Toyota Carib (corolla wagon)

1993 toyota carib (corolla) wagon 4WD

South Africa - Toyota Avanza 1.3 S Panel Van

Toyota South Africa has entered the small panel van market with an adaptation of the Avanza MPV.

The Avanza Panel Van is offered at a highly competitive price and is based on the entry level Avanza 1.3 model.

The Avanza is all about space, utility and affordability in a compact vehicle.

These factors made the original MPV an ideal candidate for a panel van version that provides 955 litres of load space (VDA measurement method).

In its panel van form the load area features a flat floor with tie-down hooks.

A cargo barrier separates the front cab area from the load compartment.

Side windows are blanked out with white vinyl material.

Excellent access to the load area is provided by the two rear side doors and rear tailgate.

An engineering target set for the Avanza MPV was that it should have excellent driving dynamics for its position in the market and that it should provide a stress-free and smooth driving experience in all driving conditions.

Performance and economy of operation were also carefully optimised.

The body structure of the Avanza is based on a highly rigid monocoque structure that provides a strong driver and passenger safety cell and stable handling characteristics.

The Avanza Panel Van is powered by Toyota's 1.3 litre twin-overhead camshaft 16-valve K3-VE engine which produces 67 kW at 6 000 r/min and 120 Nm at 4 400 r/min.

Service intervals are 15 000 km. A 4-year/60 000 km service plan is included in the price.

Warranty is three years/100 000 km with AA Roadside Assistance for the duration of the warranty.

The Avanza Panel Van has a recommended retail price of R112 900 including VAT.

Source: Toyota South Africa

Upgrades for 2011 Toyota Tacoma, Priced from $16,365

The Toyota Tacoma pickup truck is entering the new model year with additional features and a revised lineup. For the 2011MY, the Japanese automaker discontinued three manual transmission models and added five four-cylinder, four-speed automatic models including the Access Cab 4x2 PreRunner, Double Cab 4x2, Double Cab 4x2 PreRunner, Regular Cab 4x4, and Access Cab 4x4.
Added features for the 2011MY Tacoma include a newly designed grille on all Base, SR5, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport and X-Runner models. Regular Cab models now come with standard air conditioning while the 4x2 versions also gain standard 15-inch steel wheels.


Tacomas equipped with the available six-disc CD changer now come with integrated satellite radio (subscription required), while the company also introduced a new Convenience Extra Value Package for Double Cab models with cruise control, a sliding rear window with privacy glass, remote keyless entry and steering wheel audio controls.


The Japanese firm's pickup truck is available with two engines, a 2.7-liter four-pot with 159HP and 180 lb-ft of peak torque, and a 4.0-liter V6 pumping out 236 ponies and 266 lb-ft of torque.


The base MSRP (not including destination and handling fees) for the 2011 Tacoma will range from $16,365 for the Regular Cab 4x2 equipped with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission, to $27,525 for the Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 long bed with a 4.0-liter V6 and five-speed automatic.


Toyota said that the first examples of the 2011 Tacoma will begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in late July.

2008 TRD HiLux 4000SL Review

2008 TRD HiLux 4000SL Review & Road Test

The all new TRD HiLux… a performance utility it ain’t…

Model Tested:

• 2008 TRD HiLux 4000SL – $64,990 (RRP)

 I thought perhaps if time goes by, the TRD will make sense, perhaps it just confused me? Perhaps Toyota had given me a less than perfect example? Not so, excluding Anthony, the rest of us at CarAdvice are yet to fall in love with anything with a TRD badge.

ere is the essential problem. Despite what Toyota says, TRD is in fact in competition with HSV and FPV. You can’t launch a performance brand and expect not to be compared to the traditional players. Sure the TRD Aurion is far more comparable to its Ford and Holden counterparts than the HiLux is to the HSV Maloo and FPV Tornado (F6), but you still have to compare.

I will try and get the good bits out of the way and perhaps try and convince myself through this review that the TRD does make sense, to someone.
Under the bonnet and with subtle TRD badging sits a large 4.0-litre, quad-cam, V6 petrol engine that delivers 225kW of power and 453Nm of torque.

Yes, only 225kW from a 4.0-litre V6 with a supercharger. Somewhat strange? More so when you consider the 3.5-litre in the TRD Aurion tends to make more power (241kW) but obviously has less torque (400Nm).
TRD has managed to increase power over the Dual-cab HiLux by 28.5 percent while torque goes up by 20.4 per cent. Which in a way explains the 25 per cent price increase. But is it warranted?

Short answer? This car is a tad ridiculous, I am not sure why TRD would put their name to it, because as far as performance or handling goes, or hell, even just sporty nature, the only thing this utility has going for it is a supercharger.

Sure, it has monotube Bilstein shock absorbers, larger front brake rotors and callipers, a body kit, and if you’re nice they’ll even throw in a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever. But how does that warrant a TRD badge?

I admire Toyota, they make cars that leave many other manufacturers in envy, but if I remember correctly, we were promised some time ago that the Big T would do away with its bland ‘fridge-on-wheels’ image and revitalise itself? If TRD is suppose to be the answer, it is a complete failure.
How can Toyota associate its Formula 1 technology with this utility, about the only thing the HiLux and the Toyota Formula 1 car have in common is the badge. But let’s be fair, the HiLux has enormous appeal, so much so that it’s consistently the third best selling car in the country.

Therefore from a business and marketing perspective, Toyota would be mad not to launch a TRD variant, as there are undoubtedly many buyers who just have to have the best. But what damage does an unfinished product have on an establishing brand?
My week in the TRD started off when I collected the HiLux from Toyota headquarters in Brisbane. From here, it became an interesting experience, because despite how much I began to despise this vehicle, I knew there were countless tradies that dreamt of it at night. In that respect, this car is brilliant – a brilliant marketing exercise.

