The Mini Cooper is launched in the United States, followed by the Toyota Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. The SUV backlash begins.
2004
The Toyota Prius II won 2004 Car of the Year Awards from Motor Trend Magazine and the North American Auto Show. Toyota was surprised by the demand and pumped up its production from 36,000 to 47,000 for the U.S. market. Interested buyers waited up to six months to purchase the 2004 Prius. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. President Jim Press called it “the hottest car we’ve ever had.”
2010
Toyota to mass produce plug-in hybrids from 2012, and Plant will be set up in THAILAND
This morning, while reading the Wall Street Journal, I stumbled across this article:
Back to the Future: GM Bets on Trucks
later in the day, this article caught my eye:
Strung-Out America Demands More Big SUVs, Ford Happy to Resupply
Now, I’m going to begin this post with a caveat. I love my SUV.
But I don’t drive it every day. Sometimes, I go months without driving it. When I do drive it, I tend to for one of the following reasons:
I’m going 4-Wheeling, or somewhere where I’ll need the additional clearance and 4wd
I’m going to a NAXJA meeting
I need to haul something that won’t fit in my Accord
I just feel like driving a different vehicle, or want my Accord to feel like a Miata the next time I drive it
SUV’s are great vehicles. They can haul lots of stuff, and lots of people. I think they look cool, and I like the “go-anywhere” utility of my Jeep.
But I’m not most SUV buyers, who never leave pavement, never need to tow a boat, and really don’t need the SUV. Most SUV buyers would probably be just as happy, if not happier, in a good old-fashioned Station Wagon.
I just uttered an automotive dirty word. Station wagon’s aren’t cool. They’re what your mom drove. They were the site of fights with your siblings on road trips to Wally World. But modern station wagons offer the utility that most people need from their SUV while delivering some good gas mileage, and even looking cool in the process. Need an example? Check out the Subaru Legacy, Mercedes E-Class, and the upcomming CTS-V Wagon.
So why are GM and Ford going back to SUV’s and Trucks? They’re big money makers. Big vehicle, big price premium, bigger profits per vehicle. I get it. I’m a business major, and I can’t blame them for wanting to make a buck. The question is, are we really as hungry for new SUV’s and Trucks as these articles claim?
Full size pickups will never go away. They make sense for business, whether big or small. Someone will always need a Suburban to tow their boat.
The problem is that the SUV strategy wasn’t sustainable before, and it isn’t now. The Japanese did SUV’s, and made plenty of money off of them, but their bread and butter was still the mid-sized sedan: Camry, Accord, Altima. Say those names with me. That is the battle ground that one needs to win to win in the auto industry.
I hope GM and Ford make less money on the next generation of SUV’s; not because I want them to fail, but because I want those huge profits SUV’s generate to be invested into making those SUV’s- and the passenger cars- better, more fuel-efficient, and more competitive.
By doing so, hopefully GM won’t have to rely on them to survive ever again. I’m disappointed in the direction change, and hope its temporary.
Now back to your regularly scheduled auto show. Another update is coming tomorrow, as today was slow.
DETROIT, January 11, 2010—Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A, Inc., today unveiled the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The FT-CH is a concept that would address Toyota’s stated strategy to offer a wider variety of conventional hybrid choices to its customers, as it begins to introduce plug-in hybrids (PHVs) and battery electrics (BEVs) in model year 2012, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCHVs) in 2015 in global markets.
“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply,” said Jim Lentz, TMS president. “A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid.”
The CH stands for compact hybrid as in compact class and it’s a concept that can best be defined by comparing it with the mid-size class Prius. The FT-CH captures the spirit and functionality of a car that thrives in the inner-city environment; sized right to be nimble, responsive and maneuverable.
“It’s a package Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for,” added Lentz.
The FT-CH was styled at Toyota’s European Design and Development (ED²) center in Nice, France. Compared to Prius, it is 22 inches shorter in overall length, yet loses less than an inch in overall width. In spite of its compact external dimensions, FT-CH was designed for maximum passenger comfort and interior roominess, with an imaginative sense of style.
ED² designers looked to capture the vivid, high-energy appeal of what has come to be called the 8-bit generation. Popularized in the early 80’s, 8-bit microprocessor technology dominated the budding home video game industry. Today, 8-bit is considered a specific retro-style that is embraced by such things as 8-bit genre music and 8-bit inspired art.
The direct reference to the 8-bit generation is meant to be fun and innovative, colorful and stylish, with strong appeal to young buyers. Lighter in weight and even more fuel efficient than Prius, the concept specifically targets a lower price point than Prius, thus appealing to a younger, less-affluent buyer demographic.
Pointing to how Prius has become a universal icon for hybrid technology, Lentz confirmed that TMS is developing a Prius family “marketing strategy” for North America that will take full advantage of the Prius brand equity.
“The strategy is still taking shape and obviously it will require additional models to qualify as a family,” said Lentz. “Among others, the FT-CH is a concept that we are considering.”
