Hilux propels Toyota to Top Spot in Vehicle sales in March

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• Toyota leads vehicle sales in March


• Hilux is SA’;s best-seller

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Market segment	March 2014	March 2015	% change
Passenger vehicles	36,644	35,548	-3%
Light commercial vehicles	15,933	16,808	5.5%
Medium commercial vehicles	1,015	1,104	8.8%
Heavy commercial vehicles	485	578	19%
Extra Heavy commercial vehicles	1,261	1,306	3.5%
Bus	102	105	2.9%
Vehicle exports	24,659	34,147	38.5%
Overall market (local)	55,440	55,449	0%

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Toyota once again posted the best sales performance in March, garnering a dominant 20% market share, to further entrench its leading position in the SA automotive sales race.

The long-term market leader delivered 11,047 new vehicles during March, driven by a healthy demand for Hilux which once again took top honours as SA’;s best-seller with a total of 3,625 units sold for the month (31% of the 1-ton bakkie segment); 518 units ahead of its  closest rival. Other top performers from the brand include the Corolla/Quest combination, holding the C-segment lead at 37% with 1,745 units sold; while the Fortuner secured its Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment leader position with close to 900 units finding a home during March.

On the Truck front, Hino South Africa celebrated a record sales month with 523 Hino and Dyna trucks being sold – this translates into 16,9% share in the overall truck market and an exceptional performance in the Medium Commercial Vehicle (MCV) segment where the brand boasts a  30% market share.

“Our performance up till now proves that Toyota has an even firmer grip on its long-term position as the best-selling automotive brand in the country,” says Calvyn Hamman, Toyota South Africa’;s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “More impressive is the fact that this has been achieved in the face of increased competition, much of which has been directly targeted at Toyota.

“While the increase in the investment-led medium and heavy truck segments which posted gains of 8.8% and 7.6% respectively shows a confidence in the country, the decline in passenger segment shows a level of caution with the wider car-buying public – this can be attributed to uncertainty around fuel prices, interest rate increases and vehicle price increase,” says Hamman, adding that Toyota remain cautiously optimistic about the 630,000 sales forecast for 2015

On the vehicle financing front, March 2015 saw new Toyota finance applications increase by 6% over the 6-month rolling average and 16% month-on-month; while new finance application year to date are up by 8% year-on-year and show and increase of 10% if compared to March 2015.04.02

“Toyota dealer generated finance applications for passenger, LCV and used cars processed by Toyota Financial Services increased 13% month-on-month,” says Marius Burger, CEO of TFS.

Hilux propels Toyota to Top Spot in Vehicle sales in March

Toyota SA recognized in Customer Service Excellence Awards

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) was awarded the 2014 Outstanding Customer Service Award for the annual Customer Service Excellence Awards (CSEA) by Toyota Motor Corporation. TSAM and its staff were commended for their dedicated efforts and determination towards excellent customer service.

The award is based on an annual evaluation of operations and activities in Toyota Customer Service Departments around the world.

The 2014 result is an improvement on the previous year’;s result and the second consecutive year TSAM attained the Gold award.

Toyota South Africa Motors Vice President of Customer Service John Oliver comments on the team’;s performance: “In our continuous quest towards ‘Always better Cars’; and ‘Always better service’; to ultimately create customer smiles, this award really means a lot to the organisation as it shows our efforts are being recognised at a global level. It’;s also a marked improvement on previous years, which is immensely pleasing.”

The main objective of the CSEA programme is to enhance the integrity of Customer Service activities and bring about quality enhancement in all deliverables. The programme covers 6 key evaluation metrics.

Furthermore, the CSEA supports the philosophy of the Toyota Customer Service Philosophy: “Accuracy + Caring = Trust”, to ensure customer expectations are exceeded through the sincere and efficient handling of their concerns.

“The Customer Service department is confidently striving to improve quality, customer service and the overall customer experience. Together with our dealerships, there are various plans in place to support our goals for 2015 and beyond. We are all committed to the strategies and will continue to work towards those customer smiles,” adds Oliver.

Also view:

Vehicle Maintenance, Repair and Road Safety

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Toyota SA recognized in Customer Service Excellence Awards

Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota Recall 2.13 Million Automobiles for Airbags that Deploy with no Warning

Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota are recalling a lot more than 2 million vehicles to fix airbags that can all of a sudden deploy without having warning, according to filings posted this morning by the National Highway Targeted traffic Safety Administration. This is the second round of recalls for the very same dilemma stemming from late 2012.

These recalls (which are not connected to the Takata airbag inflators that can explode shrapnel) have been prompted by a NHTSA investigation from Could that looked at a earlier 2012 recall of Jeep SUVs. In that instance, front and side-curtain airbags manufactured by supplier TRW were inadvertently deploying due to electrical faults in the airbag circuitry. Chrysler’s initial submissions cited 215 reports of faulty deployments and 81 injuries from the airbags, and by May possibly of last year, it had informed NHTSA of an extra 6 deployments that occurred on autos previously repaired with a new wiring harness incorporating an electrical noise filter.

