Tag Archives: Toyota

New EV battery plant for Lexus cars

Toyota has big plans when it comes to selling EVs with a focus on hybrids but also improving the production of Lexus cars. That is why the Japanese manufacturer announced the construction of a special factory for the production of batteries for cars of this luxury brand.

The world’s second largest car manufacturer plans to build a factory in the Fukuoka region, making the island of Kyushu a central part of the electric vehicle supply chain and an export base for the Asian market. On that island, Toyota owns a factory where Lexus cars are produced, and it is through this brand that Toyota strives to achieve a larger share of the world electric car market.

Toyota aims to sell 3.5 million electric cars each year by 2030, of which just under half will be produced locally by the BEV Factory. It would sound very ambitious, but since Toyota sold only 104,000 EVs last year, they are aware that this is not enough to catch up with the competition. This refers primarily to the largest Asian and world producer of electric vehicles, China.

It was previously known that the Japanese manufacturer will introduce next-generation battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2026, and the new factory will be operated by Primeearth EV Energy, a company specializing in the production of batteries for EVs.

Source: Reuters

Toyota Supra with 4-cylinder engine is dead

A month ago, there were rumors that Toyota might stop offering its sports car, the Supra. Now it’s official. According to information from the company, the Supra powered by a four-cylinder engine will no longer be on offer from 2025.

The Supra first appeared on the market in 1978, and by 2002, four generations of this grand tourer had been produced. In 2019, the fifth generation developed in cooperation with BMW arrived on the market. It shares the platform and many parts with the BMW Z4 (G29), which will also soon be discontinued. It was offered in options with 4- and 6-cylinder turbocharged engines.

There are several reasons for the shutdown of this model, and one of them is the poor sales results in the first three months of 2024 when Toyota managed to sell only 484 units of this model, which is a drop of 44.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023 (871 units).

Thus, the Toyota Supra remains only with a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with 382 hp (285 kW) and 368 lb-ft (499 Nm) of torque, paired with an automatic or manual transmission. That is enough for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The version with manual transmission reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.

Source: Toyota

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Toyota GR Supra upgraded by AC Schnitzer

The current fifth generation Toyota Supra, introduced in 2019, is considered by some to be a non-original Supra, as it was developed in cooperation with the Bavarian manufacturer (BMW). It is built on the same platform as the BMW Z4, and is a desirable car for tuners. Thus, the German tuner AC Schnitzer presented a package of improvements for this model.

The standard Supra is offered with 2.0-L 4-cylinder and 3.0-L 6-cylinder turbocharged engines, and RWD. The powerful turbocharged 3.0-L 6-cylinder engine delivers 406 hp (302 kW) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. As a reminder, the standard model has 345 hp (257 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. The output of the smaller 2.0-L four-cylinder engine has been increased from 262 hp (195 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) to 304 hp (227 kW) and 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) of torque.

AC Schnitzer is known for upgrading BMW models, and this time they equipped the Supra with an improved adaptive suspension with active shock absorbers and new aerodynamic components. Customers can also choose a stainless steel exhaust system with carbon tailpipes (optional).

The interior of the car has undergone minor changes including new aluminum pedals, a new controller for the infotainment screen and a key holder that is placed in one of the cup holders.

Buyers can choose between 20-inch and 21-inch wheels, as well as a range of other aerodynamic accessories such as a racing carbon rear wing, silencer and carbon front splitter.

Source: AC Schnitzer

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