Aygo Crazy creates a storm in South Africa

Three years after making its world debut, Aygo Crazy is once again showing off its power and agility - this time for our friends at Toyota South Africa.

With final-generation Celica and MR2 Roadster’s rear-mounted 1.8-litre VVT-i engine and 240Nm of torque thanks to a Toyota Motorsport turbo conversion kit, Aygo Crazy packs a serious, yet playful, punch - especially for a concept car. In fact, the one-off “shopping supercar” concept was designed with just one thing in mind: a fantastic driving experience.

Leeroy Poulter, a Team Castrol Toyota rally driver who was given the opportunity to race Aygo Crazy at the Renault Knysna Hillclimb in May, can testify to this. “It was a lot of fun,” Poulter commented. “Everyone was very impressed with the Aygo’s power, which was really surprising for a car of its size. It attracted a lot of attention …  It’s like a kart with doors and a roof!” Aygo Crazy’s performance left nothing to be desired, with Leeroy winning his class and coming 25th out of 80 cars overall.

Since its UK launch in 2005, Aygo - the more domestic showroom version, that is - has gained a huge following amongst young, urban drivers thanks to its versatility and sense of style. Now, Aygo brings its irresistible brand of fun to urban South Africa - and we’re sure it will succeed.

Exclusive: New Toyota Yaris UK TV advert preview

You’ve admired its smart new design and learned how Toyota has made hundreds of quality improvements. Now, the all-new, third-generation Yaris is coming to your television screens.

The image above is taken from a series of new Yaris TV ads that will begin to air in the UK later this month*. We’ll be premiering the first advert exclusively on the Toyota UK Facebook page, too - keep your eyes peeled for further updates…

The all-new Yaris is on sale from 1st September 2011. To find out more, visit toyota.co.uk/newyaris.

*Update 15 August 2011: UK transmission date to be confirmed.

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Prius Plug-in Hybrid: Toyota produces the cleanest, most technically advanced Prius yet

Two years after the Prius Plug-in Hybrid was first launched to the world at the Frankfurt motor show, this game-changing vehicle is returning once again - but this time it’s ready for production!

Toyota will debut the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (to give it its full name), at the 64th International Motor Show, in Frankfurt on 15 September. Featuring a new lithium-ion battery, the production Prius Plug-in Hybrid will not only offer extended EV (electric power only) range, but it will also achieve a remarkable 128.4mpg whilst only emitting 49g/km of CO₂ (subject to final homologation).

Just over a year ago, 20 Prius Plug-in concept vehicles took to the UK roads as part of a trial lease programme in partnership with EDF energy. The three-year programme was launched to help develop the infrastructure and recharging packages that are necessary for delivering low-carbon electricity for electric motoring. A year on, the results from the trial are very promising - click here for details.

The new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle will become the flagship of Toyota’s hybrid range when it launches next year, but it won’t be the only addition to the hybrid family in 2012. Joining it will be the all-new seven-seat Prius+ hybrid MPV and Toyota’s first supermini powered by Hybrid Synergy Drive, the all-newYaris Hybrid. Stay tuned to the blog and our Facebook page for more details over the coming months.

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Toyota hybrids to be headliners at EcoVelocity

Toyota will be showcasing its current and future low emissions full hybrid technology at EcoVelocity, a festival of green motoring that is taking place at Battersea Power Station in London in September.

Visitors to the show will be able to get a first-hand experience of Toyota hybrid technology, with driving opportunities in the world’s best-selling full hybrid Prius and British-built Auris Hybrid. With emissions of less than 100g/km of CO2, both cars are right at home in central London as they are exempt from the capital’s congestion charge.

While these models represent Toyota’s current hybrid offerings, show-goers will also have a chance to get a close-up look at the next stage in Toyota’s hybrid vehicle strategy in the form of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

Londoners will be used to the sight of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid concept as 20 cars have already been running on London’s roads, as part of a trial programme in partnership with EDF Energy, ahead of the launch of the full production model, which will be unveiled at the  64th International Motor Show, in Frankfurt on 15 September.

Hybrids aren’t the only low emissions vehicles that Toyota will be bringing to the event. Also on the show will be the all new Yaris, and the revolutionary iQ, models which offer plenty of style and practicality and have the agile performance, clever packaging and low emissions and running costs that make them ideal for urban life.

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Ford and Toyota to work together on hybrid systems for SUVs and pick-up trucks

In an exciting move, Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced they are to collaborate as equal partners on the development of an advanced new hybrid system for pick-ups and SUVs.

What does this mean? Well, put simply, the world’s two leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles will work together to develop a new rear-wheel drive hybrid powertrain. Both companies will be able to deliver these hybrid technologies to customers sooner and more affordably than if they worked alone.

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota Executive Vice President, Research and Development, said: “In 1997, we launched the first-generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced petrol-electric hybrid. Since then, we have sold about 3.3 million hybrid vehicles. We expect to create exciting technologies that benefit society with Ford, and we can do so through the experience the two companies have in hybrid technology.”

Toyota BTCC man Wrathall is ready to Rock

After blazing a trail to the BTCC podium at Knockhill earlier this month, independent Toyota driver Frank Wrathall and his Dynojet Racing team will this weekend (17/18 September) be seeking further glory at theRockingham circuit in Northamptonshire, venue for the latest thrill-packed rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The super-fast semi-oval track, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, should suit the powerful Avensis even better than tight and twisty Knockhill, where the Toyota became the first of the ‘Next Generation Touring Cars’ to claim a top-three finish.

“We were good at Snetterton and good at Knockhill, and if we can go well at those two tracks then we should be strong for the remaining circuits this year,” says Frank, 24. “It will be nice to get to Rockingham, which is fast, flowing and smooth, as are Brands Hatch and Silverstone; all three should suit the Toyota. Bring it on.”

Second row grid slot for Wrathall Toyota

Toyota Avensis privateer Frank Wrathall secured his best qualifying result of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season after taking third on the grid for the seventh meeting of the year at Knockhill.

Frank and the Dynojet Racing team made the trip north from Lancashire looking to build on a maiden top-10 finish during a breakthrough weekend at Snetterton last month, and were on the pace from the outset during the two free practice sessions at the Fife circuit.

With drizzle falling during the first session of the weekend, Frank was an encouraging ninth quickest and then improved in a wet second session to post the third fastest time; despite missing the first half of the session as the team carried out a turbo change on the Avensis.

Qualifying marked the first dry running of the weekend for the touring cars, although a number of incidents made for a difficult session as the red flags were displayed on no fewer than three occasions.

Despite the various stoppages disrupting proceedings, Frank was able to put his Toyota inside the top 10 until a stunning lap with just minutes remaining saw him vault up to third place behind Tom Chilton and Matt Neal. He ended the session little more than two tenths of a second from pole.

Not only did that give Frank and the Dynojet Racing team a best-ever starting slot, it also marked the highest qualifying position for a car built to the BTCC’s Next Generation Touring Car regulations, beating the seventh place Frank secured on the grid last time out at Snetterton.