ToyotaFreak

Wow, I wish I have the skills or time to do body work repairs myself (Would love to get the small dents on my RAV4 fixed.). That would save me a lot of money! Not sure about the Aussie market, but Toyota offered an accessory garnish that is applied over the ribs in the side moldings for the Japanese & export markets. TBH, I'd leave the ribs on as it gives the car that rugged look.

Japan's Camry Hybrid (Which shares the same styling as our Aurion & the South East Asian Camry.) now available as a Daihatsu Altis! The Altis is a mono-spec vehicle this time. Not much offered in terms of dealer option parts. Being a rebadged JDM Camry, that's not an issue though as both cars are basically the same, bar emblems and features. For those not in the know, Toyota owns half of Daihatsu (Since 1999), and shared cars starting with the Toyota Duet (Daihatsu Storia), Toyota Cami (Daihatsu Terios), Toyota Sparky (Daihatsu Atrai) & Daihatsu Altis (Toyota Camry Gracia.) http://www.daihatsu....altis/index.htm

2012 Axio (Sedan) & Fielder (Wagon) just released! I guess we can expect the new Auris soon (The current Auris/ Corolla hatch was launched two months after the sedan & wagon.). Note that the export version of the sedan will be different from the JDM car you see below (Export markets aren't bound by Japanese regulations based on vehicle dimensions). Highlights; -Automatic High Beam (Standard on 1.5 LUXEL 2WD/4WD, 1.8 S "AEROTOURER" 2WD, & 1.8S 2WD/4WD. Factory option on 1.5G 2WD/4WD, Fielder 1.5X & 1.5G "AEROTOURER" 2WD) -Panasonic nanoe ionizer (Excluding 1.3X 2WD & 1.5X 2WD/4WD). I guess Sharp no longer has a contract with Toyota for the ionizer, as the Estima/ Estima Hybrid (Updated couple of days ago) now comes with nanoe, instead of the Plasmacluster ionizer seen in the previous model. -VSC, TRC standard across the range. -Side & curtain airbags standard across the range (Excluding X "Business Package") -Smart Stop Stop/Start Technology (1.5 2WD models only.) -Lightweight resin tailgate on Fielder (I wonder if the new Auris will also get this.). Press Release (Japanese): http://www2.toyota.c...5/nt12_025.html Corolla Axio:http://toyota.jp/cor...axio/index.html Corolla Axio Dealer Option Parts: Corolla Axio Customize Car Lineup: http://toyota.jp/cus...ze/corollaaxio/ Corolla Fielder:http://toyota.jp/cor...lder/index.html Corolla Fielder Dealer Option Parts:http://toyota.jp/cor.../dop/index.html Corolla Fielder Customize Car Lineup: http://toyota.jp/cus...corollafielder/ Article on Car Watch (Japanese.). Contains a lot of photos. http://car.watch.imp...511_531755.html

Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification. ^_^

Power folding mirror? Don't you activate this feature by leaving the switch on L or R rather than in the middle position? I don't think there was ever a separate button for this functionality. Oh, and it doesn't actually fold the mirror (i.e. folds the wing mirror closer to the car for parking in narrow spaces), it dips both mirrors downwards so you can see the kerb better. My memory of a previous-gen. Presara is pretty fuzzy at the moment (Been quite a while since I last sat in an Aussie-spec Presara.), but didn't the mirror switch for that model look like this? (Notice the fold button, to the right of the L/ R selector.) If it didn't come with it, then I might have it mixed up with the South East Asian version.

Finally got around to mount the spare tire back onto the tailgate, weeks after I got my RAV4 back from the smash repairers. Man, that black round thing is heavy!

I think I 'll take the Nissan Elgrand Highway Star & Mitsubishi Delica D:5 4WD in the background of the photos. No wait, make that all of the cars in the photos!

Back in my home country, there's a company selling a replica of the JDM Toyota first-gen front camera as a universal fit item (it's a two-way type, similar to the Fujitsu-ten Eclipse front cam.), connected to a control box that supports two or four cameras (Front, rear & sides.). This mod is popular on JDM Toyota minivans back home that have the original navi sytem, but didn't have the factory option front cam. After a little more Googling, looks like it's replaced with a wide view front cam though (Looks like a re-purposed rear cam.). This might be useful,as it has an adjustable bracket.

The dealer had a black Sportivo (Saw papers on the dash, implying that the vehicle was sold, so didn't get to sit inside it.) on display while I was participating in the Camry Expo on Monday. In a dark color and in person, it doesn't look as bad as the photos I've seen. If I'm in the market for an Aurion though, I'd probably get the Presara with Ivory interior. btw, is it just me, or did Toyota remove the power folding mirror feature from the 2012 Aurion Presara? Can't make out the power fold button on the mirror switch panel in the photo below.

Welcome to the club!

