Toyota offers its vision for future development
Toyota offers its vision for future development
By Russell Williamson
TOYOTA-ASTRA will be using the Jakarta Auto Expo to give visitors a view of what the company is doing overseas as well as its concept for the future of automotive development.
In addition to having its full model lineup on show, the company has procured two concept vehicles and two high-technology luxury production models from its Japanese parent company.
The Lexus LS400 is Toyota's flagship, which is branded under the luxury banner of Lexus.
This 4000cc V8-powered limousine competes on the world stage with the likes of Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series and has allowed the Japanese carmaker to come the full circle in providing vehicles for every customer's requirement.
As a large luxury car, power comes from a smooth quad cam 32- valve V8 engine and is delivered through a four-speed electronic automatic transmission.
To provide the ride comfort expected of such a vehicle, suspension is fully independent with double wishbones and coil springs at both the front and rear.
Also available is an optional air suspension. And it is here that the Lexus starts to show the sort of advanced technology that Toyota is capable of.
The system employs semiactive four-channel adaptive damping, which can sense and retune each wheel individually for varying conditions.
The system monitors acceleration, deceleration, cornering braking and road surface variations and adapts itself to patterns such as choppy roads or expansion joints.
State-of-the-art passive safety systems include dual air bags, seat belt pretensioners and a collapsible steering column which provides for both primary and secondary collisions.
The Lexus has long been acclaimed as the benchmark in noise vibration and harshness levels.
While noise penetration from outside the car is barely perceptible, vibration inside has been a target of Toyota engineers.
The resulting system to combat one area of this is a patented seat suspension system of coil springs and torsion springs in conjunction with stabilizer bars which work in a similar way to the vehicle's road suspension.
The system improves ride comfort and back support and resists seat cushion deformation during cornering.
With the LS400, Toyota was the first carmaker to offer an in- dash six disc CD player located above the full sized glove compartment.
The automatic climate control air-conditioning features separate temperature controls for both passengers and driver and incorporates a bidirectional solar sensor which allows the system to set different temperatures for sunny and shady sides of the car.
The air-conditioning system also includes an interior air filter which removes odors, dust and pollen.
If the Lexus offers a glimpse of Toyota's luxury-oriented technology then the other production car on show, the Supra, is a shining example of what the company can do with the mechanics of a vehicle.
The Supra is Toyota's answer to the European super-coupes.
With a 3000cc 24-valve twin-turbo six-cylinder engine under the hood linked to six-speed Getrag manual gearbox, the Supra can keep company with many a Ferrari or Porsche.
The car's figures speak for themselves, 0 to 100kmh in 5.1 seconds, 13.7 seconds for a quarter mile in old speak and a top speed of 250kmh.
This latter figure is, however, electronically limited and reports from Europe suggest the car could achieve more than 280kmh.
With ride and handling to match, this car is truly a sports car to take you well into the wide open spaces.
However, performance is not all, and the Supra also comes to the party with a decent equipment list which includes leather, power driver's seat, power steering switchable traction control and a CD stacker.
Definitely one for the wish list, should the government loosen its import restrictions.