia) shared
15128-447: Was the 3.3-liter 3MZ-FE V6 . Typical fuel economy using the Australian standard testing regime is 12.3 L/100 km (23.0 mpg ‑imp ; 19.1 mpg ‑US ). Engines: The 3.0-liter engine was able to propel the Kluger from 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in approximately 8.8 seconds. In 2004 the Kluger was given a new 3.3-liter V6 engine to compete with the more powerful V6 offerings from its competitors, mainly
15252-419: Was the first such event in the magazine's 45-year history, he criticised the vehicle's stability system stating that "Deficiencies in the Kluger's ESP contributed to the crash". Six of the seven other judges also stated that they felt "the vehicle's ESP performance was sub-standard" , and remarked that the vehicle was "almost dangerous on dirt [roads]" . In a written response, Toyota disputed the circumstances of
15376-406: Was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show on 17 April 2019. It is built on GA-K platform. In the United States, the fourth-generation Highlander gasoline model went on sale on 18 December 2019 for the 2020 model year. Compared to the previous generation, there is increased cargo room behind the third row and support was added for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . In Europe,
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