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The Toyota Group (Keiretsu)

A keiretsu is a cluster of interlinked Japanese firms, centered on a bank, which lends money to member companies and holds an equity stake in these companies. By combining forces, these companies are able to reduce costs and risk, better facilitate communication, ensure trust and reliability and provide insulation from outside competition. There are two types of keiretsu, horizontal and vertical. Horizontal, inter-market keiretsu are diversified networks of large companies. These included the three aforementioned descendents of the pre-WWII zaibatsu. Vertical manufacturing and distribution keiretsu are asymmetric networks where small-firm sectors are dominated by large sectors.

The Toyota Group is considered to be the largest of the vertically-integrated keiretsu groups. The United States and most Western countries looked unfavorably upon the keiretsu because they interpreted such a business scheme to be that of an outlawed monopoly or cartel.

The Toyota Group is a terrific example of a highly successful, complex and prominent keiretsu in Japan. It is a member of the Mitsui Group, which is one of its main banks, but functions very independently of the bank. In the past couple of decades, Toyota has been on the top of the list domestically in the United States as well as abroad in terms of sales and profits. The parent firm generates, on average, $72 billion each year in sales with 72,000 employees. That equates to one million dollars in sales per employee, which is roughly six-times that of competitor, General Motors. Toyota has been the best selling car in Japan for over twenty-four years. This alone shows the clout and power of the Japanese keiretsu.

This company is the largest industrial combine in Japan and one of the largest keiretsu in the nation. Another amazing fact is that Toyota is much more than a car manufacturer. In fact, Toyota is a major participant in three telecommunication companies; it is a principle investor in a computer system development firm; and it holds stakes in an insurance company specializing in automotive insurance. Furthermore, Toyota operates four real estate firms, two financial firms and is currently exploring opportunities in the aerospace industry.

Due to the prominence of keiretsu in post-WWII Japan, only those employees that worked in core firm sectors benefited. Those who were forced to work at small firms suffered from low wages, limited career mobility and job instability. Much can be said for the keiretsu system, which, as seen in the case study on the Toyota Group, can yield much power and success.

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Source by David J Stone

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The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the many four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car manufacturing company, Toyota Motor Corporation. Developed back in 1951, Toyota’s version of the military jeep has become one of the most sought after all-terrain cars around the world. In the U.S., about 61,000 brand new units were sold since 2000. And with its continued improvements and the economy’s steady rise, the number of Toyota Land Cruiser deals is bound to rise in the coming future.

Now, you might wonder why it would be a good move for you to purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser instead of another brand or model. The main answer for this would be versatility, since you can always rely on this car to take you wherever you want to go, whether it is in the city, or the country, on dirt roads or paved ones. But then again, there is more to the Toyota Land Cruiser than just that feature.

First of all, this vehicle offers consumers a very spacious interior. This means you don’t have to feel suffocated or uncomfortable during long drives. With this car, there will be no need to tolerate being kicked by those behind you or having to draw your knees in. As a bonus, it can accommodate four to six people, including the driver. And it can even carry 8 if you use the 2 car seats at the back, which is also a significantly large area to double as storage.

Second, it is very durable and reliable, and has a lifespan of more than 10 years. It only needs one oil change annually, and parts are neither rare nor expensive. And since it is a vehicle made to withstand wear and tear, you do not have to worry about encountering hard rain storms or going through rugged roads. Its heavy constitution also ensures owners that they will not be easily manipulated by natural elements such as water and wind.

The third advantage of buying a Toyota Land Cruiser for sale is that it is quite a handsome car. It’s simple, but doesn’t look too boring. It is buffed up without appearing too gimmicky. It has all the entertainment and navigation tools you need. Plus, its driving performance is quite impressive. With the right customization, it can also look as luxurious and intimidating as a Hummer. Sturdy, solid, straightforward – this vehicle has all the qualities of a car that you would want to drive your family in.

