Discussions Tagged With: toyota

Here are 5 of those cars that were ahead of their time and today are remembered for having been pioneers in some way. Aston Martin Lagonda Many times you tend to think that Aston Martin is a very classic brand and that innovation does not go with ... them. But in 1974 the Aston Martin Lagonda was presented as the first model that had a fully digital instrumentation. We are talking about four decades ago a car already equipped something that has become fashionable among cars nowadays But the reality is that this system did not triumph too much. The costs to develop it were very large and therefore its final price became expensive. In addition, the technology was not as developed as expected. The digital picture was barely visible when the sun was shining, not to mention that its buttons broke down quite easily. Mercedes S Class The Mercedes S-Class is the flagship of the brand of the star, a model that remains at the forefront of luxury and technology today. But in its time it also introduced a series of novelties that made a difference, especially at the security level. In the 70s the S-Class W116 became one of the first to equip brakes with ABS, something that a few years later became mandatory for all vehicles. In the 1980s, the S-Class security measures continued to evolve. It was also the first to incorporate the driver's airbag in 1981 and then the passenger airbag in 1987, three decades ago. Later they continued experimenting with this element and presented the first side airbag and also the curtain airbag. BMW 2002 Turbo The BMW 2002 Turbo needs no introduction. In 1973 the BMW decided to incorporate a turbocharger. It was the first production model in Europe to incorporate it and thanks to this it increased its power from 120 to 170 HP. Although at the time it did not have much impact, now it is highly valued and it is clear that turbocharging has set a trend today. Audi A2 The Audi A2 was introduced in 1999 and the truth is that it did not enjoy much popularity. The German brand put a lot of effort into its development to enter a new segment and ended up being a failure. Not because it was a bad car, but rather because it was misunderstood. The Audi A2 was a small minivan of less than 4 meters tremendously practical for its size. Thanks to the use of aluminum had a very low weight (below 900 kg) and added to a highly developed aerodynamics. Its price was one of the disadvantages. Toyota Prius Without a doubt, the Toyota Prius has been the model that has changed our vision of hybrids. This model was introduced in 1997 and was the first to combine a gasoline engine and an electric one. It could seem strange at the time and in fact at first it was sold only in Japan and did not finish triumph. But time proved it right and throughout its four generations it has been a success. In recent years there are more and more models that adopt this technology for its efficiency.

Suzuki X-90 (1995-1997) The Suzuki X-90 was one of those cars that did not have much acceptance by the general public. It arrived on the market in 1995 and presented itself as an SUV of very peculiar small dimensions. It measured only 3.71 meters ... long and that made it a purely two-seater model. This Suzuki X-90 mounted a retractable roof known as T-top. It mounted a motor of four cylinders and 1.6 liters with 95 CV in forward position. The sales did not accompany and this model ended sales in 1997. Those who derived more from this model were those of Red Bull, because the car served perfectly for its advertising purposes when installing a giant can on its back. Ford Cougar (1998-2002) The Ford Cougar is another of those that enter the list for some compelling reasons. Launched in 1998, it was a two-door coupe with a certain sporty cut. Many wanted to consider it a spiritual successor to the Ford Capri, but that only made the bump worse. This model was sold with the four-cylinder engine or with the V6, 2.5-liter. It was also available with two transmissions, a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. In 2002, after only four years in the market, the Ford Cougar said goodbye after not having reached sales expectations. Toyota Yaris Verso (2000-2004) The Toyota Yaris Verso was another misunderstood of its time. It came to the market in the year 2000. A vehicle was of 3.86 meters long with great habitability and load capacity. This model could be chosen with some of the engines of the Yaris range, among which were gasoline of 1.3 and 1.5 liters, in addition to diesel 1.4 D4-D. Although in Japan where it was marketed under the name of Toyota Fun Cargo, those who drove it say that it had nothing fun. The small niche market it occupied managed to make it retire prematurely in 2004. Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabriolet (2005-2008) The Chrysler PT Cruiser is not a model that has gone wrong for the American brand. In fact, this original model between a utility and a minivan became the most profitable model, despite criticism for its appearance. But in 2005 they decided to curl and presented a convertible version, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, which did not achieve the popularity of its brother. The popularity of the model was decreasing and in the cabriolet it did not even take off. The result is that after three years, in 2008, they decided to withdraw it from the market. Renault Wind (2010-2012) The Renault Wind is the most recent model on this list. It was launched in 2010 and came from a prototype previously launched in 2004. It is a small convertible two-seater that wanted to compete with other rivals such as the Citroën C3 Pluriel or Nissan Micra C + C. The roof was a metal piece that rotated 180º by an electric mechanism, completing the opening in 12 seconds. Although a priori it was an affordable model with more than acceptable benefits, it was not very popular. In 2010 it withdrew from the market.

