Toyota Blog

"Toyota" showed a new minivan for Europe

2010-09-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

The company "Toyota" back in the minivan segment in Europe with a new model - "Verso-S". The car will debut at the auto show in Paris on 30 September and will go on sale early next year. Reported "Automotive News Europe".

The new model the company's portfolio will take place "Yaris Verso", whose sales in Europe were suspended in 2006.

In the "Toyota" noted that "Verso-S" will be compact, but roomy and comfortable car, with the overall length of less than 4 meters.

New product will compete in Europe with "Opel" / "Vauxhall" Meriva, "Citroen" C3 Picasso, "Renault" Modus.

Recall that in 2000 there were sold 34,449 "Yaris Verso". In general, in Europe sales of this model was 158 thousand units

Toyota saves on fuel

2009-08-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

The engineers of the Japanese auto concern Toyota developed the world's most efficient hybrid car that consumes the entire liter of gasoline by 40 kilometers.

New established on the basis of the popular in Western Europe and Yaris models will go on sale in 2011. Buy a car can be over $ 15 thousand.

The company hopes that a car with a new gasoline-electric motor companies consolidate leadership in the market of hybrid cars

Toyota unfolded from the fall

2009-08-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

Loss Toyota Motor Corporation from April to June amounted to nearly $ 1 billion, however, is less than expected in the company. In connection with the recovery in world markets is reviewing plans to produce upwards.

On Tuesday, the world's largest manufacturer of cars Toyota has reported concern about the loss in the first fiscal quarter (ended 30 June), and also introduced a new, more optimistic outlook on the financial performance for the year as a whole. From April to June automakers lost $ 819 million (77.8 billion yen). The most severe losses incurred due to low sales in Japan and the United States, the two main markets for it.

In the first half of the production of Toyota Corporation fell 40.6%. This is the most significant drop over the past 20 years.

Sales of automotive concern over the same period fell by 26% - to target 3.56 million cars. Nevertheless, this remains the highest in the world. The former leader General Motors took only second place - he sold about 11 thousand cars less.

The Company recognizes: to avoid losses this year will not be. Toyota expects that the annual loss (in the company's fiscal year ends in March 2010) will be $ 4.7 billion instead of previously announced $ 5.8 billion of losses associated with low demand in the automotive market, as well as the high yen. Because of «strong» yen automakers have to pay for more expensive components, ie production costs rising. Nevertheless, reports of recovery in most markets in Europe and the United States have allowed Toyota to reconsider plans to increase production. Previously, the company planned to produce 6.4 million cars (data from the National Association of Japanese automobile companies). Now it is the release of 6.6 million vehicles. For comparison, in 2008 the figure stood at 8.21 million vehicles. This increase in production planned to increase by increasing the sales budget hybrid Prius III. Sales of cars in Japan, despite the crisis that continues to grow. According to the automakers, the main reason for growth - a flexible system of discounts when purchasing a vehicle that provides the Japanese government.

Toyota begins selling the new FJ Cruiser

2009-08-01T04:49:00.000-07:00

In early August, the Japanese company will start selling SUV Toyota FJ Cruiser 2010 model year.

From the car last year, the model car will be different not only a new color of the body, but also a few technical changes.
In Japanese Group announced that the Toyota FJ Cruiser 2010 model year, was upgraded 4 liter engine V6. Engineers managed to squeeze out of the engine further 19 units and now the engine gives out "on the Mountain" is not 239, and 258 hp How to say in the Toyota, an increase in power virtually no effect on fuel consumption cars. On average, "appetite" machines grew by less than 1 liter of fuel per 100 km.
Toyota FJ Cruiser 2010 model year, also received updated suspension, and a new color to paint the body called Army Green. The minimum value of the vehicle at the North American market will be $ 23 680

Electric Concept at the Toyota iQ will be serialized

2009-07-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

The company intends to Toyota next year to start production in the serial version of the pilot electric FT-EV, based on the mikrolitrazhki iQ. According to the British publication Autocar, with reference to the statement by the chief designer of this model Hiroki Nakajima, novelty will be completely different from the normal iQ appearance, as well as a modernized interior, which the company agreed to be changed after negative feedback about the quality of the owners used to furnish materials.

Electric-based mikrolitrazhki iQ will be launched in the first mass production model of Toyota in lithium-ion batteries. New product will be driven by four electric motors located in the wheels and the battery will be able to travel about 150 kilometers. Fully charged batteries from ordinary home electrical outlet will take approximately eight hours. The total power of electric motors, as well as dynamic characteristics of the machine has not yet been clarified.

