Shiotsu Autotrade Japan – President’s Blog

Toyota debuts new Eco Cars at Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Toyota Motor Corporation will display its Scion FR-S sporty car for the first time at the 42^ndTokyo Motor Show 2011.  Toyota will also unveil Toyota Aqua or the Prius C as the North Americans know it, for the first time in Japanese Market.  Toyota Aqua will go for sale in Japanese Markets next month while it will be displayed in US Showrooms only next year.  Toyota will also showcase its Prius Plug-in Hybrid and also it’s iQ Electric Vehicle.  The Tokyo Motor Show which happens every two years will this year witness many new, hybrid and eco friendly vehicles.

Toyota Aqua or Prius C

The Prius C or Toyota Aqua can comfortably seat five people.  The 1.5 litre engine is linked to Toyota’s all new lightweight Hybrid System.  It has a front that resembles Yaris, roofline is much similar to Prius and it has a wavy new side panel treatment that covers over the rear wheels.

Its new hybrid system consists of a motor, new inverter and a battery.  The hybrid drivetrain is around 88 pounds lighter than the standard Prius. Aqua has been chosen as a standalone name in Japan inorder to generate a new client base for hybrid systems.

In the U.S., they are following a converse theory.  There they intend to cash upon the already existing repute of Prius for Prius C.

Prius Plug-in Hybrid

The Toyota Show will also witness debut of production version of Prius Plug-in Hybrid which will be in markets only next year.  This version will be powered by Lithium Ion Battery.  This battery is smaller and will enable more space for luggage.

Toyota FT-EV III

The FT-EV III is yet another electric vehicle based on Toyota’s iQ Minicar.  The car will be out for sale in USA as Scion next year.  This little car can cover 65 miles when fully charged.  Another merit it offers is its battery can be charged in barely half the time other electric cars take.  In a 200 volt system, the car gets completely charged in around four hours.

Fuel cell concept FCV-R

This is one more remarkable Toyota debut. The FCV-R is a hydrogen-powered fuel cell that will be sold in markets by 2015. It is a four seater and has been inspired from Lexus HS 250h hybrid.  The fuel cell unit can power the car on a single filling for 435miles.  It has been located under the driver’s seat.

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Tokyo Motor Show is a biannual auto show held in Japan.  Read the rest of this entry »

Isuzu to manufacture trucks in Saudi Arabia for exports

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is planning to manufacture car components  by around 2013 and expects to build two different car models besides assembling cars in around 10 years from now, according to an official looking after  the development of the country’s automotive industry.

Azzam Shalabi, president of Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Clusters Programme said it was a huge challenge and that was why the government was going to be involved in the development of the country’s automotive sector.

Truck Market in Saudi Arabia and Middle East

Saudi Arabia is engaged in the development of new conversion industries in the areas around petrochemical plants and refineries currently being built by Saudi Basic Industries Corp. and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. Under the Kingdom’s cluster development program, the development of mainly five industrial conversion targets, including the automotive sector, will be covered. Besides the automotive sector and its value chain, the other four industries being targeted include solar energy products, plastics and packaging, energy goods and services, and home appliances.

In order to attract foreign auto investors, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is going to develop an automotive-zone master plan which will allow manufacturers to share some logistics operations and production facilities. The government is also trying to persuade large automotive companies to commence assembling automobiles in the kingdom. Shalabi said that the zone concept was being discussed with automobile manufacturing companies in order to validate its acceptability and feasibility.

Currently, Japan’s Isuzu Motors Ltd. has a plant for assembling medium-size and heavy trucks in Dammam, where it plans to commence production in 2012 and produce 25,000 vehicles each year. Isuzu Motors will be producing the trucks for export to the Middle East and GCC Region. The assembling of the trucks by Isuzu comes under the aegis of Saudi Arabia’s cluster development program. Read the rest of this entry »

The World of Giant Trucks

Ever wondered how big are the biggest trucks in the world?  The world’s biggest truck is not a Mitsubishi Fuso Super Great, Isuzu Giga, Nissan Diesel Big Thumb truck or even a rugged Mach Truck with double trailer.  The biggest trucks in the world are used in mining industry.  These trucks are truly enormous and calling them big would be an understatement.  Normal heavy duty trucks look like miniature puppets in front of the real locomotive giants!

Mining Trucks

In mining, heavy metal ores are hauled from the mining pits using these gigantic dump trucks. These dump trucks generally weigh around one million pounds and can carry more than 300 tons of material. These trucks have power of 3000 horsepower. They generally are taller than 20 feet and are 50 feet long. There are many companies which manufacture such massive trucks. These are used in various nations round the globe for the purpose of mining.

Large Mining Trucks by different companies

Komatsu 930 E-4

It is a mining truck with Japanese origin. It is manufactured and designed by Komatsu. and has an engine power of 2700 horsepower. It has a gross vehicle weight of 553 tons (553000 kilograms) and a payload capacity of 321 tons (321000 kilograms). It has a length of 15.6 meters and a height of 7.5 meters. It is a perfectly productive truck when it comes to mining purposes.

Caterpillar 797B

It is a heavy duty mining truck manufactured and developed in US by Caterpillar Inc Company. It was introduced in 2002. It has a payload capacity of 380 tons (380000 kilograms) while its engine power is 3370 horsepower. The Gross Vehicle weight is 688 tons (688000 kilograms). It is 14.5 meters long and 7.2 meters tall. Read the rest of this entry »