Lotus puts Toyota's Venza on a Strict Diet

Lotus just released a concept based on the Toyota Venza where the goal was to trim the fat, ultimately reducing CO2 emissions. Officially, the project was meant to showcase a "viable mass reduction strategy" on two representative models: a 2017 near-term version and a 2020 long-term version.

Comparing the Lotus Venza versus the off-the-lot Toyota Venza, overall mass was reduced by as much as 38% on the 2020 (minus power train) at only a 3% increase in component costs. The 2017 model's mass reduction was 21%. All this was done using processes and tech that should be available and affordable by 2020.

Power train included, the 2020's mass was still decreased by 33%, which the US Department of Energy says should be good for a 23% increase in fuel economy.

The process of lightening the two models seems fairly straightforward: take them apart, catalog the parts, evaluate how to reduce mass, and upon reassembly maintain all the standard features (vision, sight line, comfort, etc.).

Key components of the body-in-white have been reduced from 400+ to 211. While the original Toyota used 100% steel in its construction, Lotus's 2020 Venza uses aluminum (37%), magnesium (30%), composites (21%) and high strength steel (7%). No idea where the remaining 5% went, but it may just be regular steel.

The bumpers remain the same, albeit using an aluminum brace beam versus the a steel one (magnesium proved too expensive).

Any hinged parts (originally, again, 100% steel) and fenders were replaced with parts made up of magnesium (33%), plastic (21%), steel (18%), and aluminum (6%). The remaining 22% is made of "other materials".

Inside, the instrument panel was removed and both driver and passenger have "modules containing all key functional and safety hardware". Both the shifter and parking brake have migrated to the touch-screen interface, and lightweight foam front seats get a futuristic floating treatment by being mounted to the center tunnel and side sill (cutting the need for brackets).

Also, full-floor carpeting gets the ax in favor of removable carpet squares. Lotus says "this reduces mass and allows cost effective upgrading of the carpet quality."

Underneath, all chassis and suspension components have been upgraded to account for the updated mass, keeping this a good exercise in future product development.

By Phil Alex

Toyota Releases Pricing on New 4Runner SUV as well as on 2010MY Cars Including the Prius and Venza

Just one day after the presentation of the all-new 2010 4Runner, Toyota released pricing on its truck-based SUV model as well as on four more 2010 model year vehicles including the Land Cruiser, Venza, Prius and Tacoma pickup truck. MSRPs for the new 4Runner (including an $800 destination fee) range from $28,300 for the two-wheel drive SR5 grade with a 157HP 2.7-liter four pot to $40,600 for the Limited grade 4x4 with a 270HP 4.0-liter V6. Toyota said that the V6 4Runners will begin arriving at dealerships in late October or early November, while the 4-cylinder SR-5 will go on sale in early January 2010.

As for the rest of the range, the 2010MY Venza crossover-thingamajig, which will begin arriving at dealerships in early November, carries a base MSRP (including a $750 destination charge) that ranges from $27,025 for the four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive model to $29,550 for the all-wheel-drive V6. That comes to an increase of $300, or an average of 1.1 percent over the 2009MY cars.

For 2010, the Venza adds a USB port for iPod connectivity, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology as standard equipment on all audio systems.

Expected to arrive at Toyota dealerships in late October, the 2010 Land Cruiser will start from $66,770 (including destination fees), an increase of $1,215, or 1.9 percent over the 2009MY. Changes for the 2010MY include an upgraded audio system that adds a standard USB port for iPod connectivity, Bluetooth wireless technology, grey factory privacy glass tint to the rear hatch and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

While the 2010MY doesn't bring any upgrades for the Tacoma pickup truck, Toyota has announced a price adjustment increase of $175, or an average of 0.8 percent effective on November 2, 2009. MSRP's (including destination charges) range from $16,145 for the Regular Cab four-cylinder 4x2 with a five-speed manual transmission to $28,050 for the Double Cab long bed 4x4 V6 with a five-speed automatic.

Finally, Toyota has increased the base MSRP on the 2010 Prius II, III, IV and IV models that will begin arriving in late October by $400, or an average of 1.6 percent. Prices, again including destination fees, range from $23,150 for the Prius I model to $28,420 for the range-topping Prius V.

Toyota said that pricing for the Prius I model, which will be made available in limited numbers to fleet buyers, will remain unchanged at $21,750.