In addition, the company also plans to submit a Toyota model iQ range of special accessories to personalize a car, created by analogy with the ruler of labels proposed for the Fiat 500. According to preliminary information, these accessories will be available for the iQ to the mid-2011.

Note that the concept Toyota FT-EV was introduced this year at the Auto Show in Detroit, and his car battery to provide the range of 75 kilometers. Earlier, Japanese car manufacturer had planned to begin serial production of electric only by 2012.

Toyota has updated the popular SUV Land Cruiser Prado

2009-07-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

More than a year, fans enjoy the new generation Toyota giant Land Cruiser. 200-I model has caused a great revival among the lovers of the brand.

Meanwhile, fans of a more compact version of Land Cruiser - Prado - remained dissatisfied. Their car is produced without major changes since 2002.

Now came their turn - new arrive on sale as early as next year. The appearance of the car, as is the case with 200-first model, to declassify the Arab fans of the brand. Photos of cars appeared on the eve of an Arab sites.

Unfortunately, the Internet only got photos of front and rear parts, so difficult to say whether the profile of the car.

What engines will be installed on a new generation of automobiles, still unknown. According to rumors, in the beginning it will be old engines: gasoline 4.0-liter V6 power of 249 liters. with. and 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine with 173 «horse».

Toyota prepares sportkupe created based on the Prius

2009-07-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Japanese edition of Best Car, referring to own sources of Toyota Motor, said details of the back car, which could become the successor to Toyota MR-2, perhaps even getting the same name. A coupe, according to the edition, referring to its sources, based on the Toyota Prius. Platform popular hybrid shortened to 100 mm and the engine upgraded to better reflect the nature of sports. Its members must enter the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine 2ZR-FXE, but the total power of the hybrid installations to grow by 37 hp up to 136 hp
Passenger formula developed by the car - 2 +2, with three body will have little resemblance to the Prius. Argued, however, that many more similarities will be in the cabin, especially in the front part, said autoportal.ua. Fuel efficiency dropped slightly in comparison with the Prius, but the design of fuel consumption figures remain at 35 kilometers on 1 liter of fuel.

Officially, Toyota Motor does not endorse or disproves the conduct of the development of this car, but its appearance more than likely, if the anticipated debut of the main rival Honda CR-Z will be successful. At the market a new hybrid Toyota coupe will be released no earlier than 2012.

Toyota and Nissan continued to cut production

2009-07-28T09:12:00.001-07:00

Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor recorded in June, the maximum reduction in the volume of production among Japanese automakers in the decreasing sales due to rising unemployment.

Toyota, Japan's largest automakers, had decreased production of the 11 th consecutive month. The volume of production decreased by 24% compared to the same month last year.Nissan, the third-largest automakers country has produced 22% fewer vehicles than in June 2008. Production of Honda Motor, the second largest Japanese automakers, fell by 20%.

Japanese automakers in the past month have reduced production in North America to reduce inventories, as sales in the U.S. in the first half of 2009 decreased by 35%. Companies have also cut production in Japan, despite the launch of the Government program of tax incentives to stimulate sales of baby car, including the new hybrid models of Toyota and Honda.

"At the global level, the sale of the vehicle, apparently reached the lower limit and begin to recover, but recovery will be slow - believes manager Intelligence Automotive Asia Ashvin Chotai. - In the medium term, sales in the United States did not reach the level of 2005 and 2006. It also is difficult to expect a substantial recovery sales in Japan. "

Intelligence Automotive predicts decline in sales in the United States to about 9.8 million vehicles in the 200 - year to 13.2 million vehicles a year earlier, and then - rising to 10.8 million vehicles in 2010.

Japan's automakers association expects that the outcome of the current fiscal year, sales in the domestic market will be the lowest in three decades. Wide sales are projected association will drop in the fiscal year ended at March 2010, compared to the previous year at 8.5% - up to 4.3 million vehicles. The peak value of sales was recorded in 1990 - 7.78 million vehicles.

Toyota promises to make the maximum availablehydrogen-mobilized

2009-07-22T08:54:00.001-07:00

At the time of entering the market, the cost of such a car would be a record low, despite the newness of technology.

