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Toyota Motor Corp. has delayed the Japan launch of its new wagon-style Prius in the wake of the parts shortage triggered by this month's earthquake.

The company had planned to start selling the car in Japan by the end of April. But that date has been pushed back, spokeswoman Mieko Iwasaki said.

She was unable to say when the new launch date would be. But the setback isn't expected to affect the car's arrival in the United States and Europe later this year, Iwasaki said.

The delay makes the Prius wagon among the first new model launches to be thrown off track by the March 11 earthquake. Toyota cited the company's production shutdown, disarray in Japan's automotive supply chain and damage to its local dealer networks as reasons for the move.

Toyota is planning two versions of the Prius wagon: A two-row five seater for the United States and a three-row seven seater for Europe. Japan is expected to get both variants.

Toyota has shut down all 18 domestic assembly plants through at least March 26. Many parts makers are still struggling to come back online after being damaged in the quake or are having trouble delivering parts due to transportation snarls.

Among the damaged plants is a key factory supplying batteries for Toyota hybrid vehicles, including the Prius. The plant, operated by Primearth EV Energy Co. in quake-stricken Miyagi prefecture, can supply enough nickel-metal hydride battery packs for 300,000 cars a year.

That accounts for about 27 percent of Toyota's battery capacity. Primearth, a joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic, has two plants in central Japan that supply additional batteries.

Those plants, located in Shizuoka prefecture between Tokyo and Nagoya, are operating.

Toyota Motor Corp said it would restart production of three hybrid models after a massive earthquake this month disrupted output across the industry.

Production will resume for the Prius, Lexus HS250h and CT200h at the Tsutsumi factory in central Japan and Toyota Motor Kyushu in the south, spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said.

All 18 factories that assemble Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Japan, including those operated by group units, have been closed by the quake. An additional seven plants directly operated by Toyota that make engines and other parts are also affected. The production halt will result in lost production of at least 140,000 vehicles.

"We will monitor the situation of parts availability carefully in deciding the duration of production," she said.

Problems with power and parts have prevented other Japanese automakers restarting assembly lines.

Honda Motor Co said on Thursday it would suspend car production at its Japanese factories until at least April 3, extending the stoppage by a week.

Japan's No. 3 automaker said it would decide on plans beyond April 3, depending on the availability of parts. Honda will resume motorcycle and power product production at its Kumamoto factory in southern Japan on March 28.

Honda said it would also temporarily transfer some functions such as car development and procurement out of its R&D facilities in Tochigi, which was badly hit by the March 11 earthquake.

Suzuki Motor Corp said its three assembly factories in Japan will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd said on Thursday its manufacturing operations in the Americas would follow a regular production schedule at least until April 1.

It also said output of the all-electric Nissan Leaf resumed at the Oppama plant on Thursday as did battery production at Zama battery plants. Nissan said the ability to sustain this output is dependent on the frequency of rolling blackouts due to electrical shortages.

Nissan also said its Decherd, Tennessee, engine plant could supply V6 engines to Japan to supplant lost production from its Iwaki engine plant, but no decisions have been made yet.

Other manufacturers with dwindling inventories are looking at slowing production of low-selling models. For instance, General Motors Co has temporarily idled its pickup plant in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Toyota said on Wednesday it would slow some North American production because of supply disruptions caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Toyota told employees and dealers it was too early to determine the scope, timing and duration of a slowdown, but facilities in the United States, its single-biggest market, and in Canada and Mexico are all being considered.

A spokesman for the automaker's San Antonio, Texas, plant where it builds the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks said on Thursday the supply disruptions would likely force the idling of the facility.

Most parts for Toyota's North American-built vehicles come from about 500 suppliers in the region. The company said it continues to receive parts from Japan that were already in the pipeline, limiting the immediate impact of the disruption there.

Barclays Capital analyst Brian Johnson said in a research note on Thursday that his best-case expectation for the North American auto sector is sporadic production outages, with US automakers affected less than their Japanese rivals. In particular, Toyota gets many parts used on multiple models from single companies, he said.

