German Formula One racing driver, Ralf Schumacher said that Toyota's recent more rigid form has convinced him that the team can be much more competitive in the remaining half of the season.
The Toyota Team racer had a misery beginning to the year. He is struggling to set up the car to his liking and lagging far behind his team-mate, Jarno Trulli.
Rumors dispersed that Schumacher was on the edge of losing his drive as he repeatedly failed to get past the first qualifying cut-off. But in the last two races, he has bounced back, qualifying a season-best sixth at Silverstone and out-pacing Trulli the entire weekend.
He felt that Toyota had made its point despite of the fact that he retired early in the grand prix.
Schumacher said that their team obviously has the potential to turn it around because they have good people and the right facilities. In his certainty, he added that they just need to do the job. He also said that everyone is pushing hard so he quite optimistic for their completion.
He also said that a double retirement at Silverstone is clearly not satisfactory but the positive element was the sixth place in qualifying, which representative and he claims that he had good lap times while he was still in the race.
Schumacher admitted that the Toyota Team is still not consistent.
He boasts that their car is very competitive under certain circumstances. He sited the instance in Barcelona and they looked good in terms of pace in Magny-Cours too. He admitted that they had problems so they did not get their aspired results.
He added that he has become increasingly comfortable with his set-up and the whole team is working hard as they chase a successful second half of the year.
Schumacher believes that after this week's test at Spa, the Belgian track might be one of the venues that brings out their Team's strengths.
According to him, the car performed well overall so they can look forward to the race there with confidence. He continued that they were quick in Silverstone and the Belgian track has similar characteristics with a lot of high speed corners so he anticipates that it should suit them when they get there in September.
Toyota Motor Corporation is the world’s leading automaker. Maker of quality Toyota tonneau covers, the car company has held its reputation as an excellent manufacturer since its first year of existence.
Monday
Toyota Tundra Joining the List of America's Most Popular US Made Vehicles
An automotive sales index online has identified the Toyota Tundra as one of the best-selling vehicles built in America and its partly attributed to the new Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas Inc. plant in San Antonio.
And for the first time, the Tundra which was built at the facilities in Princeton, Ind., and San Antonio with parts made like the Toyota control arm bushing kits primarily in American factories has finally made it into Cars.com’s American Made Index.
Every year the American Made Index identifies the top 10 models of vehicles that are in essence American and that pertains to where parts are produced and also with regards to the vehicles popularity among cars.com buyers.
So far the top produced “American” vehicle according to the index is the Ford F-150 which is primarily assembled in Claycomo, Mo., and Dearborn, Mich. The Toyota Camry on the other hand which is assembled in Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind., ranked second only.
The Fort Wayne Ind., and Pontiac, Mich.-built Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ranked third while the Lordstown, Ohio-built Chevrolet Cobalt ranked fourth and the Wayne, Mich.-built Ford Focus ranked fifth.
Toyota’s Tundra came in at 10th place on the list. The Chicago-based cars.com works with more than 200 newspapers, television stations and their Web sites to buy and sell new and used vehicles.
Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures LLC which is a company owned by media conglomerates Belo Corp., Gannett Co. Inc., The McClatchy Co., Tribune Co., and The Washington Post Co.
About Toyota
Toyota is a Japanese multinational corporation and the world’s largest automaker by sales revenue as of 2007 toppling General Motors in the position. Together with its half-owned subsidiary Daihatsu, the company was the second largest auto company by revenue of $179 billion and total vehicle production, making it as one of the most profitable automaker with net income of around $11 billion. Toyota was also the world’s eight largest company by revenue last 2006.
Toyota owns and operates Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and parts of Daihatsu brands, divisions, and companies. The company includes 522 subsidiaries.
And for the first time, the Tundra which was built at the facilities in Princeton, Ind., and San Antonio with parts made like the Toyota control arm bushing kits primarily in American factories has finally made it into Cars.com’s American Made Index.
Every year the American Made Index identifies the top 10 models of vehicles that are in essence American and that pertains to where parts are produced and also with regards to the vehicles popularity among cars.com buyers.
So far the top produced “American” vehicle according to the index is the Ford F-150 which is primarily assembled in Claycomo, Mo., and Dearborn, Mich. The Toyota Camry on the other hand which is assembled in Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind., ranked second only.
The Fort Wayne Ind., and Pontiac, Mich.-built Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ranked third while the Lordstown, Ohio-built Chevrolet Cobalt ranked fourth and the Wayne, Mich.-built Ford Focus ranked fifth.
Toyota’s Tundra came in at 10th place on the list. The Chicago-based cars.com works with more than 200 newspapers, television stations and their Web sites to buy and sell new and used vehicles.
Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures LLC which is a company owned by media conglomerates Belo Corp., Gannett Co. Inc., The McClatchy Co., Tribune Co., and The Washington Post Co.
About Toyota
Toyota is a Japanese multinational corporation and the world’s largest automaker by sales revenue as of 2007 toppling General Motors in the position. Together with its half-owned subsidiary Daihatsu, the company was the second largest auto company by revenue of $179 billion and total vehicle production, making it as one of the most profitable automaker with net income of around $11 billion. Toyota was also the world’s eight largest company by revenue last 2006.
Toyota owns and operates Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and parts of Daihatsu brands, divisions, and companies. The company includes 522 subsidiaries.
