Toyota Prado 2009 News

To be eligible for 4WD Of The Year, a vehicle has to be completely new that year, or significantly revised. By 'significantly revised' we mean a major mechanical change like a new engine or drivetrain, or a new body. Styling, equipment or interior facelifts don't cut the mustard.To be eligible, the vehicle in question also has to have a full-size spare wheel either as standard, or available as an option. No full-size spare equals no start. On this count, the Peugeot 4007, Volvo XC60, Audi Q5 and Mitsubishi Outlander were all eliminated automatically.That left a number of other soft-roaders that do come with a full-size spare to consider. These included the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX400h and the Nissan Murano. The fact that so many new soft roaders didn't go down the space-saver route is good news but at the end of the day they are still soft roaders and with so many strong candidates among the ranks of the serious 4WDs, we couldn't warrant their inclusion.The new 'serious' 4WDs included the Prado 150 Series, the Land Rover Discovery 4, the Range Rover Sport and Vogue, the new Land Rover Defender variants, the ML Series Triton, and the revised Jeep Wrangler.   Further culling of the numbers saw the Wrangler and the Defender eliminated on the grounds that they are both variations on well-known themes while the Range Rover Vogue, with its new petrol 5.0-litre V8, was deemed to be too expensive in relation to the new Range Rover Sport with its new 3.0-litre TDV6.In the end it came down to the Discovery 4 with its new TDV6 engine (in SE spec), the Range Rover Sport with the same engine (only one spec level), the top-spec ML Triton as this is the only model with all the new features as standard, and the Prado in both petrol and diesel guise. To us, these five vehicles represented an extremely strong field … a classic Land Rover verses Toyota battle with the wildcard Triton thrown in.Find out which vehicle won in Australia’s leading offroad magazine, Overlander, on sale Wednesday Jan 27.

A staggering 225 out of the 243 private-plated cars chosen by MPs and Senators have six or eight-cylinder engines, in contrast to the national trend towards smaller, more fuel efficient models. Only a handful of MPs drive low-emission hybrids.The list, published today on The Punch, shows the most popular car among federal politicians is the Ford Territory, Australia’s answer to the SUV and possibly the heaviest Aussie-built passenger car ever made. It was chosen by 81 MPs, including many who live in suburban electorates. The Federal Government’s own Green Vehicle Guide gives the Territory a woeful 2.5 stars out of five.The details, released under Freedom of Information laws and current as of March 1 this year, show only 10 MPs drive low-emission hybrids. All MPs and Senators are entitled to at least one private-plated vehicle for personal use as part of their salary package. They can choose from a list of 35 cars valued at up to $48,990 or with approval from the Special Minister of State, select a “non-standard vehicle”.Apart from the Territory, other popular vehicles include the Holden Berlina and Calais vehicles or the Toyota Aurion V6. Some of the Toyota Landcrusiers, preferred among some country-based MPs, are diesel or in the case of one or two six cylinder cars, dual fuel LPG operated. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was embarrassed into swapping his private-plate Territory for a hybrid Toyota Prius in 2007 when, as Opposition Leader, it was revealed he was calling for action on greenhouse while driving a Territory.Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig, a Territory driver, said the government was examining “cleaning up” the parliamentary entitlements framework, including the private-plated vehicle scheme. An independent committee would report to him next year with some recommendations intended to “reduce cost and increase transparency”.A more in-depth report and the full list is available at The Punch            

