Hot News: Toyota at Bologna Motor Show 2008


Size certainly doesn’t matter to Toyota. Its show stand was packed with small additions to the range, including the tiny iQ, sporting an all new range-topping, two-toned leather interior. Other new changes included a facelifted Aygo Yaris and RAV4. The Aygo boasts a fresh front bumper, and chrome trimmed rings inside the rear lamps. Inside, the car now gets an iPod docking station, and its 1.0-litre VVT-I engine has improved economy – down 2mpg to 108g/km. It goes on sale in March, with prices starting at 9,050 euros, rising to 11,250 euros.The Yaris also gets revised lamps, and trim inside. Significantly, a new 100ps 1.3-litre petrol engine also comes with stop-start technology, which reduces emissions by 21g/km, to 115g/km. That’s around 10 per cent better than its predecessor. Prices start at 11,050 euros for the 1.0-litre VVT-I in three-door guise, with the range-topping 5-door diesel costs 15,000 euros. It goes on sale in February.The RAV4 also sports a few new features, including revised lamps, wheel arches and a fresh face. The indicator lights have also moved to the wing mirrors. The range-topper gets a sportier steering wheel with a square bottom. Engines include the new 2.2-litre D-4D with CO2 emissions of 160g/km. When the car goes on sale in the Spring, prices will start at 26,350 euros, rising to 35,150 for the range topper.The real show stopper, however, was the firm’s futuristic Fine-T hybrid concept. Sporting innovative features, such as its double-length roof-hinged door, swivel seats, an extra spacious cabin and iQ styling the car is far from production ready. But other hybrid news at the stand sounded more realistic. Sources let slip that a seven-seat Prius was on the way. The petrol-electric hybrid will be powered by a lithium ion battery. It’s likely to hit showrooms in 2012. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express