Toyota Motor has distributed an update on the development of own cars on fuel cells or hydrogen-mobilized. The company expects that their value at the time of entering the market will be «shocking low». Will take into account the experience of hybrids, which were initially very expensive, that do not attract more buyers. Hybrids more expensive than gasoline counterparts, and now, but their popularity is growing all the same. Even more successful Toyota intends to achieve by submitting hydrogen-mobilized (or several models), who accessibility could compete with gasoline, while possessing a number of significant advantages, especially in terms of efficiency and environmental friendliness.
Toyota is pleased with the progress which has already been achieved and the level of developed technologies. In 2015, hydrogen-mobilized come on the market, allegedly, regardless of whether sufficient infrastructure for maintenance and refueling or not. At this time, Japanese automakers are concerned, how consumers will view a new type of car. A kind of marketing should be the prototype Plug-In hybrids, including a special version of Prius.
Serial hydrogen-mobilized Toyota will be developed based on technologies that continue to improve on the prototype FCHV. It was built on the base model Toyota Highlander / Kluger, but this does not mean the company stresses that the first production fuel cell car will be exactly Highlander. Most likely it will be much more compact model.
It should be noted that only Japanese hydrogen-mobilized in the market, is the Honda FCX Clarity, available in Japan and the United States in a kind of rent-lease. Buy a model could be, and his rent, for example, in California, the U.S. will cost $ 600 a month.

Global production at Toyota factories fell in May to 38.8 percent

2009-06-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

Global production at factories in the world's largest automotive company Toyota Motor Corp. in May 2009 decreased by 38.8 percent compared to the situation a year ago. The volume of production it falls now in its tenth month in succession, said the report was circulated today, the corporation.

In May, sales at avtogiganta fell worldwide by 28 percent, and within Japan itself - only for 23,1 percent. This is due to strong demand in the country for a new model of hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle Prius. Only one month it was 180 thousand jobs.

The report notes that, in a generally unfavorable market conditions have some signs of improvement in the market. Within Japan it is connected, in particular, with the subsidies that the government started to issue citizens buying cars with high fuel economy type Prius

Hybrid Toyota Supra will be on the move in 2011

2009-06-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

Certainly one of the most popular models ever developed by a Japanese car, a Toyota Supra. But, despite the fact that officially Supra ceased production in 2002, it enjoyed great popularity until now.

In turn, the Toyota will never forget the loved many sports car and going into next year to release a hybrid version of Supra and sell it as model 2011.

It is clear that this is still rumor and no technical details about the new items yet. However, as it became known portal 4, Toyota Supra will be based on a hybrid FT-HS Sports, which was first shown in 2007, the engine for the model can be derived from the Lexus 450h, and it is 3.5 liters. V-6 and is connected to a hybrid system, Toyota Crown, so that power can achieve Toyota Supra 400 HP

However, the sports car will not be «fully green», because Toyota is planning to create more sporting version of Supra, which is possible without the cost of hybrid systems. There is information that a prototype of a future business model will be shown in this year's motor show in Tokyo.

Hybrid FT-HS Sports was originally created as a separate model, and was to appear this year, but «thanks» economic situation, Toyota has decided to curtail the project until better times.

All fans are, a sort of anticipation, or at least hint from Toyota, that really is scheduled to release of a new Supra.

New Toyota Mark X in October

2009-06-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

New Toyota Mark X in October

In October at the Tokyo MOTORSHOW expected to premiere a new generation Sedan Toyota Mark X.

Previously, went the rumors that Mark X may get turbocharged engine, but the Japanese magazine Holiday Auto refuted this information. According to recent data, sedan will be equipped with 2,5 - and 3,5-liter engine V6 (3,5-liter engine will replace the current 3.0-liter engine). Exterior design will be less aggressive, and the interior - more comfortable, high-tech and luxurious.

The new Mark X will be built on the platform of the current generation to produce a rear wheel drive versions, and Full power version. Expected that the sedan will be the global market, that is, its implementation will take place in many countries, not only in Japan and China.

Toyota recall vehicles because of the labeling

2009-06-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Company Toyota recall 1348 vehicles to fix an error in labeling. Under the recall of fall 2010 model year Tundra, Yaris 2009 model year, Tacoma, Sienna, RAV4, Highlander and the Scion xB and TC 2009 model year.

According to the NHTSA, an incorrect marking load carrying capacity can lead to overloading the vehicle and increase the risk of accident, writes Japancar. Each car will receive a special sticker with the correct data.

