Lithium-ion battery gives the FT-EV II an opportunity to run for about 90 kilometers on a single charge. Maximum speed is 100 km/h. This is enough to move on the highways – certainly not in the extreme left (or right – in Japan and England) series.

Unfortunately, Toyota doesn’t report the time of recharging the battery and the weight and dimensions of the engine. Even the weight of the Toyota FT-EV II is unknown.

But the Japanese are not stingy with the description of the interior. The developers call it “retro-futuristic”, which at first glance seems oxymoron. However, if you look at the interior photos provided by Toyota, this impression passes. The car looks like an illustration of the artist to the science fiction novel, written somewhere in late 1970’s, or as a “car of the future”, as it seemed to engineers of the same years.

There is no steering wheel and pedals. Instead, the control of the electric vehicle takes place by means of two control lever, as in airplanes. There is another aviation analogy – FT-EV II can go on autopilot.

Autopilot functions are beyond the ordinary navigation. Users can download to a central computer of FT-EV II “their” audio-visual content, which will serve to autopilot as “guide to action.”

Toyota intends to represent the concept car FT-EV II at Tokyo Motor Show in late October.

Toyota has never launched a coupe. Cumbersome Toyota Camry Solara shouldn’t be counted. But Toyota had such exceptional vehicles as Celica and Supra, which after removal from the production have left many inconsolable fans around the world.

Subaru doesn’t produce coupe as well. Although the sport has a direct relationship with it, this company has long enjoyed a reputation in the fierce rally battles. Therefore, production coupe is a justified step for both companies.

Toyota owns the control package of share of Subaru as both companies have decided to join forces. Perhaps a crisis was an opportune moment. It remains less than a month and we will be able to see the fruit of this cooperation – Toyota FT-86 coupe at the Tokyo salon.

This is only a concept. Although as hinted the Japanese, the car will be put into a serial production with minimal changes, which affect mostly futuristic interior but not exterior. The car turned out quite compact. Length is 4,16 m, width is 1,76 m, height – 1,26 m and the wheelbase – 2,57 m. Landing formula is 2 +2. Under the hood there is a two-liter Subaru boxer engine with the output of 200 hp which is mated with six-speed mechanical transmission.

All the power of a herd of two hundred horses sent to the rear axle, although with time is not excluded and the emergence of all-wheel drive versions. We must not forget that in the development of machinery took part Subaru, known for its all-wheel drive madness. The design of the concept car was developed by Europeans in Toyota design center ED2, located in Nice.

It is expected that the sales of the new sports coupe will begin in the middle of 2010 and it will cost about 20,000 dollars in Japan.

Needless to say, that Toyota FT-86 will have a “twin-brother” marked Subaru. Technical filling of both cars will be the same, but the design will be different. It is possible that the coupe from Subaru will cost a bit more expensive and that it will use wheel-drive system while Toyota will offer a simpler, “budget” option. We can only wait for the official presentation, where the Japanese will certainly talk about their future plans.

The Toyota Company has released the first official images of its two most interesting new products – a hybrid version of the Auris, as well as the concept of the Lexus LF-Ch compact model.

Toyota Motor is preparing for one of the most significant events in the automobile industry, the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. For this purpose the auto manufacturer has released details, as well as first photos of its new products.

As the company has stated earlier, one of the most significant will be the prime demonstration of the concept of the new Lexus model, designed to pave the way for the brand in the segment of compact luxury cars class in Europe.

Oriented as a direct competitor to BMW 1-series and, to some extent, to Audi A3, the car will hit the market in the second half of next year. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor intends to examine the audience’s reaction to the concept car, while anticipating a number of technical advantages over major competitors.

The concept is named Lexus LF-Ch, which reflects the existence of a hybrid power plant as the primary and the only engine. At the same time the Lexus has registered the abbreviation CT in the Patent Office, but it is unknown whether this name will be given to the serial version of the model, or to another model of the company.