Congratulations Ford Falcon

The cheap vehicle identification labels used on HiLux, Prado and LandCruiser models make them easy targets for thieves, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.The council's chief executive, Ray Carroll, said the Toyota models were over-represented in the latest vehicle theft statistics because the labels could be easily forged by thieves. Insurance payouts for the Toyotas amounted to more than $10 million, he said. "While this is money paid by insurers, it ultimately comes from motorists' pockets," Carroll said. "The real cost is to motorists though who have their cars stolen."He said the current labels can be easily duplicated or modified by anyone with a home computer and basic software. The new forged identity label is then reapplied to the stolen vehicle.The council wants carmakers to switch to a new high-tech - but more expensive - label called Identitek. So far only 10 carmakers and motorcycle company Kawasaki use the Identitek product. The label costs about $1.50 per vehicle compared to 40c for the aluminium version.It is made from layers of plastic that self destruct if tampered with. The label has imprinted codes much like a hologram that cannot be counterfeited, altered or removed from the vehicle intact.Carroll said Toyota Australia knew its vehicles were among some of the country's most attractive targets for profit-motivated thieves. But Toyota Australia spokesman, Mike Breen, said a high-tech "theft-proof" label would soon be rolled out on its imported lineup, which includes HiLux, Prado and LandCruiser. "We're working on it now," he said.Breen said the label was already in use on Toyota's Camry and Aurions. Last year 13,500 vehicles were stolen in Victoria. The most popular model chosen by thieves are older model Holden Commodores. Nationally 62,000 vehicles were stolen last year, down from a 2001 peak of 140,000 vehicles.Insurance claims April-June LandCruiser 70/100 Series: 62 claims worth $2,013,104Prado 120 Series: 36 claims worth $975,420HiLux GGN25R: 16 claims worth $402,753Most popular cars for thieves Holden Commodore (1986-1991), VX, VZ, VZ.Ford Laser (1989)Toyota Camry (1992)* Figures from Theft CouncilVehicles using Identitek Audi A3, A4, A6, A8, R8, Q5 (Not Q7 & TT)BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 7 Series, X1, X5, X6, and Z4 (Not 5 & 6 Series or X3)Chrysler All Chrysler, Jeep & Dodge modelsHSV All modelsHyundai All models Isuzu All commercial modelsLotus All modelsMercedes-Benz All passenger and light commercialsSmart All modelsMitsubishi All modelsNissan All modelsKawasaki All motorcycles 

However, before the launch of the new Prado 150 range late next month, the run-out of the current model has left the company substantially out of stock.Toyota has announced that the next-generation Prado 150 will include a three-door version for the first time in Australia, in an effort to capture a younger market.Three-door Prado will have a higher break-over angle thanks to its shorter wheelbase, lower weight, improved fuel economy and better emissions than the five-door models. Toyota claims towing capacity will be three tonnes braked which is 500kg more than the five-door.Senior executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner, said specification levels would be high in all new Prados with several ‘flow-down technologies’ from Lexus and LandCruiser 200 Series. "New electronic features will take Prado's off-road ability to new levels for Toyota, catering even for those new to off-road motoring," he said. All next-generation Prados in Australia will have seven airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels and keyless entry and start.Meanwhile, Toyota has added value to two key HiLux models, chopping $3100 from the prices of the 4x2 SR turbo-diesel Double Cab and Single Cab-Chassis. The Single Cab-Chassis is now priced 10.4 per cent lower at $26,590 plus taxes and delivery charges while the Double Cab price has been reduced by 8.7 per cent to $32,590. Other models have received upgrades plus price increases ranging from $250 for 4x2 Workmate models to $1850 for 4x4 SR5 models.Upgrades include six airbags in SR5 Double Cab 4x4 models, cruise control in SR5 models, privacy glass on the rear door windows and back window of all Double Cab SR5 models and audio systems improved across the range. Entry-level Workmate and volume-selling mid-grade SR now have a single CD player with USB port and Bluetooth mobile phone compatibility. SR grade also adopts a four-spoke urethane steering wheel with audio controls while the new SR5 audio unit has a six-CD multi-changer, colour LCD screen and USB port with Bluetooth compatibility.Toyota has also released steel and alloy bull bars for the upgraded LandCruiser 70 Series. The bars don't affect the airbag sensors nor the air intakes and are designed with ‘crush cans’ that deform on impact. Airbag-compatible side rails are also available for the steel bull bar. Both bars are built to accommodate the Toyota Superwinch, CB antennae, and Rallye FF1000 or Rallye FF4000 driving lights in chrome or black, and come with a 100,000km/12 month warranty.