In the early 2010s, Toyota plans to sell a million hybrids per year globally, a majority of those in North America. To accomplish this, Toyota will launch eight all new hybrid models over the next few years. These will not include next generation versions of current hybrids; instead, they will be all new dedicated hybrid vehicles, or all new hybrid versions of existing gas engine models.
The heart of hybrid technology is its battery. Since the early 90’s, during the early stages of first-generation Prius development, Toyota has been committed to in-house R&D of advanced nickel-metal hydride batteries. Through three generations
of Prius and a total of seven full-hybrid models, it has systematically reduced size, weight and cost while improving energy density, quality and reliability.
Toyota’s joint venture partnership with Panasonic has been a key element of its success in the advancement of hybrid technology. Later this year, Panasonic EV Energy (PEVE) will have three separate, fully operational production facilities with a combined capacity of more than one million units per year.
Moving the promise of electrification one step further, Toyota recently kicked off its global demonstration program involving approximately 600 Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Beginning early this year, 150 PHVs will begin to arrive in the U.S. where they will be placed in regional clusters with select partners for market/consumer analysis and technical demonstration.
The Prius PHV introduces Toyota’s first generation lithium-ion drive battery. When fully charged, the vehicle is targeted to achieve a maximum electric-only range of about 13 miles and capable of achieving highway speeds of more than 60 mph in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the Prius PHV reverts to “hybrid mode” and operates like a regular Prius. This ability to utilize all-electric power for short trips or hybrid power for longer drives alleviates the issue of limited cruising range encountered with pure-electric vehicles.
All program vehicles will be equipped with data retrieval/communication devices which will monitor activities such as: how often the vehicle is charged and when, whether the batteries are depleted or being topped-off during charging, trip duration and all-electric driving range, combined mpg and so on.
As it becomes available, data from the program vehicles will be posted to a dedicated Web site. This in use, readily available data will help consumers understand how the vehicles are being used and how they’re performing.
Toyota believes this demonstration program is a necessary next step in societal preparation in that it allows Toyota the unique opportunity to inform, educate and prepare customers for the electrification of the automobile in general and the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology.
Toyota is moving quickly with the development of PHV technology well beyond this demonstration program. Advanced battery R&D programs with nickel-metal, lithium-ion and “beyond lithium” are underway for a wide variety of applications in conventional hybrids, PHVs, BEVs and FCHVs.
In the early 1990s, Toyota began R&D on building a practical and affordable hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. FCHV technical advancements have moved at a rapid pace. Engineers have made great strides in cost reduction targets in both materials and manufacturing and Toyota is committed to bringing hydrogen fuel cells to global markets in 2015.
Toyota’s latest model, the Toyota FCHV-advanced began its own national demonstration program late last year. Over the course of the three year program, more than 100 vehicles will be placed in an effort to demonstrate the technology’s performance, reliability and practicality in everyday use.
Recently field tested in southern California by two national laboratories at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, the FCHV-advanced confirmed an estimated single-tank fuel range of 431 miles. In combined city and highway driving from Santa Monica to San Diego the FCHV-adv logged an estimated 68 miles per kilogram of hydrogen, the rough equivalent of 68 miles per gallon. That range is equivalent to a Highlander hybrid at more than double the MPG with zero emissions other than water vapor.
In 1997, Toyota introduced the RAV4 EV battery electric vehicle in California. 1,484 of these 100 mile range large-battery electric vehicles were either sold or leased over the course of the program. Nearly half are still on the road.
Shortly thereafter, Toyota started a modest demonstration program with a small- battery electric urban commuter vehicle, called the e-com. This concept addressed the idea of the “on-demand” city station car similar to the Zip-car business model that is becoming popular in large urban areas. Although shorter in range, the e-com program addressed a specific mobility niche at a much more affordable price than the RAV4 EV.
The RAV4 EV and e-com programs were short lived due to lack of commitment from the market; the consumer and the consumer’s environmental mind set were not ready to commit to battery electric vehicles at that time. Recent increased awareness of environmental issues and the benefits of advanced technology vehicles have reinvigorated an interest in the electric vehicle market. As a result, Toyota will bring a small, urban commuter lithium-ion BEV to market in model year 2012.
Battery technology has progressed significantly in the time since the RAV4 EV and e-com programs. But major challenges still remain. The cost of lithium-ion batteries needs to be reduced significantly, or a more affordable alternative developed.
Like hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, battery electrics will require the creation of infrastructure for recharging on the go. This issue of range is also a challenge to overcome. Even at 100 miles, BEVs as a primary mode of transportation do not yet offer what most consumers see as true mobility.
Toyota believes these are hurdles that will be cleared. For the last decade its focus has been to concentrate on a comprehensive advanced technology strategy including BEVs, PHVs, and FCHVs. Common to all three is the move to electrification, the full commitment to advanced battery technology and how lessons learned from conventional hybrid R&D have given Toyota a leg-up on all three.
Thank speedhunters again. I hardly ever see Cressida’s this old. It’s a US model, but the owner obviously loves JDM culture. It has all kinds of small touches. Fender mirrors, the rigged wing, hang ring, front spoiler, SSR lookin Centerline rims, poked rims, taped headlight. It’s all legit.