Another noticeable debut of the company is the premiere of the concept vehicle Auris HSD. This is a hybrid version of the Auris model, production of which should begin next year. The company will reveal all the technical details only during the auto show, but the pictures show noticeable differences from the serial Auris, including the modified headlights, bumper, radiator grille.

The main feature is the solar panels on the roof of the car, however, such technology has already been used for the Toyota Prius. By the way, Toyota will show Plug-In version of the Prius in Frankfurt, so far, though, as a concept, but with reference to the imminent mass production. In addition, in Germany, the company will present two show car based on the Toyota iQ, as well as premiere the Land Cruiser SUV in Europe.

Toyota Motor has previously stated their intention to update the Land Cruiser Prado and the Lexus GX in the second half of this year. Apparently, the pictures published in several Arabian sites are the evidence of such a step. It is claimed that the photographers have captured the new generation of Land Cruiser Prado, holding its last pre-series test.

As you can see from the provided pictures, Prado has gained a number of external features, bringing its appearance in line with the current model range of Toyota. From behind the car is in many ways similar to its “older brother,” – Land Cruiser 200, while the front is designed to reflect the continuity of generations of Prado and to combine with a new type of radiator grates of Toyota, characteristically reflected, for example, in the new-generation Avensis.

There is not a single photograph provided of the lateral projection, but even judging from the available ones you will notice that Prado has retained the distinctive form of the rear side windows and rear racks of the model. The overall massive front is highlighted by inflated wheel arches and a wide bumper. Nevertheless, in the guise of the car Prado can be undoubtedly guessed, so if the allegations of the Arab photographers are true and the photographs really picture a new generation of models, then Toyota designers have very well managed to maintain the link between generations.

It is not yet known what kind of engines and transmissions the car will receive. It is more easy to make assumptions concerning Lexus GX, considering the 5.7-liter V8, installed on the Land Cruiser 200, it is much difficult in the case of Prado. In Europe, the current generation is offered with 4.0-liter petrol (249 hp) and 3.0-liter turbo diesel (173 hp), but most likely the future Prado will receive new engines.

According to some sources, the new sports will be hybrid and will be equipped with V6 engine with the volume of 3.5 liters and output of 268 hp coupled with the same system, which is equipped with a hybrid Toyota Crown. The total capacity of the power plant will make 400 hp. Premiere of the new Supra prototype will take place at the motor show in Tokyo this year. A serial version of the model is likely to be presented a year later.

As the Drom.ru informed, iQ is completed with a mechanical 6-speed gearbox and variation. Fuel consumption with the mechanical transmission is 4.8 liters per 100 kilometers. In a complete set of variable speed transmission the engine spends 5.1 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers.

Maximum engine power is 98 hp. The vehicle reaches speed of 100 km /h in 11, 8 seconds with the “mechanics” and 11.6 seconds with variable speed transmission. The maximum speed of Toyota iQ is 170 km /h.

With regard to electronic devices included in the vehicle, it is worth to note the updated to a mechanical CPR system equipped with proprietary stop-start, deafening engine automatically stops the machine and when the neutral transfer starts. Once again, the car starts in just 0.4 seconds. According to Toyota, in an urban setting the car saves up to 15% when using this technology.

In standard equipment also includes: an automatic inclusion headlamps and windscreen wipers, heated side mirrors and power-system access in the cabin and an option tostart the engine without a key, automatically darken saloon rear-view mirror, sound system with 6 speakers, front fog lamps and steering wheel with leather slippage.

The car is equipped with 9 airbags. The system Stability (VSC) and traction management efforts (TRC) are available as options.

Toyota iQ with the 1.33-liter engine is already available in the market in England. There, the cost of the car starts from 11 495 pounds (18 892 dollars) for the modification of ILAC, and 12 495 pounds (20 535 dollars) for the version with variable speed transmission.

Recall that the basic version of Toyota iQ is equipped with 1.0-liter gasoline engine powered with 68 hp.