Toyota also released the all new Lexus ES at the New York International Auto Show. It's looks a lot sleeker than the previous model. Also making its debut is a hybrid variant (Not a V6 Hybrid like the RX450h though.). One thing interesting to note is that Toyota Australia is interested in reintroducing the ES, after confirmation of a RHD version. Would be nice to see it down under again (Liked the 2ES & 3ES, the latter which was LHD only.). Sources: http://www.autoblog....ew-300h-hybrid/ http://www.goauto.co...A2579D7000EED07

The second generation Avalon (Which was not sold here.), was also exported to Japan as the Pronard. As the car wasn't very popular, no RHD version of the 3rd gen was built. This new Avalon is very different from the previous model, which was regarded as a Japanese Buick. Seeing that Toyota plans to export the next gen. Highlander/ Kluger from the US (No more Japan built vehicles for the next one.), it would be nice to see this in RHD form for export to Japan & Australia, as a flagship/ niche model that goes against cars like the VW Passat CC. Might probably need a new name here though (Not sure if Australians would react well to the Avalon name, after what we got.). You can see what the second & third gen. models look like here http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/2003-04_Toyota_Avalon.jpg/800px-2003-04_Toyota_Avalon.jpg

Maybe keep a note of the time, date & location where you witnessed it, then check the odometer when you get the car. Ask the workshop that you spot your car on that particular date, time & location, ask them where was the car taken to and see what they say. Seen four people in my parents Merc driving nearby my university one time (Saw them turning out of a mall, which has KFC in it.). Called my parents, who then contacted the dealer who tried to deny and claim that only two technicians are allowed in the car for 'test drives'. After this happened, I took a photo of the odo & trip meter just in case, before sending both car out for servicing or repairs.

At least for Japan. Found these photos of the updated Corolla Axio/ Fielder in another forum, rumored to be released in May this year. In other words, looks like the larger worldwide/ export version wouldn't be far away from launch. Current model; Axio (Sedan) Fielder (Wagon)

I guess I have the taste of a conservative person/ old man, but I find the rear end of the regular Aurion okay. Anyways, the Thai version has been released, and here are the brochures (Hybrid & Non-Hybrid.). Base model (2.0G) still powered by 1AZ-FE from 2001 model & no more V6 for Thailand (I guess Toyota Australia could take advantage of the FTA and export Camry V6-badged Aurions there.). Hybrid Navi takes over as the top spec car (Has rear seat controls, first seen the previous gen. Camry 3.5Q V6). Oh, Smoked LED headlights on the Hybrid version too! Wished Toyota Australia adopted the Hybrid model's bumper design (Or the Mainland Chinese-spec Camry SE front bumper design.) for the regular grades (AT-X, Prodigy & Presara.). Website- http://www.toyota.co.th/camry/ Thai Camry Brochure- http://www.toyota.co...venCataloge.pdf Thai Camry Hybrid Brochure- http://www.toyota.co...atalogCamry.pdf

On the red car are 16 inch wheels for the base model. The wheels on the orange one is unique to the Tokyo Motor Show prototype, could be the same car from the show.

Hybrid model is now out in New Zealand. I guess this means that the Australian launch is very soon. Just like the Aurion in the other thread, no interior or rear view photos yet. http://www.toyota.co.nz/NewVehicles/Models/Passenger/Camry/

2012 Aurion is here! At least in New Zealand. Three grades, no more Aurion Grande (Kiwi-spec Presara. Either that will come in at a later date for the Kiwis, or the Sportivo SX6 takes over as the top-spec model there.). No interior photos in the Toyota NZ link yet though. http://www.toyota.co.nz/NewVehicles/Models/Passenger/Aurion?Ref=strip AT-X Touring Sportivo SX6

I don't recall the brochure of our M-class mentioning if the wood used is real, fake or the source of the wood, but a visit to the parts department confirmed it, as the owner wouldn't be able to order the pieces of wood trim separately if one of the pieces is scratched up/ damaged (This is also the case with Lexus.). Oh yeah, even on cars that have real wood, it's usually a thin veneer, on a plastic (I know the 2gen. Lexus IS has a brown plastic base underneath the veneer.) or aluminum base covered by a layer of clearcoat (Which probably gives people the impression that it's plastic wood.). It's like that in our Merc, even Lexus & Bentley. Apparently, the wood trim will warp after a while if it's a thick piece. Oh yeah, there's also matte wood trim, which some mistakenly identify as fake wood the first time they see it (I guess you could blame some of the Korean cars from the mid to late 90s that came with matte plastic wood trim for that.). Anyways, I think we might have veered a little off topic from the 2012 Camry. ^_^ *Tries to get back on topic* Was behind one on the way back from uni earlier, the taillights would look really nice with LEDs in them. Hopefully Toyota add LEDs when the Hybrid or facelift model comes out.