On some machines (there are less than 50), correct markings can not be, because after the installation of additional equipment the weight of the car changed. Service campaign starts in late June.

Toyota Highlander in 2009 will make a furore in the world engines

2008-08-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

The company Toyota announced that Highlander SUV in 2009 will be equipped with a completely new 2.7 - liter engine, which at high productivity should be increased cost will be different. Since its official launch in the sale, scheduled for early next year, the new power unit Highlander promises to be one of the best in the class of off-roadsters.

The new engine will produce 187 horsepower at 5 800 rpm and 242 Nm torque at 4 100 rpm when using conventional 87 - octane gasoline. Optimized torque and increased productivity are achieved by the introduction of a dual exhaust system of highways. In addition, the new engine differs Highlander extremely low level of harmful emissions and is ready posorevnovatsya in this area with the leaders of medium sector off-roadsters. More detailed data on its environmental performance will be announced after the official launch.

Complementing the new engine will be the newest intellectual six-speed automatic transmission with electronically controlled ECT-i. The new transmissions will ensure smooth and extremely rapid acceleration, which is not peculiar vehicles with such engines.

Toyota will present heir Supra

2008-08-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sacral Toyota Supra returned. This year will have a premiere of a new double sports model, with immediately in two versions - coupe and roadster. The Japanese company Top Secret Performance Engineering decided to revive the legendary car. The new Supra will become a serious competitor and Nissan 350Z, and Skyline GT-R.

Zadneprivodny apparatus will be equipped with the latest 450 - powerful V8 petrol with torque 570 Nm, available as early as 2000 rpm. As a competitor speak, of course, Nissan 350Z - cars are very close on ideology. Both zadneprivodnye, both are compact enough, both presented in two versions, and the main body - the price would be too roughly in one band.

Only a new Supra in topmark version is superior to Nissan 350Z at 170 hp More than "budget" version will be equipped with a 3.5 - liter V6, familiar North American consumers on the model of Lexus IS. By design promising new competitors not relinquish. On the contrary, in a Supra highlight - she has acquired impressive appearance. At the same time, when you first look at the car as soon becomes clear, from where he hails.

South Africa: Locally Manufactured Toyota Corollas Head to Europe

2007-07-12T12:12:00.002-07:00

As from next year, the South African subsidiary of motor company Toyota is expected to export its locally produced Toyota Corollas from Durban to Europe - a move set to boost the economy of KwaZulu-Natal.

The decision was taken following a meeting on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan between the provincial government and Toyota representatives.

At the meeting with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele, the vice chairperson of Toyota Motor Corporation, Katsuhiro Nakagawa said Toyota South Africa would produce Corollas specifically to be exported to Europe.

Mr Nakagawa announced that about 50 engineers had already been sent to South Africa to help with the manufacturing of the vehicles.

"Toyota is determined to produce more vehicles in South Africa which can be exported to other countries.

"The exporting of vehicles from South Africa to other countries is very important for South Africa's economy. The automotive industry is also important for the development of South Africa," he said.

He said they also wanted an increased presence in Japanese automotive parts suppliers in South Africa as the country was considered to be the gateway to the rest of Africa.

"We want to make our South African plant more competitive compared to Toyota plants in other countries," he said.

In a bid to ensure the competitiveness of their South African plant, he acknowledged that the training of workers would be important to achieve this.

"If we skill more workers, more automotive parts supplier companies will come to South Africa".

He explained that they planned to establish a Toyota Training School in South Africa, which would benefit the company's employees and create a much needed skills base for growth.

"We want to listen to the voice of the workers to be able to produce more vehicles, more efficiently and effectively. Training, development and education of our workforce must be intensified," said Mr Nakagawa.

The production of the latest model of the Toyota Corolla in South Africa is currently proceeding well and will be launched in August this year.

"However, we are trying hard to introduce new models of Toyota to be produced is South Africa as well," he said.

Premier Ndebele appreciated the confidence shown by the company to South Africa, particularly KwaZulu-Natal.

"We appreciate the new investment of more than R4 billion at the plant at Prospecton in Durban. However, we would like to see Toyota producing other automotive components in KwaZulu-Natal as well," he said.

Mr Ndebele said they would welcome the development of an Automotive Supplier Park in the province.

He said it was important to accelerate training of the current and future workforce.

