TOYOTA PRADO 2009 – 2019

Though it has ‘proper 4WD’ body-on-chassis construction the Toyota Prado is aimed at buyers who will do most of their driving on-road – but who do want to get serious at times in moderate to harsh off-road conditions. Prado has been sold in Australia since 1996, but in this feature we will start with the November 2009 introduction of the fourth-generation. Australia is an extremely important market for the Toyota Prado, ours being the second largest in the world. The gen-four is usually a seven-seater, unlike the eight-seater that had… Read more

TOYOTA STEERS TOWARD EUROPE FOR NO-COMPROMISE SUPRA

As shutters around the world go up against pandemic and intellectual property pirates, automobile manufacturers increasingly are opening to the sharing of ideas, design and technology. For years, rising costs of new-vehicle development have opened the borders between what were once bitter rivals with sharing on an industrial scale: think Ford and Mazda with Ranger and BT-50 utes, Toyota and Subaru with the 86 and BRZ sports cars. And who can forget Holden and Toyota badge engineering Apollo / Camry and Nova / Corolla during the Button Plan days? Now,… Read more

TOYOTA C-HR GETS ADDED SAFETY

Toyota Safety Sense technologies for Toyota C-HR (Coupe – High Riding) improve its ability to avoid crashes, or minimise their impact. It does so by detecting and, if necessary, braking to help avoid other vehicles and pedestrians across a wider range of situations. Using an on-board camera and radar, C-HR’s pre-collision system now has the ability to detect pedestrians at night, not just during the day. It has also been further refined to detect cyclists in daylight, though at this stage not at night. The little Toyota an provide a… Read more

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES: MORE COMFORT AND TECHNOLOGY

I would like to start a personal note: When I got my first job as full-time motoring journalist, with Modern Motor magazine way back in 1984, my initial assignment was to report on the just-released Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series. Now 36 years and a few grey hairs down the track I’m reporting on the latest upgrades to the evergreen 70 Series… All LandCruiser 70 Series models, in cab-chassis, wagon and the iconic Troop Carrier now provide added creature comforts for hard-core off-road enthusiasts who rely on the 70’s outstanding 4WD… Read more

NEW CAMRY COMES FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTION

Here’s a thought. What if the Corona virus (aka COVID-19) had cast its deadly spell over the world a decade ago. With Australia now waking up to the disadvantages of relying on imported goods rather than making products in situ, perhaps we would still have a burgeoning automobile industry Down Under. How ironic that after 30 years the maker of the once popular Toyota Corona might still be turning out the Camry here. Instead the eighth generation of its once most popular vehicle is now coming from Toyota in Japan…. Read more

HILUX IS UP TO TAKING ON TOUGH TIMES

As COVID-19 continues to cast its ugly spell over hapless humankind, it seems we will not be rubbing shoulders with the new Toyota HiLux anytime soon, plant closures around the world disrupting manufacture. Toyota’s popular ute, or pick-up to be precise, is at the back end of its five-year cycle and badly needs to reinforce its spot at the top of the pile. In the meantime, the Japanese automotive giant is keen to keep potential buyers informed on what’s still on offer. Launched Down Under at the end of 2015,… Read more

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER 2011 – 2016

Toyota FJ Cruiser is a tribute to the legendary Toyota FJ 40 LandCruiser. That original Cruiser was a rough ’n’ tough old-style 4WD, whereas the new one that was launched here in March 2011 is much easier to live with. It’s also a lot more capable off-road than most people realise. Our launch took place five years after the FJ Cruiser had been introduced in the USA. Many Aussies had seen it over there, or in photos in local 4WD magazines, and lobbied Toyota to bring it downunder. It didn’t… Read more

COROLLA SEDAN PLANS TO PUT A SPURT ON HYBRID SALES

When it comes to buying cars, Australians are no fools. Just ask Toyota, the maker of this country’s most popular passenger vehicle, the Corolla, which with 30,468 units in 2019, maintained leadership in passenger-car sales for a seventh consecutive year. Petrol / electric hybrid models make up a fair chunk of these and, with the release of the Corolla Hybrid sedan at the end of last year, are set to turn up the wick on sales. Toyota Australia president Matthew Callachor says: “Along with our existing RAV4, Camry and Corolla… Read more

TOYOTA GRANVIA CHASING PASSENGERS BIG TIME

Describing the Toyota Granvia as a mere replacement for the Tarago is selling both vehicles short. The Tarago people mover came to Australia in 1983 as basically a van with windows and seats. Seven years later the revolutionary ‘egg-shaped’ model broke ground here and soon became a popular fashion leader in the people mover field. However, 36 years later, families appear to have forsaken the Tarago-type people mover in favour of the big seven-seater sports utility vehicle. Needless to say, Toyota is on to it. The Granvia has come calling… Read more

TOYOTA PRADO KAKADU HORIZON

Toyota has dressed up its top-of-the-range Prado SUV with the launch of a Kakadu Horizon special edition. The Horizon special edition has changes to the front bumper spoiler and spats for the rear bumper, chrome side moulding and chrome-accented mirror covers, metallic/pearl paint finish, clear rear combination lights and an exclusive Horizon badge. Inside, it gains two rear USB charging outlets and illuminated front scuff plates. Kakadu Horizon model is based on the 2.8-litre turbo diesel six-speed automatic Kakadu. As a genuine SUV it has a dual-range four-wheel drive system,… Read more