One of many alternative fuel applications being explored by Toyota is the use of compressed natural gas (CNG). For the Los Angeles Auto Show Toyota prepared a concept version of the Camry that combines a CNG fueled engine with the firm’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system. To convert the stock Camry Hybrid into a CNG Hybrid Toyota’s engineers replaced the gasoline fuel system with a compressed natural gas system that comprises of a pair of CNG tanks installed in the spare-tire well of the sedan’s trunk. To compensate for the loss of the spare tire Toyota fitted the CNG Camry Hybrid Concept with runflat tires.

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Even mighty Toyota isn’t immune to the downturn in sales in the United States due to the horrible current economic climate and credit crisis. Revenue is down nearly 70 percent for the Japanese giant, a situation that it is anything but familiar with. So, Toyota has created a team headed by its President Katsuaki Watanabe that will focus on ways to spend less money. Expect the automaker to extend incentives to more of its fuel efficient models, not just full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, and move quickly to bring more fuel-saving models to market as quickly as possible, especially new hybrids.

If Toyota plans to spend less money overall but more on hybrid development, expect to see its larger vehicles be affected the most by the budget cuts. Models that aren’t segment leaders when it comes to fuel efficiency are likely to wait a bit longer for model refreshes as more hybrids are rolled out instead. It should be noted that this is exactly the strategy that General Motors is taking, except that GM is extremely close to running completely out of money while Toyota has got plenty in reserve. GM’s continued life depends on its fuel-savers while Toyota’s motive is continued profitability, making it painfully obvious that The General should have gotten a much earlier start on its hybrids and EVs.

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As if the four IS-Fs, the factory-prepped IS 350 and the custom GS 460 weren’t impressive enough, Lexus announced that its SEMA Show booth will also host the premiere of a LX 570 SUV that has been modded by ICON 4×4 Design. The highlights include a two-tone matte gray paint finish complemented by black chrome trimming and massive 24-inch alloy wheels wrapped around in Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico 285/35R-24 rubber. Mechanical upgrades on the LX 570 comprise of a custom intake and a sport exhaust system as well as a performance brake system with 6-piston units up front and 4-piston at the back. Continued

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Corroborating earlier rumors that the new iQ will make its way into the States after its introduction in Europe, Toyota’s Chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima told Automotive News today that the company is investigating introducing the three-door city car to the U.S. market. Nakajima said that if the iQ gets official clearance to come to the States, it will most likely be launched in the midterm, before the first model update. as Toyota needs time to develop different airbags and improve bumper strength for the iQ to pass U.S. safety standards. Continued

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Toyota’s newest model is an SUV packaged into a small and sporty body style and they call it the Urban Cruiser. The car is surprisingly fuel efficient in all of the engine options the vehicle comes with. The 1.33L engine with dual WT-i registers nearly 43-mpg. If that’s not enough then there is a D-4D AWD 1.4L four-cylinder diesel engine that will get you almost 46-mpg. Both cars have a six-speed manual gearbox but neither car is the most powerful going from 0-62-mph in roughly 12.5 seconds. Some of the interior features includes climate control A/C, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, smart entry as well as push button start. There is alot of technology in this vehicle evidenced by the electric retractable door mirrors, a six speaker sound system and steering wheel controls. There is a full set of safety features also including airbags and driver assist functions like electronic brakeforce distribution, stability control and traction control. The car will be available in Europe in early 2009.

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With the lease term for Toyota’s next-generation fuel cell hybrid vehicle set at 30 months at a cost of 840,000 yen or about $7,700 per month, the experimental FCHV-adv isn’t for you everyday Joe. So it’s no surprise thatToyota announced that it has begun leasing the FCHV-adv to Japan’s Ministry of the Environment. The Japanese automaker said that it also plans to lease the fuel-cell hybrid model to other national government entities, local governments and companies in or related to the energy industry. 

Japan’s top automaker, which has already won the bet with its petrol-electric hybrids, will use the lease vehicles to obtain real-world feedback for further development, including efforts to improve the durability and reduce the cost of its proprietary high-performance polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the Toyota FC Stack. 

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 Next week’s Moscow International Auto Show (August 26th) is gathering the attention of many automakers this year. The latest firm to announce a global debut in Moscow is Lexus that will reveal a four-wheel-drive version of its LS460 Sedan. Like the LS600h, the LS460 AWD will use a permanent all-wheel drive system based around a Torsen differential that normally distributes 60 percent of the available drive torque to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front. Other than that, the LS460 AWD gets the same 381 HP 4.6-liter V8 engine matted to an 8-speed automatic transismison as the RWD LS460. Sales of the LS460 AWD will commence worldwide this November

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