2012 Toyota FT-86: New Photos Surface Online

When we brought you the first brochure images of the production version of the JDM Toyota FT-86 coupe on Thursday, we rightfully assumed that we should see more pictures of the rear-wheel drive model in the coming weeks before the official presentation at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show on November 30.

Better make that a little over 24 hours as we just discovered yet another collection of scanned images on a Japanese forum, providing us with an even better look at the exterior design of Toyota's mainstream sports car.

While the previous photos showed us a Modellista-prepped version, this time we have the standard FT-86 with or without some optional accessories such as the front panel air vent trims and rear diffuser accents.

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Toyota Launches New FT-86 App for Apple iPhone and iPod Users

It seems that there's an APP for just about everything these days – even for a car that hasn't been introduced in its final form yet. We're talking about the very, very long-awaited Toyota FT-86 rear-wheel drive sports coupe.

We should see the FT-86 making its grand debut alongside its sister Subaru model, the BRZ, at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan this December, but until then, Toyota has introduced a new dedicated app for users of the Apple iPhone and iPod devices.

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Video: One Very Caring Motorcyclist

Here's some proof that you don't have to be an inconsiderate driver (you can replace the description with something more R-rated if you'd like…) to make headlines.

A UK motorcyclist's simple gesture of stopping between a Ford Ka and a Toyota Avensis estate to open the latter's closed passenger-side mirror while giving a thumbs up to the driver after his deed, has garnered more than 60,000 views on Youtube in less than 24 hours after it was uploaded.

You can watch it for yourself right after the break.

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Toyota's Airs New "It's Ready. Are You?" Campaign for the 2012 Camry

After a first round of internet spots that coincided with the unveiling of the new 2012 Camry sedan, Toyota is ready for the official launch of its marketing campaign named "It's Ready. Are You?", which was created by the firm's advertising agency of choice, Saatchi & Saatchi LA.

Toyota's new campaign focuses on the performance, safety, fuel economy and technological aspects of the seventh generation of the Camry, highlighting key product features and packaging such as the Entune infotainment system.

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Caught on Film: Alert Toyota Driver Saves Careless Motorcyclist's Life

Due to the fact that motorcyclists are far less protected in the event of an accident, they usually pay more attention to the road than car drivers.

But not this time as the man seen in the video footage below riding the scooter carelessly took the corner a little too wide and too fast. As a result, he drifted to the other side of the road and eventually lost traction and fell down.

Luckily for the biker, the driver of the oncoming vehicle (which appears to be an older-generation Toyota Corolla sedan), was fully alert and managed to avoid hitting him the last moment.

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Video: The Making of Toyota's Prius Family People Person TV Spot

Where some see Toyota's "Prius Family People Person" commercial as the creepy stuff children's nightmares are made of, others see a piece of creative marketing.

After the wide release of the TV spot, Toyota published a behind-the-scenes video to show us how the advertising agency managed to create a 17-foot tall person and the surrounding areas seen in the commercial.

Regardless of what you think about the ad, it's definitely worth a look. Check it out for yourself in the video after the break.

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Video: Toyota Supra Drifter Outwitted by Cop on Roundabout

A jazzy driver in a fourth-generation Toyota Supra was filmed trying to have some drifting fun on a roundabout at the expense of the police. After the patrol car tried to follow the Supra on the roundabout the cop outsmarted the driver by turning off his emergency lights and placing the car in the middle of the road.

Given that the police car appears to be a VAZ-2110 (otherwise known as the Lada 110), we presume that the scene took place in Russia or a nearby country. Video follows below.

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Toyota Design Boss Says "Pump That Up," But the Company's Ads Say, "It’s a Car"

As we reported earlier this week, raffish-haired Akihiro Dezi Nagaya, Toyota’s global design chief, plans to implement a more aggressive design theme for the brand. “We have eliminated emotion. We need to pump that up” he said in an interview at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Changing Toyota’s “quiet and non-offensive” image won’t be easy. Nagaya will be faced with challenges both from within Toyota, a company known for consensus-driven conservatism, and with the brand's consumer base. Nagaya recognizes that Camry buyers, for example, “don't want something too aggressive.”

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Ad Watch: Toyota Gets Tough and Cheeky with New Hi Lux Commercials

In of those rare moments when advertisers not only manage to get the message through but also capture our attention with their commercials, Toyota launched a series of ads to promote the recently facelifted HiLux pickup truck.

The common theme line for the humorous TV spots, which were shot for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, is that the new HiLux is "unbreakable" and extremely lovable – or so Toyota claims.

Turn the page to watch all three ads.

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Toyota’s New Chief Designer Promises More Aggressively-Styled Models

If there's one thing Toyota can’t lay claim to - minor a few exceptions such as the Celica, it's that its vehicle have an emotion-inspiring design. In fact, one could say that, almost its entire line up leans towards the conservative side.

But now, the company's new global head of design, Akihiro 'Dezi' Nagaya, plans to change all that and adopt CEO Akio Toyoda's call for a “more emotional approach” when it comes to styling.

