Toyota offers its vision for the future

Toyota offers its vision for the future

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.

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Caption:

Lexus LS400 provides a look at Toyota's latest developments in
luxury and technology.