So far through October, Chrysler has reported a further 18 accidental deployments on repaired vehicles—a total of 18 Libertys and 6 Grand Cherokees—where the noise-filter remedy clearly failed. Chrysler admits it nonetheless can not figure out what’s causing the “electrical overstress” and so it’s now replacing the complete airbag manage module rather of installing new wiring.

A total of 753,176 Chrysler models, including the 2002–2003 Jeep Liberty, 2002–2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2003–2004 Dodge Viper, are incorporated in the U.S. Chrysler mentioned it wasn’t aware of any airbag deployments in Vipers, and whilst there have been at least 81 injuries, there have been no associated crashes.

Likewise, Honda is recalling 374,177 cars—specifically, the 2003–2004 Honda Odyssey and 2003 Acura MDX—after studying of an accidental deployment on a 2003 Odyssey in April. So far, Honda has reported 8 accidental deployments and no injuries involving automobiles that had received the original wiring repair.

The recall also spreads to incorporate 1,006,849 2003–2004 Toyota Avalon, Corolla, and Matrix models (as properly as the Toyota-constructed Matrix twin, the Pontiac Vibe). Nevertheless, in contrast to Chrysler and Honda, Toyota had already begun replacing airbag modules in addition to installing noise filters in the course of its initial January 2013 and later March 2014 recall campaigns. Still, simply because dealers only replaced modules that threw a faulty code, several a lot more potentially bad modules are nonetheless across the million-plus automobiles just recalled.

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Airbag supplier TRW will not have any new handle modules ready “until the latter element of 2015,” according to NHTSA. In the meantime, Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota owners will be notified to have the noise filter installed, if they haven’t already, as an interim repair. All the cars are supposedly safe to drive, even though some Jeep owners have witnessed airbags and even the seatbelt pre-tensioners getting triggered at times prior to even a warning light seems. If you’d like to know if your automobile is among these affected, you can use NHTSA’s VIN lookup tool to search the database.

Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota Recall 2.13 Million Automobiles for Airbags that Deploy with no Warning

Toyota Finalizing Buyer Rally Version of GT86 (That’s the Scion FR-S to You)

Toyota Motorsport GmbH has been functioning on a rally kit for the GT86 (that’s the Scion FR-S for us North Americans) for a very good extended even though. For clients, the wait for the so-called CS-R3 has most likely been both gratifying—TMG wants to get the auto dialed in, right after all—and frustrating. It’s challenging cooling your heels for months while waiting to acquire the €79,000 kit when you currently know what the finished product will entail.

Of course, it appears great. The GT86 and its FR-S and Subaru BRZ siblings are great road-course cars, but a rally version could propel them into the realm of legend, and it recalls the rear-drive Toyota Celicas of the early 1980s that dominated rallies prior to AWD became the norm. Rear-drive rally cars may well not be competitive at the highest tiers of of the sport, but they’re enjoyable to watch and cheap to run.

What does the kit entail? Costing $ 89,700 or so at today’s exchange rate—that’s a $ 5700 discount over complete retail!—you can expect to receive a body shell, an engine, a 6-speed sequential transmission, a limited-slip differential, subframes, a full suspension, a steering technique, cockpit instrumentation, wiring, and a cage. It’s perhaps also useful to know what it doesn’t incorporate: seats, security harnesses, fire suppression, battery, tools, rally computer, wheels, tires, or mud flaps—although these are all items teams almost certainly want to customize to their specific builds.

This close to-turnkey race automobile is eligible for FIA R3 competition, and it will give owners the satisfaction of wheeling a appropriate rear-drive coupe in a class primarily intended for front-wheel drive cars. TMG expects to begin delivering client automobiles in Could of this year.

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A version of this story initially appeared on roadandtrack.com.

Toyota Finalizing Buyer Rally Version of GT86 (That’s the Scion FR-S to You)

33 Years of consecutive market leadership for Toyota

• Celebrating increased market leadership


• Hilux the country’;s top selling vehicle for 2014


• Top brand in vehicle sales for 12 consecutive months in 2014

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FULL YEAR ANALYSIS:

Market segment	2013 Full Year	2014 Full Year	% change
Passenger vehicles	450,296	439,179	-2.5%
Light commercial vehicles	167,996	173,790	3.4%
Medium commercial vehicles	11,584	11,021	-4.9%
Heavy commercial vehicles	4,692	4,765	1.6%
Extra Heavy commercial vehicles	8,619	9,490	10.1%
Bus	757	1,021	34.9%
Vehicle exports	276,404	276,874	0.2%
Overall local market (excluding exports)	649,216	644,216	-0.7%

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MONTHLY (DECEMBER) ANALYSIS:

Market segment	Dec 2013	Dec 2014	% change
Passenger vehicles	32,853	35,924	9.3%
Light commercial vehicles	11,301	12,965	14.7%
Medium commercial vehicles	948	1,005	6%
Heavy commercial vehicles	464	436	-6%
Extra Heavy commercial vehicles	478	621	29.9%
Bus	52	99	90.4%
Vehicle exports	22,190	21,833	-1.6%
Overall local market (excluding exports)	46,482	51,461	10.7%

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Toyota South Africa Motors signed off an incredibly successful 2014, cementing its dominance as market leader in South Africa for the 35^th consecutive year with 127,534 Toyota products finding a home during last year. This translates to a 19.8% market share in a market that showed great resilience, albeit with a slight year on year decline, totalling annual sales of 644,523 units. This is the 4th consecutive year that Toyota improves its market share. Toyota was also the number one brand in vehicle sales every month in 2014.