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Ad Watch: Unboxing of a 2012 Toyota Yaris

If you're a gadget freak, then you're probably no stranger to "unboxing" videos made to showcase a variety of products and which are posted throughout the internet.

Toyota takes the same idea to a different level by applying the concept to a new commercial for its recently launched 2012 Yaris supermini, starring Gizmodo's Adam Frucci.

Those interested may watch the spot in the video after the jump.

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Jackasses on Wheels and with Guns Terrorize Middle East Drivers [Video]

There's hooning. And then there's criminal hooning. These particular individuals shown in the video after the break no doubt belong to the second category with their idiotically dangerous antics.

Filmed somewhere in the Middle East (possibly in Saudi Arabia if we are to believe the Youtube commentators), the 10-minute long clip primarily focuses on the "achievements" of the driver and passengers of a silver Honda Accord and to a lesser extent, the crew in a Toyota Camry.

As if waving guns and shooting in the air on a public road isn't dumb enough, the wannabe drifters terrorize all the rest of the drivers throwing the Accord in front of passenger cars, trucks and even near a school bus.

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Toyota Introduces New Prius Family with a Bizarre Commercial [Video]

Coinciding with the announcement on pricing for the new 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid that will launch next spring and the new Prius V minivan that is set to go on sale this October, Toyota has unleashed a new campaign to promote the growing family of Prius models.

The new TV spot is named "People Person" and it was created by advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi.

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Toyota Shatters Peugeot's Nürburgring Lap Time Record for EVs [Video]

When the Nürburgring track came into life, it was considered as one of the most dangerous tracks in the world –so much that it was even banned from the Formula 1 calendar. Then it became a demanding course for privateers to drive their cars and bikes, and for carmakers to test their new cars driving dynamics.

But in the past few years, the Nordschleife, as it's also named, has been transformed into a badge of honor and a true measurement of a car's abilities, with automakers announcing the best lap times achieved at the ‘Ring in a one-upmanship contest. Something, which was inevitably bound to cause disputes as with the Nissan's GT-R lap time.

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2012 Toyota Tacoma Facelift Uncovered [Photos + Video]

After an early, unwanted reveal through a leaked video, Toyota has officially released the updated Tacoma pickup truck, which enters the 2012 model year with a fresh face, a subtly refined interior and equipment improvements.

Toyota's designers started on the outside by adding a new front grille on all grades that led to restyling of the headlamps, while the hood and the front bumper are also new.

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2012 Toyota Fortuner: SUV Version of Facelifted HiLux Makes Asian Debut

After last week’s presentation of the redesigned 2012 HiLux in Europe, Toyota went ahead and introduced the Asian market version of the pickup truck, called HiLux Vigo in Thailand, as well its SUV sibling, the seven-passenger Fortuner.

Both the HiLux Vigo and Fortuner sport the same styling revisions with their European counterpart including the new front end with the chromed out, razor edge grille, new alloy wheel options, and interior refinements such as the redesigned instrument panel plus trim and equipment updates.

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Double Standards, or how (Not) to Sell Cars to Women

In the 1950s, products for women were no doubt designed and marketed by men. Take for example the 1955 Dodge Le Femme, a truly absurd car (by today’s standards) that came with a matching purse, raincoat and umbrella as well as a bright pint interior with rose-patterned trim.

It’s the equivalent of offering a car today with a…tampon dispenser in the glovebox.

Across the pond there was the Daimler 104 Ladies’ Model with electric windows, a simplified gear change (no, I did not make that up), an umbrella and a vanity case under the dashboard.

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New Toyota Yaris Wears a Sport Kit for its Australian Debut at the Melbourne Motor Show

After its world premiere in Japan last December as the Vitz, Toyota is gradually introducing the new generation of the Yaris in other markets around the world. Now, with the European version out of the way, it’s time for the Yaris to make its first appearance in Melbourne at this week’s 2011 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS).

Revealed in show car form, the Yaris is fitted with a TRD-like sports kit comprising of a honeycomb grille, a restyled front bumper with larger openings and a chrome trim around the lower grille, side skirts, chunky alloy wheels and a new rear bumper with a diffuser plus a roof spoiler.

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VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 Freshly Spied at the Nurburgring Race Track

If anything else, spy photographers have their work cut out with the new Toyota FT-86 sports coupe. As we are nearing closer to the launch of the production model, the Japanese automaker has increased its presence at the Nordschleife circuit in Germany to fine tune the chassis and mechanical hardware, with this latest scoop video showing a camouflaged prototype in action. Read more »

Gutsy Toyota Supra Driver Drifts Around $2 Million Bugatti Veyron

No matter how talented you are, it takes a lot of guts and an extra dose of craziness to attempt what you are about to see in the video clip after the break, because it’s one thing going around a Ford Pinto in circles and another when the car in question is a Bugatti Veyron priced close to $2 million.

The man behind this feat (if you can call it that) is 25-year-old pro drifter Derek "Buttsy" Butler from Ireland. Buttsy performed the…gutsy drift stunt around the exotic 1,001-horsepower supercar in a heavily modified Toyota Supra during this year’s Gumball 3000.

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