There are some commercials that make you giggle, others that wow you, and yet others that simply get it right and cover all of the above. This is Toyota’s spot for their new “reinvented” 2012 Camry that will air during this weekend’s Super Bowl and in my opinion they hit it clean out of the park. By the way, I’m totally digging the reinvented couch – female version of course! Oh, and the baby time machine it bitching as well.

Source: Youtube.com

The following is a story I picked up at Coloradok5.com and honestly, if I didn’t see the pictures with my own eyes I probably wouldn’t have believed it. What you are seeing here are the remains of what used to be a Toyota FJ Cruiser that was blown apart from the inside. The trucks owner apparently had an acetylene bottle inside the truck that had a leaky valve. Over night the truck completely filled with gas and when the owner went to roll down the passenger side window, WHAMMO! The explosion caused the owner to lose all the hearing out of his right ear and get a pretty good scratch on the back of his head, otherwise though he survived intact.

Crazy right… Make sure to click through and check out the pics.

Toyota's GT 86. Image: Toyota of Europe

The official unveiling of Toyota’s much anticipated FT-86 sports coupe happens later this week at the Tokyo Motor Show, but that hasn’t stopped the Japanese automaker from leaking footage of the GT 86 (the car’s actual name, in Europe at least) in advance. We’re not sure if it will land on these shores under a Toyota badge or a Scion badge (since Scion did show a version as the FR-S), but we are sure of this: Toyota pretty much violated the gentleman’s agreement with Subaru to reveal the respective cars at the same time.

Toyota's GT 86. Image: Toyota of Europe

The Toyota GT 86 will use a Subaru-supplied, 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, good for 197 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. Both a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic gearbox will be offered, and the car will come to market with a 53-percent front, 47-percent rear weight distribution for balanced handling.

Toyota's GT 86. Image: Toyota of Europe

It’s too early to talk about specific performance numbers, since we don’t even know what the car will weigh in U.S. trim. Sill, I’d expect a 0 – 60 time of under seven seconds with a top speed of 140 or so, unless Toyota cheaps out and equips the GT 86 with H rated tires. If that’s the case, expect the top speed to be electronically limited to 135 mph.

Toyota's GT 86. Image: Toyota of Europe

Toyota's GT 86. Image: Toyota of Europe

Barring any further delays, I’d expect the car to go on sales in the U.S. in the first half of next year. Now that Toyota has (finally) shown us what the car looks like, expect further details on the FT-86 (or GT-86, or Scion FR-S) in the coming months.

Source: Autoblog

Are you down on your luck, unemployed and in a general state of disarray? Well if you are then this 2000 model Toyota Corolla is calling your name. With features like a 9.6 second 0-60 mph time, right hand turning capabilities and interior fabric that’s smooth to the touch, this 11-year old Grandma car may just be the ticket to keeping you in therapy for the long run. Is it pretty? No. Is it quick? No. Does it portray confidence and dignity to all those who see it? Hell no… However, if you’re looking for a slow, reliable transportation that get so-so fuel mileage with minimal creature comforts then this little bad boy may just be your perfect ride.

Source: Youtube.com

A wild boar on a pimped out Harley-Davidson and a monkey with road race goggles are just two aspects of what make this New Zealand commercial for the new Toyota Hilux pick-up one of the best ever. This is the kind of marketing brilliance that comes about when automakers throw caution to the wind and give their ad agencies free reign. It makes us laugh, fantasize and at days end, want to run out and buy one of these Japanese built brutes. Granted not everyone is going to dig this ad, but as a car I have to say that I’m totally lovin’ it!

Source: Youtube.com

Toyota is really starting to pimp out their new 2012 Camry. In fact this new ad of theirs is downright awesome, albiet the two cars in the video having absolutely no similarities whatsoever. One is an 800 hp rear wheel drive NASCAR, the other, a 200 hp front wheel drive hybrid. Now I understand that the boys at Toyota are trying to get us excited about this thing, but let’s face it, their about as similar as comparing a great white shark to the goldfish in my nephews bedroom. On a high note though I have to say that the new 2012 Camry is a stellar automobile, in fact I drove the new hybrid just yesterday and came away thoroughly impressed. However just don’t expect it to be running 12′s in the quarter mile or hanging on the high banks.

Read the full review of the 2012 Toyota Camry here.