The year’;s star performance came from the company’;s evergreen Hilux which continued its dominance in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market segment, logging 37,561 units for the year; 8,829 units more than its closest competitor in the bakkie market. This makes Hilux not only the top-selling bakkie in the country, but also the top-selling vehicle overall for 2014 across all segments.

From a passenger segment perspective, Toyota has shown positive growth increasing its share in this segment to 15.5% — this is on the back of the introduction of new generation Corolla (9,893 units sold since March introduction) and the Corolla Quest (7,976 units sold since May introduction); as well as the affordable Etios which recorded exceptional sales of 17,835 units during 2014.

Other top performers in the company’;s stable include Fortuner, which leads sales in the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment with consistent monthly sales in the excess of 600 units and total sales for the year at 10,088 units. In similar vein, the company’;s smaller all-wheel drive RAV4 performed exceptionally well with 5,012 units sold during 2014; while the Quantum clearly remains a top favourite with 14,369 units sold.

Moving onto the heavy weights Toyota’;s truck brand, Hino, retained its third position overall with a total of 3,844 units sold – this follows record sales months in March (425 units sold) and August (455 units sold) and the opening of a new R55-million Hino plant in Prospecton during May. Hino’;s achieved its best December sales to date with 356 units sold over the Festive period.

Says Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing at Toyota South Africa, Calvyn Hamman: “We are incredibly proud of the company’;s achievements during quite a tough 2014 – to celebrate 35 years of consecutive market leadership is indeed an amazing performance and we wish to thank our customers and dealers for their faith in our brand.

“Strong customer demand through our dealer ne2rk has led to an increase of 3.2% of Toyota sales through this channel, underlining the importance of a strong dealership footprint in the country,” says Hamman.

“We enjoyed a successful December with dealers pushing hard to achieve over 10,000 units sold and Hilux performing particularly strong, reclaiming its spot as top seller in the LCV segment with 3,343 units sold,” he says. Toyota’;s December sales represent 20,1% market share (10,372 units); while its contribution to the export market tallies up to 5,319 units (24.3%)

“While 2014 sales certainly proved the market’;s resilience, conditions were tough with 2 interest rate hikes and above average price increases on new vehicles,” says Hamman, adding that economic pressures leads to cautious and conservative consumer sentiment.

“However, we are excited about the 2015 prospects and believe the good news of a hefty fuel price reduction as early as this week bodes well for a positive new year. However, we will be watching developments around changes in company car taxation and potential interest rate increases toward the latter part of the year with interest as these factors could impact domestic sales,” he concludes.

33 Years of consecutive market leadership for Toyota

2015 Toyota Prius C Images and Info: The Littlest Prius Gets Updated

Official Pictures and Info

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We’;re thinking the adjustments won’;t aid much.

Toyota likes to contact the Prius iconic. We suppose it most likely is iconic to a particular segment of the auto-getting public. So what could be much better than a lighter, less pricey, and smaller version? One that can then spread the Hybrid Synergy Drive gospel to very first-time car purchasers, who can then move up into the mainline model for their subsequent obtain? In truth, Toyota has provided just such a vehicle, the Prius C, for a couple of years.

It’s now been updated for 2015, but we’re not positive the modifications will do significantly to raise its profile. You see, the Prius C is an underperformer in numerous areas. Its hybrid powertrain utilizes a wheezing, 73-hp, 1.5-liter 4-cylinder mated to an electric motor and a CVT total method output stands at a meager 99 horsepower. To assist accomplish its impressive 50-mpg combined fuel-economy figure, the Prius C packs regenerative braking and electric power steering. It can travel an complete mile on electric power alone.

Besides Regular and EV modes, the C, which is based on the Yaris platform and is unrelated to the standard Prius, also offers an Eco mode. It can “support optimize fuel economy when you are prepared to give up some throttle response and do not require the air conditioner to be ice cold,” the press components explain with exceptional frankness.

For the 2015 model year, Toyota has introduced new fabrics and patterns inside the cabin and mixed up new paint colors that incorporate Electric Lime Metallic, Tangerine Splash Pearl, and Sparkling Sea Metallic. The taillights have been redesigned to incorporate light pipes, and the headlights are executed totally in LEDs. Toyota also reworked the front fascia with a new gaping-mouth grille at the center flanked by auxiliary lights that resemble upside-down keyholes. It is not specifically well executed to our eyes, and the grille looks out of spot with the rest of the design and style.