And finally, the fourth advantage of acquiring a Land Cruiser is its price. Yes, it may not be as cheap as a Nissan Verano or Kia Soul, but it is quite affordable, given its specifications. Old models retail between $1,400 and $6,900. Moreover, those from 2008 to 2011 can be bought at around $47,000 to $60,800. And with the right Toyota Land Cruiser deal, you might be able to drive one home with a discount and a flexible payment term.

With all these in mind, one can understandably assume that the Toyota Land Cruiser’s pervasiveness and popularity is not a hoax, rather, a testament to the extraordinary engineering skills of the Japanese.

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Source by Cedric P Loiselle

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The Hilux Surf line of vehicles made by Toyota is predominantly classed as off road transportation. First introduced in 1984 into Toyota’s line up, they decided to not build the vehicle from the ground up as an entirely new model but rather took an existing model, the Hilux, and made modifications to it.

First generation of the model produced from 1984-1989

This first incarnation of the model was mechanically identical to the Toyota Hilux pickup. Toyota simply added a removable fibreglass top to it to change it into a Hilux Surf. All models had two doors and were identical from the dashboard forward to the Hilux. Almost all of the changes to make it a Hilux Surf were done to the rear half of the vehicle. Rear springs were downgraded from the Hilux pickup model and contained one less leaf. This resulted in problems later as with the addition of rear seats and the fibreglass top the rear leafs tended to sag over time.

1986 saw the model undergo some serious front suspension design changes. The solid front axle previously used was changed over to an independent front suspension setup. This allowed the model to be more driveable at highway speeds and also created more room in the engine bay allowing the use of larger engines in future models. While this change did have an impact on the off road capabilities of the vehicle the solid front axle was retained on the Hilux pickup models.

In 1989 Toyota released the second generation of the model, this model ran from 1989 – 1995, the vehicle was redesigned but kept its reliance based on the Hilux puckup. The newer generation still looked similar to the Hilux pickup but they also included a full steel integrated body instead of the bolt on fibreglass cap. This generation also saw the use of rear coil spring suspension system which in time would be known for having the same sagging issues as the leaf spring design did. Most second generation Hilux Surf’s are five door models. While most other manufacturers were making offroad vehicles as pickups with tailgates that folded down the Hilux Surf also had a window in the tailgate which had to be lowered before the tailgate could be opened.

In 1995 Toyota released its third generation of the model, this model would run from 1995-2002. Key changes for this generation were the exterior. It received an all new body shell on an all new chassis. In this generation the model shared practically nothing with the Hilux pickup. It began to have more in common with a Land Cruiser than it did with the vehicle it was originally based on. The body was made to be longer, more interior space was available, the inclusion of dual air bags, four wheel coil spring suspension, ABS brakes, and a rack and pinion steering system were a standard now where they had not been in the past.

In 2002 Toyota released its fourth generation of the model, this run lasted from 2002-2009. The chassis and body were once again changed significantly. The vehicle was now targeted at people looking for a medium sized semi luxury off road vehicle. Most of the chassis continued to be shared with the Land Cruiser of the same years.

2009 saw the launch of the present fifth generation of the Toyota Hilux Surf. This vehicle is still in production now and is in high demand across the world. Gaining popularity over the years in both off road markets and also for the normal commuter markets as well. This if a robust line of vehicles that ticks many of the boxes people are looking for when purchasing an off road vehicle.

Engines available by generation:

First generation:

• 2.0L-3Y
• 2.4L-22R
• 2.4L-22R-E
• 2.4L-22R-TE
• 3.0L-3VZ-E

Second generation:

• 2.0L-3Y-EU
• 2.4L-22R-E
• 3.0L-5L
• 2.4L-2L-T
• 2.8L-3L

Third generation:

• 2.7L-3RZ-FE
• 3.4L-5VZ-FE
• 3.0L-5L

Fourth generation:

• 4.0L-1UZ
• 4.7L-3UZ-FE
• 3.0L-3VZ-FE

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Source by Wayne M Adams

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About 40 years ago the little camper was born.

Someone at Toyota USA decided that it would be a good idea to provide pickups for use by camper manufacturers. These vehicles were sent out to the camper companies as a cab and chassis unit. They did not have a pickup bed attached. The manufacturer of the camper attached their own camper body onto the chassis of the pickup. This became the basis for the series of campers known as the Toyota motor home.