In Germany, automakers and suppliers also are looking at cutting production due to bottlenecks. Several companies have asked about a government-backed program for shortened working hours.

Shippers avoiding Tokyo

Some merchant ships may be avoiding Japan's Tokyo port due to concerns of radiation exposure to crew members from the quake-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, an industry official said on Thursday.

Should this be the beginning of a trend in the shipping industry, Japan could face major delays and seaborne congestion at ports, adding to supply chain bottlenecks and hindering recovery efforts in the wake of the March 11 earthquake. "I have heard from local agents that some vessels are not calling in Tokyo due to radiation fears. I'm not sure how many," said Tetsuya Hasegawa, operating manager at Heisei Shipping Agencies in Tokyo.

Lloyd's List reported on Thursday that Claus-Peter Offen, one of Germany's largest shipowners, had suspended calls for his company's entire fleet of 110 vessels to Tokyo and Yokohama because of radiation fears.

Tokyo is Japan's fourth-largest port, handling 145 million deadweight tonnes last year, mainly containers, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence.

Americans have begun snapping up Toyota Prius, Honda Fit and other fuel-efficient models made only in Japan almost the way shoppers denude bread and milk shelves in a supermarket when a storm is predicted.

The intensity first spurred by rising gas prices has been amplified by predicted shortages of many models as the Japanese auto industry remains disrupted by the March 11 earthquake and its aftermath.

"We've gone from 60 (Priuses) in stock to 16" over the last two months, says Buzz Rodland at Rodland Toyota in Everett, Wash. A dozen are coming, "but we are told they are going to dwindle" quickly after that.

Indicating the shortages may not be brief, Honda has told dealers it's not taking orders for any vehicles made in Japan in May. March and April orders already were delayed.

Topsham, Maine, dealer Adam Lee says the only Priuses left that dealers can get their hands on in New England tend to be the fully equipped, costlier models, which could have the effect of pushing up prices even more if buyers get past their usual resistance to the higher-price versions.

In what now seems like a stroke of genius, he says, the family's Toyota store bought 15 used Priuses at a wholesale auction, then went back and got 15 more — at higher prices. Wholesale prices on used Priuses are up about $1,500 just in the last month, he says.

Toyota, Honda and others say they hope to resume production this week, but that could be unrealistic.

"From all the things we're gathering, including memos from Japanese companies … the potential impact of the tragedy is a bigger deal" than they are portraying, says Jesse Toprak, analyst at auto researcher TrueCar.com.

Prices of Prius and Fit, both iconic for fuel-conscious buyers and both made only in Japan, inched up immediately after the disaster, according to daily data tracked by TrueCar.com. The average price paid for a Prius in the U.S. rose $135, or 0.5%, the first four days after the March 11 quake, to $25,629. Fit was up $21, or 0.1%, to an average $17,246.

Other high-mileage cars made for the U.S. market only in Japan include the Toyota Yaris; Honda Insight, CR-Z and Civic hybrids; Mazda3; and Nissan Leaf electric car.

People seeking to quit leases early and get into new cars before there's a shortage could be in luck. Brian Allan, general manager at Galpin dealerships in Los Angeles, says many dealers want off-lease cars for used car lots because the recession cut the number of trade-ins. When the leases were written in the worst of the recession, wary lenders assigned artificially low after-lease values. Now the cars are worth more than forecast, giving the lease holder equity toward a new car and the dealer a potentially profitable used car.

Allan says he's telling lease customers, "'You're in a position to trade out early, skip your last four payments and get into a new car.'"

Robert Llewellyn drives the new Lexus CT200h, the first compact hybrid car from Lexus.

With cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius topping the 3-million mark last month, it’s no surprise that Toyota wants to add another 10 hybrids to its line-up by 2015.

In its “Toyota Global Vision,” released Wednesday, Toyota says it plans to increase its “line of hybrid models, launching about 10 more by 2015, and continue to develop a full range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.”