The 2015 Prius C comes in 4 trim levels called—wait for it—One, 2, 3, and 4. The initial level is rather well equipped with the aforementioned LED headlights, automatic air conditioning, and keyless entry. Level 2 adds cruise manage, a split-folding rear bench, greater speakers, and some further trim. The Prius C 3 gets premium audio and a navigation program, as effectively as push-button begin. Ultimately, the 4 contains heated seats, a backup camera, a sunroof, and larger-grade interior materials.

But even turned up to 4, the Prius C cannot escape its somewhat pedestrian roots. One piece of evidence is the traditional-seeking transmission shifter, which is a lengthy, narrow metal stick. Larger Prius models (such as the Prius V) function a futuristic gear selector on the dashboard. When we tested the Prius C a couple of years ago, we summed it up thusly: “It has wheels and gets great gas mileage.” That is nonetheless accurate.

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2015 Toyota Prius C Images and Info: The Littlest Prius Gets Updated

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in overall 2014 Championship

• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Class S Championship


• Toyota 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th in Atlas Copco Gold 450 production vehicles


• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Atlas Copco Gold 450 Class S


• Toyota won all classes entered in all championships (cross country and rally) in 2014

In a race with more plot twists and heart-stopping moments than an afternoon soap opera, defending champions Anthony Taylor and Dennis Murphy added the 2014 Donaldson Cross Country Championship title to Castrol Team Toyota’s tally for the year. The pair finished fifth overall – high enough to bag the title – in the Atlas Copco Gold 450 after a disappointing qualifying round that saw them start the race from the back of the field.

“Anthony and Dennis really drove an amazing race,” said Team Principal Glyn Hall after the final event of the season. “They had to take part in the mass start, but they fought back relentlessly and finished 5^th when the dust settled. Enough to win the 2014 title by what turned out to be a comfortable margin in the end.”

Taylor/Murphy was embroiled in a battle for the title with the Malalane Toyota crew of Johan and Werner Horn, who ironically campaign Taylor’s championship-winning Toyota Hilux from 2013. Just 14 points separated the 2 teams before the final round, and when things didn’t go according to plan for Taylor/Murphy in the prologue, which determines the all-important start positions for the main event, it was clear that the fight was going to go to the wire.

“A rogue rock damaged one of our rear brake lines early in the prologue,” explains Taylor. “We lost nearly half an hour as we sorted things out, and even though we eventually got going again we had to settle for the mass start – not the place from which to win a championship.”

But champions don’t become champions because they lack tenacity, and Taylor/Murphy are proven champions. So they fought back throughout the 350 km route of the main event, overtaking an impressive number of competitors in the process, and placing themselves in a position to capitalise on any problems the front-runners may have. Their tenacity paid off, as they finished in 5^th place – just 2 spots behind the Horn brothers, and enough to secure their second title on the trot.

Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, in the second Castrol Team Toyota Hilux started strong. Despite suffering a puncture in the prologue, the pair posted a time just 6 minutes off the leading pace, and they came out of the blocks charging hard in the main event. An unfortunate accident near a road crossing saw them collide with one of the special vehicles ahead of them, which caused significant damage to their Toyota Hilux’s oil cooling system. They were forced to retire, and as a result had to settle for 4th overall in the championship.

In Class S for older-spec race vehicles it was 4×4 Megaworld’s Deon Venter and Jaco van Aardt, who took class honours in their Toyota Hilux, pipping newly crowned class champions Jannie Visser and Joks le Roux (Ruwacon Racing Toyota Hilux) by 10 minutes. Despite the class win, Venter/Van Aardt had to settle for second place in the championship.

“We are overjoyed by our motorsport results this year,” says Hall. “Thanks to the great results achieved by some of the privateers who also race Toyota products, we have won every single class we entered in 2014, in both the South African National Rally Championship and the Donaldson Cross-Country championship.”

Leeroy Poulter and Elvéne Coetzee bagged the South African National Rally Championship title in their Castrol Team Toyota Yaris S2000, while Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle achieved the same in Class S1600 (Yato Toyota Etios R2). In the Cross Country Championship it was Taylor/Murphy in Class T (the top class for production vehicles), and Visser/Le Roux in Class S.

“It was a fantastic year for us,” says newly crowned champion Anthony Taylor. “The team did an amazing job, and the Hilux was as reliable as ever. What a feeling to win 2 championships in a row!”

Castrol Team Toyota fielded the 2 newly built Dakar Toyota Hilux race vehicles on the Atlas Copco Gold 450. These same vehicles will depart for South America on December 15^th, and be on the start line for the world’s toughest motor race on January 4^th 2015.

Also view:

Safe Driving on Gravel Roads

Toyota Motorsport South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors and Specialist Official Supplier and Technical Partners

Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Castrol, Toyota Financial Services, Imperial Toyota Group, Innovation Group, Bosch, DeWalt, Donaldson, Edgecam, Ferodo, 4×4 Mega World, FreeM, NGK, Robor, SKF and Spanjaard.