Constructed in the late 1970s, they were tiny by today’s measure.

At first the campers were small, not much bigger than the original pickup body. One of the most common brands of camper of this type at that time was called the Toyota Chinook. This little camper consisted of a fiberglass body attached to the Toyota chassis. It normally had a pop-up roof with a vinyl enclosure.

Inside the camper, the accommodations were quite plain.

Along one side of the body there was a built in galley consisting of a sink and icebox, and a two burner propane cook stove. The other side of the camper was placed a couch which folded out into a double bed. This left a small aisle for standing, dressing, and other activities. Normally the inside of the camper was designed with the cabinets made from the same material as the body of the camper, fiber glass.

These small campers to be in popular with people wanting to travel inexpensively.

The little pickup combined with a camper body made a very economical unit for weekending and vacation travel. This model of RV was very popular with fishermen and hunters or couples who wanted a simple camper that they could park in garage. The use of the pop-up top built into the camper these vehicles would allow the vehicle to fit in a stall in a standard garage.

With the pop-up roof extended, there was limited stand up room inside the camper. This allowed the user to move around without bending over. The daily activities of cooking,getting dressed, and sleeping were all carried out in the warmth and protection of the solid fiber glass body.The limited features of these campers may extended stays a real challenge, but for weekends and brief vacations they were ideal.

One of the major difficulties of this camper was the lack of a bathroom.

For some people this was not a problem as they used the camper as a very comfortable place to sleep while camping in the outdoors. When used at forest service campgrounds or in wilderness areas this was ideal, but for use in crowded campgrounds or RV parks this soon became a problem. Another drawback of this camper was the lack of built-in storage.

While this little camper was ideal for a lot of people it was not quite the best camper for the growing RV market.

Buyers wanted more amenities and features that provided the comfort and convenience of home while on the road. Attracted by the sales of the Toyota Chinook type of camper, RV manufacturers began to design larger and more comfortable Toyota motor homes.

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Source by Lee S Mcpherron

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For almost 20 years various manufacturers made the Toyota motor home in several models. During its heyday, this little camper was produced in over 60 different models and styles of motor homes.

Beginning with the rather small Toyota Chinook camper and carrying on through the largest of the Toyota based Winnebago and Itasca models, the Toyota based motor home help to establish many manufacturers in the RV industry.

Because of the large number of manufacturers it is not uncommon to see similar campers and very different names. The small overall size had to limit the variety of floor plans available. This caused a lot of the manufacturers to build virtual duplicates that varied only in some of the fit and finish type of details.

It wasn’t long until the manufacturers began to expand the size of the camper bodies. Using conventional manufacturing techniques found in the travel trailer industry, the stick and staple type of construction with aluminum siding became the standard.

In the decade of the 1980s production of the Toyota motor home peaked. Many different companies were producing many different models. Some of the larger companies that were in this business were national RV, the producers of the very popular Dolphin series. They also produced the Seabreeze models. At the same time Winnebago was producing the Brave, the Warrior, and the deluxe Itasca Spirit models.

Damen Corporation of Elkhart Indiana produce the Escaper motor home, while Coachman produced the popular Coachman and Savanna models. Leisure Odyssey was building the Americana, Santa Cruz, and the Laguna campers.

The Mini-Mirage was built by Mirage industries, while the still very popular SunRader was constructed with a fiberglass body by Gardener Pacific.

By the late 1980s the length of the camper body had expanded to 22 feet. This caused a severe overload problem on the original half ton pickup axle. A national safety recall was issued by the United States government to correct the problem. Most of the models were given a new one ton axle. However there are still a few units available today that have the unsafe axle. Caution is advised if you are looking at in 1980s version of this very popular camper.

In 1989 V6 appeared on the market in the Toyota chassis. This increased horse power became very popular with the camper owners and production continued until 1994 when Toyota stopped supplying the pickup chassis to the camper manufacturers for safety reasons. Winnebago produced some of the last V6 versions in 1994.