...before it is seen by the rest of the world. Even its home market was an hour or two behind the official Sydney unveiling of the newest addition to the off-road arm of Toyota's range.Toyota's executive sales and marketing director David Buttner says Australia is the fourth-largest market for LandCruiser — behind the Middle East, Europe and China. "It's important because they do the testing here, we always bring vehicles in for accessory fitment, you have to make sure of that, but it's a huge market here, the fourth largest in the world overall, that's pretty significant - we'd be close to the best per capita," he says.The fourth-generation Prado aims to provide more grunt, with less fuel use. The SUV model has retained a ladder-frame chassis but is aiming at better on-road manners while maintaining the off-road ability for which it is renowned.The new model will go on sale in November and is 80mm longer, 10mm wider but 15mm lower than the current model, which was the best-selling SUV in Australia for 2008 and is currently the top-selling medium SUV.The Japanese car maker said the new Prado's four-litre V6 petrol engine - which makes up just 20 per cent of the car's sales - will get variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust valves to improve fuel economy, as well as generating 10 per more power.The company is also boasting of fuel consumption improvments for the more popular turbodiesel engine, with the combined cycle claimed to fall below nine litres per 100km.Buttner says the company is aiming to retain the off-road ability for the 10 per cent of customers who use it for four-wheel driving and improving its on-road ability. "The off-road capability is really important because that's the heritage of the car, while only 10 per cent might go off-road, they know their spec and they use it."It's only 10 per cent but you don't want to go way from that, you still want a rugged SUV while at the same time satisfying the 90 per cent of people looking for ride, comfort and handling of a passenger car - we're confident it can achieve that," he says.While final specification is still being determined, the new model will get some flow-down features from both the Lexus and LandCruiser side of the company, with the Australian-developed kinetic suspension, off-road ‘crawl’ technology and external cameras likely to be added to a safety features list that will include seven airbags, vehicle stability control and traction control as standard.The Australian market has so far taken more than 148,000 Prados since it was born from the 70-Series range, but it was the second-generation model that took hold here in the late 1990s.The medium SUV segment's sales have doubled in the past six years, going from just under 34,000 in 2002 to just over 75,000 last year. 

Toyota Australia has been quiet through the first half of 2009 and suffered a significant sales hit, but plans to hit back through December with a rush of new models and value-added deals on its Corolla and Camry."We've got facelifts for the Camry and Aurion, we have special editions for RAV, Corolla and Yaris, we have technical changes on HiLux, HiAce and 70-Series, and we have a new-generation Prado," says Toyota Australia's head of sales and marketing, Dave Buttner."And we have VSC (electronic stability control) coming on Corolla hatch, with the sedan to follow next year."Buttner admits Toyota has been hit harder than its rivals by its first- half showroom rivals but he is confident Toyota will have the ammunition it needs to recover."To maintain stimulation in the marketplace you need to be offering new opportunites. This gives us an opportunity to revitalise and keep our products fresh for consumers," Buttner says."If you stand still you run the risk of being uncompetitive against your rivals."He rejects any talk of a panic move and says the 2009 plan was set before the start of the year. "All of this was in place. There is nothing new in this plan."Each year in the first quarter we decide what third-quarter limited edition models we have. Technical changes are on the drawing board for two years."Looking at the potential for each of the newcomers, Buttner says the three-door Prado is key as the company's family-focussed four-wheel drive is given a complete renewal as part of the change to the 200- Series LandCruiser family."It's the first time we've had a three-door. It's an exciting new entrant for us and gives us a new price point," Buttner says. "We expect it to be a strong seller. It's a different segment. It will will be a price leader."We think it will appeal to a slightly different buyer. We're doing workshops to determine who it will appeal to. "When you look at the next-generation Prado that's a very exciting product for us. The specification down the track is absolutely sensational."We know people are waiting for it. We expect that to give us a big boost in the last quarter."Buttner believes Australian sales have bottomed after the sharp downturn in the final months of 2008 and is hopeful of a revival to the end of this year."I think the industry for the second half will be stronger than the first half. There are signs that private buyers are returning to the marketplace. There is no doubt that some of the government stimulus is being spent on consumer goods."We're not walking away from our 850,000 forecast for the year. May and June were very strong. The investment allowance has definitely helped."The first six months for most manufacturers was slower than we have experienced for quite some time, but our order bank is back to where it was in March last year. We believe with our marketing campaigns we'll be able to drive showroom traffic." 