Follow the fortunes of Castrol Team Toyota on Twitter, www.twitter.com/toyotasa; and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/toyotasouthafrica

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in overall 2014 Championship

• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Class S Championship


• Toyota 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th in Atlas Copco Gold 450 production vehicles


• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Atlas Copco Gold 450 Class S


• Toyota won all classes entered in all championships (cross country and rally) in 2014

In a race with more plot twists and heart-stopping moments than an afternoon soap opera, defending champions Anthony Taylor and Dennis Murphy added the 2014 Donaldson Cross Country Championship title to Castrol Team Toyota’s tally for the year. The pair finished fifth overall – high enough to bag the title – in the Atlas Copco Gold 450 after a disappointing qualifying round that saw them start the race from the back of the field.

“Anthony and Dennis really drove an amazing race,” said Team Principal Glyn Hall after the final event of the season. “They had to take part in the mass start, but they fought back relentlessly and finished 5^th when the dust settled. Enough to win the 2014 title by what turned out to be a comfortable margin in the end.”

Taylor/Murphy was embroiled in a battle for the title with the Malalane Toyota crew of Johan and Werner Horn, who ironically campaign Taylor’s championship-winning Toyota Hilux from 2013. Just 14 points separated the 2 teams before the final round, and when things didn’t go according to plan for Taylor/Murphy in the prologue, which determines the all-important start positions for the main event, it was clear that the fight was going to go to the wire.

“A rogue rock damaged one of our rear brake lines early in the prologue,” explains Taylor. “We lost nearly half an hour as we sorted things out, and even though we eventually got going again we had to settle for the mass start – not the place from which to win a championship.”

But champions don’t become champions because they lack tenacity, and Taylor/Murphy are proven champions. So they fought back throughout the 350 km route of the main event, overtaking an impressive number of competitors in the process, and placing themselves in a position to capitalise on any problems the front-runners may have. Their tenacity paid off, as they finished in 5^th place – just 2 spots behind the Horn brothers, and enough to secure their second title on the trot.

Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, in the second Castrol Team Toyota Hilux started strong. Despite suffering a puncture in the prologue, the pair posted a time just 6 minutes off the leading pace, and they came out of the blocks charging hard in the main event. An unfortunate accident near a road crossing saw them collide with one of the special vehicles ahead of them, which caused significant damage to their Toyota Hilux’s oil cooling system. They were forced to retire, and as a result had to settle for 4th overall in the championship.

In Class S for older-spec race vehicles it was 4×4 Megaworld’s Deon Venter and Jaco van Aardt, who took class honours in their Toyota Hilux, pipping newly crowned class champions Jannie Visser and Joks le Roux (Ruwacon Racing Toyota Hilux) by 10 minutes. Despite the class win, Venter/Van Aardt had to settle for second place in the championship.

“We are overjoyed by our motorsport results this year,” says Hall. “Thanks to the great results achieved by some of the privateers who also race Toyota products, we have won every single class we entered in 2014, in both the South African National Rally Championship and the Donaldson Cross-Country championship.”

Leeroy Poulter and Elvéne Coetzee bagged the South African National Rally Championship title in their Castrol Team Toyota Yaris S2000, while Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle achieved the same in Class S1600 (Yato Toyota Etios R2). In the Cross Country Championship it was Taylor/Murphy in Class T (the top class for production vehicles), and Visser/Le Roux in Class S.

“It was a fantastic year for us,” says newly crowned champion Anthony Taylor. “The team did an amazing job, and the Hilux was as reliable as ever. What a feeling to win 2 championships in a row!”

Castrol Team Toyota fielded the 2 newly built Dakar Toyota Hilux race vehicles on the Atlas Copco Gold 450. These same vehicles will depart for South America on December 15^th, and be on the start line for the world’s toughest motor race on January 4^th 2015.

Also view:

Safe Driving on Gravel Roads

Toyota Motorsport South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors and Specialist Official Supplier and Technical Partners

Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Castrol, Toyota Financial Services, Imperial Toyota Group, Innovation Group, Bosch, DeWalt, Donaldson, Edgecam, Ferodo, 4×4 Mega World, FreeM, NGK, Robor, SKF and Spanjaard.

Follow the fortunes of Castrol Team Toyota on Twitter, www.twitter.com/toyotasa; and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/toyotasouthafrica

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in overall 2014 Championship

• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Class S Championship


• Toyota 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th in Atlas Copco Gold 450 production vehicles


• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Atlas Copco Gold 450 Class S


• Toyota won all classes entered in all championships (cross country and rally) in 2014

In a race with more plot twists and heart-stopping moments than an afternoon soap opera, defending champions Anthony Taylor and Dennis Murphy added the 2014 Donaldson Cross Country Championship title to Castrol Team Toyota’s tally for the year. The pair finished fifth overall – high enough to bag the title – in the Atlas Copco Gold 450 after a disappointing qualifying round that saw them start the race from the back of the field.

“Anthony and Dennis really drove an amazing race,” said Team Principal Glyn Hall after the final event of the season. “They had to take part in the mass start, but they fought back relentlessly and finished 5^th when the dust settled. Enough to win the 2014 title by what turned out to be a comfortable margin in the end.”

