Toyota to trek around Oz

Four Toyota LandCruisers, three Prados, a HiLux, Camry, Corolla sedan and even an 86 coupe set off from Toyota's Altona manufacturing plant today, embarking on an 18,000km journey around Australia that it says will help shape future vehicle design.

Dubbed the Discovery Tour, the project will have an important impact on 'future generations' of global vehicles, while also fine-tuning them for local conditions, said Toyota in press statement.

"This extensive project will ultimately enhance Toyota's ability to provide Australian motorists with vehicles that are even better suited to our conditions and are more engaging to drive," said Toyota Australia's sales and marketing chief, Tony Cramb.

Focussed on developing "even better vehicles", the 10-week journey will include a handful of production line workers from Altona and several of Toyota's global development executives, who will use the extensive road test to aid development of future vehicles.

Along the way the Toyota convoy, which also includes a pair of Camrys signed by the Altona workers who built them, will engage with communities, customers and dealers around Australia.

The tour will take in terrains of all types, from city streets to outback highways, which Toyota says will emulate "at least 80 per cent of the road surfaces found on the planet".

This makes Australia the obvious choice for such a large-scale project, said Toyota Australia president Dave Buttner.

"Toyota has an excellent understanding of Australia's diverse conditions, but our parent company is taking nothing for granted by undertaking this extensive project in addition to regular vehicle evaluations and testing carried out in Australia.

"It is vital that Toyota's leading vehicle development personnel get back to basics, experiencing first-hand what it takes to continue satisfying customers with ever-better cars," he said.

Toyota has been Australia's most popular car brand for the last 11 years running and currently accounts for nearly 20 per cent for the local new-vehicle market.

Australia also has strong links with Toyota's decision makers in Japan, having been an importer for more than half a century and the first country outside of Japan to build Toyota engines.

However, the company will join Ford and Holden in becoming a full-line importer by 2017 when it closes its Australian manufacturing facilities in Altona, where it builds the Camry and Aurion.

The 'Toyota Nextone Project', which can be seen on the side of all vehicles on the Discovery Tour (pictured), is the first clear move to highlight the importance of Australia to the world's largest car-maker.