Thursday, December 1, 2011

Toyota Readying Some Mild Model Year Changes for Land Cruiser 200 / V8?


The images you see here and which are circulating around the net today, are said to have been sourced from a leaked JDM brochure of the 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser (marketed as the 200 or V8 in certain markets to distinguish it from the smaller Land Cruiser Prado).

While we do, of course, remain somewhat skeptical, they do appear to be genuine. The opening picture shows the Land Cruiser 200 kitted out with original Toyota accessories, but it appears that the headlights and the chrome grille have been tweaked.

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Tokyo Motor Show Oddities: Kowa Tmsuk's Kobot Electric Trikes[with Video]


Japan's traditional automotive and motorcycle brands aren't the only ones pushing the envelope with their odd concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Kowa, a company that engages in medical and optoelectronic business, and Tmsuk Co. Ltd., a robot development manufacturer, joined forces to create three attention-grabbing electric-powered prototypes under the Kobot brand name.

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Renault Facelifts Scenic MPV Range, On Sale in January 2012


Europe’s best-selling compact minivan, the Renault Scenic and its bigger, seven-seat Grand Scenic sibling, have received a minor facelift for the 2012 model year.

Both models sport a new front end with LED daytime running lights and gloss black features, chrome details up front, on the profile and the tailgate strip, redesigned rear lights on the five-seat Scenic and a different lower air intake design and longitudinal roof bars for the Grand Scenic.

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Tokyo Motor Show: Gordon Murray's Toray Teewave AR.1


Making its first appearance on Japanese soil at the Tokyo Motor Show is the Teewave AR.1, a working prototype for a pure-electric roadster model that is the result of a nine-month partnership between Gordon Murray Design and materials company Toray Industries.

To keep the two-seater model's weight down, Toray designed a frame made out of carbon fiber while the seats, outer body panels and other parts are also all molded out of the lightweight material.

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Kanto Auto Works' FS Hybrid Concept is the Rolls Royce of Toyota Models


Tucked away in a corner of the Tokyo Motor Show is this conceptual proposal for a luxurious full-size sedan named the FS Hybrid by Japanese firm Kanto Auto Works [KAW], which happens to be a long time partner of Toyota.

KAW has several plants throughout Japan as well as in Thailand and Brazil. It has built several Toyota models while also helping the Japanese company in the engineering field with projects like the MR2-based GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II that was also on display in Tokyo.

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Tokyo Motor Show: Mitsubishi's Concept PX-MiEV II Plug-in Hybrid SUV [Updated]


At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show that runs from November 30 through December 11, Mitsubishi unwraped the second generation of its Concept PX-MiEV, which brings the study a little closer to production.

Believed to preview the looks and possibly an alternative powertrain option for the next generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Concept PX-MiEV II is a follow up to the PX-MiEV study displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

On the outside, there are some minor styling changes such as the higher roofline, larger mirrors, plus more conventional looking alloy wheels, lights and bumper designs, all of which suggest that the PX-MiEV II is pointing to the styling of the next Outlander.

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Saudi Edition: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Grounded in Sand


As it turns out, despite their advanced all-wheel drive system, Bentley's luxury limousines and coupes aren't very good when it comes to off-road activities. Who would have known!

We saw it last year when a blissfully unaware owner of a Continental GT Coupe got bogged down in tons of mud in Russia (see the epic video clip here), and we're seeing it now with this Saudi Arabian owner of a Continental Flying Spur sedan who had some troubles conquering the desert sands. Wonder why...

For some amusing footage, follow the break to watch the videos for yourself.

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