Taylor/Murphy was embroiled in a battle for the title with the Malalane Toyota crew of Johan and Werner Horn, who ironically campaign Taylor’s championship-winning Toyota Hilux from 2013. Just 14 points separated the 2 teams before the final round, and when things didn’t go according to plan for Taylor/Murphy in the prologue, which determines the all-important start positions for the main event, it was clear that the fight was going to go to the wire.

“A rogue rock damaged one of our rear brake lines early in the prologue,” explains Taylor. “We lost nearly half an hour as we sorted things out, and even though we eventually got going again we had to settle for the mass start – not the place from which to win a championship.”

But champions don’t become champions because they lack tenacity, and Taylor/Murphy are proven champions. So they fought back throughout the 350 km route of the main event, overtaking an impressive number of competitors in the process, and placing themselves in a position to capitalise on any problems the front-runners may have. Their tenacity paid off, as they finished in 5^th place – just 2 spots behind the Horn brothers, and enough to secure their second title on the trot.

Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, in the second Castrol Team Toyota Hilux started strong. Despite suffering a puncture in the prologue, the pair posted a time just 6 minutes off the leading pace, and they came out of the blocks charging hard in the main event. An unfortunate accident near a road crossing saw them collide with one of the special vehicles ahead of them, which caused significant damage to their Toyota Hilux’s oil cooling system. They were forced to retire, and as a result had to settle for 4th overall in the championship.

In Class S for older-spec race vehicles it was 4×4 Megaworld’s Deon Venter and Jaco van Aardt, who took class honours in their Toyota Hilux, pipping newly crowned class champions Jannie Visser and Joks le Roux (Ruwacon Racing Toyota Hilux) by 10 minutes. Despite the class win, Venter/Van Aardt had to settle for second place in the championship.

“We are overjoyed by our motorsport results this year,” says Hall. “Thanks to the great results achieved by some of the privateers who also race Toyota products, we have won every single class we entered in 2014, in both the South African National Rally Championship and the Donaldson Cross-Country championship.”

Leeroy Poulter and Elvéne Coetzee bagged the South African National Rally Championship title in their Castrol Team Toyota Yaris S2000, while Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle achieved the same in Class S1600 (Yato Toyota Etios R2). In the Cross Country Championship it was Taylor/Murphy in Class T (the top class for production vehicles), and Visser/Le Roux in Class S.

“It was a fantastic year for us,” says newly crowned champion Anthony Taylor. “The team did an amazing job, and the Hilux was as reliable as ever. What a feeling to win 2 championships in a row!”

Castrol Team Toyota fielded the 2 newly built Dakar Toyota Hilux race vehicles on the Atlas Copco Gold 450. These same vehicles will depart for South America on December 15^th, and be on the start line for the world’s toughest motor race on January 4^th 2015.

Also view:

Safe Driving on Gravel Roads

Toyota Motorsport South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors and Specialist Official Supplier and Technical Partners

Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Castrol, Toyota Financial Services, Imperial Toyota Group, Innovation Group, Bosch, DeWalt, Donaldson, Edgecam, Ferodo, 4×4 Mega World, FreeM, NGK, Robor, SKF and Spanjaard.

Follow the fortunes of Castrol Team Toyota on Twitter, www.twitter.com/toyotasa; and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/toyotasouthafrica

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Next-Gen Toyota Pre-Crash, Pedestrian-Detection Systems to Debut on 2016 Lexus RX

Did you already think of Toyota as getting warm and fuzzy, a family members friendly everyman brand? Get prepared to fluff that fuzz and crank up the heat, since beginning next year, Toyota and Lexus will offer you far more extensive safety packages with the automaker’s most current advances, such as pedestrian detection with full auto-braking. The company will eventually trickle this tech into practically each car it sells by 2017. We do not know what Toyota will get upgraded first, but we can confirm that the 2016 Lexus RX, the luxury brand’s best-promoting model in the U.S., will be the 1st Lexus armed with this new security package.

For Toyota models, a package known as “Toyota Safety Sense” will be doled out in 2 strengths. Compact models will come with an upgraded Pre-Collision System (PCS), which detects autos and can automatically brake at speeds up to 50 mph, along with lane departure warning and automatic higher beams. Instead of the millimeter radar–based technique on current Toyota models, the PCS on these models will use a camera and LIDAR sensor. On midsize and bigger models, PCS reverts back to radar and also uses the camera to detect pedestrians at speeds up to 50 mph, choose out other vehicles at any speed the technique can also fully stop the auto. Radar-based adaptive cruise manage will be incorporated. Currently, Toyota models with PCS—available on top trims of the Camry, Avalon, Sienna, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, and Prius V—can merely minimize car speed to reduce the severity of a collision. 2 Lexus models, the 2015 NX crossover and present-gen LS sedan, are the only 2 Toyota-constructed automobiles that can brake to a comprehensive stop, and only the LS has pedestrian detection.

