Looks-wise, the Toyota Urban Cruiser is quite an attractive car. It has a bold and robust design, with a muscular stance that gives it a rugged appearance. The front of the vehicle features a striking grille, flanked by sleek LED headlights that blend seamlessly into the bonnet. The rear is also well-designed, with a high-mounted stop light that sits above the rear windscreen, and a set of taillights that wrap around the corners of the car. They are very distinctive, and look great too as they use also LED technology.

The Urban Cruiser has a high ground clearance and rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, which further emphasises its off-road capabilities. The bodywork is available in a range of vibrant colours, including a vibrant Orange hue that certainly turns heads.

Moving inside, the Urban Cruiser offers a comfortable and spacious cabin that can accommodate up to five passengers. The seats are upholstered in fabric and the driver’s seat is height adjustable, providing a comfortable driving position. The infotainment system includes a 7-inch touchscreen display, with Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone integration. It is Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay enabled. The sound system includes four speakers, and there are USB ports for charging devices.

In terms of pricing, the Urban Cruiser is quite competitively priced, starting at R329 400 for the entry-level XS Manual model. The mid-range XR Manual model comes in at R347 400, while the range-topping XR Auto model is priced at R369 900. These prices are in line with other vehicles in its class, such as the Ford EcoSport, VW T-Cross, Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and Hyundai Venue.

I had the opportunity to drive the Urban Cruiser with both the automatic and manual transmissions. The automatic transmission was a bit disappointing, with slow gear changes that felt sluggish and unresponsive. It only has 4 speeds, which adds to the frustration. However, the manual transmission was much more engaging to drive, with a smoother and more responsive gear change. The Urban Cruiser’s suspension is well-tuned, providing a comfortable ride even on rough gravel roads.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is a solid addition to the SUV market. It looks great, is competitively priced, and has a comfortable ride. While the automatic transmission may be a bit of a letdown, the manual transmission is a much better option for those looking for a more engaging driving experience.

There were more 4 000 vehicles damaged on site during the floods but the costliest damage was to the plant infrastructure itself – including robots and other machines.

Earlier today we took a quick trip to the company’s Durban based plant to see how clean-up efforts were going and where it might be going in terms of planning and getting fully operational. During the visit, Toyota SA wasted no time in announcing that the plant has resumed operations – at about seventy percent – and that it aims to reach the hundred percent mark by December.

Toyota’s Prospecton Plant produces Corolla Cross and Quest as well as segment leaders Hilux, Hiace Ses’fikile and Fortuner – while also assembling a variety of Hino commercial vehicles. All the other production lines have resumed production with the exception of Corolla Quest, which is due to commence on 17 August.

When asked about how the news of the floods were received by Toyota Headquarters, Andrew Kirby, President and CEO of TSAM said “We communicated with Japan (Toyota Motor Corporation) on the night of the 12^th April; I very quickly got a message back of support and an offer from them to do whatever they could to help. They dispatched a lot of experts to support us, helping us to repair, identify, diagnose and replace and then communicating with suppliers all over the world to source replacement parts.”

“Despite these challenges, there was no impact at all to Toyota’s long-term future in South Africa. The commitment to rebuild this site has been incredible. We know that our recovery will not be smooth, but by next year we plan to be stronger and better than we were before.” Kirby concluded.

Talking about the topic, TSAM President and CEO of TSAM Andrew Kirby noted that the local market is not yet conducive for the full adoption of BEVs, citing infrastructural shortcomings related to energy generation as well as high import duties.

“the local market is not yet conducive for the full adoption of BEVs”

Kirby added while its noted that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition published a Green Paper on incentivising the local manufacture and purchase of new energy vehicles last year, it is hoped that the policy would kick off soon after the white paper has been adopted in due course.

Only a handful of German manufacturers currently have presence while others have confirmed the market introduction of their electric vehicles on local soil.

It’s worth mentioning that Toyota plans to roll out 30 BEV models by 2030 and that Lexus is aiming for 100% BEV sales globally by 2035. When these models will reach Mzansi is yet to be confirmed.

The only components of the vehicle not made from building blocks are the wheels and tires, driver seat, steering wheel, and exterior badging. All of those components appear to come directly from Toyota’s sports car. While the driver seat is an actual seat from a Supra, the passenger seat is made from Lego bricks.

If the fact that the driver seat and steering wheel aren’t made from bricks doesn’t tip you off, the car can move under its own power with a driver behind the wheel. The model is extremely detailed complete with working headlights and daytime running lights.

