While the Imperial Toyota South Africa team was adding another chapter to the history of the Dakar Rally – in temperatures of up to 48ºC in the Atacama Desert of South America – another South African team was making history in temperatures of as low as -50ºC on the desolate white plains of the Antarctica.

Toyota SA Motors started the new year on a high note when it recorded the sale of 8 170 new models in January 2012.

To commemorate the centenary year of the legendary race between Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott to reach the South Pole first, Hilux AT vehicles have again showed their mettle by setting new world records in the harsh Antarctic climate.

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) surprised the market after retailing no less than 11 419 vehicles in a month which recorded relatively slower growth than the preceding two months.

A total of 52 338 new vehicles were sold in October as the new vehicle market recorded a growth of 18.9% over the same month of 2010. This significant increase over October 2010 means that the new vehicle market, as recorded by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa), is already 16.5% larger than the market in the similar period of the previous year.

Toyota South Africa Motors lead a strong September sales month after it delivered the keys to 10 171 new Toyota, Lexus and Hino vehicles to customers. This represents an 18.7% share of a large 56 364 unit September market.

With only a few weeks left before the largest motor show on the African continent opens, Toyota will show a concept version of its highly anticipated future sports coupe at the Johannesburg Motor Show.

It sounded as a goal too far for even the Prius, but one couple managed circumvent South Africa using less than 140 litres of fuel.

It may be small but it has already proven that it is up for any big challenge....

Toyota is the world’s greenest brand, according to a new global survey from the international brand consultancy Interbrand.