The new, flagship-worthy security characteristics are portion of the “Lexus Security Technique +” package that will be optional on the 2016 RX and across every single Lexus model, all of which presently offer you a speed-lowering pre-crash setups. It is probably that some pricier Lexus models, such as the existing GS, LS and GX, will continue to augment (the updated PCS) with the brand’s Driver Interest Monitor, a driver-facing infrared camera mounted on the steering column that senses if the pilot is seeking away from the road. The Lexus package also consists of lane departure warning, automatic high-beam control, and adaptive cruise handle.

Toyota did not specify any maximum speeds at which the auto-braking feature can bring the automobile to a dead cease (the stated 50-mph threshold is basically the maximum closing speed at which the program can react and apply brakes to slow the vehicle), despite the fact that the new NX claims to do so from 37 mph, whereas the LS can do so from 24 mph. We’re also not sure if these Toyota and Lexus packages will be standalone products or bundled with other possibilities, as is the case now for most models. For instance, on the 2015 Camry XLE V-6, upgrading the stereo and adding navigation is necessary to get PCS and other security attributes.

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However they bring it right here, Toyota’s other security trick, camera-controlled adaptive LED headlights, will not be coming to the U.S. anytime soon. The fancy LED headlamps can darken person portions of the roadway while keeping other regions on higher beam, just like Audi’s Matrix-LED headlights. Despite lobbying by Toyota and active demonstrations by Audi, Mercedes-Benz and other individuals, the National Highway Visitors Security Administration has but to bend on a 50-year-old rule prohibiting such lighting advances.

Next-Gen Toyota Pre-Crash, Pedestrian-Detection Systems to Debut on 2016 Lexus RX

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in overall 2014 Championship

• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Class S Championship


• Toyota 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th in Atlas Copco Gold 450 production vehicles


• Toyota 1^st and 2^nd in Atlas Copco Gold 450 Class S


• Toyota won all classes entered in all championships (cross country and rally) in 2014

In a race with more plot twists and heart-stopping moments than an afternoon soap opera, defending champions Anthony Taylor and Dennis Murphy added the 2014 Donaldson Cross Country Championship title to Castrol Team Toyota’s tally for the year. The pair finished fifth overall – high enough to bag the title – in the Atlas Copco Gold 450 after a disappointing qualifying round that saw them start the race from the back of the field.

“Anthony and Dennis really drove an amazing race,” said Team Principal Glyn Hall after the final event of the season. “They had to take part in the mass start, but they fought back relentlessly and finished 5^th when the dust settled. Enough to win the 2014 title by what turned out to be a comfortable margin in the end.”

Taylor/Murphy was embroiled in a battle for the title with the Malalane Toyota crew of Johan and Werner Horn, who ironically campaign Taylor’s championship-winning Toyota Hilux from 2013. Just 14 points separated the 2 teams before the final round, and when things didn’t go according to plan for Taylor/Murphy in the prologue, which determines the all-important start positions for the main event, it was clear that the fight was going to go to the wire.

“A rogue rock damaged one of our rear brake lines early in the prologue,” explains Taylor. “We lost nearly half an hour as we sorted things out, and even though we eventually got going again we had to settle for the mass start – not the place from which to win a championship.”

But champions don’t become champions because they lack tenacity, and Taylor/Murphy are proven champions. So they fought back throughout the 350 km route of the main event, overtaking an impressive number of competitors in the process, and placing themselves in a position to capitalise on any problems the front-runners may have. Their tenacity paid off, as they finished in 5^th place – just 2 spots behind the Horn brothers, and enough to secure their second title on the trot.

Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, in the second Castrol Team Toyota Hilux started strong. Despite suffering a puncture in the prologue, the pair posted a time just 6 minutes off the leading pace, and they came out of the blocks charging hard in the main event. An unfortunate accident near a road crossing saw them collide with one of the special vehicles ahead of them, which caused significant damage to their Toyota Hilux’s oil cooling system. They were forced to retire, and as a result had to settle for 4th overall in the championship.

In Class S for older-spec race vehicles it was 4×4 Megaworld’s Deon Venter and Jaco van Aardt, who took class honours in their Toyota Hilux, pipping newly crowned class champions Jannie Visser and Joks le Roux (Ruwacon Racing Toyota Hilux) by 10 minutes. Despite the class win, Venter/Van Aardt had to settle for second place in the championship.

“We are overjoyed by our motorsport results this year,” says Hall. “Thanks to the great results achieved by some of the privateers who also race Toyota products, we have won every single class we entered in 2014, in both the South African National Rally Championship and the Donaldson Cross-Country championship.”

Leeroy Poulter and Elvéne Coetzee bagged the South African National Rally Championship title in their Castrol Team Toyota Yaris S2000, while Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle achieved the same in Class S1600 (Yato Toyota Etios R2). In the Cross Country Championship it was Taylor/Murphy in Class T (the top class for production vehicles), and Visser/Le Roux in Class S.

“It was a fantastic year for us,” says newly crowned champion Anthony Taylor. “The team did an amazing job, and the Hilux was as reliable as ever. What a feeling to win 2 championships in a row!”

