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Toyota is poised to launch a facelift LandCruiser
Prado range with improved safety features, better
third-row seat access and higher interior and
exterior specification.
The facelifted LandCruiser Prado is scheduled to have its
Australian wholesale release in late October.
The new Prado has a refreshed exterior and interior, including
daytime running lamps on all models.
Important safety upgrades across the range will include trailer
sway control and emergency brake signal.
Trailer sway control gives LandCruiser Prado owners an
additional layer of confidence and control when towing.
LandCruiser Prado’s new face draws on several structural
elements from its unique design heritage; a further evolution
of the classic Prado grille and a vertical, two-step construction
accentuating the newToyota’s rugged appearance.
A comprehensive interior upgrade combines new switchgear
and instrumentation with enhanced trim and ornamentation,
improved second and third row seat designs with new fabrics,
and new interior colour schemes.
LandCruiser Prado debuted in Australia in 1990 and is now
midway through its fourth generation.
It is offered with the choice of 4.0-litre petrol and 3.0-litre
turbo-diesel engines.
Toyota unveils facelifted
Landcruiser Prado
TOYOTAMOTORVEHICLES
TOYOTAMOTORVEHICLES
Toyota invests $1 million an hour on R&D
Toyota is spending $1 million an hour on R&D
including forward-looking, leading-edge technologies
and product development in activities associated with
the environment, energy and safety.
The latest annual report fromToyota Motor Corporation (TMC)
confirms it invested 807.4 billion yen (A$8.85 billion) on research
and development in its financial year ended March 30, 2013.
This translates into more than $24 million per day or a little over
$1 million an hour - an increase of 3.5 per cent over the previous
fiscal year.
The annual report says the overriding goal of Toyota’s
technology and product development activities is to maximise
driving pleasure, comfort and convenience while minimising
traffic accidents and environmental impact.
“By achieving these sometimes conflicting goals to a high
degree, we want to open the door to the automobile society of
the future,” it says.
Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Tony
Cramb said fostering innovation and ingenuity in the interests of
customers has always been a cornerstone of Toyota’s success.
Mr Cramb said Toyota’s R&D activities are dedicated to the
development of stylish, affordable and high-quality vehicles -
whether by refining existing systems or making leaps in new
technology.
“This massive R&D commitment demonstrates that everyone at
Toyota is driven to listen to our customers and to develop new
ways to improve their experience,” Mr Cramb said.
“Such passion is evident in the work of our innovative designers
and engineers and, ultimately, in the vehicles and services we
deliver,” he said.
“Toyota is never going to stop trying to make ever-better
vehicles for customers in Australia and around the world.”
Mr Cramb said Toyota leads the way in anticipating and
engineering the cars of tomorrow for today. Last year, in the
United States alone, Toyota companies were issued with 1,491
patents - more than any other automotive company.
During the development of the current-generation Prius, Toyota
filed 1,261 patent applications worldwide.
TMC’s report says it is essential to continue making substantial
R&D investments to preserve its competitive edge in
technologies and vehicles.
Hino trucks at the
top of the tree
One of the nation’s largest vegetation services
companies relies on the toughness and
reliability of its large Hino fleet to get the job
done with a minimum of fuss.
ETSVegetation Management (formerly Eastern Tree
Service) runs a national fleet of around 280 trucks, and
more than half of them are Hinos.
“We currently run about 190 Hinos out of our depots
around Australia,” said Bill Simmons, ETS National
Fleet and Maintenance Manager.
The majority are from the Hino 500 Series medium duty
range, featuring fuel-efficient Euro 5-compliant engines,
state-of-the-art multimedia unit and safety features like
ABS anti-skid brakes, Front Under-run Protection, ISRI
air-suspension driver’s seat and driver’s SRS airbag as
standard.
“At the moment we have a number of FD and FE
medium wheelbase trucks and GH medium and long
wheelbase 500 Series models,” Mr Simmons said.
“We also have nearly 30 500 Series GT 4x4 trucks and
a couple of 300 Series light duty models too.”
For Mr Simmons, the reasoning behind having so many
Hinos in the fleet is simple.
“The Hinos are a good, reliable, value-for-money truck
with excellent support,” he said.
“They do exactly what we need and they don’t let us
down: they’re super-reliable.”
HINO
Keep your forklift or skid steer
working hard all year long.
With the end of the year fast approaching there’s no better time than now to book your
forklift or skid steer loader in for a genuine Toyota Material Handling service.
Our factory trained technicians use the latest diagnostic equipment to ensure a fast and
accurate diagnosis, helping to save you time and money.
