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Toyota teases mysterious RND Concept

Toyota is being very secretive about its newly teased RND Concept. The image above is all that the Japanese automaker is showing at the moment, and it's not much to go by. However, the wait to find out won't be very long, as the automaker is unveiling this very mysterious vehicle on January 26 in the UK. Making the RND even more intriguing is that this isn't just a concept pointing the way towards some nebulous future vehicle. Toyota claims that the model is production ready, and the automaker already has pricing, supply and manufacturing space prepared. We likely shouldn't expect a super luxury sedan or sports coupe, though, because Toyota says that the RND is meant for "the widest possible market." Could it possibly be some sort of inexpensive, electric vehicle like the Renault Twizy, then? With just the hind of a taillight, a slash of chrome and what might be an intake, there's not much styling work to go on here. Although, Toyota is making huge promises about the design; it claims the RND "has the potential to transform the look of every vehicle on the road." It's odd to see an automaker other than Tesla reveal a new vehicle outside of a major world auto show, which piques our interest about what Toyota is doing here. Read the company's press release below and let us know what you think the Japanese automaker is up to in Comments. THE NEW TOYOTA RND CONCEPT: SNEAK PREVIEW First details of new model released ahead of world debut next week Toyota is breaking with motor industry convention by revealing a new product outside the familiar surroundings of an international motor show. Instead its new RND Concept will make its world debut in the UK on 26th January, ready for fast-track development that should see it changing the face of motoring within weeks. The first image released today hints at how the concept's design marks a radical shift in direction for Toyota, taking the "fun-to-drive" qualities of its cars to a higher level. Although presented as a concept, Toyota acknowledges the RND will be unveiled in its production-ready form. Manufacturing and product supply have been secured and on-the-road pricing has been fixed at a level that will make the RND Concept accessible to the widest possible market. Toyota is confident, too, that the RND Concept's impact will go far beyond its own model range, having the potential to transform the look of every vehicle on the road.

GM outsold VW globaly in first quarter, Toyota reports numbers next week

General Motors released its first quarter sales figures this week, reporting that it sold 2.36 million cars and trucks worldwide. That figure represents an increase of 3.6 percent when compared to the same period last year. GM's growth was attributed to many factors, including global Cadillac sales that were up 26 percent and Chevrolet posting a one percent increase over last year (this marked Chevy's tenth straight year of record global sales).
Volkswagen came in just behind GM, as the German automaker reported global sales from January through March at 2.27 million vehicles, an increase of five percent when compared to last year. While that number was strong, VW is cautioning that markets outside China and the US, such as those in Europe, are becoming a challenge as economies falter.
Yet to report sales is Toyota, current holder of the global world sales crown (the Japanese company sold 9.75 million cars last year, against 9.29 million sold by GM and 9.1 million vehicles sold by VW). Even though GM and Toyota both say they don't care who sells the most units, it is unquestionably a strong bragging point and sales equate to revenue. That said, Toyota will report its first quarter numbers next week.

Recharge Wrap-up: Japan's new hydrogen rules could help Toyota, New Delhi pollution worse than thought

The European Union is funding Fastned EV fast-charging corridors in Germany. The EU has set aside 2 million euros as part of its Trans-European Transport Networks program for Fastned to build the charging stations along major highways in Germany. The EU plans to help fund a network of 155 fast-charging stations along popular routes in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Holland. Of those, Fastned will build 94 stations in Germany and Holland. Read more in the press release below. Revised hydrogen rules in Japan will make it easier to create hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has created guidelines allowing for liquefied hydrogen at filling stations, exceptions to required distances between precooling equipment and public facilities and less expensive materials for hydrogen storage. Toyota stands to gain from the new standards, as making fueling more readily available makes it easier to sell customers on the Mirai fuel cell vehicle. The result could be fiercer competition between Toyota and Tesla in Japan. Read more in the press release below, and at Tech In Asia. New research finds that New Delhi roads suffer from much worse pollution than the average levels recorded throughout the city. Pollution along roads is up to eight times higher than the numbers shown by urban background pollution monitors. With half of the city's population living within 300 meters of a major road, it's a major health concern. Joshua Apte of the University of Texas, Austin, recorded various pollution levels from inside vehicles in hopes of showing the difference between ground-level pollution and the lower numbers at monitoring sites. In the process, Apte found himself developing bronchitis on a quarter of his visits to the city. Read more at the Columbus Telegram. Featured Gallery 2016 Toyota Mirai View 15 Photos Related Gallery Fastned Fast Charging in Germany News Source: Fastned, Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Tech In Asia, Columbus TelegramImage Credit: Toyota Green Tesla Toyota Electric Hydrogen Cars recharge wrapup