“The Japanese automaker said it will also ‘continue to develop a full range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles' and expand the Lexus brand into emerging markets,” adds Inside Line.

The text of the Toyota Global Vision reads: “Toyota will lead the way to the future of mobility, enriching lives around the world with the safest and most responsible ways of moving people. Through our commitment to quality, constant innovation and respect for the planet, we aim to exceed expectations and be rewarded with a smile. We will meet challenging goals by engaging the talent and passion of people, who believe there is always a better way.” As part of the vision, interim initiatives for 2015 include:

• Greatly improve the design and feel of Toyota models and make way for the leading role of localization in vehicle production.
• Expand Toyota’s line of hybrid models, launching about 10 more by 2015, and continue to develop a full range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.
• Continue to pursue further gains in fuel economy in conventional gasoline engines.
• Focus in the years to 2015 on models for minimizing environmental impact and on models optimized for needs in emerging markets.
• Introduce environmental-friendly vehicles globally; in emerging markets strengthen local production, including that of IMV (Innovative International Multipurpose Vehicle) and newly developed subcompact models.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced global cumulative sales of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 3-million mark, with more than 3.03 million units sold worldwide as of 28 February 2011 since sales began in 1997.

In Japan, TMC launched the Coaster Hybrid EV in August 1997 and the Prius in December. Sales of the Prius began in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000. Next came the second-generation Prius in 2003 and the expanded use of TMC’s hybrid system on such vehicles as minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and hatchbacks. The third-generation Prius went on sale in May 2009, and the global cumulative sales of TMC’s hybrid vehicles topped 2 million by the end of August the same year.

In 2011, TMC continued to expand its hybrid vehicle lineup, launching the Lexus CT 200h—the first dedicated hybrid model in the premium-compact segment—in January. TMC currently sells 16 hybrid vehicle models in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world, including three commercial vehicle models in Japan.

TMC plans to introduce 10 new-model hybrid vehicles by the end of 2012, including six newly launched vehicles and 4 vehicles that have been redesigned. TMC is committed to augmenting this lineup even further and increasing the number of countries and regions in which it sells hybrid vehicles.

The Prius minivan hybrid due later this year will be the first standard hybrid from Toyota Motor Corp. equipped with a lithium-ion battery.

But the advanced, lightweight power pack will appear only in the Japanese version of the car, a person familiar with the plan said Friday. The U.S. version will stick with the heavier nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the current Prius hatchback and Toyota's other gasoline-electric vehicles.

Toyota is using lithium in the Japan-spec Prius minivan to open up more interior room and allow for three rows of seats, as preferred by Japanese customers, the source said. The Prius V minivan shown at this year's Detroit auto show had only two rows of seats, while the Prius + variant shown this week in Geneva has three rows.

Using a bulkier nickel-metal battery requires the battery to consume space in a console between the driver's and passenger's seat.

"We are doing it only for cabin configuration considerations," the source said.

Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said the company couldn't comment on future product plans.

Japan's Nikkei business daily reported separately that the minivan version of the Prius would go on sale in Japan next month and start at 3 million yen ($36,590), when equipped with a lithium ion battery. A lower-grade version with a nickel-metal hydride battery will also be offered, starting at 2.35 million yen ($28,660).

The self-driving car that Google revealed to the world last October made an appearance at TED on Thursday, with Sebastian Thrun, one of the developers of the project, speaking to the audience and then taking attendees for a test drive.

The folks at Mashable got the opportunity to ride along as the car whipped around a test track set up outside the conference. Riding at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, the vehicle maneuvered its way between dozens of test cones that had been set up, making a combination of hard stops, tight turns and quick accelerations.

Not a single cone was hit, and I can verify that the driver did not touch the wheel until the very end to drop myself and two other passengers off (this was planned).

