The brilliant Mazda MX-5 roadster might have won an unprecedented double at the 2016 World Car of the Year awards, but the Toyota Mirai’s ‘green’ gong was the most significant. The MX-5 won both the COTY and the design COTY, the first time in the award’s 13-year history that a carmaker has won both trophies. It has won countless other awards. It was the Automotive News … [Read more...] about Mazda MX-5 gets the nod – but Toyota Mirai is the real world car winner
Toyota
Toyota NZ enters crossover segment with funky ‘Coupe-High Rider’
The Nissan Juke created the mold for funky SUV/crossover design and now Toyota enters the segment in New Zealand early next year with its own ‘out-there’ creation, the C-HR. The moniker stands for ‘Coupe-High Rider’, despite its five doors. It is smaller than its stablemate the RAV4 but bigger inside and out than the Juke. Toyota says it’s a bit longer, wider and … [Read more...] about Toyota NZ enters crossover segment with funky ‘Coupe-High Rider’
New Prius: Toyota chief wanted more of everything
Toyota describes its fourth-generation Prius hatchback as the most refined and intuitive yet – but its appeal is unlikely to extend far beyond those who worship at the altar of hybrids. The petrol-electric Prius remains the closet possible thing to Earth-friendlier motoring, apart from the odd battery-electric car in New Zealand. It’s a rolling advertisement to buy organic, … [Read more...] about New Prius: Toyota chief wanted more of everything
Toyota adds to petrol-electric fleet with new Corolla variant
“Petrol-electric hybrids are the key to fuel efficiency and planet-saving low emissions for the next 25 years … the relative inefficiency of a standard fossil fuel-engined car means that only 14 per cent of the oil's original energy is applied at the wheels. Twelve per cent of its energy value is lost in getting from the oil well through the refining and distribution system to … [Read more...] about Toyota adds to petrol-electric fleet with new Corolla variant
Toyota Fortuner: another in a SUV world of Walter Mittys
Sales of SUVs in New Zealand in the years 2011-2015 jumped by a dizzying 126 per cent, a feeding frenzy fuelled partly by marketing hype that said New Zealanders are an outdoorsy people and need such vehicles. That they mostly use them for journeys far away from anything ‘outdoorsy’ doesn’t matter. The image of an adventurous spirit will do nicely in an SUV world of Walter … [Read more...] about Toyota Fortuner: another in a SUV world of Walter Mittys