Electric car runs over 1,000 km without recharge

A Tokyo civic group said Sunday it has succeeded in getting an electric car to run 1,003.184 kilometers without a recharge, far surpassing the world record the group achieved last year.

    
The Japan Electric Vehicle Club said it will ask Guinness World Records to officially recognize the journey, completed at an auto racing driving course in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki Prefecture, as the world’s longest. It said the vehicle, which was equipped with Sanyo Electric Co’s lithium-ion battery system, ran for about 27 and a half hours until around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at a speed of about 40 km per hour. A total of 17 people took turns at the wheel.

Toyota's new engine valve mechanism Valvematic: VVT-i + variable valve lift

With its newly developed variable valve lift mechanism, Toyota goes a step further in the evolution of its Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i ) system.

Called Valvematic, the new variable valve lift mechanism combines the advantages of the VVT-i technology (it controls the timing of intake valve opening/closing) with a new mechanism that can also control the intake valve lift volume.


In other words, VVT-i controls the timing (duration of the opening) while the new mechanism will also control the distance of the opening (lift).


Conventional engines control air intake (outside air is filtered then directed to the combustion chambers, naturally or compressed by a direct compressor or a turbocompressor) using a throttle valve. With Valvematic, the volume of air taken in is adjusted by continuously controlling the intake valve lift volume and timing of valve opening and closing, bringing optimal performance based on the engine’s operational condition, combining high fuel efficiency with dynamic performance.


The first application of Valvematic will arrive in a new 2.0-litre engine to be introduced soon. This new system further evolves the Toyota petrol engine and improves fuel efficiency by between 5 and 10 per cent (depending on driving conditions), reduces CO2 emissions, boosts power output by at least 10 per cent and enhances throttle response.


As a part of its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions through high fuel efficiency and to achieve cleaner exhaust emissions, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) plans to completely revamp its petrol engine and transmission lineup by 2010.


2.
Toyota has something new up it’s sleeves - Valvematic, an evolution of the VVT-i mechanism which now incorporates continuous valve lift control together with VVT-i’s existing valve timing control. Valvematic also eliminates the need for a throttle valve, instead controlling the volume of intake air using valve lift instead.


According to Toyota, an improvement of 5% to 10% can be seen with fuel efficiency, as well as an improvement of 10% with the power output on a similiar engine displacement comparison. Toyota also mentions reduced CO2 emission as well as improved acceleration responsiveness.


The first Valvematic-equipped engine will be a 2.0 liter model, most likely a replacement for the 145 horsepower 1AZ-FE engine which has been pretty much slotted with different tune levels into all Toyota cars in the C-segment and above. The trademark “Valvematic” was registered by Toyota a few months ago, so alot of people have been expecting this. One of the first few cars to get the new Valvematic 2.0 liter engine are the 2.0 liter versions of the recently launched twin sedans Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio. The 2.0 liter variants are set to debut in Winter 2007.


The new Toyota Valvematic 2.0 liter engine will most likely be christened the 3ZR-FAE, and will put out 158hp at 6,200rpm and 196Nm at 4,400rpm. Being part of the new ZR engine family, variable valve timing features will be the same as the 2ZR-FE’s Dual VVT-i system - valve timing on both intake and exhaust valves.


Honda also recently announced an engine with continuous valve lift control combined with variable valve timing, a technology it calls AVTEC.

Toyota Vitz 2010 Model

Toyota Vitz 2010 Model 

Make	Toyota
Model	Vitz
Driving Type	1000cc & 1500cc is available in 2WD only 1300cc is available in both 2WD and also 4WD
Steering Position	Right Hand Drive (on the right side of car)
Transmission Type	1000cc & 1300cc are available in automatic gear only 1500cc is available in both automatic gear and also manual gear
Fuel	Gasoline (Petrol)
Passenger Capacity	5 (According to Japanese law)
Engine Capacity	1000cc .  1300cc . also available in 1500cc
Engine Type	DOHC
Number of Doors	5 doors
See pictures of this car	Front view  .  Back view  .  Cockpit view  .  inside view
Available Colors	See available colors of this car  click here
Price	1000cc . 2WD = US$ 16,400. 1300cc . 2WD = US$ 17,300. 1300cc . 4WD = US$ 18,800. 1500cc . 2WD = US$ 19,800.
Remarks	Shipping cost is not include in above price
Shipping cost	Check shipping cost of this car to your country click here
Total price	Car price+Shipping cost+Marine insurance US$ 120 =Total price.
Total calculation	Get automatic calculation of this car to your country: 1000cc 2WD . 1300cc 2WD . 1300cc 4WD . 1500cc 2WD
Extra charges	There are no hidden cost or extra charges.
Spare parts	We will supply spare parts of this car at any time
http://www.alainjapan.com  for your Orders

Toyota IST

Toyota has absolutely no plans to launch a Scion-type youth division in Japan – yet. Nonetheless, Toyota is now ready to roll with this fully redesigned ist, a compact urban crossover aimed at Japan’s very own brand of Gen Y fashionistas.

Yes, this is the Japanese-speaking version of America’s 2008 Scion xD. The quaintly (some would bizarrely) named ist gets a different front-end to the Scion. It also gets right-hand-drive steering and choice of both 1.5-liter (109 brake horsepower) and 1.8-liter (132 bhp) engines and optional all-wheel drive. Regardless of these differences, its mission to rev up the bottom end of the market is pretty much the same.

Taking an exchange rate of ¥118 to the dollar, the ist hits the road for $14,059-$16,907 in Tokyo and true to form, there’s already a factory-penned Modellista alternative version for those who like their ist looking a tad more funky and aggressive.

Will it fly? In Japan, the decision to shift the car upmarket and widen it (versus the 2002 original and Scion xA) may prove controversial, but of course, all that’s tied in with the perceived needs and wants of the U.S. market. (Toyota believed the first car was too small).

Sales ambitions are modest – just 2000 units per month – so consider this very much a niche player for the mighty Toyota machine. But as a package, is it cooler than the Scion? What do you think? Have your say in ‘Comments.’