All articles tagged with #toyota
Toyota is retiring the bluish halo on hybrids in favor of its Beyond Zero branding, adopting a blue-dot emblem for electrified models and dropping the 'Prime' label on plug-in hybrids. The change unifies hybrids, plug-ins, and BEVs under a single branding umbrella as the RAV4 stays in high demand and Toyota expands its electrified lineup.
Toyota said it will commit $1 billion at two U.S. plants—$800 million to expand Camry and RAV4 output in Georgetown, Kentucky, and $200 million to boost Grand Highlander capacity in Princeton, Indiana—as part of a broader plan to invest up to $10 billion in U.S. production through 2030, highlighting a strategy to build where it sells amid tariff and regulatory headwinds.
Denny Hamlin wins the Las Vegas Cup race, praising his Toyota/JGR organization and family support as he regains his love for racing; Chase Elliott finishes second and notes a strong day despite the heartbreak, while William Byron slides in third and discusses restart luck and what the team needs to build on for future races. The article compiles driver reactions across the top results, offering a snapshot of a competitive, high-pressure Las Vegas event.
Toyota is recalling about 550,007 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs from 2021–2024 due to a second-row seat back that may fail to lock, potentially increasing injury risk in a crash. Dealers will replace the recliner assembly return springs for free; owners will receive notification letters in April. Toyota customer service is 1-800-331-4331. NHTSA recall numbers are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
Toyota brings back the C-HR as a dual-motor AWD electric crossover with 338 hp, 287 miles of EPA range, and a $38,450 base price. It accelerates to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and offers a surprisingly lively, sporty driving character for an entry-level EV, aided by a sharp design and a big 14-inch infotainment screen. Interior details are a mixed bag (no glove compartment, varied materials, and bulky wireless chargers), while space is decent but not the highlight, and charging speed is solid but not class-leading. Against rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevrolet Equinox EV, the C-HR trades some practicality for fun and styling, signaling Toyota’s first genuine, engaging mainstream EV in a while—potentially improved further with a GR version in the future.
Toyota’s C-HR EV, built on the e-TNGA platform, starts at $38,135 (destination included) and will offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel-cell options. It features a dual-motor AWD with 338 hp and 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with EPA ranges up to 287 miles (SE) or 273 miles (XSE). The 74.7 kWh battery supports about 30-minute 10-80% charging via a NACS port, and the interior includes a 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. On sale in March 2026 alongside the bZ Woodland, as Toyota expands its EV lineup.
Toyota is expanding support for Apple Wallet car keys to select 2026 RAV4 trims in the U.S., enabling passive entry and starting the vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch via Ultra Wideband. The feature requires an iPhone 11 or newer (or Apple Watch Series 6+), and a Toyota Remote Connect subscription (from $15/month), with a free one-year trial included on new Toyotas.
Toyota’s 2026 bZ Woodland adds a larger, wagon-style EV to the lineup with 375 hp dual-motor AWD, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, up to 281 miles of EPA range, and a base price of $46,750. It offers strong cargo space (74.9 cu ft) and solid off-road capability via X-Mode, but sacrifices convenience (no frunk or glovebox) and falls short on software features, lacking built-in route planning, advanced navigation, and a more feature-rich interface despite a large 14-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The Woodland sits as a distinctive, capable option in a market dominated by smaller EV crossovers, with a Subaru-sourced Trailseeker variant on the way.
Toyota’s 2026 bZ Woodland is a raised electric wagon that aims to replace a do‑it‑all family car with true off‑road and cargo capability: 8.3 inches of ground clearance, 33.8 cu ft of rear cargo space, and a 74.7 kWh pack delivering up to 281 miles of range, with 375 hp and a 0–60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. Powered by a 400‑V system with up to 150 kW DC fast charging and 11 kW AC, it adds Grip Control/X‑Mode off‑road tech, standard roof rack, and optional all‑terrain tires (which reduce range by about 21 miles). Built similarly to Subaru’s Trailseeker, it competes with the Outback‑styled EV space, pricing around $46,750 versus Subaru’s roughly $41k–$46k, and while the interior isn’t the latest, it offers a practical, comfortable ride and strong EV performance—arguably Toyota’s strongest EV to date in a wagon that suits camping, snow, or everyday use.
Toyota, in collaboration with Toyota Connected North America and Very Good Ventures, unveiled Fluorite—a console-grade game engine fully integrated with the Flutter SDK to power in-car displays. The engine aims to deliver hardware-accelerated, Nintendo/console-level visuals for features like step-by-step 3D tutorials and environment mapping while remaining efficient on embedded auto hardware, addressing the licensing and resource hurdles seen with Unreal and Unity. Development is early and seeking engineering collaborations, with updates noting contributions from Jamie Kerber and Automotive Grade Linux.
Toyota confirms the Highlander will become its first dedicated three-row electric SUV, the Highlander EV, with all-wheel drive and a design closely related to the 2021 bZ Large SUV concept. Production specifics remain unknown, but it’s expected to feature a dual-motor AWD setup and around 300 miles of EPA range, with Toyota hinting at future higher-density batteries and faster charging; a full official unveil is set for February 10.
Toyota revealed Fluorite, a fully featured open-source game engine from Toyota Connected North America designed to run high-performance 3D graphics and interactive UI on embedded hardware like in-vehicle displays. It uses Dart and Flutter for logic/UI, a C++ ECS core, console-grade 3D rendering via Filament, and Blender-friendly model-defined touch zones, with Hot Reload to speed updates. The move aims to avoid licensing fees from traditional engines and could benefit indie developers, though it isn’t aimed at PC or console games.
Toyota explains that its emblem’s two inner ovals symbolize the unification of customers’ hearts with Toyota’s products, while the surrounding space represents ongoing technological advancement and future opportunities. Rumors that the ovals spell out the brand name are not official; the logo was introduced in 1989 to celebrate Toyota’s 50th anniversary and can also resemble a steering wheel or include a stylized “T.”
Toyota reports a 43% quarterly profit drop amid tariff pressures and higher costs, as CFO Kenta Kon is named the new CEO and president, replacing Koji Sato who will stay on as vice chairman. The company sticks to its full-year forecast despite weaker nine‑month profits, and shares climbed about 2% on the leadership announcement.
Toyota names CFO Kenta Kon as its new CEO starting April 1, with Koji Sato moving to vice chairman and a newly created Chief Industry Officer role. Kon’s finance-focused leadership comes as the automaker pushes services and partnerships to boost margins amid tariff headwinds and competition, while Sato focuses on manufacturing efficiency and cross-industry collaboration. Toyota recently sold 3% more vehicles globally but posted a 1.9% year-over-year drop in operating profit; it projects about $23.3 billion in operating profit for the fiscal year, a roughly 21% decline from the prior year.