Lexus LFA achieves a 7min 14.64 sec lap time on Nürburgring!

Toyota officially reveals new Camry in Japan

Toyota has officially revealed the new Camry in Japan and there are no surprises since photos of it had already been leaked (earlier post). All versions to be sold in Japan will come with the hybrid powertrain, which uses a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine (2AR-FXE) with a combined max. output of 205 PS. The hybrid techlogy, along with the very low drag coefficient of 0.28, enable the new Camry to achieve a fuel economy of 26.5 km/L under the 10.15 cycle.

You can read the full press release (Japanese text) here.

First official photo of all-new EUDM Honda Civic!!!

As it was expected, the new EUDM Civic's design is an evolution of the current one and this is the first official photo published by Honda. I really like the new rear lights!

Latest scoop on FT-86: G's and STi versions to get turbo power

BC has published an article with the latest scoop on the FT-86 / BRZ. According to a summary that I was provided with, Toyota is planning to fit an 1.6-liter turbocharged engine one year after the initial introduction of the model. Now, what seems rather strange to me is the fact that BC claims that the turbocharged engine will be fitted in the G's / STi versions, while the "normal" versions will be powered by the naturally aspired 2.0-liter engine.

In any case, the article also mentions that the new turbo engine will be fitted in the new Subaru Impreza WRX STi as well, producing 270ps. BC also claims that the differences between the FT-86 and the BRZ (or whatever the official name will be) will be on the front and rear ends.

The new JDM Toyota Camry... ish

Toyota Ukraine has revealed those photos showing the new Camry for the domestic market, but if you take a look at the latest scoop coming from Japan, this is pretty much how the JDM model will look like. OK, there are going to be minor differences, such as a different grille etc, but you get the idea.

Toyota introduces all-new USDM Camry

Toyota has just presented the all-new USDM Camry, perhaps its most important model is the US market. Toyota is so serious about the Camry that during its presentation, it announced that even the prices of all Camry versions will be lower, despite the fact that the new model is coming with more features on board.

The base model is powered by a 2.5-liter straight four engine producing 178hp. The specific motor can return an average fuel consumption of 28mpg. Other engines include a 3.5-liter V6 engine with an output of 268hp, as well as a hybrid powertrain is also available.

Farewell Mazda RX-8!

Production of the RX-8 stopped in early July while the remaining inventory will be sold by the end of this year. The reasons behind Mazda's decision are related to the more strict EU emission standards which the RX-8 couldn't meet. Last year, Mazda managed to deliver just 1,134 units, a 49% decrease compared to 2009, while sales in the first half of 2011 decreased by a further 21%.

How the all-new Lexus GS was rescued...

Probably you have read the rumours posted in the past regarding the fate of the GS successor... the one that was just presented. Toyota was apparently ready to abandon the project, but Lexus' regional management teams really fought for it! The inside story has now been published and you can read it below.

Eighteen months ago, Toyota had all but scrapped its plans for the redesigned Lexus GS 350 sedan that was unveiled here last week.

At the time, the company was pouring engineering resources into resolving its unintended acceleration crisis and was busy changing quality and safety procedures. Plus, the GS' underwhelming sales in the United States and Europe made for a weak business case against the Mercedes E class and BMW 5 series.

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda had put the GS on the chopping block, but a last-ditch effort from U.S. and European executives saved the car. In the process, the company overhauled the way Lexus executives report to top management in Japan -- giving the luxury brand a stronger voice at the highest levels of the company.

"I didn't want this car," Toyoda said at the debut of the GS, which goes on sale in early 2012. But Lexus' regional management teams "fought me like crazy."

Several top Toyota executives confirmed that the 2013 GS redesign had been as good as dead.

"There were some executives, including Akio, who thought, in terms of our priority list, that the GS should be delayed or canceled," said Andrew Coetzee, now U.S. vice president of Lexus Brand Development. He was a Lexus product planner in Japan at the time.

Coetzee says Toyoda's pessimism resulted from the many layers of Japanese executives through which Lexus' overseas managers reported. Only when Lexus' global team members appealed directly to Toyoda did the boss change his mind.

Company officials say Toyoda decided there was a flaw in the system. As part of the company's management reorganization in April, he created a new reporting structure that gives Lexus more influence.

Previously, at least four layers of r&d, sales and marketing executives in Japan separated Toyoda from overseas executives responsible for the Lexus brand. But a new Lexus Product and Market Planning Division was formed with a direct line to Toyoda.

The division is headed by Japan-based executive Karl Schlicht, who reports to managing officer Kiyotaka Ise. Ise, whose only responsibility is Lexus, reports to Toyoda.

Coetzee admitted that "things were not done well" with the current bland and bloated GS, and that the lineup was "missing something" between the entry-luxury ES and IS sedans and the flagship LS. The GS needed to represent "a premium car with premium chassis technology ... a step up in dynamics and status."

The GS has been a continual underachiever compared with the 5 series, E class and Audi A6. The current generation's sales peaked at 27,390 units in 2006, tapering off to 7,059 last year.

But the redesigned 2013 GS displays the sheet metal and interior design cues that will carry across the brand for the next several years.

"The GS may be low volume [in the past], but it is symbolic of the new Lexus," said Yoshi Inaba, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

[Source: Automotive News]