Language: News

Under the patronage of H.E. Sayyid Ahmed Hilal Al Busaidi, Wali of Baushar, the all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser SUV was unveiled at an exclusive event. Gracing the occasion was H.E. Jota Yamamoto, Ambassador of Japan to Oman.

The guest of honour was Mr. Masaru Shimada, General Manager, Middle East and Central Asia Division, Toyota Motor Corporation. He was accompanied by other officials from Toyota Motor Corporation.

In the opening remarks, Mr. Abdullah Mohamed Bahwan, Managing Director – Corporate, Saud Bahwan Group, said, “For decades, Toyota has been winning hearts in Oman with its high quality products that have not only found a special place in the lives of customers. But have also been inspirations in the automotive world. In Oman, Toyota commands a major market share and that is all due to the trust and confidence that customers have in the brand.”

Expressing his gratitude to Toyota Motor Corporation he said, “We would like to thank Toyota Motor Corporation, for their constant support and encouragement extended to us at all times. We also take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for their continued patronage.”

Later in the evening sharing his thoughts on Toyota’s presence in Oman, Mr. Masaru Shimada said, “Toyota Motor Corporation has a very long relationship with Saud Bahwan Group, for almost 50 years. They are one of the most important partners among all the distributors in the world. That’s why, the late Honorary Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, and his son and current Chairman Akio Toyoda have visited Oman and deepened their personal relationship. Toyota’s mission is to produce ‘Happiness for All’ and therefore here in Oman, we will work very closely with our respectful partner, Saud Bahwan Automotive, to make sure all our customers are happy in Oman.”

Sharing his thoughts on Toyota’s future plans and the all-new Urban Cruiser, he said, “Toyota’s approach is “Multi-pathway”, by offering wide variety of choices, meaning not only Battery EV but also Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Fuel Cell EV, Hydrogen engine and so on.”

The 2023 Toyota Urban Cruiser is a five-seater vehicle which features a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) that functions as both an electrified generator and motor. Combined with a compact Lithium-Ion battery, the powertrain delivers 102 hp and 135 Nm of torque, with an average fuel consumption of 19.8 km/l and is paired with six-speed automatic transmission.

The new Urban Cruiser’s spacious cabin is designed for greater comfort and convenience. The vehicle’s head-up display, 4.2-inch colour Thin Film Transistor (TFT) multi-information display. Other impressive features include a dual-sliding panoramic roof, 17” wheels, a 7-inch or 9-inch multimedia screen with seamless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto integration, and a wireless smartphone charging system. Additionally, the interior offers three USB ports, a six-speaker sound system, a powerful automatic air conditioning system with rear AC vents, and 60/40 split reclining rear seats.

As with any Toyota model, the new Urban Cruiser comes complete with a comprehensive array of safety features.

A choice of seven exciting exterior hues adds to the new Urban Cruiser’s striking visual appeal. The vehicle’s interior features an equally stylish colour scheme, with options.

The all-new Urban Cruiser is now on display at all Saud Bahwan Automotive showrooms.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) dominated the opening round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) to earn a one-two victory in the 1000 Miles of Sebring in the face of strong Hypercar competition. The No. 7 GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and José María López claimed a hard-fought victory after 239 laps at the home of endurance racing in the United States.

After an exciting race-long battle at the front, World Champions and 2022 Le Mans winners Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa completed a perfect result for (TGR) by finishing second in the No. 8 GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar. Relentless consistency, flawless team operations and strong tyre management combined as TGR overcame the challenge of several new Hypercar rivals joining this year’s championship to lap all competitors twice and earn the team’s 40th WEC victory.

The team was immediately in the fight at the front when the green flags waved in Florida. Buemi set a new Hypercar race lap record as he and Conway edged clear of the competition. At the two-hour mark, little separated the GR010 HYBRIDs and their gap over the chasing pack was enough to keep them ahead through the first driver changes. As half distance approached, Kobayashi moved the No. 7 GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar to the front and soon after, early in the fifth hour, he handed over to López. Hirakawa took the wheel of the second-placed No. 8 GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar to resume an intra-team battle for victory, with the pair now a lap clear of the competition.

After Kobayashi and Buemi returned to their respective cockpits, the gap at the front began to grow during the seventh hour. As the sun set on Sebring, Conway ticked off the remaining laps without taking risks and Hartley reduced the gap steadily. Conway crossed the line in the No. 7 GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar, just 2.168 secs ahead of Hartley to conquer the biggest-ever top-class grid for a WEC season-opener and earn maximum race points.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation and TGR Team Founder, “Congratulations and thank you to all the drivers and team members who finished this important first round with a one-two finish. Even if the car changes and the number of rivals increases, I once again feel that racing is a team effort. Since Kamui became Team Principal, the power of the team has definitely grown stronger. He contributes to victory as a driver, and as Team Principal keeps communication with the members and keeps the team together. Kamui, thank you very much. Let’s keep fighting to make the GR010 Hybrid Electric Vehicle an ‘ever-better car’!”

This season, the GR010 HYBRID Electric Hypercar has undergone a series of evolutions in key areas. Adjustments have been made to the high-performance Racing Hybrid powertrain to reduce weight and enhance performance, which consists of a 520kW (707PS) 3.5 litre engine and 200kW (272PS) electric motor. Visible changes to the vehicle’s bodywork include dive plane aerodynamic devices on the front corners, a smaller rear-wing end plate, and revised headlight layout. New vents have also been added at the front and rear that allow for quick changes to cooling options during races.

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For any further details please visit your nearest Saud Bahwan Automotive Showroom.