Drive it through a construction site and you’ll know what an attractive blonde feels like. Work stops, tools are switched off and fingers begin pointing. “It’s a TRD!”… well thank you, yes it is.
“Awesome Ute mate…” – Thanks! “Can I get a ride?” – Aw, maybe next time?
You get more compliments in this than in a hot Italian supercar, but we are after all, in Australia.
Whoever is in charge of Toyota marketing, needs to get a pay raise, as not only has the Prius become a icon (false or not) and started a revolution, but it now seems that as long as there is a Toyota badge on it, it will sell.

Getting inside the car is surprising to say the least! My evaluation vehicle was the HiLux 4000SL, which sits above the 4000S. For that L (and an extra $5000) you get leather seat trim, carpet floor covering, TRD carpet floor mats (in lieu of rubber), six-CD in-dash changer and Optitron speedometer.

There is also the part-time four-wheel drive with Toyota’s automatic disconnecting front differential (ADD) which is not available on the 4000S. The ADD allows for on-the-move shifting between two and four-wheel drive.

As far as the interior goes, it’s a mélange of colours and materials. The leather seats are nice, and definitely made for those of us that like our fast food, but the rest of the interior simply doesn’t match. The seatbelt buckles are a completely different colour, so is the high-low gear selector. Then there is the stereo.


Turn on the ignition key – thankfully there is no start button – and the 4.0-litre comes to life, although without much of a roar. If you want to nail it, leave it in 4WD, unless of course you feel the need to entertain yourself.

So how does 225kW and 453Nm of torque feel in a HiLux, it feels good, but not great. The Ute can rush from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds, which is not bad, but is by no means quick.
Also while it’s getting you to the speed limit, the whine from the supercharger is not what one would expect, it sounds more like a Prius on steroids. A very tinny electric noise, which left many passengers extremely confused.

At least the gear shifts are smooth, thanks to Toyota’s five-speed automatic transmission. Even then, it has a tendency to hunt gears on the odd occasion.
No doubt the Bilstein shocks help (a little), but don’t expect to go around any corners like you would in even a normal sedan, there is still enormous amounts of body roll – again, why the TRD badge?
The HiLux actually comes from Thailand but the TRD bits are put together here in Australia and if you open the bonnet, this becomes rather obvious.

I am not nit-picking here, but even the clips which hold the wiring looms are of random colour, then of course, there is the cold air intake which sits in the driver side wheel guard, this is great for performance, but I thought this was suppose to be a capable off-road utility? Not exactly water proof.
Speaking of off-roading, the HiLux was taken to a 4WD track near Australia Zoo and I humbly bow down to the Toyota gods as this thing can pretty much go everywhere. It can also carry a 948kg payload.

Fuel consumption is officially 12.9L/100km, although real world tests returned around 14L/100km according to the car’s own trip computer. The HiLux also sips 95RON fuel and I would need a lot of convincing not to go for the 3.0-litre turbo diesel.

No doubt it’s a confusing car to analyse. On one hand it’s every tradesman’s wet dream, on the other, it’s nothing more than a glorified HiLux undeserving of the TRD badge.
Perhaps I am far to concerned with the actual performance and feel of this car and I am not appreciating it for what it is. Maybe I had much higher expectations of TRD
I recently convinced my folks to buy a new Toyota Corolla, which they did, for less than $30,000. So why is it then, that a $65,000 car has essentially the same stereo head unit, with the addition of Bluetooth?

he sound quality that comes out of the HiLux is incomparable to nearly anything else on the road today, and I don’t mean that in a good way. The cheapest Kia has more bass and a crisper sound. To top it off, there are no audio controls on the steering wheel. So where does your $65,000 go? Surely the “?” tattoo on the blonde didn’t cost that much?

It’s also worth noting that the wheels on the TRD look somewhat outdated, Toyota must come up with a better looking set of rims for their range-topping HiLux.

Either way if TRD wants to be taken as a serious performance brand, some serious thought is absolutely essential!

Specifications:

• Engine: 3956cc V6 DOHC 16 Valve VVTi
• Power: 225kW @ 5,400rpm
• Torque: 453Nm @ 2,800rpm
• Induction: Eaton M90 Supercharger
• Transmission: Five Speed Automatic
• Differential: 3.58:1 (LSD)
• Brakes: Disc/Drum (with ABS)
• Fuel Consumption: 12.9 litres / 100km (Combined)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 76 litres
• Fuel Type: 95RON Unleaded
• Safety: Dual Front Airbags
• Spare Wheel: Matching Alloy
• Towing Capacity: 2,250kg (Braked)
• Turning Circle: 12.2 metres
• Warranty: 3 year / 100,000km
• Weight: 1,850kg (Tare) / 2,810kg (Gross)
• Wheels: 17 x 7.5″ Alloy

Toyota Is Strong

When you become number one, everyone wants to pick on you. Toyota has been the dominant force in the Australian car market for years, but it’s also the world’s largest manufacturer (overtaking General Motors) and shows no real signs of slowing down in Australia.

It seems the recent negative media attention towards Toyota has given the company a reboot, with boss Akio Toyoda eager to start a new golden age for the company his grandfather founded in 1933.
Looking at our market in Australia this year, Toyota has sold 86,213 vehicles (from 01/01 to 31/05). Every other brand put together has managed just 335,253 vehicles. That means more than one out of every five new vehicles sold every single day is a Toyota.

The Japanese giant currently leads the medium car, SUV compact, SUV medium and SUV large segments in Australia. Not exactly an easy feat to achieve given Australian’s love affair with Ford and Holden.

The overwhelming media coverage of its accelerator issues in the United States has done the company no favours but it’s only fair to admire the Big T’s achievements despite its recent troubles