The car itself traveled from San Francisco to Long Beach, California, for the conference as part of Google’s ongoing tests. While Thrun tells me he thinks we’ll see self-driving cars in the hands of consumers within our lifetimes, he notes that at this time, “It’s really just a science project … pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s clearly not something that’s going to make us money any time soon.”

Limitations of the vehicle currently include dealing with weather, as well as capturing the imagery and data necessary to allow the car to do things such as stop at red lights and observe speed limits (most of this work has been limited to the Bay Area for now).

Nonetheless, one can’t help be impressed by what Google has accomplished thus far, with its test drive clearly set up to show off just how far along the technology is.

The Yaris HSD concept was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and represents the first down-sizing of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology.

The concept car inherits all the clever DNA of the Yaris as well as the smooth, sophisticated driving experience of Toyota’s full hybrid powertrain. Its new, more advanced and sophisticated style points to the forward-looking design direction for the next Yaris model range.

It offers customers an ingenious combination of small, compact packaging and a spacious, practical interior. Flanked by highly contoured headlamps, the upper grille opening is shallow, helping the air flow smoothly over the upper half of the body.

The Toyota logo is fully integrated within the front lip of the bonnet, adding stylish articulation to its leading edge.

In profile, the Yaris HSD concept’s sleek, monoform shape is emphasised by the long, sweeping roofline and a single, crisp character line which runs smoothly through the length of the vehicle.

Short front and rear overhangs and a long wheelbase maximise passenger accommodation and load space. Several hybrid-specific styling cues indentify the Yaris HSD concept as a Toyota full hybrid model derivative.

Air turbulence has been minimised by flat, vertical ‘aero’ corners housing front foglamps and matching rear reflectors, a large integral rear spoiler, comprehensive underbody covers and 18″ aero wheels featuring enlarged air gaps for improved cooling air flow.

Even the door handles and rear side-view cameras have been carefully designed to the most aero-efficient shape.

The show car’s striking, white pearl paintwork is unique to the Yaris HSD concept. It showcases a further development of this remarkable finish, with highlighting provided by sparkling blue metallic accents.

Requiring specialised, multi-layering application techniques, this hybrid-specific application brings an extraordinary depth and quality feel to the finished paintwork.

The presence of Hybrid Synergy Drive® is further emphasised through hybrid Blue Toyota badges, LED daytime running lights and ‘synergy’ blue illuminated highlight surrounds to both the outer mirrors and door handles.

Toyota’s proven Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology targets demanding urban customers who expect a new driving and ownership experience from their car.

Combining low fuel consumption, emissions and cost of ownership with uniquely relaxed and quiet driving, HSD proves that driving pleasure need not be compromised by environmental responsibility and low running costs.

Introducing full hybrid technology into a car of this size has presented Toyota with several unique engineering challenges.

The new powertrain design must be optimised for installation within the vehicle’s compact, extremely efficient packaging design without detriment to either system quality and performance, or passenger or cargo space.

This comprehensive repackaging of HSD technology is essential for meeting the growing market demand for urban-based family vehicles, without compromising either interior space or hybrid performance.

The production model, following on from the Yaris HSD concept, will be launched throughout Europe in the second half of 2012.

Toyota has brought the iQ EV concept to Geneva.

The electric version of the mini iQ model is not yet ready for production but Toyota will be testing this prototype here with an intention of bringing it to market.

The iQ EV comes with a 47kW (64 PS / 63 bhp) permanent magnet synchronous electric motor and 11kWh/270V lithium-ion battery which lies flat in the bed of the car. A new battery layout for Toyota which does not eat up valuable cabin space, especially on a minicar like the iQ.

0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes a long 14 seconds, though, and top speed is a modest 125.5 km/h (78 mph). Range on a full charge is 105 km (65 miles).

The iQ EV features dual 100/200V AC and DC charging sockets - a DC quick charge station delivering an 80 percent charge in about 15 minutes.

Toyota will begin testing the iQ EV in Europe, Japan and the U.S. later this year.