"Continuous training is very important. We have to train all the time. For the market in South Africa, the market in Africa and the market elsewhere, training is important," he said.

allafrica.com

Toyota Spa test notes 2007-07-12

2007-07-12T12:12:00.001-07:00

Panasonic Toyota Racing today completed its week's testing with a solid day of running at Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps. Following yesterday's rain-afflicted test at the same circuit, the track was again wet for the start of the day's action. There was no rain in the morning but the skies were grey and the tarmac took a long time to dry out.

The changing track surface made comparisons difficult but Jarno did some running to test tyres in different conditions. When the track dried out in the sun after lunch he successfully completed a programme that included set-up for the Belgian Grand Prix along with suspension, aerodynamics work and starts.

Toyota's next racing appointment is the European Grand Prix next week at the Nurburgring, the closest circuit to the team's Cologne factory.

Jarno Trulli:

"It's nice to come back here to Spa because it's the best track in the world. The organisers have done major work in the paddock and the results look good. The circuit has also been resurfaced and there have been changes to the Bus Stop which have improved the corner. The pit entry and the pit exit are a bit narrow but overall I like what has been done. Of course you never know what weather you'll get here and it's always difficult to test in conditions like we saw today."

"We went out for a few runs on the damp track in the morning but the racing line soon became inconsistent. It was dry in the corners but wet on the straights so that meant it was difficult to carry out much useful comparative work. The track was dry in the afternoon so we were able to run through our programme. We haven't concentrated on lap times but the car felt good. So it's been a positive day and I look forward to coming back for the race."

Pascal Vasselon, Senior General Manager Chassis:

"Spa is a unique track so the testing we have done this week has been focused firmly on the race here in September. The unsettled weather has been representative of the range of conditions that we could face during the race weekend itself. So we have been very careful to collect data in every single type of weather that we have seen in the last three days."

"We have also had a wide range of developments to test on the car from suspension to new aero parts. Overall everything has gone well and Jarno and Ralf felt comfortable and quick in the car so they should be well prepared for the Belgian Grand Prix."

Jarno Trulli
Chassis: TF107/03
Best lap time: 1m 48.491s
Total laps: 76
Total distance: 532.3km

motorsport.com

Toyota Claims All Cars Will Be Hybrids

2007-07-12T12:08:00.002-07:00

Jim Press, the President of Toyota North America, came out with a very bold statement recently, saying that "eventually, everything will be a hybrid." What's more, he's so confident in Toyota's ability and so proud of their product line that he's comparing the "ground-breaking" Toyota Prius hybrid with the Ford Model T.

As I'm sure you already know, the Ford Model T is often lauded as the first of its kind, a car that became widely available to the masses. It was revolutionary for its time and it has shaped the automotive industry into what it is today. Toyota, or rather, Jim Press is saying that the Prius is equally revolutionary.

Although I agree that we will be seeing more hybrids in the coming years, I don't believe that everything will be a hybrid. Personally, I think that our reliance on fossil fuels will have to dry up at some point, forcing us to drive cars that don't need any sort of conventional gasoline whatsoever.

mobilemag.com

Toyota Needs Discounts for Tundra Goal, Press Says

2007-07-12T12:08:00.001-07:00

July 10 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second-largest automaker, needs discounts on the Tundra truck to reach the goal of doubling its U.S. share for large pickups, the company's North American president said.

``Incentives for us are not strategic, they are tactical,'' Jim Press of Toyota Motor North America said in an interview in New York today. ``In the dealer-transaction price game, where the competitors really set the stage with their incentive activity, it drives us to the point where we recognize that incentives are part of this market.''

Toyota in June began discounts of as much as $3,500 on the 2007 Tundra, four months after the truck's release. The pickup's list prices range from $22,290 to $41,850. Edmunds.com estimates the average Tundra incentive was $5,083 last month, more than on General Motors Corp. or Ford Motor Co. large pickups.

The revamped Tundra, built in San Antonio, is bigger and more powerful than its predecessor and for the first time puts Toyota in direct competition with Ford's F-Series and GM's Chevrolet Silverado trucks. Tundra U.S. sales rose 44 percent to 82,840 in this year's first half, as the industrywide total for large pickups fell 3.1 percent.

The size of incentives on the Tundra is unusual for any new Toyota product, said John Casesa, managing partner of Casesa Strategic Advisors LLC in New York.

`Fighting Back Ferociously'

``To some extent they are really struggling with Tundra, and domestic companies are fighting back ferociously,'' Casesa said.