Almost all components of the interior are constructed from Lego bricks. In addition to the steering wheel and the driver seat being actual vehicle components, the gauge cluster also comes from an actual Supra. Lego and Toyota didn’t cram the Supra in-line-six cylinder engine under the bonnet of the Lego creation. It has an electric engine capable of reaching a top speed of 28km/h.

Instead, the builders opted for an electric motor powered by batteries. Lego has a history of building full-size reproductions of cool cars and has in the past made full-scale builds with McLaren, Lamborghini, and Bugatti. However, we don’t recall any of those vehicles being able to move under their own power.

As close as you can get to your own Lego Supra is buying the available Speed Champions miniature version of the car, which is available at various retailers. We wonder if any of the bricks used to build the Lego Supra are held together by glue or means other than simply stacking them together.

The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser is still sitting on a modified body-on-frame chassis developed by combining the J200 Series platform with Toyota’s new GA-F TNGA architecture.

As expected, the result is a remarkable weight loss over the outgoing J200 Land Cruiser with a lower centre of gravity. Toyota also tinkered with the weight distribution while improving the suspension architecture to make the SUV more agile and comfortable whether on or off-road.

But alas, the Land Cruiser’s mighty V8 engine bids goodbye in the tenth-generation model. In its place is a twin-turbocharged V6 engine generating 305 kW of power and 650Nm of torque, meanwhile the 3.3 litre twin turbocharged diesel is good for 225 kW and 700Nm of power.

Both V6 engines will have a 10-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels via a full-time four-wheel drivetrain with a two-speed transfer case. Both the engine and transmission are now sitting 1.1-inches lower and 2.8-inches further back to improve the handling and weight distribution.

Underneath, the 2022 Land Cruiser has an updated independent front and live-axle rear suspension. Still, it now has Toyota’s Kinematic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that disables the anti-roll bars when the going gets tough. The system can also modify the resistance of the roll bars to allow more excellent articulation between the front and rear axles.

Style-wise, you wouldn’t mistake the 2022 Land Cruiser for any other large SUV. The box-ish body proportions remain, but it now has a bigger front grille and higher-mounted headlights and taillights. Toyota will be offering the newest Land Cruiser in three different guises, namely GX-R, ZX and GR-S. GX-R remains the utility-focussed model and serves as the entry point to the range, while the ZX replaces the VX-R as the luxury model.

For the first time on Land Cruiser, a GR Sport (aka GR-S) grade will be offered which serves as the off-road performance model.

Inside, the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser has a modern dashboard with a largish infotainment touchscreen display. And unlike the previous generations, it now has third-row seats that fold flat in the floor. Toyota Safety Sense is also standard and includes an updated pre-collision system that detects pedestrians and cyclists during the day and night. It also gets a new Parking Support Brake that recognizes obstacles in the front and back of the vehicle while parking or reversing.

The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Model Line-up is as follows:
Land Cruiser 300 GX-R 3.3D – R 1 283 200
Land Cruiser 300 ZX 3.3D – R 1 765 500
Land Cruiser 300 ZX 3.5T – R 1 797 100
Land Cruiser 300 GR-S 3.3D – R 1 811 900
Land Cruiser 300 GR-S 3.5T – R 1 842 900

Toyota plans to expand its product portfolio to around 70 models globally by 2025. That number will include 15 new battery electric vehicles, seven of which will be bZ models. Toyota says “bZ” stands for beyond zero. Toyota has also confirmed that it intends to bring electrification to its truck line-up, including hybrid and fully electric powertrains.

The Toyota bZ4X was jointly developed with Subaru and is built on the new e-TNGA BEV dedicated platform. Toyota promises the concept will integrate its legendary quality, durability, and long-term reliability combined with the all-wheel-drive capability that Subaru was known for. The vehicle has a long wheelbase with short overhangs creating a distinctive design with lots of interior space.

The interior is an open-concept design meant to enhance driver comfort and confidence on the road. Toyota says that every detail of the vehicle was purposefully engineered, including the location of the gauges above the steering wheel to give the vehicle a sense of space while helping to increase visibility for safe and secure driving.

The Toyota bZ4X will be built in Japan and China. Toyota aims to begin global sales of the model by the middle of 2022. The vehicle is certainly very attractive inside and out. Big mysteries remain about the EV. Namely, Toyota does not indicate driving range, charge time, pricing, or performance.

On the local front, Toyota South Africa Motors has not detailed any plans of an all-electric rollout, sighting expansion of its hybrid portfolio for the time being.

For 2021, the Prius has been outfitted with some notable upgrades and enhancements to align with other Toyota models. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) has been adopted, bringing with it an array of safety aids in the form of a Pre-Crash System (PCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) plus Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Lane Trace Assist (LTA).

The Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Monitor functions can be reached quickly via dedicated steering switches – allowing the driver to activate/de-activate and adjust sensitivity levels.

The obligatory ABS, EBD, Brake Assist and VSC functions are included too.

Step inside and you’ll se that the touchscreen infotainment system has been updated to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while also benefitting from a higher-resolution display. There’s also the Heads-Up Display (HUD), Reverse Camera, high-definition Multi-Information Display, seat heaters with electric lumbar support and wireless (cellphone) charging. Dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror ramp up the convenience quotient.

The core USB, Aux and Bluetooth functionality remains – while playing through a high-quality six-speaker setup. Toyota Connect is fitted as standard – offering in-car Wi-Fi connectivity with a complimentary 15Gb of data – and telematics interface with the MyToyota app.

The 2021 Toyota Prius 1.8 is priced at R566 400.

“With the Aygo X Prologue, I believe we’ve demonstrated that a small car can still be big and bold in personality,” said Ken Billes, Assistant Chief Designer at ED².

According to Toyota, new customers demand “flair, distinctiveness, and the chance to make a personal statement” from a small car. The folks at ED² went to work and came up with the Aygo X Prologue, a seemingly chic and rugged small car disguising as a crossover. It has a naughty demeanor courtesy of its wing-shape headlamps and large front grille, while the bold bi-tone body panels and skid plates hint at some mild off-road aspirations, which would make it perfect for the South African landscape.

“Everybody deserves a cool car. when I look at the Aygo X Prologue, I’m really proud to say that ED² Team created exactly that,” said Ian Cartabiano, President of ED². “I’m excited to see it revolutionizing the segment.”

Notice the Sparkling Chili Red and black bi-tone paint scheme? It’s the result of Toyota’s ‘spicy’ concept coming to life. For inspiration, ED² designers gathered critical ingredients found in nature, including wasabi, ginger, black pepper, and red chilis. After adding some blue metallic flakes to the Aygo X prologue’s striking red paint, the result is a unique color palette that spells excitement.

“I’m a customer as well as a designer. So, I helped design the Aygo X prologue to be the car that I wanted..for me,” said Momoko Otawara, Color Material and Finishing Designer at ED². Admittedly, this Aygo X concept adds a different flavor to Europe’s popular A-segment with its bold execution and go-anywhere stance.

No word yet on what’s under the bonnet and powering this car, but we can’t help but think what an Aygo X GR version could be, most especially with that poweful1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine from the award-winning Yaris GR supermini. Factor in AWD and voila! You have yourself a rally-spec Aygo! Although a GR Aygo will likely carry a B or C-segment price tag, it’s a brilliant thought. And it’s good to know Toyota is back doing exciting things across all segments.

However, specific details are scarce at the moment, but we do know a thing or two about Toyota’s newest high-riding Corolla. For starters, the Corolla Cross is underpinned by the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, or TNGA-C to be specific. It’s the same chassis underneath the Toyota Prius, CH-R crossover, Lexus UX, and of course, the new Corolla sedan and hatchback.

Right off the bat, the new Corolla Cross eerily resembles the Mazda CX-5 with its gaping front grille and slim headlight design. Unsurprisingly, the Corolla Cross shares the same 2,640mm wheelbase as the CH-R, but it slots nicely in between the CH-R and RAV4 in terms of overall size.

Toyota’s newest Corolla Cross measures 4,460mm in length and is 1,825mm (71.9-inches) wide. The Cross is wider, but a standard Corolla sedan is longer and has a longer wheelbase in this regard.

But since we’re talking about a crossover, the new Corolla Cross is marginally taller at 1,620mm compared to the sedan version. Despite being shorter than a Corolla sedan, Toyota promises a spacious interior, class-leading luggage space, and enhanced practicality.

The biggest news of course is that Toyota pledged to invest R2.43 billion in the production of this Corolla Cross in both right- and left-hand drive for South Africa and the rest of Africa – in Durban.

So, what do you think? Do you fancy the new Toyota Corolla Cross?

Like so many cars these days, the Corolla’s dimensions have increased over its multiple iterations. Toyota has sharpened the styling, too, and it’s really not a bad looking vehicle: the dark blue paint job contrasts well with the chrome and gloss black plastic. I like the honeycomb grill and the fact that Toyota gives you LEDs for both the daytime running lights and the low-beams. Those J-shaped bi-beam LED headlamps really give the car a distinctive look.

As a car for daily puttering it ticks the right boxes. Toyota fits it’s experienced 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine under the bonnet of our test XR model, with 125kW of power and 200Nm of torque. There’s both a CVT and a six-speed manual transmission, too, the latter having downshift rev-matching.

