Manufacturing

The world's longest, toughest test drive

A convoy of Toyota trucks on their radical road trip — traversing the arid mountaintop salt plains above the red-rocked ridges that ring Salta, Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes. The trucks pushed through thin air that punishes both man and machine. (HANS GREIMEL)
January 02, 2017 05:00 AM
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Toyota's epic journey
The Five Continents Drive covers 6 land masses but — like the Olympic rings representing the world's continents — Toyota counts them as 5 (the Americas are considered one continent). 2014: AUSTRALIA
  • Distance driven: 12,400 miles
  • Vehicles: 13, including the Land Cruiser, Hilux, Camry, Corolla, Prius
  • Participants: 3 teams, 80 people
2015: NORTH AMERICA
  • Distance driven: 17,400 miles
  • Vehicles: 23, including the Land Cruiser, Tundra, Highlander, Camry, Corolla, Mirai
  • Participants: 4 teams, 140 people
2016: SOUTH AMERICA
  • Distance driven: 12,400 miles
  • Vehicles: 9, including the Land Cruiser, Hilux, SW4 (Fortuner), RAV4, Etios, Corolla, Prius
  • Participants: 3 teams, 110 people
2017-19: EUROPE, AFRICA, ASIA 2020: JAPAN CUMULATIVE STATISTICS AT THE FINISH
  • Distance driven: 130,000 miles
  • Participants: 1,000 people
Source: Toyota
GLOBAL_301029948_V2_-1_LZRHNKNSNVYV.jpg (HANS GREIMEL)

SALTA, Argentina -- When the dust-encrusted convoy of Toyota trucks finally pulled into town after a day of off-roading Dakar Rally-style through dry riverbeds, drivers got an earful.

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