Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) unveiled 7 concept cars at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show, which was opened to public from October 22 to November 6 at the International Convention Complex (Makuhari Messe) in Makuhari, Chiba.

The automaker views Tokyo Motor Show as a great opportunity to introduce new vehicle possibilities. Through the years, Toyota has unraveled several cars and groundbreaking and futuristic technologies in said auto show. Among the concept cars presented are the Fine-X and i-swing. The latter is a brand new fuel cell hybrid vehicle while the former is a personal mobility vehicle.

The theme Ecology & Emotion was again used by Toyota in this year’s exhibit. Said exhibit pursued both environmental vehicle concerns as well as the essential emotional appeal of a car.

A diesel car has beaten the world’s hot-selling hybrid – Toyota Prius – to the top spot in a new government guide to greener motoring, reported Alastair Dalton, a transport correspondent at Scotsman.

The new Volkswagen Polo, which will be rolled out in Britain this October, emits just 99 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, five grams fewer than the petrol-electric hybrid, Prius. The Prius has become synonymous with environmentally minded celebrities, such as Jennifer Aniston and Leonardo DiCaprio. But the new Polo Blue Motion could prove even greener.

The Prius, the first hybrid to be mass-produced, has won a number of awards including the Year Japan from 1997 to 1998, the North American Car of the Year in 2004, and the European Car of the Year in 2005. EPA has rated the hybrid at 48 mpg in city driving and 45 mpg on the highway. By far, it is the most economical car sold in the United States.

Toyota announced sprawling manufacturing changes in the US and shutting down truck and SUV production, to respond to changing consumer demand.

Even with the lower number announced yesterday, Toyota Motor Corp plans to sell more vehicles than it did last year.

The pace of Toyota’s growth has been slowing. Under the new target it would inch up 1 percent this year, in contrast to a 6-percent climb in 2007, when it sold 9.37 million vehicles.

“The main reason for the change came from the faltering United States economy, and how rising oil prices and material costs are dampening the market there overall,” said Toyota spokeswoman Kayo Doi. The Japanese and west European markets were also sluggish, but Toyota’s solid sales in China, the Middle East and other markets were enough to maintain its worldwide growth, she said.

Earlier, Toyota Motor Corp.(TMC) celebrated the opening of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX) valued at $1.28 billion. It is the newest plant of the automaker situated in San Antonio. During the opening of the new plant, two Tundras were manufactured. The production of the pickup truck was witnessed by Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda TMC’s honorary chairman, and Katsuaki Watanabe, TMC president. They are joined by Rick Perry, Texas governor, and other local officials. According to the automaker, the new Tundra plant has 21 on-site suppliers that invest nearly $1.6 billion. Toyota also announced that it will employ over 4,000 workers for said plant.

“As Toyota moves forward into a new era, this new plant is a dynamic symbol of our bright future,” said Watanabe. “Here in Texas, we have assembled a great team of people, a great plant, and a great truck. Along with great people, this is one of the most advanced automotive plants on the earth. It has the latest in technology and is using the best production and environmental techniques learned from 60 plants we operate around the world.”

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s top seller of gasoline-electric autos and the second top automaker worldwide, may turn its mighty Prius into a full line of vehicles. This move is intended to triple its hybrid sales in the United States.

US will account for more than half a million hybrid cars and light trucks. According to Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota U.S. sales unit, “The automaker plans to sell worldwide each year by early next decade. Prius-based models might include a wagon and a smaller car.”

“For us to do 600,000, there will probably have to be Prius and derivatives of Prius that are selling in the neighborhood of 300,000 to 400,000. We don’t have any plans to do that right now, but that’s the direction that nameplate can go, because it is that strong,” Lentz said at the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show in Las Vegas.

Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest automaker and the biggest overseas car maker in China has started selling Magotan sedans in the country and in the process challenging Toyota Motor Corp.’s Camry which is equipped with high quality Toyota thermostat.

The Magotan sedans are equipped with 1.8-liter or 2-liter engine and have a base price starting 192,800 yuan or $25,000 basing in an email coming from Volkswagen. On the other hand Toyota’s China-made Camry has a price that starts at 197,800 yuan more expensive than the Magotan by 5,000 yuan.

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The Wolfsburg-based automaker plans to add as many as 14 new models in China by the end of 2009 in an effort to maintain its market lead. Likewise, the automaker’s Santana and Jetta sedans has claimed the top two spots in the first-half sales rankings in the country and comparing that with Camry which went on sale last year and was only able to obtain the fourth rank.