Japanese Car News

[Magnum]

2016 Toyota Hilux spied for the first time

[vishkid]

LOL...you would be surprised how many not Japanese things are in a Japanese engine

I was surprised at the percentage of non-Japanese things in a JDM Axela (stock, unchanged here). I don't know about the engine but at least 50% of the body, suspension and other components seem to be european, mainly from Ford plants.

Of course, they shared a platform for a while but I thought most parts were from Japan.

[iRage]

Styling queues for the next gen Outlander <maybe...>?

Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV Concept-S unveiled (re-unveiled with more substance) at the Jakarta Motorshow. The only details provided are that it will come with a 2.0ltr engine and twin motors (one for the rear in AWD variants)

Edited November 25, 2014 by iRage

[B2Spirit]

Out of curiosity anyone knows what's going on with Allion/Premio Duo @ Toyota ?

They again released a minor refresh yesterday with minimal changes as opposed to a full model change.

As i recall the current model was released in 2007/6.

That is like more than 7 years for this model (NZT260), which is Unusual as most toyota cars get a full model change within 6 years.

Edited September 30, 2014 by B2Spirit

[trinity]

Styling queues for the next gen Outlander <maybe...>?

Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV Concept-S unveiled (re-unveiled with more substance) at the Jakarta Motorshow. The only details provided are that it will come with a 2.0ltr engine and twin motors (one for the rear in AWD variants)

Well, thats a beauty..

Edited September 30, 2014 by trinity

[iRage]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="B2Spirit" data-cid="266943" data-time="1412070534"><p>

Out of curiosity anyone knows what's going on with Allion/Premio Duo @ Toyota ?<br />

They again released a minor refresh yesterday with minimal changes as opposed to a full model change.<br />

As i recall the current model was released in 2007/6.<br />

That is like more than 7 years for this model (NZT260), which is Unusual as most toyota cars get a full model change within 6 years. </p></blockquote>

According to some local car mags the new verdion is to come out in 2015 as Hybrids. Dome say early 2015 some say late 2015. Apparently the delay is due to the axio/fielder hybrid launch(much like the new RAV4 is delayed here because of the new Harrier). Simply put noone knows !!!???

Having said that Toyota in the past has had a habit of unifying options across grades,cutting down grade variations and introducing new engines to the outgoing model. I guess it is a way forthem to phase out production.They've done that with the RAV4 and Vitz eithin the last year or so.

Andyes that Outlander is gorgeous compared to the current model. Hope the production model won't be too far off.

Edited September 30, 2014 by iRage

[RViji]

usually car makers change like this.

1.New Powertrain with old chassis/vehicle components

2.new chassis/vehicle components with old powertrain(may be software updates)

but they avoid complete changes of Powertrain(engine+transmission) and Vehicle,too many risks to consider due to changes.

[unknown]

Styling queues for the next gen Outlander <maybe...>?

Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV Concept-S unveiled (re-unveiled with more substance) at the Jakarta Motorshow. The only details provided are that it will come with a 2.0ltr engine and twin motors (one for the rear in AWD variants)

looks like taking some design ideas from new lexus front end minus the grille

[Magnum]

Out of curiosity anyone knows what's going on with Allion/Premio Duo @ Toyota ?

They again released a minor refresh yesterday with minimal changes as opposed to a full model change.

As i recall the current model was released in 2007/6.

That is like more than 7 years for this model (NZT260), which is Unusual as most toyota cars get a full model change within 6 years.

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="B2Spirit" data-cid="266943" data-time="1412070534"><p>

Out of curiosity anyone knows what's going on with Allion/Premio Duo @ Toyota ?<br />

They again released a minor refresh yesterday with minimal changes as opposed to a full model change.<br />

As i recall the current model was released in 2007/6.<br />

That is like more than 7 years for this model (NZT260), which is Unusual as most toyota cars get a full model change within 6 years. </p></blockquote>

According to some local car mags the new verdion is to come out in 2015 as Hybrids. Dome say early 2015 some say late 2015. Apparently the delay is due to the axio/fielder hybrid launch(much like the new RAV4 is delayed here because of the new Harrier). Simply put noone knows !!!???

Having said that Toyota in the past has had a habit of unifying options across grades,cutting down grade variations and introducing new engines to the outgoing model. I guess it is a way forthem to phase out production.They've done that with the RAV4 and Vitz eithin the last year or so.

Andyes that Outlander is gorgeous compared to the current model. Hope the production model won't be too far off.

Got a pic of the updated version?

Edit: i was able to find this:

http://en.responsejp.com/article/2014/09/29/233640.html

looks like its all mechanical/functional changes rather than visual ones

Edited October 1, 2014 by Magnum

[Magnum]

Mitsubishi Shogun facelift introduced in UK

[iRage]

Mitsubishi Shogun facelift introduced in UK

The Pajero facelift introduced in JPN last month or so seems to be the same...again the Pajero too is expected for a model refresh next year <so far only renditions based on a weird concept car has been circulating around.

