Next-generation Toyota RAV4

Toyota’s compact RAV4 SUV was an instant hit when it hit the market back in 1996, but has been playing second fiddle to Honda’s CR-V for several years now. In addition to the now best-selling Honda CR-V, the RAV4 is facing new competition in the form of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox – which has Toyota readying an all-new version of its most popular SUV.

Although the RAV4 received a refresh for the 2009 model year, and minor changes for 2010, the current iteration of the four-door SUV dates back to 2006 – not old by industry standards but certainly up there by Toyota’s life-cycle system. As such, a new version of the compact rig will likely surface in 2010 or 2011.

Using information gathered from various inside sources, we had our in-house artist draw up a rendering of what the next-gen RAV4 will look like. Although we aren’t expecting the next RAV4 to grow much in size, we expect it to adopt some styling cues from the Tundra pickup and FJ Cruiser SUV, giving Toyota’s lineup of trucks and SUVs a more uniform appearance. Despite giving the small SUV a more truck-ish appearance of an exterior spare tire, the RAV4 will retain that feature on some models.

Underhood, we expect the RAV4’s powertrain offerings to remain unchanged. That means a 2.5L four-cylinder and a 3.5L V6 will likely be employed, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see some tweaking to get the four-pot model up to 30 mpg. Toyota already boasts the quickest SUV in the class, so they will want to retain the sporty edge they hold over the competition.

Another engine possibility is the addition of a hybrid drivetrain. Although Toyota has stopped short of revealing the specific models, Toyota has said that it will add 10 new hybrid models by 2012 – meaning almost certainly that the next RAV4 will be one of those models.

New 2012 Toyota Camry

Toyota Ukraine has released their version of new 2012 Toyota Camry quickly after the launch in North America. This Camry variant looks high possibly our local version in Malaysia. We do clearly spot a front fascia that’s a good bit different than the US model.

The final package may be a bit more refined in style, though mechanically the two sedans remain more or less identical. Anyhow, we can’t wait and looking forward for the launch of new 2012 Toyota Camry in South-East Asia (Asean) region. It should be similar to the Ukrainian version. Check out the photo gallery after the jump.

What is automobile?

The word automobile comes, via the French automobile, from the Ancient Greek word αὐτός (autós, "self") and the Latin mobilis ("movable"); meaning a vehicle that moves itself, rather than being pulled or pushed by a separate animal or another vehicle. The alternative name car is believed to originate from the Latin word carrus or carrum ("wheeled vehicle"), or the Middle English word carre ("cart") (from Old North French), or from the Gaulish word karros (a Gallic Chariot).

An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods.

The term motorcar has also been used in the context of electrified rail systems to denote a car which functions as a small locomotive but also provides space for passengers and baggage. These locomotive cars were often used on suburban routes by both interurban and intercity railroad systems.

There are approximately 600 million passenger cars worldwide (roughly one car per eleven people). Around the world, there were about 806 million cars and light trucks on the road in 2007; they burn over a billion cubic meters (260 billion US gallons) of petrol/gasoline and diesel fuel yearly. The numbers are increasing rapidly, especially in China and India

Source: Wikipedia