During its production lifetime, the Toyota motor home enjoyed a great popular success and was widely distributed across the country. Today the greatest number of units on the road seem to be concentrated on the east and west coast areas but these motor homes will turn up just about anywhere in the country.

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Source by Lee S Mcpherron

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Between 1998 and 2009 Toyota had two models of its best selling car the Camry. There was the standard Toyota Camry and the Toyota Camry Solara, also known as the Toyota Solara.

While these two cars share similar features, there were also several notable differences. This article will cover the history of the Solara and how it is different from the Toyota Camry. Here is what you need to know.

Toyota Solara Beginnings

Toyota began manufacturing the Toyota Solara in 1998 as a two-door, sportier version of the Camry. The Toyota Solara was a replacement for the Toyota Camry Coupe. Toyota created the Toyota Camry Coupe four years earlier, to provide a sportier option for people considering buying a Camry. Its main competition was the Honda Accord Coupe, a mid-sized car with sporty features.

As a replacement for the Camry Coupe the Solara featured a four cylinder engine with slightly more power than a standard Camry engine. The model also featured an upgraded stereo as well as sport options. A few years after introduction, Toyota added a Solara convertible to its lineup of mid-sized cars.

Toyota Solara Performance

As noted earlier the Toyota Solara had slightly more power than the Camry. Toyota also offered a V-6 option in 2002 for better performance. In terms of gas mileage a typical Solara got between 19-23 miles per gallon for city driving and 26-33 miles per gallon for highway driving.

By comparison, the latest Toyota Camry gets similar gas mileage. It gets 22 miles per gallon for city driving and 33 miles per gallon for highway driving.

Toyota Solara Exterior

The most notable difference between the Solara and the Camry was the exterior. The Solara was a two door car whereas the Camry was a four door car. The Solara also featured more sportier trim options. The Solara also had a more streamlined look to its exterior.

As mentioned before the Solara also had a convertible option. The convertibles typically had V-6 engines in them.

Additional Features

With the Toyota Solara you could also get some additional features. Options included sport suspension and performance tires, leather upholstery as well as a six-disc CD changer. You could also get 16-inch aluminum wheels.

Later models of the Solara, featured Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, navigation systems and MP3 support.

Toyota Solara Discontinued

Despite its unique style, Toyota decided to discontinue the Solara from its Camry lineup in 2009. This was due to dropping sales over the years. There was not much demand for sportier mid-sized cars with convertible options.

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Source by Tom Blackman

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This guide is written to hopefully explain the BSR run flat system fitted to the Toyota Rav4 T180 and SR180

Many owners have bought their cars without knowledge of this BSR system so here I will try to explain what it is and the options for replacing it..

What is the BSR system?

It’s a Run flat system that is different from other types where the sidewall of the tyres used is heavily reinforced so if a puncture or deflation occurs the car effectively rides on the sidewall

BSR (Bridgestone Safety Ring) is a system that employs a ring that is fitted inside the tyre around the rim. This is what the car rides on in the event of a deflation. The tyres are effectively a normal tyre. This is a development of a WW2 military vehicle.

There is also a lubricant inside the tyre that lubes the tyre and the BSR ring in the event of a deflation. Without this the friction generated would destroy both elements.

System is backed up by a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) that illuminates a warning light on the dash if a deflation takes place…

The pluses to this system..

It means that no spare wheel needs to be carried.. And… Err well that’s about it really..

The minuses..

The tyres have to be removed by a special and very expensive machine that only Toyota Dealers and a few independent Tyre Dealers have.

Only one type of Bridgestone tyre can be used with the BSR system. No other make or model of tyre can be used.

This makes for expensive replacements come time for new tyres and can prove very inconvenient in the event of a puncture.

Owners report very expensive costs for replacement or repair!

The options…

Well Owners can simply live with what they have and put up with the what is considered huge costs of replacement or repair.

Or

Remove the existing tyres and the BSR system completely. You can have the tyres removed by an Equipped Dealer as described above. Cost around £45 per wheel OR simply cut the tyres of and remove the safety inner rings with the aid of an angle grinder.