Source: Toyota

Pictures' Copyright
Toyota

Toyota will launch this iQ-based electric prototype at next month’s Geneva motor show.
The car “represents Toyota’s long-term vision for short-range sustainable mobility”, according to the Japanese firm, and demonstrates how the new technology could find its way across the model range.

The prototype uses the firm’s new flat lithium-ion battery from the plug-in Prius and is hidden beneath the floor to not impede on the interior space of the four-seat iQ. The dimensions are identical to the IQ upon which the EV prototype is based.

Toyota has yet to confirm final specifications of the car, but says its battery pack will be good for a range of 65 miles and it could be introduced for sale in 2012 after undergoing fleet trials this year.

It will be on display at Geneva alongside the firm’s FT-86 Concept I, the seven-seat Prius+ and the Yaris HSD.

Toyota will launch its Prius + in the European market with seven seats, two more than the five-seat Pruis v variant that will be sold in the US.

It has been revealed that this is down to the batteries both variants use as well as greater demand for the hybrid vehicle in the US.

According to Guillaume Gerondeau, Toyota Europe’s Vice President of product planning and marketing: “The US Prius uses nickel batteries which are located in the boot of the car, whereas the European version will have lithium-ion batteries stored in the front.

“The nickel batteries are bigger and have to be located in the boot, leaving no room for the extra row of seats. The European version, however, has more space for this to be made possible."

Gerondeau added: “The demand for the Prius in the US is such, that they want it now,” but said a seven-seat variant wasn’t necessarily what Prius customers wanted. "Demand for it isn’t strong enough in the US. Cars with such accommodation are much bigger in the US market so the Prius will be too small."

Both the Prius + and the hybrid Yaris are being lined up for European debuts at next month’s Geneva motor show.

A study by the United States' Department of Transportation (DOT) concluded that electronic throttle systems were not at fault in reported cases of unintended acceleration by Toyota vehicles that precipitated a series of recalls in the US.

The DOT used engineers from NASA to examine systems and software in nine Toyota vehicles where the owners of which experienced unintended acceleration.

Toyota's own investigations assigned blame to loose floor mats and poorly manufactured throttle pedal mechanisms and issued recalls to fix these issues. Toyota also implemented systems in its vehicles that cut off acceleration when the brake was applied.

Congress asked the government to look into the reported incidents and the DOT released its final report today. Investigators examined lines of code and even blasted the cars with electro-magnetic radiation to cause a failure. The report exonerated the electronics that govern the acceleration systems.

Reports of unintended acceleration reached the public after a fatal crash involving a Lexus ES350. The DOT saw an increase in complaints about unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles and began the study.

Toyota's study found that it had identified the problems correctly and that there were no problems with the electronics. Even so, Toyota's reputation and sales in the North America and Europe took a hit in an already tough economic climate. No cars in Australia were recalled over unintended acceleration and the company romped away as the sales leader in 2010.

Toyota has revealed the first image of its forthcoming Yaris hybrid, a model that will be showcased at the Geneva motor show in March. The firm has also confirmed that its larger Prius model will be a seven-seater in European markets.

The Yaris teaser image, revealed via a company blog website, shows the nose of the car. It’s clearly a development of the model that was revealed recently in Japan as the Vitz, although there are slight changes to the grille (now deeper) and the headlights, which feature strips of LEDs.

There’s also a hint that the intake-esque elements at either side of the bumper will house LED lighting.

The Yaris hybrid is expected to go on sale in 2012, and it will be produced at Toyota’s factory in Valenciennes, France. It’s likely to get a much smaller petrol motor as part of its powertrain; expect it to use a 1.33-litre engine instead of the 1.8-litre unit used in the Prius and Auris.

Toyota also issued a photo of the larger Prius’s badging. It confirms that the car will be called ‘Prius+’ instead of the ‘Prius v’ that will be used in the US. And the blog promises “the versatility of seven seats”, indicating that the European model will be able to cope with more passengers than the five-seat US version.

Both models are being lined up for European debuts at next month’s Geneva motor show.