There is more to towing than just hitching the trailer or caravan and pulling into traffic for a trip.Anyone who has lost control of a loaded trailer or caravan can tell you that getting it wrong can have serious consequences.Even taking a load of junk to the tip or picking up a box-trailer load of garden supplies can get ugly — or worse — if you are not adequately prepared.And learning to back and park with a trailer on the tail takes skill.The potential for disaster is everywhere: from choosing the right tow vehicle and preparing it for the job, to carrying too much weight, incorrectly distributing the weight of the load, or failing to maintain a trailer or caravan.STARTING POINTThe first step into tow land is to decide what you want to tow.More importantly, you need to calculate how much it weighs when fully loaded and ready for the road.This will help you work out if you can keep your existing car or whether you need to buy something new, perhaps a four-wheel-drive if you have horses or a big boat, to handle the tow work.TOWING CAPACITIESAll modern vehicles have a rated towing capacity.For example, a big 4WD such as a Nissan Patrol has a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg, but a small car such as a Toyota Corolla has a towing capacity of only 1300kg.The towing capacity includes the trailer or caravan, as well as all its contents, so people intending to tow a caravan should include everything they plan to take with them, including full water tanks.If you already have the caravan/trailer and can borrow a friend's tow car for a while, then it is easy to work out the weight of what you are towing.Just go down to a public weighbridge and roll the trailer on to the scales.Most new caravans have a rating that tells you how much the van is able to safely weigh, then you can compare this figure with the car's towing capacity.If your vehicle doesn't have a specified towing capacity (this often happens with older cars), you are allowed to tow up to 1 1/2 times the unladen mass of the tow vehicle, as long as the trailer and braking system complies with the relevant Australian Design Rule.If the trailer is not fitted with brakes, the mass of the caravan/trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the tow vehicle, or 750kg.BRAKESThere are two common types of trailer brakes.The older type is mechanical, which triggers a hydraulic system that reacts when the tow vehicle decelerates.New trailers and caravans have an electric braking system that is much easier to control.Apart from being adjustable, electric brakes can be operated separately from the tow vehicle's brakes. If a trailer or van starts to sway, the driver can apply its brakes separately and have a much better chance of bringing it under control.WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTION HITCHA tow vehicle running with its nose in the air and rear almost rubbing on the ground is dangerous.Apart from all the wear and tear it causes, it also affects steering and braking.So a weight-distribution hitch is an important part of safe towing.OTHER GEARIt is a legal requirement for drivers to have a clear view of the road at all times, so you should consider fitting larger mirrors or mirror extenders, especially if towing a caravan.SPREADING THE LOADThe way a trailer or caravan is loaded is important.Put too much weight at the front or too much at the back of the caravan/trailer and it will negatively affect the handling, perhaps leading to a crash.MAINTENANCEMost trailers are stored in the back yard and are not used often, so it is important that they be regularly check and maintained.Wiring can easily corrode, causing lights to stop working, tyres can crack from old age, wheel bearings can dry up and braking systems can seize.The same goes for caravans.They may also be fitted with gas cylinders for cooking, which need to be regularly checked.GETTING IT RIGHTTow-Ed driving instructor John Eggenhuizen, who runs a national towing course, says towing accidents happen far too often.He tells of a just-retired couple who bought a $70,000 Toyota LandCruiser and a $65,000 caravan to set off on holiday, only to lose control and write them off in a crash.Eggenhuizen says such accidents are often caused by poor caravan/trailer set-up and a lack of experience.He says proper training prepares drivers for such situations, but also helps drivers with the sometimes difficult task of backing a trailer or caravan.BUYING A TOW CARBigger is usually better when it comes to tow cars.You don't need to have a giant 4WD, but they are often the best machines for the job.Vehicles designed for carrying heavy loads, including 4WDs such as the Nissan Patrol, Toyota LandCruiser and Land Rover Discovery, are the best if you have a heavy caravan/trailer.Mid-sized 4WDs such as the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Prado are also excellent, and family machines such as the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore are good.Ford Falcon wagons and utes make better tow cars than Holden Commodores and regular Falcons because they have leaf-spring suspensions, and the Ford Territory's extra weight and reduced rear overhang makes it a good tow vehicle.Small 4WDs such as the Subaru Outback or Nissan X-Trail are OK for towing relatively light loads.Turbo diesels are the prime engine choice for many tow cars because they have lots of torque and don't use as much fuel as a petrol engine.Six or eight-cylinder petrol engines are good because towing requires maximum pulling force. The more torque an engine has the better it will be for the job.Four-cylinder petrol engines can pull lighter loads, but often struggle with heavier cargo.TOW DRIVING TIPSAllow extra distance in traffic.Apply throttle and brakes more gently.If the caravan/trailer starts to sway do not apply the tow vehicle's brakes. If the trailer/caravan is fitted with independent electronic brakes, apply them slowly. If not, continue at a steady speed or accelerate slowly.Engage a lower gear for better control downhill.If possible, pull off the road to allow faster traffic to pass and stop more often to rest.