Castrol Team Toyota fielded the 2 newly built Dakar Toyota Hilux race vehicles on the Atlas Copco Gold 450. These same vehicles will depart for South America on December 15^th, and be on the start line for the world’s toughest motor race on January 4^th 2015.

Also view:

Safe Driving on Gravel Roads

Toyota Motorsport South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors and Specialist Official Supplier and Technical Partners

Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Castrol, Toyota Financial Services, Imperial Toyota Group, Innovation Group, Bosch, DeWalt, Donaldson, Edgecam, Ferodo, 4×4 Mega World, FreeM, NGK, Robor, SKF and Spanjaard.

Follow the fortunes of Castrol Team Toyota on Twitter, www.twitter.com/toyotasa; and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/toyotasouthafrica

Castrol Team Toyota clinches Donaldson Cross Country Championship

LeMons California Day 1: Porsche 944, Volvo 245, Toyota Supra Leading Classes

Right after inspecting a record-breaking number of British automobiles on Friday at the eighth annual Arse Freeze-a-Palooza 24 Hours of LeMons, we had been a bit disappointed on Saturday to locate that the highest-placing British machine at the finish of the initial day’s race session was in 74th location (out of 174 entries). Nevertheless, we’ve noticed lots of thrilling developments in the course of what turned out to be a quite excellent day of racing in California’s Wine Country. Here’s what’s going on at Sonoma Raceway.

Top the most important LeMons class, Class C, we have the veteran (and aptly named) Black Flags team and their 1983 Toyota Supra. The Black Flags have been racing with LeMons considering that way back in 2009, and following 24 races they’ve established themselves as such lovable-however-hapless, spinny-outty, parts-breaking, penalty-box regulars that the LeMons Supreme Court feels no qualms about placing a Supra (normally a Class B or A sort of a vehicle) into Class C. Soon after all, the Black Flags finish most races in the component of the standings reserved for teams that throw connecting rods on the 4th lap. This time, even so, the Black Flags spent the first day of their 25th LeMons race avoiding trouble and turning laps, and they ended the day in P42 overall and with a healthier class lead.

5 laps behind the Black Flags, the drivers of the LaHonda Bandits Racing Grope Porsche 914 are grumbling about this unexpected domination by The Most Terrible Supra In The Globe. Can the Black Flags hold this lead, or will they crack beneath the unprecedented pressure? We’ll discover out on Sunday!

Major Class B and in P16 overall, the 42 Hours of MeLons group and their Volvo 245 are getting their greatest race weekend ever.

Just a single lap behind the dyslexically-named Volvo team is the John Galt Racing BMW 2002. This team has been racing in LeMons at least as lengthy as the Black Flags, with that Class B trophy remaining tantalizingly just out of reach all that time. Nowadays, even though, the John Galt Racing drivers managed to hold onto the P1 spot for most of the early going. A fuel leak required a time-consuming repair stop and expense the 2002 pilots their overall lead, but the team is in great shape for a run at the Class B trophy.

When the checkered flag ended the 1st day of racing, the Porch Racing Porsche 944, winner of the preceding Sears Point LeMons race, held a nerve-wrackingly narrow edge over the team’s closest pursuer. Porsche 944s had been about the most heartbreaking LeMons vehicles imaginable for the initial 6 years of the series, but the final year has seen 3 distinct 944 teams take all round LeMons wins.

About a half-lap behind the Porch Racing automobile is a sight that makes all West Coast LeMons racers most uncomfortable: the Eyesore Racing ghettocharged Mazda Miata. The Eyesore vehicle is extremely fast, the drivers incredibly skilled, and the team organization flawless, but their modest factory fuel tank signifies they have to pit more frequently than the fuel-cell-equipped competition.

Generating things even far more intriguing for Eyesore Racing this time was the LeMons-style marriage proposal offered by group captain and Mazda engineer Dave Coleman to ace driver Sarah Fairfield, by means of this sign waved alongside the checkered flag. She stated yes!

Exactly where else but LeMons racing would you see a couple of brown Ford Pintos duking it out at Sears Point?

Meanwhile, dozens of teams broke, blew up, burned, and otherwise blasted their race vehicles during the day, and now the paddock echoes with the sound of hellbent hammers and screaming Sawzalls. When the Whale Wars Racing team fried the engine in their Mitsubishi 3000GT for the duration of practice on Friday, they found a components car on Craigslist on Saturday morning… and that automobile spent the day donating parts to any group that wanted them. Right here we see what happens when a team wants a replacement fuel filler neck and lacks the patience to deal with a lot of difficult fasteners.

That group, of course, is Team Tinworm and their fuel-dumping 1964 Humber Super Snipe. We’re fairly positive this is the 1st instance in planet history of a Mitsubishi 3000GT fuel filler going into a Rootes Group item.

Be sure to verify in later to see how Sunday’s race session goes!

LeMons California Day 1: Porsche 944, Volvo 245, Toyota Supra Leading Classes