The Too Often Forgotten Toyota Celica

The first-generation Toyota Celica may just be the most overlooked old-school JDM car.

When you think of Japanese sports cars, particularly classic JDMs, some of the first names that come to mind are the Nissan Skylines, 240Z and the Toyota AE86. But there was another Japanese sports car that’s sadly been skipped over far too often: the first-generation Toyota Celica. Unveiled back in 1970 at the Tokyo Motor Show, the first fastbacks didn’t appear until 1973. And it was in 1971when the Celica arrived stateside that a young Brian Karasawa first became passionate about the car.

At a time when Mustangs and Camaros ruled, Karasawa had a thing for the Celica and now, years later, he finished restoring one. Electric Federal just released this great video that shows one man’s passion for a car he couldn’t afford as a young man. But today Karasawa has the money to drive his dream.

Source: http://timchieu.com/toyota-2/the-too-often-forgotten-toyota-celica.html

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Hearing this Toyota GX71 Chaser GT Play the Jingles Bells Made Our Day

Sometimes it's the strangest things that can brighten up your day; like watching a video of a group of tuned Japanese sedans rolling down the road when all of a sudden, you hear a familiar tune coming from…the engine of one of those cars.

The admittedly talented driver behind the wheel of the VIP-esque style (with a little bit of imagination) Toyota Chaser GT Twin Turbo series GX71 from the 1980s played the world-famous Jingle Bells tune simply using his right foot and the raspy sounds of the modded powerplant.

You can check out and enjoy the 40-seconds long video for yourself right after the break.

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2013 Toyota RAV4: Check it Out in Detail in These High-Resolution Images

We've been following the upcoming 2013 Toyota RAV4 closely over the past few months and now, after the spy pictures, our own speculative rendering, and several official, but low resolution, images, we can finally show you what you've been waiting for: high resolution imagery of the new model.

Toyota's designers have modernized the looks of the popular on both sides of the Atlantic RAV4, applying familiar styling cues from their more recent models like the Auris hatchback and estate giving the SUV a sharper appearance.

The new compact crossover looks like it also features a larger footprint, which if true, should improve passenger and possibly luggage space, while the interior boasts more upscale materials, such as the leather trim on the dashboard of the display vehicle.

We have nothing official yet on the 2013 RAV4's specifications, but it has been rumored for a while now that the North American model may drop the V6 option and follow the example of the rivaling Honda CR-V offering a single four-cylinder engine.

In other regions like Europe, the new RAV4 will be available with diesel units as well, possibly sourced from the BMW Group as part of an agreement signed between the two automakers.

Stay tuned for more as the 2013 RAV4 will make its global debut later today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

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Toyota to Launch Two New Car Brands in China Next Year, while Nissan will Release Venucia EV

Japanese carmakers are having a hard time in China this year after local consumers shunned their products due to a territorial dispute over a group of islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, but they're making plans to regain any lost ground starting from next year.

For example, Hiroji Onishi, Toyota's senior managing Officer, told Reuters on Thursday that the Japanese carmaker will launch two China-only brands via its joint ventures in 2013.

Onishi would not divulge any more details, but we do know that Toyota currently makes cars in China with the FAW Group and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., so the two new brands should be created in partnership with one or both of these companies.

The revelation came on the same day that Nissan announced plans to begin production of a pure-electric model under its newly created Venucia brand by 2015.

Du Fan, a Nissan China spokesperson, told Reuters in a separate report that the car will be named e30, with the company to begin pilot programs to test the vehicle before it enters regular production next year in 15 Chinese cities.

Venucia currently offers two models in China, the low-cost D50 and R50.

 

TOYOTA CHINA CONCEPTS

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Toyota Motorsport GmbH Teases Lexus LS TS-650 Ahead of Essen Motor Show Debut

Remember the muscular Lexus LS prototypeprepared by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) that our spies nabbed racing around the Nürburgring track last year?

Well, Toyota's motorsport division has finally made the decision to reveal the car in front of the public for the very first time at this month's2012 Essen Motor Show in Germany, which runs from November 30 to December 9.

TMG made the announcement on its Facebook page and released a handful of teaser images, though, it stopped short from providing any information about the car and what it plans to do with it in the future.

Nevertheless, our spies had not only secured clear images and even a video of the Lexus LS TMG Edition on the track (watch the clip here), but also the preliminary spec sheet, which revealed at the time that the car is powered by a 5.0-liter engine capable of reaching 9,000 rpm and delivering 650-horses and a peak torque of 710Nm (524 lb-ft).

We'll keep you updated with any new information as soon as we hear and confirm it.

 

 

PHOTO GALLERY

 

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Toyota Vios Collects a Not So Friendly Bump from a Lexus RX

One of the worst things that can happen to a driver travelling on a highway is for one or more cars to suddenly slow down in front, as not all motorists keep a safe distance from each other nor do they always pay attention to what's going on ahead of them.

In this occasion, a group of vehicles slowed down on a highway located close to New Taipei in northern Taiwan, with a Lexus RX smashing into the rear end of a Toyota Vios sedan, sending it violently across the road.

After viewing the video a couple of times and seeing how the Vios was catapulted, we think that the Toyota driver was actually quite lucky to not be involved in another crash.

Watch the incident for yourself in the video below.

 

VIDEO

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Toyota Builds a GT86 Midget

A miniature Toyota GT86 is built from the ground up live on stage in a blazing fast time that is nothing short of impressive.

Automakers often stage events in order to promote their latest cars. Typically they are limited to press conferences and live auto show premieres. However, Toyota of Japan had something else in mind at the 2012 Toyota Engineering Society (TES) engineering festival. Starting off with a Daihatsu Midget, a team of Toyota engineers took to the stage to strip it of its body panels and other components all the way down to its bare chassis. The next step was to rebuild it with custom body panels resembling those from the GT-86 sports coupe.

As you'll see from the video, the final result looks like something straight out of a cartoon. Despite the cheesy pomp and cheering, the newly christened 86Q actually works. Not bad for a live stage event.

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Wald International Brings Out the Darker Side of the Toyota Prius Mk3

In its third tuning project in less than a week, Japan's Wald International is taking it upon itself to jazz up the third generation of Toyota's Prius hybrid hatchback with its new Sports Line package.

As with most tunes from Wald, the Sports Line is a mostly cosmetic upgrade kit that starts with a matte black foil wrap for the body and continues with a selection of aero goodies, such as the front bumper, side skirts and a rear bumper, all of which feature green accent stripes.

The tailgate also gets a spoiler that works with a rear diffuser, black badges, carbon trims for the windows and a choice of exhaust finishes to complete the hybrid's aggressive new appearance.

Upon customer request, Wald can fit the car with tinted windows, a lowered suspension and a set of two-tone alloy wheels.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

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