As for he Premio/Allion updates, they seem to be primarily features based (eg. reduction of fuel consumption through idle stop feature, etc...)

[Magnum]

Toyota Esquire

The Esquire is proposed as a “deluxe” variant of the Toyota Noah
Esquire differs from its siblings is mostly in the looks and interior makeup department. From the front, the bold T-shaped grille consists of vertical slashes within the frame as compared to the less striking design on the Noah and very Vellfire-like front end of the Voxy.

Edited November 10, 2014 by Magnum

[iRage]

I don't get the batman reference though....

[Ruslan]

looks like the fugly prado 150 facelifted to me...

[Magnum]

I don't get the batman reference though....

This is the only resemblance i can come up with

looks like the fugly prado 150 facelifted to me...

The variant in the first pic looks alright, but if i had to choose between this and Serena on the basis of look...... I'll go with the Serena

[iRage]

This is the only resemblance i can come up with

LOL.....there was a cartoon with badger(or capybara or something with two big front teeth popping out) in it that my kid used to watch. Looks more like that

In many ways it seems like Toyota is keeping up with BMW's mid/late 90's love it or hate it looks

[iRage]

Toyota Mirai : Toyota finally announces prices, etc and more pics of its first commercial/mass-production FCV <Is it the world's first ? As far as I know other's are not releasing any FCVs till late next year ?>! I guess it has one of those love it or hate it looks and requires somewhat getting used to (and even perhaps eye surgery that lowers your eye sight or atleast a few gallons of alcohol)

So starting price is 6.7 million yen and they will start taking orders in December. Incidentally they expect to sell 400 units a month ! Refueling time has been lowered to just below 5 mins.

Biggest disappointment for me is that the prototype had a cool flame like pattern on its rear lights which have been replaced with a rather boring ordinary lamp (see last pic).

Boring light on top

Cool light from the prototype below:

Anyway here is the article (Japanese):

http://carview.yahoo.co.jp/article/photo/20141118-20102280-carview/?t=0

and the rest of the photo gallery

http://autoc-one.jp/toyota/joycar-1967005/photo/

Edited November 18, 2014 by iRage

[vishkid]

Biggest disappointment for me is that the prototype had a cool flame like pattern on its rear lights which have been replaced with a rather boring ordinary lamp (see last pic).

Is that some form of EL wire or LED powered optical fiber on the proto? I met a guy from Audi (Stephan Berlitz) at a work event who has been experimenting with multiple new methods for automotive lighting including EL sheets / wire as well as printed OLED. The problem with all these apparently is with the lifetime where printed OLED do not last even half the life of a conventional light source and EL is much worse. The other problem is that with these methods you have to replace the whole light fixture rather than replacing a bulb! His plan is to introduce solid OLED based lights on Audi in 2017 and printed OLED (with all sorts of cool effects that you can see on youtube - Audi Swarm) a little later. He expects Audi to lead on these timelines (naturally) and no one else ...

BTW the Honda FCV which they released sometime back - was it pulled off the market or still there? In which case, the Mirai might not be the first.

Edited November 19, 2014 by vishkid

[iRage]

It said "optical strand"; well that is what I recall having loosely translating the info sheet that was there. My presumption was that it was some kind of optical strand with some kind of bulb sourcing the light through (if that makes sense).

Well the FCX was seriously limited in production wasn't it ? Only a few hundred planned for production and also available only on lease in very specific areas directly from Honda ? Also I thought after the Clarity they halted production last year of FCVs as they were planning a new model integrated to their standard automobile range <I am just speculating on this one>.

[vishkid]

It said "optical strand"; well that is what I recall having loosely translating the info sheet that was there. My presumption was that it was some kind of optical strand with some kind of bulb sourcing the light through (if that makes sense).

Sure does. So it's an advanced version of an optical fiber with a much thicker strand (or multiple standard fibers in a strand), somehow managing the optical propagation. Hope they can get it to work in mass production soon.

Agree on the FCX/Clarity - but the launch of that helped to create awareness and increase the # of H-pumps, at least in the US I think.

[iRage]

In the meantime; on to something a bit more familiar and fossil burning: After many sneak peeks and spy-pics; seems like this is the final production version of the CX-3...looks pretty cute . So far it onlysays it will have a 1.5 and 2.0 litre skyactive engines depending on the region but nothing specific about what diesel, hybrid, gasoline power trains it will carry.

[Magnum]

I dont think I quite understand how the Mirai works

[iRage]

A new Triton after 9 years. SO far production is planned only out of Thailand and priced between 1.6 mil yen (probably for a base 2wd ??) to 3+ mil (4wd ?). Didn't read too much about the engines....