The average Tundra transaction price, or what customers actually pay including incentives, was $33,605 in June, according to Edmunds.com. The average was $29,657 for Ford's F-150s and $29,151 for GM's Silverado 1500s, the Santa Monica, California- based company said.

Gasoline prices that have stayed near $3 a gallon this year have slowed sales of the trucks, yet consumer demand for pickups won't fade in the long term, Press said.

``Fuel prices will not substantially change the dynamics and the size of the market, but they will require product attributes that respond more to the environment of higher gas prices or greenhouse-gas concerns or environmental needs,'' he said.

Toyota is selling ``about double the volume of the last- generation Tundra in terms of where we were last year, in a segment that's down,'' Press said. ``We're right on our target.''

The company needs to offer a competitive large truck to keep its U.S. buyers from shifting to other automakers, he said. ``Long term, it's a segment we really need to be in to continue to grow with our customers as they come into our product line.''

GM is the world's largest automaker by annual sales volume. Toyota beat GM by that measure in this year's first quarter.

The Toyota City, Japan-based company's American depositary receipts fell $1.22 to $125.71 at 4:01 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have declined 6.4 percent this year

bloomberg.com

Toyota stuns Saatchi with ad business switch to CHI

2007-07-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Toyota has dealt Saatchi & Saatchi a hammerblow by moving the lion's share of its £50m UK advertising business into CHI & Partners.

The Japanese car marque is Saatchi's second-biggest global account behind Procter & Gamble, spending $2.5bn (£1.75bn) a year, and the UK is its biggest single European market.

It is thought that CHI, which sold a 49.9% stake in the agency to WPP earlier this year (MW April 19), will be handed the majority of the UK business in the coming weeks after a pitch against incumbent Saatchi London.

CHI has been making inroads into the Toyota account since 2004, when it was appointed to handle the launch of the Aygo model across Europe. The agency has since won pan-European briefs for the Corolla and the Yaris and handles Toyota's luxury brand Lexus across Europe. However, the only UK-specific project it had won until now was Toyota¹s tactical advertising business at the start of last year.

The news comes as Saatchi struggles to find a UK chief executive to replace Lee Daley, who left to join Manchester United as commercial director in March. Sources claim Saatchi's EMEA, Asia and Latin America chief executive Jim O'Mahony, who has been leading the search for Daley¹s replacement, could now be handed responsibility for the UK agency on top of his other duties.

Toyota's decision to move the majority of the UK account out of Saatchi follows several changes to the company's senior team in the last year.

Its former European marketing director Jon Williams moved to Toyota GB as commercial director earlier this year (MW January 18) to replace Paul Philpott, who left to join Kia UK as managing director. Toyota GB's long-serving managing director Graham Smith left to take a new role with Toyota Europe last year (MW May 11, 2006).

A source close to WPP says that the company's chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell has been tracking the Toyota business for a number of years and that CHI¹s presence on its roster was a primary reason he bought the stake in the agency.

However, industry experts suggest that the Toyota news will not sit well with the Japanese marque's rival Ford, one of WPP's biggest clients.

Publicis-owned ZenithOptimedia handles Toyota's media planning and buying.

It is not clear if the CHI appointment will affect that relationship.

CHI founding partner Johnny Hornby denies the agency has won the UK account and plays down suggestions it will take a more prominent role in Europe and possibly in the US. He says: "As we understand it, it's business as usual in the UK and we haven't won the business in Europe or America, as much as we¹d love to one day." Toyota GB marketing director Mark Hall adds: "As of today, we are still working with both Saatchi & Saatchi and CHI. For the next few months, there will not be any tangible change. Beyond that, we'll see." Saatchi was unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.

marketingweek.co.uk

Toyota keeps on truckin'

2007-07-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

Toyota has been struggling during its first season on NASCAR's Nextel Cup circuit and Busch Series, but it has been dominant during its time in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series, which heads to Kentucky Speedway Saturday for the Built Ford Tough 225.

When Toyota joined the Truck Series in 2004, it posted four victories. In 2005, it won nine times and finished second in the manufacturers' standings behind Chevrolet. Last year, it won a series-best 12 of 25 events and captured its first championship with driver Todd Bodine. This season, Toyota is leading the series and manufacturers' standings with six wins in 12 races.

But that success hasn't translated to Kentucky Speedway, where Toyota is 0-for-3. Chevrolet is the track leader among truckmakers with three wins, including the past two, and Dodge and Ford have won twice. How Toyota is faring on the truck series and the two stock-car series:

news.enquirer.com