What do you think of the galleries? Better than individul pics or no……. yes? No?
New Delhi, 05 Januari 2010 - Pabrikan otomotif Toyota di India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Rabu (06/01) akan meluncurkan konsep sedan berharga murah, Toyota Etios, di arena pameran otomotif New Delhi Auto Show. Sumber Toyota seperti dikutip Indianautoblog, menyebut, selain untuk menggenjot penjualan produknya di India, pabrikan otomotif asal Jepang itu juga akan memasarkan Etios ke berbagai belahan dunia.
Rusia, Afrika Selatan, Brazil, dan China dan beberapa negara di Asia telah masuk daftar sebagai tujuan pemasaran mobil itu. Untuk pasar India, Etios akan diproduksi akhir tahun ini. Sedangkan untuk pasar global awal 2011 mendatang.
Kazuo Okamoto, Wakil Kepala Toyota seperti dikutip autonews menyebut, peluncuran di India ini merupakan awal dari strategi Toyota untuk menggenjot penjualan produknya. “(Peluncuran) ini akan menjadi tonggak penting bagi pemasaran produk Toyota di pasar global. Dan kami telah memulai strategi itu di India,” tutur Okamoto.
Toyota butuh waktu empat tahun dan melibatkan 2.000 orang ahli mesin dan rancang bangun mobil untuk membangun yang sejak dua bulan lalu santer diberitakan di berbagai media dunia itu. Etios akan ditawarkan dalam dua varian yaitu sedan yang dibekali mesin 1.500 cc dan hatchback dengan mesin 1.200 cc. Wujud hatchback ini disebut-sebut mirip dengan Toyota Yaris.
Ihwal harga, sumber Toyota seperti dikutip worldcarfans memberi ancar-ancar mulai US$ 10 ribu atau sekitar Rp 96 juta. Meski harganya kompetitif, namun Toyota menjamin kualitas mobil ini berstandar internasional dan tak kalah dengan varian lainnya. Toyota pun mengusung slogan ‘The Global Quality Standard’ untuk mengiringi promosi produk barunya itu.
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We entered Botswana through Skilpads Gate. This is on the N4 west of Zeerust. We thought we got there early but obviously not earlier enough as it took us 4 hours to get through customs. There were no problems but the whole procedure is slow on the Botswana side, one gets a true sense of African time.
Queue at the Botswana border post (Skilpads Gate)
Finally through the border post we drove to Lobatse for petrol and then we headed off to Sekoma. Not far from Sekoma we took a cut road through to Mabuasehube one of the gates into the kgalagadi transfrontier Park.
The start of the cut road through to Mabuasehube
After debating whether the lions would eat me through a nylon tent or if I would be better off in a canvass tent I decided on the former. However night one I woke just after midnight to find that my blowup mattress had gone completely flat. The next morning after a long hard night I found the problem, a huge gaping hole on the seam of my mattress. What was I going to do for the next 7 nights? The duck tape didn’t work and we were a few hundred kilometers from the nearest civilization… I realized that I would have to embrace mother earth for the next 7 nights.
In Botswana (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) One gets to camp in the open, yes that’s right, you are exposed to the elements and animals. We were told that at night if the lions or hyenas come around we would be safe in our tents as long as we kept them zipped up and kept away from the sides of the tent, very reassuring for me a city slicker.
One of the trees we camped under in Botswana
When the other four guys found out that I was walking around with pepper spray in my pocket they ragged me and made me put it away, probably not a bad idea as it would be more manly to fight a lion off with my bare hands that spray him in the eye and annoy him.
One of the male lions I photographed
I survived Botswana and then we drove through the desert to get to South Africa.
The trip through the desert 46 degrees at 9am.
Below are some of the photos I took on the way to the SA border.
Tuft of grass
....more photos out of Botswana toward SA border
Almost in SA again
Okay so you guessed it right, the 5 of us spoke about women most of the time although lions did crop up every and again. One thing we all agreed on…woman are wonderful in fact absolutely fantastic especially after day sevens in the bush!
Back to the wildlife we saw.
We had just had a wind storm and guess who loved the seed pods
a male lion yawning
I asked him to smile and this was the best I got
a beautiful lizard
Below is yours truely doing the all famous Captain Morgan Extreme pose! (I thought I would pop this image in here….almost like an add break) I hope you see this Captain Morgan marketers!!!!
Me doing the Captain Morgan extreme pose
Wildebeest fighting
Springbok trying to show who is boss
Secretary bird showing off again....as they often do!
Yes, we even saw Leopard
For those of you that don’t know me I must let you know that I absolutely love photographing panoramics and landscapes. Below are a few of my landscapes.
Calm before the storm
Late afternoon
House of light
Lightening Bolt
Ostrich land
Sand Dune
So we finally arrive at Nossob in South African and are very pleased to fill up with petrol and get a few cold drinks.
Petrol Station at Nossob
We spent two nights at nossob and then made our way home through Upington, Kuuruman etc. Asked if I would do the trip again….1000 yeses!!!