Things get less pleasant when you lean on the accelerator. The Corolla doesn’t lack speed, it’s 2.0 litres not reliant on the potentially-laggardly contributions of a turbocharger, but it’s soundtrack leaves much to be desired. Rough and faintly agricultural when pressed, rising and falling with the drunken glissando of the CVT, the engine note does more to encourage laid-back, economical driving than either rising petrol prices or weeping polar bears on shrinking icebergs ever could.

It’s a sharpened dagger to the heart when you consider the competition. Honda’s latest Civic, in 1.8-litre turbo form, is a gem of a car, it’s engine several leaps ahead of Toyota’s in refinement. The Civic gets better fuel economy, too, at least on paper.

Sport mode, I found, made the CVT more jumpy, though the Corolla is at least willing to rev all the way to its 6000 red line. Taking charge with the paddles – at which point the transmission feigns six traditional gears – avoids the hunting, and though its power won’t set your hair alight, the Toyota proved predicable in the corners as long as I ignored the body roll.

The Civic has a more salubrious interior, too, Toyota’s proving heavy on black and grey plastic, a sombre colour scheme only emphasised by the high, cliff-like slab that is the dashboard. There’s a little soft-touch plastic, and the steering wheel is leather-wrapped, but too many of the points at which your fingers naturally fall are hard and unforgiving.

In its favour, Toyota’s big buttons and clear display for the cockpit are easily navigated, and though it gets a large 7-inch touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The leather seats are comfortable and supportive, and there’s a surprising amount of rear legroom and boot space, despite this being a sedan not a hatchback.

Toyota buyers that weren’t expecting much in the way of technology or driver-assistance from the Corolla, are in for a surprise. Assistance tech includes adaptive cruise control, and all 2020 Corolla sedan trims get Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 on this very same XR model. That includes pre-collision brake assistance, lane departure alerts with steering assistance, and – on CVT cars – lane tracing assistance to keep the car in the center of the lane. Automatic high beam lighting is included, too, as is road sign assistance. Blind spot monitoring is optional.

In fact, beyond the infotainment upgrade, the only option not ticked ticked our sampler is the tilt/slide moonroof.

I suspect Corolla fans find much to appreciate in this latest model. It’s solid and predictable; the interior is spacious and the dark trim hides stains and dirt well, whether from pets or kids. It won’t shock or confuse; Toyota’s technology is tried and tested

Lingering in its favour is Toyota’s near-bulletproof reputation for reliability and its crisp, handsome appearance, just don’t expect too much in the way of fun as you cover the hundreds of thousands of complaint-free journeys the Corolla is undoubtedly capable of.

Tshegofatso Harmonix Phiri contributed his legendary photography work to this review.

Lexus and affordability don’t often come in the same sentence, but the UX 250h hybrid is set at R690 300. Lexus is looking at the UX as an entry point to the Lexus brand for many buyers and as an entry to the luxury car segment.

In the UX 250h you get some nice additions other than the hybrid tech. The 250h also comes with all-wheel drive, more power, and improved fuel economy expected from a hybrid. The UX is the first Lexus to use the Global Architecture Compact platform. That platform is tuned for handling agility, ride comfort, and driving personality.

The 250h uses a higher efficiency version of Toyota’s 10-speed Direct Shift CVT transmission 2.0L petrol engine making 107kW of power at 6000rpm and 180Nm of torque at 4400rpm, equating to a 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.5 seconds, paired with a fourth-gen hybrid drive system designed just for this platform. UX buyers get LED daytime running lights along with standard single-projector, dual-beam LED headlights and18-inch aluminum alloy aero-ventilating wheels which are available in a standard silver metallic colour.

Inside it also gets the revised infotainment system which now includes Apple CarPlay®2 and Android3 Auto compatibility as standard, this includes free Wi-Fi connectivity for the driver and passengers under the ‘Lexus Connect’ banner.

Lexus will offer 11 exterior colours which include; Platinum Silver, Sonic Titanium, Sonic Quartz, Mercury Grey, Black, Graphite Black, Madder Red, Amber, Blazing Carnelian, Terrane Khaki and Celestial Blue.

And, of course, the plug-in model we tested in October will be surely rocking the floor. Now we’re hearing that a few other as of yet unreleased concept vehicles will be on display. Concept cars of course range from the mundane to the insane, and knowing Toyota we’re guessing this one will fall squarely into the former category. Just the same we’re hoping for a tire-shredding, slalom-eating, RWD hybrid Auris and Prius Supra model. We’ll be live streaming when the unveil happens and we’ll be sure to bring some tissues to wipe away our tears of disappointment. Erm, not. This bad boy is set to reach our shores ‘later this year.’