2008 Toyota Highlander - Preview
By Carey Russ
The Auto Channel
SEE ALSO: Toyota Buyers Guide
"Sometimes you feel like a truck, and sometimes you don't" said Toyota with the debut of its Highlander back in 2001. Based on the Camry front-wheel drive unibody platform, it offered an attractive alternative to the body-on-frame 4Runner for people who liked SUV styling but preferred a vehicle that was basically a car, and who had no use for the 4Runner's serious off-road ability. It quickly became a benchmark in the then-new mid-size crossover SUV class. And then the introduction of the Highlander Hybrid for 2006 expanded both the Highlander and Toyota hybrid lineups, and the Highlander Hybrid became Toyota's second most popular hybrid, outsold only by the Prius.
There have been significant changes in the auto industry since the Highlander's introduction. Following in its footsteps, crossovers seem to have taken over, so there is much more competition than there was seven years ago. When a new generation of Camry appeared last year, there was little doubt that a new Highlander would shortly debut. It's here now, at least in gasoline-only form. Hybrids will show up in late September.
The second-generation Highlander is larger, more spacious, more powerful, and positioned a little more upscale than the first generation. All three gasoline-only trim levels - base, Sport, and Limited - are V6-powered. The four-cylinder is history.
The old 3.3-liter, 215 horsepower V6 has been replaced in the regular Highlander by the new 3.5-liter, 270-horse V6 also found in the Camry, Avalon, and RAV4. It's designed for efficiency, low emissions, and good fuel economy. Even with the significant power increase, it will get an 08 Highlander a mile further on a gallon of unleaded regular than the old engine. EPA estimates are 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined for front-wheel drive, and 17/23/19 for four-wheel drive. The transmission is a five-speed automatic with uphill/downhill shift logic for improved performance on grades.
The 3.3-liter V6 is in the Hybrid, in 209-hp tune along with three 650VAC permanent magnet motor-generators. MG1 functions as the generator, engine starter, and CVT transmission control. MG2, with a maximum of 167 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, drives the front wheels alone or in parallel with the gasoline engine. It also provides power generation by regenerative braking. The rear motor-generator, with 68 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque, drives the rear wheels when extra traction is needed and provides regenerative braking and power. The maximum total output of the hybrid system is 270 horsepower. Hybrids will be offered in base and Limited models.
As before, non-hybrid Highlanders are offered with front- or four-wheel drive. As is typical in the crossover class, "four-wheel drive" means a single-range system, designed for the all-weather on-road use that is the natural habitat of a crossover. In many competitors, this also means an automatic part-time system, which runs in front-wheel drive mode until wheelslip activates torque transfer to the rear wheels. 4WD Highlanders use a full-time all-wheel drive system, with a 50/50 front/rear static torque split, for better traction in all conditions.
Outside, new styling from Toyota's Newport Beach, CA-based CALTY design studio gives the new Highlander more presence on the road than its forebear. It was meant to look strong but refined, rather than off-road rugged, and CALTY has been successful to that end. The new Highlander is noticeably larger, with a four-inch greater length, three inches more of wheelbase and width, and another inch of ground clearance.
The Highlander's Camry-based unibody structure features fully-independent strut suspension and high levels of passive and active safety equipment. Its structure is designed to protect occupants by controlled deformation and energy absorption in a crash, and seven airbags - dual front, front seat-mounted side, driver's knee, and full-length head curtain with a rollover-sensing feature - are standard. So is the "Star Safety System", which includes enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), traction control (TRAC), antilock braking (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and brake assist (BA) systems. Electric power steering allows the steering system to be integrated into other vehicle control systems for improved driver control in emergency situations.
Inside, changes are the most noticeable and notable. For a start, with increased length and width there is much greater space. A steering wheel that is both tilt- and telescope-adjustable and Optitron backlit instruments help to improve the driver's experience, but passengers are certainly not forgotten. The "Center Stow" (tm) second-row seat, standard in all grades, is especially interesting. It consists of a console that can either be fitted between the second-row captain's chairs or stowed easily and conveniently under the front console. When it's placed between the second-row seats, the front storage space is available for other uses. The standard third row can fold flat into the floor for cargo use, and the second-row seats are designed for easy third-row access.
I had the opportunity to sample both gas and hybrid versions of the new Highlander during a recent press preview in Stevenson, Washington, on the north bank of the Columbia River about 30 miles east of Portland, Oregon. The drive route included highways and byways in Southern Washington, and even a section of well-maintained dirt road. I started in a Sport model, then drove a Limited, and finally had a short stint in a Hybrid.
I was most impressed by the Sport, and by its suspension in particular. A bit firmer than the base and Limited grades, it was still comfortable but had noticeably less body roll when cornering. Both versions were commendably quiet. I drove the short dirt section in the Limited, and it was comfortable and capable. No, this was not serious off-road activity by any means - any car with reasonable clearance would have had no problem on that road, and many improved dirt roads are actually smoother than what passes for pavement in many parts of the country. If you want a midsize Toyota SUV with serious off-road ability, a 4Runner or FJ Cruiser is a much better choice. The Highlander excels at its intended mission, a right-sized family carryall made for the everyday world. Strong, smooth power is available from the new engine, for effortless driving in all real-world conditions.
After the main ride and drive, I went for a short drive in a Hybrid. Although it has the 270 horsepower rating as the gas version, the power is delivered very differently, and because of the hybrid system there is an extra 300 pounds of weight compared to a similar gasoline model. "Performance" for hybrid buyers means fuel economy more than acceleration, and with EPA estimates of 27 mpg city and 25 highway it will best the 4WD gas model's 17/23. As with other Toyota hybrids, it's extremely quiet and refined, and the hybrid system hardware has a minimal impact on interior space.
With its new style and increased interior space, power, and capability, the second-generation Toyota Highlander will force its competitors to play catch-up again.
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