<EDIT: I can't seem to embed the pictures for some reason so here are the links to the article and image gallery>

http://img.s-msn.com/tenant/amp/entityid/BBeoT2U.img?h=768&w=1366&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f

http://www.msn.com/ja-jp/autos/news/%E4%B8%89%E8%8F%B1-%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%B3-%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%80%81%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A7%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%A6%E4%B8%BB%E5%8A%9B%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%80%819%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%B6%E3%82%8A%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8/ar-BBeoELm

http://www.msn.com/ja-jp/autos/news/%E4%B8%89%E8%8F%B1-%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%B3-%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%80%81%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A7%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%A6%E4%B8%BB%E5%8A%9B%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%80%819%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%B6%E3%82%8A%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8/ss-BBeoRxC?parent-title=%E4%B8%89%E8%8F%B1-%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%B3-%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%80%81%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A7%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%A6%E4%B8%BB%E5%8A%9B%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%80%819%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%B6%E3%82%8A%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8&parent-ns=ar&parent-content-id=BBeoELm&fullscreen=true#image=2

[iRage]

Not to be out done by Toyota; Honda refreshes everyone's mind by re-showcasing their Honda FCV. SO far they only seem to claim that it will be available late 2015.

Gallery :

http://www.msn.com/ja-jp/autos/news/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%80%81%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%87%83%E6%96%99%E9%9B%BB%E6%B1%A0%E8%BB%8A-fcv%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BB%E3%83%97%E3%83%88-%E3%82%92%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E5%88%9D%E5%85%AC%E9%96%8B%E2%80%A6%E7%87%83%E6%96%99%E9%9B%BB%E6%B1%A0%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%92%E5%B0%8F%E5%9E%8B%E5%8C%96/ss-BBeef6M?parent-title=%E3%83%9B%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%80%81%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%87%83%E6%96%99%E9%9B%BB%E6%B1%A0%E8%BB%8A-fcv%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BB%E3%83%97%E3%83%88-%E3%82%92%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E5%88%9D%E5%85%AC%E9%96%8B%E2%80%A6%E7%87%83%E6%96%99%E9%9B%BB%E6%B1%A0%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%92%E5%B0%8F%E5%9E%8B%E5%8C%96&parent-ns=ar&parent-content-id=BBeeppf&fullscreen=true

Article:

http://www.msn.com/ja-jp/autos/news/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%80%81%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%87%83%E6%96%99%E9%9B%BB%E6%B1%A0%E8%BB%8A-fcv%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BB%E3%83%97%E3%83%88-%E3%82%92%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E5%88%9D%E5%85%AC%E9%96%8B%E2%80%A6%E7%87%83%E6%96%99%E9%9B%BB%E6%B1%A0%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%92%E5%B0%8F%E5%9E%8B%E5%8C%96/ar-BBeeppf

[Magnum]

A new Triton after 9 years. SO far production is planned only out of Thailand and priced between 1.6 mil yen (probably for a base 2wd ??) to 3+ mil (4wd ?). Didn't read too much about the engines....

<EDIT: I can't seem to embed the pictures for some reason so here are the links to the article and image gallery>

http://img.s-msn.com/tenant/amp/entityid/BBeoT2U.img?h=768&w=1366&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f

http://www.msn.com/ja-jp/autos/news/%E4%B8%89%E8%8F%B1-%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%B3-%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%80%81%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A7%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%A6%E4%B8%BB%E5%8A%9B%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%80%819%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%B6%E3%82%8A%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8/ar-BBeoELm

http://www.msn.com/ja-jp/autos/news/%E4%B8%89%E8%8F%B1-%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%B3-%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%80%81%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A7%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%A6%E4%B8%BB%E5%8A%9B%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%80%819%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%B6%E3%82%8A%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8/ss-BBeoRxC?parent-title=%E4%B8%89%E8%8F%B1-%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%B3-%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E3%80%81%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A7%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%A6%E4%B8%BB%E5%8A%9B%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%80%819%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%B6%E3%82%8A%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8&parent-ns=ar&parent-content-id=BBeoELm&fullscreen=true#image=2

"Above is a Top Gear Philippines rendering of what we think the upcoming all-new Montero Sport would look like based on the new Strada's exterior design. The sheet metal on the front half of the SUV is usually shared with its pickup sibling, so the hood, the fenders, the front doors and the windshield are unchanged. The grille, the bumper and the headlights are usually restyled to have a sportier, more sophisticated look.

We borrowed some styling elements from Mitsubishi's latest concept SUVs and crossovers, which preview the styling direction of the Japanese carmaker's upcoming models. As automakers aim to make their vehicles greener and more fuel-efficient, we added aero flaps to the front wheels and a rear spoiler on the trailing edge of the roof to improve aerodynamics; these are some of the features present on most of the Montero Sport's new competitors. The general shape of the rear was inspired by the current Outlander crossover."