Ford's 2011 F-150. Image: Ford Motor Company

In order to compete with the rear-drive hybrid system jointly developed between GM, Daimler-Chrysler and BMW, Ford will partner with rival Toyota to develop a rear-drive hybrid drivetrain that will be shared between both automakers. The goal of the project is to produce a truck and SUV platform that will improve fuel economy without reducing payload or towing capacity. The platform will also go head to head with GM’s Two-Mode hybrid truck platform, currently used on hybrid versions of their full-size pickups and SUVs.

Both automakers are also scrambling for credits available to manufacturers who introduce hybrid vehicles into their lineups. By 2016, automakers must achieve a CAFE rating of 35.5 mpg across all car and light truck vehicle lines, and hybrid credits can be used to offset numbers that would otherwise fall short.

In addition to working together on a rear-drive hybrid system, Ford and Toyota will also partner on basic systems for in-car information technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It’s unknown if this collaboration will give Toyota access to Ford’s MyFord Touch/Synch telematics system, which is among the most advanced on the market.

Source: Autoweek

It’s small, cute and compact, is available only overseas, and is perfect for that urban dweller who calls the city their home. It’s the Toyota iQ, the fun little runabout that was introduced back in 2008 at the Geneva Auto Show. The iQ’s small stature means that parking is never a problem. It’s little 1.3-liter 97 hp inline-4 means that it’s good on gas and the fact that it has a wheelbase of only 78.7 inches means that it’s simply awesome at typography. Wait… what? Now this is where it gets fun. You see a couple of young typographers and a pro race driver thought it would be a neat idea to give the little iQ its own font style by using the car as the actual artist. Interactive artist Zachary Lieberman came up with the idea to track the cars movements by using custom software, thus enabling the driver to actually create a new font whilst being behind the wheel. The concept seems a bit out there at first, until that is, you see the result.

Here in New York we have our share of environmental weenies and tree hugging activists. I can’t fault them because, hey… they help bring awareness to the fact that we’re slowly killing our planet. However, I’m not an overly huge fan of hybrids and electric cars and I damn sure don’t spend my time shopping for organic food and bean spouts. So with that being said, I’m finding it hard to get my groove on to the new video from Fog and Smog, “Whole Foods Parking Lot”. Sure they’re pimping out a Prius, presumably the worst car out there today, and sure they’re flow is smooth, but a Prius and organic food? Oye’ Vey…

Recently, I attended the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Held every May, this show features a vast array of meticulously maintained classic British, European and Japanese cars, exemplary examples of their more modern kin, as well as a beautiful collection of kit cars.  As far as sheer variety in makes, models and years, hands down, this show can’t be beat.

This has become something of an annual treat for me as I can think of few better ways to spend a weekend than by gazing at a gleaming sea of jaw-droppingly stunning automobiles, many of which I guarantee you won’t find at other shows. Plus, participation is open to anyone with an import or a kit car – all you have to do is register, make your car pretty and show up. It’s a great opportunity to display your cherished ride and meet other aficionados of your favorite marques.

I used to come down to show my Saab and hang out with the Saab contingent that makes it out every year. But even though I have a Subaru now, it’s just so much fun that I continue to make the trip to Carlisle (my WRX was parked over by the lone DeLorean, if you happened to be there). Volvo, BMW and Audi clubs also traditionally have a large showing so the weekend is packed with the cars you love, cars you haven’t seen before, your friends from the forums, barbeques – it’s a good time for everyone.  So, if you’re not too far out from Pennsylvania, I definitely recommend heading out there next May to check out the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals. To tide you over, provided for your viewing pleasure are some of my favorite cars of the weekend. Enjoy!

Lancia Scorpion

Matte black Volvo V70R

Opel GT and Opel Kadett Coupe

Volvo P1800S

Saab 9-3 Viggens

Ferrari 360 Modena and 328GTS

Citroën 2CV and Smart Roadster Coupe

Gorgeous Audi Quattro

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

Twin-charged Audi A1

Volvo S60Rs

Saab 99 Turbo

Badass Volvos: PV544 and 142

DKW Junior de Luxe - DKW/Dampf-Kraft-Wagen became one of the four companies that comprised the "Audi NSU Auto Union AG" (now known as Audi AG).

Triumph TR8 and TR6s

Saab 96 V4 convertible - must have been a custom job.

Bimmer Beauties

Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition

Citroën H Van and DS

Audi A7

Honda Z600 / 600 Coupe

Saab Sonetts

Datsun SPL311 Roadster

Opel GT