The TPMS system can be retained or removed and switched to prevent the light flashing on the dash..

Once tyres and rings have been removed normal tyres can be fitted on a normal tyre machine by any Tyre Dealer and any brand can be used.

Insurance implications…

You should notify your insurance company if you remove the BSR system and fit normal tyres.

No extra premium is likely as the car will be as the latest specification SR Rav4. IE no BSR system and a tyre repair kit in the boot.

It is possible to have the tyres and the BSR ring removed then refits the tyres but this will invalidate your insurance because the tyres have a symbol on the tyre wall which designates them as Run flats. Which of course without the BSR rings inside they are not! This could mean that a Driver who does not realise this could run into problems if a deflation occurs and he or she carries on driving…

Ride Quality

The wheels with the extra weight of the BSR system and lubricating gel is huge in comparison to a wheel fitted with a normal tyre.

The suspension has two elements to contend with:

The sprung weight. This is the weight of the Vehicle, Its occupants, Cargo etc.

The unsprung weight. This is the weight of the Wheels, Tyres, Brakes etc.

Relieving the suspension of the unsprung weight enables it to get on with the job of controlling the sprung weight. This adds up to a far far smoother ride without the crashing and thumping that the increased weight of the BSR equipped wheels give. Remember the tyre walls are Not reinforced..

The ride quality is MASSIVELY IMPROVED when the BSR is removed!!!

A consideration…

If trading in a BSR equipped RAV to a Toyota Dealer one of the first questions asked will be does it still have the run flats?? Because if it does not the car has in their eyes been radically altered and cannot be sold under the Toyota approved car scheme.

Other dealers may or may not ask depending if they know about the existence of the system in the first place…

Hope this helps

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Source by David LL

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To most people a Toyota motor home built in the 1980s looks like a cute and charming recreational vehicle. And for the most part this is exactly what they are. But there was a fatal flaw built into these early 1980 motor homes was that caused heartbreak and disaster for hundreds of people.

As the motor home size was expanded past 18 feet, the original Toyota pickup chassis which was only rated at 1/2 ton capacity, was simply not up to the job. Specifically the rear axle began to fail. When this happened bad things occurred to good people.

Completely empty, these little campers have a marginal carrying capacity for people and possessions. This meant that the typical motor home left the driveway in probably an overloaded condition. This was normally not a problem because the performance of the camper insured that slow speeds would be maintained on the trip. The hundred horsepower four-cylinder engine would not move three tuns of house in a very fast pace.

As the size of the camper increased it wasn’t long until the rear axles began to fail. The camper manufacturers compensated by adding a second set of wheels on the axle. This created a dual set of tires on each side. However this did not correct the problem. The problem lie in the fact that the bearings and the axle itself were just not heavy-duty enough to carry the load.

Excessive load caused the bearings to overheat, fail, and then disintegrate with disastrous consequences. Victims of this problem reported that the wheels would actually leave the truck. This was such a serious problem that the national highway safety administration became involved and issued a recall of certain Toyota motor home models.

There was no way to predict when the axle would fail. Some units failed almost immediately, some units went thousands and thousands of miles, and some units have not failed yet. However any Toyota motor home without the heavy-duty axle should be considered as a suspect vehicle.

There is an easy way to tell if your Toyota RV has a safe axle. First of all, all models of Toyota RV built after 1987 were built with the upgraded safe axle. All models of Toyota motor home built in 1984 and before are required to have the upgraded axle due to the safety recall. In 1985 and 1986 some models were built with the upgraded safe axle and some were not. So it is up to you to be careful when inspecting the axle on any Toyota motor home you are considering to buy.

A simple inspection of the axle itself will tell you if it is safe or needs to be replaced. The safe axle will have six lug nuts, the unsafe axles were built with five lug nuts. The safe axle will also have a protruding center hub that has a ring of nuts around the outer edge.

If the axles on the Toyota motor home you are considering only have five lug nuts and the center does not stick out and have a ring of bolts on the center hub, keep looking for another camper to purchase.

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Source by Lee S Mcpherron

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