LEXUS will launch its new CT200h hybrid hatchback in Australia by providing cars for the celebrity races at this year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park.

The company claims the races will be the first anywhere in the world exclusively for hybrid cars, although none are likely to employ the electric part of the drivetrain for anything more than trundling around the paddock.

Nevertheless, an award will be presented for efficiency in addition to the overall winners.

Lexus will provide 30 identical cars for the event on March 24-27, which will be followed by the official media launch on March 28.

The Toyota-owned luxury brand believes the high-profile celebrity races will be the ideal way to launch its new compact hybrid hatch to a younger (under 40) and largely female target market for the car.

Consequently, the 24 celebrities being chosen for the event will fall into a similar demographic profile.

Lexus has contracted former multiple Australian Rally Champion and Toyota veterans Neal Bates and Coral Taylor to run the celebrity program, including driver training.

The cars – 27 race cars and three spares – will be prepared at Bates’ Canberra workshop but will be maintained during the race weekend by Lexus technicians.

In addition to the 24 celebrities, Lexus is running three separate competitions to fill the remaining race seats – one for consumers, one for dealers and one for people who have signed up to buy the CT200h.

The Lexus-sponsored event marks the return of the celebrity races to the AGP weekend after a two-year hiatus, having previously been backed by the likes of Fiat, Mini and BMW.

It also coincides with the reintroduction of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) to F1 race vehicles, which were used in 2009 before being dropped for the 2010 season.

Introducing a Le Mans-inspired “index of efficiency” award is a first for the event and will be determined by measuring fuel use during the race.

The hybrid-only Lexus CT200h is powered exclusively by a modified version of Toyota’s 1.8-litre petrol-electric drive system from the Prius.

Auris is designed to be more upbeat and upscale than other compact cars. It is inspired by Toyota Yaris design. The brand new model, which is designed and manufactured in Europe, uses Toyota performance parts to boost its functionality. With fresh design and powerful dynamics, Auris is expected to lure more customers and steal a slice of market share from Volkswagen Golf and Alfa Romeo 147.2011

Toyota has earlier announced the details of its new compact car, which is set to be released early next year. Toyota Auris, the new addition to Toyota's 2008 lineup will replace Toyota Corolla hatchback in Japan and Europe. According to the automaker, Auris will play a key role in improving further its goals in Europe. 2011 Toyota Auris Hybrid Front Side View2011 Toyota Auris Hybrid First

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest seller of hybrid autos, said it’s developing a magnesium battery that holds twice the energy of lithium-ion cells as automakers seeks better ways to power electric cars.

The company’s technical center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is working on the magnesium-sulfur battery, complementing development of other future electric-power chemistries at Toyota labs in Japan, Jeffrey Makarewicz, the engineer managing the U.S. project, said in an interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“Going from nickel-metal hydride to lithium ion, you essentially double the energy capacity,” he said. “Lithium ion theoretically, under ideal conditions, has a capacity of about 2,000 w/kg. That’s still not enough to really make a very competitive battery that’s necessary for future plug-in, electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.”

Vehicles with magnesium batteries or alternative materials may be ready by about 2020, Makarewicz said. Toyota is working on such technologies as Nissan Motor Co. and General Motors Co. in the past month have released rechargeable models with lithium-ion packs that let drivers go extended distances on battery power alone.

Nissan wants its Leaf to be the world’s top-selling all- electric car, aiming for annual global sales of at least 500,000 battery-powered cars including Leaf and models from affiliate Renault SA within the next few years.

‘More Modest’ Demand

Toyota expects “much more modest” U.S. demand for battery-only vehicles during that period because of power-pack limitations, Bob Carter, the Toyota City, Japan-based company’s U.S. group vice president, said in an interview today in Detroit.

The automaker’s U.S. unit, based in Torrance, California, is also looking at aluminum and calcium as potential battery materials, Makarewicz said. In Japan, company engineers are researching “lithium air and metal air” batteries, he said, without elaborating.