Toyota is already preparing for presentation of a new sports car Supra of new generation. The new position will automatically take over GT86 will become a new flagship coupe of Japanese company. The car is being developed in cooperation with BMW ... and it will be built on the basis of new roadster Z4, which will be released next year. The car body is of carbon fiber and also vehicle will receive a hybrid power plant. By the way, Toyota, acting in the "24 Hours of Le Mans” has the same racing technology. Have You Already Seen New Crossover Toyota C-HR? The car has BMW gasoline engine and an electric motor. This is the first time when Toyota will receive a robotic gearbox with two clutches. Design of the car is similar to the concept F-1, which was presented in Auto Show in Detroit. The car weight is less than 1400 kilograms. It is noted that Z4 will be even easier. German BMW Group and Japan Toyota almost a year ago, formally agreed to expand cooperation and future prospects. The companies plan to jointly develop fuel cells and technology to reduce the weight of cars.

The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser remains one of the most popular models among the SUV followers. It’s not surprising as it takes the best attributes from several different types of vehicles and unites them to produce a comfortable, spacious, multi-purposes ... and highly capable SUV. Its’ off road capabilities will impress you; its highway driving is comfortable and smooth. The vehicle is equipped with a powerful engine under the hood for sizable towing capacity. The 2008 Land Cruiser is offered in a four door configuration. It’s powered by a 5.7 liter engine V-8, that can produce 381 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 401 pound-feet at 3600 rpm on regular gas. The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that works perfectly with it, downshifting quickly, and of course, there’s a standard four-wheel drive. The car exterior is imbued with a conqueror spirit and undoubtedly impressive: huge block headlamps; a monumental grille; underlined bumpers; muscular side walls due to cambered wheel arches. All done softly and smoothly: no sharp edges and only aerodynamic proportions, strictly outlined elements and smooth transitions. The 2008 Land Cruiser offers an expansive interior that can be configured to accommodate up to eight passengers. The first two rows of seating are comfortable; the rearmost seats accommodate most adults. When the third row is vacant the adjustable second row provides you with expansive legroom. The instrument panel, dash and console are full with switches, gauges and displays, so you will need some time to figure out what they all do. Standard safety features on the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser are extensive, including electronic stability control, driver and front passenger knee bags, active traction control, driver and front passenger active front headrests, first- and second-row outboard thorax side airbags, three-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags, and multi terrain anti-lock braking. The car is also filled with standard equipment: ABS; traction and stability control; aluminum wheels; keyless ignition; power windows, mirrors, and door locks; power tilting/telescoping steering wheel; cruise control; heated front seats; four-zone automatic air-conditioning; moonroof; two-speed transfer case; hill-start assist; crawl control; front, side, and side curtain airbags. You can also equip your 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser with any additional stuff according to your needs and preferences. The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser has established a good reputation for being a model that stands up to the toughest conditions. The power, a redesigned suspension, and attention to noise and vibration, make the 2008 model pleasant and responsive on-road, while the Crawl Control system allows it to be even more capable off-road. The car users love it for the comfortable passenger compartment, soft suspension, so you can drive and relax. Despite its powerful engine, you will not want to ride fast, but quietly to enjoy the process. Specifications OVERVIEW Column1 Body Style 4-door SUV Construction Steel body on frame Accommodation 8 passengers POWERTRAIN Engine 32-valve DOHC V-8 Engine Type Gas Displacement 5.7 liters (346 cu in) Horsepower 381 hp @ 5600 rpm Torque 401 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm Transmission Type 6-speed automatic Drivetrain 4-wheel drive Performance 8.2sec to 62mph, 130mph, 27.7mpg, 270g/km Fuel economy (CTY/HWY) 13/18mpg Towing capacity 8,500 lbs. Dimensions (length/width/height in mm): 4950/1865/1970 Customers' rating 4,5 out of 5