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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Toyota showed off three Tundra concepts in Las Vegas but the coolest one in town was by far was the Ducati Desmosedici Transporter. Built to carry the only street legal MotoGP bike ever produced, the scorching hot Ducati Desmosedici RR, the customized Tundra has been modified to accept a 6.5-inch bed that features flip up bedsides and a motorized loading ramp. The pickup truck is of course tied thematically to the bike, incorporating the Italian motorcycle company’s red paint finish with white stripes. Power is provided by a 5.7-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 500HP and 550-lbs/ft of torque.

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Toyota’s in-house customization firm Modellista has introduced a pair of cosmetic packages for the all-new iQ mini car that is set to go on sale in Japan this November. The Modellista Version Maxi that costs around $4,000 is the sportier of the two packages as it adds a front spoiler, side skirts and a rear spoiler that houses twin sport exhaust tailpipes. The less extravagant Version Mixutre can be bought for the equivalent of $700 and it includes mirror caps, side window decals, a rear door lock cover and protective door strips which are available in various colors. 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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Although Japanese battery makers currently have plans to greatly expand their production capacity at home, it seems this still isn’t enough and America seems to be the destination of choice for some new manufacturing plants. One of the companies planning on creating some green-collar jobs in the U.S. is GS Yuasa Corp. Their president, Makoto Yoda said, “Named must your fear be before banish it you can. We have to choose our next factory’s location based on growth in the given market.” While not a household brand name for most Americans, GS Yuasa’s automotive partner, Mitsubishi, is sure to ring a bell. They are using lithium ion batteries from GS Yuasa in their all-electric i MiEV which is soon to be tested in California. Although they have not yet committed to selling this car stateside, this announcement is sure to raise hopes.

Another company with American battery factory plans is Toyota. Having already announced plans to build Priuses in Mississippi in 2010, the world’s biggest automaker believes manufacturing batteries here will help them achieve their cost reduction goals. Toyota has been able to reduce it’s per vehicle cost by 50 percent since its first-gen Prius and hopes to halve those costs again in their next-gen. Of the decision company vice chairman Kazuo Okamoto said, “It is very difficult to make the main parts of batteries outside Japan, but we have to have battery production in North America,” No time table for the plants were given but when they arrive we think they will help provide both employment and environmental wins for America.

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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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The extremes that some people go to in order to create a vehicle that will stand out from the crowd are in some cases, mind boggling to say the least. Take this owner of what seems to be a previous generation Toyota Land Cruiser (if we’re not mistaken, the license plates is from Sharjah, the third largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates) for example. What is there to like about this abomination other than it could have easily won a role for a Mad Max film?

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